Can't reach IRS? Claimyr connects you to a live IRS agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the IRS
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the IRS drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls ā which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Just a warning - I filed on February 1st and still haven't received my refund (it's been almost 10 weeks now)! The Where's My Refund tool just says "Your return is still being processed." I've tried calling but can't get through. I'm wondering if it's because I claimed the recovery rebate credit for a missing stimulus payment? Has anyone else experienced long delays this year? Really regretting not paying the extra $40 for audit protection through my tax software now. š«
Adriana Cohn
ā¢Yes! The recovery rebate credit is definitely causing delays. I filed with that too and waited 11 weeks. Try checking your transcript on the IRS website instead of Where's My Refund - it gives more detailed codes that might explain the hold. For me, code 570 showed up which means they were reviewing it.
Emma Wilson
Hey Amaya! Don't stress too much - your brother is probably being overly cautious. The 21-day timeline from TurboTax is actually pretty accurate for most straightforward returns, especially with direct deposit and electronic filing like you did. The 2-3 months your brother mentioned might be from horror stories he's heard or maybe he had complications with his own returns. The 120 days you saw online is usually the absolute worst-case scenario for paper returns or returns with major issues. Since you're 22 and this is your first return, it's probably pretty simple - just W-2 income, standard deduction, maybe student loan interest? Those typically process right on schedule. I'd expect your refund within 2-3 weeks if everything's clean. One tip: download the IRS2Go app and check "Where's My Refund" in about a week. It'll give you a much better idea of your actual timeline than generic estimates. And being in Denver won't affect processing time - it's all done electronically at IRS service centers. You've got this! First-time filing is always nerve-wracking but you did everything right by e-filing with direct deposit.
Join the conversation
Depends on if you got any 'special' codes. Mine got the infamous 570 and now im stuck in verification hell
oof 570 gang rise up š
call the tax advocate service! they helped me get past this
Anna Kerber
Been in the same boat! Filed 2 weeks ago and just got my first transcript update yesterday. Like others said, Friday mornings seem to be when most updates happen. Don't stress too much about checking daily - the IRS moves at their own pace regardless of how often we refresh that page š
Caleb Stone
ā¢So true about the IRS moving at their own pace! I'm still learning all this tax stuff as a first-time filer and it's wild how much waiting is involved. At least knowing about the Friday updates helps set expectations. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Join the conversation
StarStrider
As someone who's been through this exact scenario, I can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying here! I had "Chris" on my W-2 instead of "Christopher" a couple years ago and was really worried about it. I ended up filing as-is with my legal name on the return and the W-2 info exactly as printed, and my return was processed without any issues whatsoever. The IRS really does see these nickname situations all the time, especially from small businesses where everyone knows each other personally. Your SSN being correct is definitely the key factor - that's what their matching system uses primarily. I totally understand not wanting to burden your boss with another correction after she already fixed the SSN issue. That was definitely the more important problem to solve, and you handled it perfectly. The nickname thing really isn't worth the extra hassle for her or the stress for you. You're good to go with filing as everything stands now!
Thank you for sharing your real experience with Chris/Christopher - that's exactly the kind of reassurance I needed to hear! It's so helpful when someone has been through the identical situation and can confirm it worked out fine. The fact that your return processed without any issues gives me so much confidence. You're absolutely right about not wanting to burden my boss again after the SSN correction. She was really patient about that whole mess, and reading all these responses has made it clear that the nickname issue just isn't worth putting her through more paperwork. The SSN was definitely the critical thing to fix. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - getting perspectives from people who've actually dealt with this, plus professionals who see it regularly, really shows this is just normal everyday stuff for the IRS. I'm definitely going to file as-is and stop stressing about it. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!
