dont forget to look into taking some tax specific continuing ed before interviewing! i made the audit to tax switch 2 years ago and the CCH courses helped me alot. also try the IRS VITA program if u can volunteer during tax season - its basic returns but gives u hands on experience u can talk about in interviews. also tax isnt all sunshine compared to audit lol. busy season is BRUTAL especially at smaller firms. but at least its concentrated in 1 part of the year instead of constant deadlines. clients r way more appreciative in tax vs audit where nobody wants u there!

Your audit background actually puts you ahead of many people trying to break into tax! I made a similar transition 18 months ago from internal audit to tax preparation, and here's what worked for me: First, don't undersell yourself - you already understand financial statements, have analytical skills, and client experience. That's huge. I'd recommend getting the IRS Enrolled Agent certification if you have time - it shows commitment to tax and gives you credibility with employers. For the job search, focus on small to mid-sized CPA firms rather than big chains. They value the CPA credential more and are often willing to train someone with your background. I found success by networking through my state CPA society chapter - many tax professionals are happy to chat about their path and sometimes know of openings. Also consider reaching out to firms in October/November when they're staffing up for busy season. Many are willing to bring on experienced CPAs as "seasonal" staff with the potential for full-time offers after April 15th. The pay might be lower initially, but it's a foot in the door with real experience to put on your resume. The transition has been worth it for me - tax work feels more collaborative with clients rather than adversarial like audit. Good luck with the switch!

Check your tax transcript on the IRS website instead of just the "Where's My Refund" tool. The transcript shows more detailed information about the status of your return. Log into your account at irs.gov and look for "Get Transcript Online." It might show processing activity that the refund tracker doesn't display.

Don't stress too much - refund delays are incredibly common right now, especially for first-time filers! The 21-day timeframe is really just an estimate, and the IRS is still working through a massive backlog from this filing season. Since you're claiming education credits as a college student, that's likely adding some processing time. The IRS automatically cross-references your 1098-T forms with what you reported, which can slow things down even when everything is correct. A few things that might help while you wait: First, definitely check your tax transcript as others suggested - it'll show way more detail than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Second, make sure you haven't moved or changed banks recently, as that can cause refunds to bounce back and add weeks to the process. I know it's tough when you're counting on that money, but most refunds do come through within 4-6 weeks max. If you hit the 6-week mark with no updates, then it's definitely worth calling the IRS to check if there are any issues that need your attention. Hang in there! Your refund is almost certainly on its way.

Rachel, I completely understand your panic - I went through something very similar two years ago. Here's what worked for me: First, don't let the 30-day deadline stress you out too much, but definitely don't ignore it either. You have options within that timeframe. Since you mentioned you have confirmation numbers from when you e-filed, that's actually great documentation. Pull up your actual filed return (not just your copy) from the state's website if they have an online portal. Sometimes there are discrepancies between what you think you filed and what actually got processed. The key is to be methodical: 1) Get the specific details about which 1099 they claim is missing (call them), 2) Match that against your records and filed return, 3) Prepare a clear, documented response showing either that you did report it or explaining why their information is incorrect. I was able to resolve mine with a detailed letter and supporting documents - no attorney needed. The assessment was completely dropped once I showed them their error. Don't let them intimidate you into paying money you don't owe!

Rachel, I know this feels overwhelming, but you're absolutely not powerless here! I went through almost the exact same thing last year with a $4,200 assessment that made my stomach drop. Here's my step-by-step approach that worked: First, call the state tax office using the number from their official website (not the notice) and ask them to walk you through exactly what income they believe is missing. Get the payer name, amount, and any reference numbers they have. Then, gather EVERYTHING - your complete tax return as filed, all 1099s you received, bank statements showing deposits, and any correspondence with clients about payments. Sometimes the issue is as simple as a payer filing a corrected 1099 after you already filed your return, or they reported income under a slightly different name/SSN. When you write your response letter, be super specific. Reference exact line numbers on your return, include copies (not originals) of supporting documents, and use phrases like "as evidenced by the attached documentation" to sound more official. Most importantly - send your response via certified mail to have proof of delivery, and keep copies of absolutely everything. The vast majority of these cases get resolved in the taxpayer's favor once proper documentation is provided. You've got this!

This is super helpful! One thing I'd add - TC 898 is another important one that means they applied a refund offset (like for back taxes, student loans, or child support). Also if you see TC 971 with reference number 131, that's usually the dreaded "we need to verify your identity" notice. Been there and it's a pain but just follow their instructions and you'll get through it eventually.

Great comprehensive breakdown! I'd also mention TC 806 (W-2 wage and tax statement) and TC 807 (additional W-2 wage and tax statement) - these show up when your employer files your W-2 info. And for anyone dealing with amended returns, TC 977 means they processed your 1040X. One more tip: if you see a TC 971 with reference number 012, that usually means they're doing additional review on your return (not necessarily bad, just taking longer). The cycle date next to these codes is key - that's when the action actually happened or will happen.

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you paid cash and have no receipts, you could try reaching out to the sellers to get some kind of written confirmation of the sale. Even a text message or email that confirms "Yes, I sold you a monitor for $1050 on [date]" could help document the transaction. Also, take pictures of the items with something showing the date (like a newspaper or your phone's date display). This won't prove what you paid, but at least confirms you actually have the items. I've been through an education expense audit before and having SOMETHING is always better than nothing!

Yes, Facebook Marketplace conversation history is actually excellent documentation! Screenshot those conversations showing the price negotiations and agreement - that's timestamped digital evidence of the transaction. I'd also suggest checking if you have any bank records showing cash withdrawals around the dates of these purchases. Even if you can't prove exactly what the cash was for, having withdrawals that match the amounts on the right dates adds credibility to your claims. For future reference, even private cash sales can be documented better by asking sellers to write a simple receipt on paper - just "Sold computer monitor to [your name] for $1050 on [date]" with their signature. Most people don't mind doing this if you ask nicely. The combination of Facebook messages, bank withdrawal records, and photos of the actual equipment should give you pretty solid documentation for your education expense claims.