Got mine last week after waiting about a month! The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I had the letter. I was worried because last year I had issues with my stimulus payment verification and it was a nightmare. This time I verified online using the 14-digit code, and my transcript updated within 48 hours showing my refund was processed. My advice is to check your mailbox daily - the envelope looks pretty plain and could be mistaken for junk mail!

I'm still waiting for mine too - filed on February 18th so it's been about 6 weeks now. Reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful! @Natalia Stone thanks for the publication references, I didn't know about those specific IRS documents. I'm going to check my transcript online first before calling. Really hoping it arrives soon since like you mentioned, having a spouse deploy adds extra stress to getting everything sorted out. Has anyone had success getting the verification done over the phone instead of waiting for the letter?

I went through the exact same frustrating experience with my ITIN application last year! The "missing information" rejection letters are so vague and unhelpful. What worked for me was calling the IRS ITIN unit at 1-800-908-9982 first thing in the morning (around 7 AM) when the lines weren't as busy. It took a few tries, but I eventually got through to someone who could look up my specific case and tell me exactly what was missing. In my case, it turned out to be two issues: 1) I had used a regular notary instead of getting my passport certified by the issuing embassy, and 2) I hadn't filled out the treaty benefit section completely on the W-7 form. After fixing those specific issues and resubmitting, my ITIN was approved in about 6 weeks. The key is getting that specific feedback from the IRS rather than guessing what might be wrong. Don't give up - you can definitely get this sorted out!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The "missing information" rejection is so frustrating because it's so vague. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, definitely call the IRS ITIN unit at 1-800-908-9982 as others have mentioned. I had the best luck calling right when they opened at 7 AM - still had to wait about 30-40 minutes on hold, but that's much better than the hours-long waits later in the day. When I finally got through, the agent told me my specific issues were: missing signature date on one section of the W-7 form, and my passport certification wasn't done properly (needed to be certified by my country's consulate, not just notarized locally). For the resubmission, I included a cover letter explaining it was a corrected resubmission, attached a copy of the original rejection letter, and made sure to highlight the corrections I had made. My ITIN was approved about 5 weeks after resubmitting. One tip that really helped me: before calling the IRS, I went through my entire application with a fine-tooth comb and made a list of anything that could potentially be incomplete or unclear. This way when I spoke to the agent, I could ask specific questions about each item. Don't lose hope - this is definitely fixable, just takes some persistence!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is quarterly estimated tax payments. Since you're making "decent money" after 8 months, you'll likely need to make quarterly payments to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS expects you to pay as you earn, not just at year-end. For 2025, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes on your golf business income, you should be making quarterly payments. The deadlines are January 15, April 15, June 16, and September 15. You can use Form 1040ES to calculate what you owe. Also consider opening a separate business checking account if you haven't already. It makes tracking so much easier and looks more professional if you ever get audited. You can deduct the monthly fees as a business expense too. Keep up the great work with the side business - sounds like you're really building something solid!

Great thread everyone! As someone who's been through the home business learning curve, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me stay organized: 1. **Monthly reconciliation** - Set aside time each month to categorize expenses and reconcile your business account. Don't wait until tax time! I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, vendor, amount, category, and business purpose. 2. **Photo documentation** - Take pictures of receipts immediately and store them in a cloud folder organized by month. I've saved myself multiple times when paper receipts faded or got lost. 3. **Business purpose notes** - For any expense that could be questioned (like those golf rounds for testing clubs), write the business purpose directly on the receipt or in your expense tracking. "Tested driver repair for Client X" is much better than trying to remember 6 months later. 4. **Mileage log app** - Use an app like MileIQ or even just the notes app on your phone to track business mileage in real-time. I tried keeping a paper log and failed miserably. The key is building these habits now while your business is growing. It's so much easier to maintain good records from the start than to reconstruct everything later. Sounds like you're already thinking about this stuff the right way - that puts you ahead of most new business owners!

I've been dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what finally worked for me after reading through all these great suggestions. The key combination that got me through was: calling 800-829-1040 at exactly 7:00 AM Eastern on Wednesday, using @Emma Bianchi's phone tree navigation steps (especially the part about NOT entering your SSN when first prompted), and having patience when the system says high call volume. I also want to echo what @Giovanni Greco said about checking your IRS online account transcript - I found mine had been updated with the information I was waiting for in the mail, which saved me from having to wait for the physical letter. You can access it at irs.gov under "Get Your Tax Record." One thing that helped my sanity during this process: I kept a log of when I called and what happened each time. It helped me identify that Tuesday-Thursday mornings really do have better success rates than Mondays or Fridays. Don't give up - the system is definitely broken, but persistence does pay off eventually!

I've been lurking here for a while dealing with my own IRS phone nightmare, and this thread is incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that I finally got through last week using a combination of these strategies - called 800-829-1040 at 7:05 AM on Thursday, followed Emma's phone tree navigation exactly (the part about not entering SSN initially was crucial), and got connected after about 40 minutes on hold. The agent was actually very helpful once I got through and explained that the delays are even worse than usual this year due to staffing issues. She also confirmed that many of the letters people are waiting for are now available in the online account system before they're mailed out. For anyone still struggling: don't give up! The system is broken but these tips really do work. Wednesday and Thursday mornings seem to be the sweet spot, and having all your info ready (SSN, filing status, tax year, and specific questions) makes the actual call much smoother once you get connected.

I completely understand your frustration! I went through something very similar last year with my energy credit return. Here's what worked for me after weeks of trying: Try calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 right at 7 AM local time on a Tuesday or Wednesday (avoid Mondays and Fridays). When you get the automated system, press 1 for English, then 2 for personal income tax questions, then 1 for form/payment questions, then 3 for all other questions, then 2 again. When it asks for your SSN, just wait - don't enter anything. After it asks twice, it should transfer you to hold for an agent. The key is persistence and timing. I had to try this method about 5-6 times over two weeks before I finally got through, but when I did, the agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my return. Your 8-week wait with an energy credit is actually pretty normal, unfortunately. The IRS manually reviews most returns with renewable energy credits, which can take 6-12 weeks during busy season. The "Return Received" status is typical during this review period - it won't change to "Approved" until they finish the manual review process. Hang in there! As long as you haven't received any letters requesting additional documentation, your return is likely just working its way through the queue.

I've been dealing with IRS delays myself and found that contacting your congressperson's office can sometimes help when you've exhausted other options. Most congressional offices have constituent services staff who can make inquiries to the IRS on your behalf - it's a free service for constituents. You typically need to fill out a privacy release form allowing them to discuss your case with the IRS, but they can often get answers or escalate issues that regular taxpayers can't. I contacted my representative's office after 10 weeks of waiting on an amended return, and they were able to get a response from the IRS within two weeks explaining exactly what was happening. It's worth trying if the other phone strategies don't work out. You can usually find the contact info for your representative's local office on their website under "constituent services" or "casework help.