I'm a CPA and want to reinforce what everyone has said here - you're absolutely fine to file with the nickname on your W-2 as long as your SSN is correct. In my 12 years of practice, I've handled hundreds of cases where W-2s had nicknames, shortened names, or even middle names instead of first names. The IRS matching system is sophisticated enough to handle these variations without flagging returns for rejection. The key is exactly what you're planning to do: use your legal name (as it appears on your Social Security card) when filing your return, but enter the W-2 information exactly as it's printed. Tax software is designed to manage this seamlessly. You made the right call prioritizing the SSN correction - that was genuinely critical. The nickname issue is so routine that I wouldn't even classify it as a "problem" from a tax perspective. Your boss sounds like she's been very accommodating already, and there's really no need to put her through additional paperwork for something the IRS systems handle automatically every day. File with confidence and don't give this another thought!
Join the conversation
Omar Mahmoud
Thank you all for this incredibly helpful discussion! I've been lurking here for months but finally decided to create an account because I'm dealing with this exact situation right now. My divorce was finalized last month and I've been really stressed about what this means for my tax future. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - especially hearing from people who have actually been through this process. I had no idea about needing to file that formal termination statement, so thank you @Lindsey Fry for bringing that up! I almost would have just filed as single and assumed the IRS would figure it out. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any implications for state taxes? I'm in California and wondering if I need to do anything special at the state level when terminating this federal election, or if it's automatically handled when I file my state return as single. Also, has anyone dealt with this situation where there were joint estimated tax payments made during the year before the divorce was final? I'm not sure how to handle those on my separate return. Thanks again everyone - this community has been more helpful than hours of trying to decipher IRS publications!
Ravi Kapoor
ā¢Welcome to the community, @Omar Mahmoud! I'm glad this discussion has been helpful for your situation. Regarding your California state tax question - generally, California follows federal filing status, so when you terminate the federal election and file as single, your California return should automatically reflect that change. You shouldn't need any special documentation at the state level beyond what you're already filing federally with the termination statement. For the joint estimated tax payments, you'll need to figure out how much each spouse contributed and allocate accordingly on your separate returns. If you made the payments jointly from a shared account, you might need to work out with your ex-spouse who gets to claim which portions, or you might need to split them proportionally based on your respective tax liabilities. This can get tricky, so it might be worth consulting with a tax professional for your specific situation. The good news is that these are just one-time complications from unwinding the joint filing - once you get through this transition year, everything becomes much more straightforward!
Andre Dubois
I've been following this thread closely as I'm currently going through a similar situation with my non-resident spouse election. What strikes me most is how many people (myself included) had no idea about the formal termination statement requirement - this really should be more clearly explained in IRS materials! One thing I'd add that I learned from my tax attorney: if you're dealing with this situation, make sure to review any prior year returns where you made the election. Sometimes the original election statement wasn't properly formatted or included all required information, which could create issues down the road. It's better to identify and correct any deficiencies while you're already dealing with the termination process. Also, for anyone worried about the "once-in-a-lifetime" restriction like I was - remember that the vast majority of people will never need to make this specific election again anyway. The restriction only matters if you plan to marry another non-resident alien in the future, and even then, there are other ways to handle international tax situations. The most important thing is getting that termination properly documented now so you can move forward with confidence in your future tax planning!
Connor Byrne
ā¢This is such great advice about reviewing the original election statement! I hadn't thought about potential formatting issues with the initial paperwork. You're absolutely right that the IRS materials don't make the termination statement requirement clear enough - I only learned about it from this thread. Your point about the restriction rarely mattering in practice is really reassuring too. When you're in the middle of dealing with divorce and taxes, it's easy to catastrophize about these limitations, but you're right that most people won't ever need to make this specific election again anyway. Thanks for mentioning the tax attorney perspective - it sounds like having professional help during this process can really save headaches later. Did your attorney help you identify any specific issues with your original election statement, or was it more of a precautionary review?
A Man D Mortal
I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my uncle's property right now, and I wanted to share something that might be helpful. We discovered that the IRS has a specific form (Form 12277, Application for Withdrawal of Filed Notice of Federal Tax Lien) that can be used when liens were filed in error or have expired but haven't been properly removed from public records. What's particularly relevant to your situation is that we found out the IRS sometimes continues to show liens in their systems even after the 10-year collection period has expired, especially if there were any actions that legally extended the collection period (like offers in compromise, collection due process hearings, or bankruptcy filings). These extensions aren't always obvious from the original lien documents. Here's what I'd suggest based on our experience: First, request a complete Account Transcript from the IRS for your father's tax years in question (Form 4506-T). This will show the actual assessment dates, any payments made, and importantly, any actions that might have extended the collection statute of limitations. You'll need your father's authorization for this, but it's crucial information. Second, if you do find that the liens have truly expired, the Form 12277 process can be much faster than a quiet title action and costs nothing beyond the time to prepare the paperwork properly. Regarding timing of the transfer, one consideration I haven't seen mentioned is that if your father is elderly or in poor health, Medicare/Medicaid lookback periods might come into play. Transferring a valuable asset within 5 years of potentially needing long-term care could create eligibility issues. The mortgage situation definitely needs immediate attention regardless of the lien issues. Many servicers have forbearance programs that can pause payments for 3-6 months while you sort out the ownership and lien questions, which might give you the breathing room you need to make informed decisions rather than rushed ones.
0 coins
Anastasia Fedorov
ā¢This is incredibly detailed and helpful information! The Form 12277 option sounds much more promising than going through a lengthy quiet title action. I hadn't heard of the Account Transcript approach either - that could really clarify what we're dealing with regarding those collection statute extensions. Your point about Medicare/Medicaid lookback periods is something we definitely need to consider. My dad is in his 70s and while he's healthy now, we can't predict what his long-term care needs might be. A property transfer now could definitely complicate things if he needs assistance down the road. The forbearance suggestion for the mortgage is really smart too. I was so focused on the tax lien complexity that I wasn't thinking about buying ourselves time on the mortgage front while we sort everything else out. Do you know if mortgage servicers typically require extensive documentation for forbearance, or is it usually a straightforward process when you explain the circumstances? Also, when you requested the Account Transcript for your uncle, did you run into any issues with the IRS accepting the authorization? I'm wondering if we should have my dad present when we call or submit the forms to avoid any complications with them releasing his tax information to me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience - this gives us a much clearer roadmap for tackling this step by step!
0 coins
Caden Turner
ā¢I want to add something important about the Account Transcript process that might save you some headaches. When we did this for my uncle, we initially had issues because the IRS was very strict about the authorization documentation. I'd recommend having your dad complete Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) in addition to the 4506-T request. This gives you broader authority to discuss his tax matters and follow up on the transcript request if there are any issues. For the mortgage forbearance, most servicers have streamlined their processes significantly since 2020. You typically just need to call and explain the situation - that there's a family member willing to help with payments but you need time to resolve a title/lien issue. They may ask for basic financial information about your ability to resume payments, but it's usually not overly burdensome. The key is being proactive and calling before any foreclosure proceedings begin. One more thing about those expired liens - even if they show the collection statute has expired, double-check if your father ever entered into any installment agreements or had any other IRS interactions during those 10 years. Sometimes people forget about agreements they made years ago that could have legally extended the collection period. The Account Transcript will show this, but it's worth asking your dad directly about any IRS communications he might have received over the years. Given the timeline pressure with the mortgage, I'd suggest tackling these tasks in parallel: get the forbearance request in immediately to buy time, then work on the IRS documentation while that's being processed. This way you're not letting the mortgage situation deteriorate while sorting out the tax issues.
0 coins
Connor Murphy
This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm seeing so many practical steps we hadn't considered! As someone new to dealing with tax liens, I want to emphasize how important it seems to be to get that complete picture from the IRS Account Transcript that several people mentioned. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed: Are there any specific timelines or deadlines we should be aware of when dealing with expired liens? I'm wondering if there's a statute of limitations on requesting lien withdrawals for expired liens, or if the IRS becomes less cooperative the longer these things sit in their system. Also, for anyone who's been through the Form 12277 process - roughly how long did it take from submission to getting the lien actually removed from county records? I'm trying to understand if this is something that could realistically be resolved in weeks or if we're looking at months. The mortgage forbearance advice is definitely something we're going to pursue immediately. It sounds like that could give us the breathing room to properly investigate all these lien issues without the pressure of losing the house to foreclosure while we're still figuring things out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's given us a much clearer path forward than we had before!
0 coins