I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was doing it on a desktop browser instead of mobile, and making sure I had ALL my documents ready before starting (ID, SSN card, proof of address). Also try doing it during off-peak hours like early morning - seems like their servers get overloaded during busy times. The verification process is super finicky but once you get through it works fine. Don't give up!

Having dealt with similar verification issues before, here's what I'd recommend: 1) Make sure you're using the same phone number and email that's associated with your existing Credit Karma account, 2) Double-check that your personal info matches exactly what's on your tax return (especially address formatting), and 3) If you've moved recently, the address verification might be tripping you up - try using your previous address if that's what's still on your credit file. Also, sometimes these systems have daily attempt limits, so if you've been trying multiple times each day, you might need to wait 24-48 hours between attempts. The VPN suggestion from @3f0be25a403b is spot on too - financial verification systems often flag VPN traffic as suspicious. Hope this helps!

I'm currently going through the exact same situation! Got my 424 code 6 days ago after filing on February 19th, and like everyone else here, I've been obsessively checking my transcript hoping for updates. It's actually so comforting to read all these experiences - I was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this! I also claimed the Child Tax Credit and some education credits, which based on what everyone's sharing seems to be a common pattern for triggering these verification checks. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part, but reading that most people still get their full refunds within 2-4 weeks (even if delayed) is really reassuring. Has anyone noticed if the 424 code tends to disappear over the weekend or does it typically update on weekdays? I'm trying to figure out the best times to check for changes without driving myself completely crazy!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation too! Filed on February 15th and my 424 code appeared 9 days ago - the timing couldn't be worse since I had planned expenses around getting my refund by now. Reading through everyone's experiences here has honestly been such a huge relief because I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my return completely! I claimed both the Child Tax Credit for my two kids and education credits from my community college courses, which based on what everyone's sharing seems to be a pretty common trigger combination. The hardest part is definitely the complete lack of communication from the IRS - you're just left wondering if it's going to be days, weeks, or months. But seeing that most people here got their full refunds within 2-4 weeks (even with delays) is really keeping me hopeful. Has anyone found any patterns in terms of what day of the week transcript updates typically happen? I've been checking daily but trying to figure out if there are better times to look for changes!

Has anyone here tried adjusting their W-4 using the Two-Jobs Worksheet instead of just adding an extra withholding amount? I'm wondering which approach is more accurate.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many dual-income couples face! I went through the exact same thing when my spouse and I got married. We went from both getting refunds as single filers to owing about $2,800 every year despite maxing out our withholdings. What finally worked for us was using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator mid-year to recalculate our withholdings. The tool showed us that we needed to add an extra $180 per paycheck from the higher earner's salary. It seems counterintuitive that "maximum withholding" isn't actually enough when you're married with two incomes, but the withholding tables just weren't designed for our situation. One thing that helped me understand it better: when you select "Married" on your W-4, the system assumes your spouse either doesn't work or earns significantly less. When both spouses earn similar amounts (especially in higher brackets), you're essentially underwithholding on both incomes. The good news is once you fix the withholding, the problem goes away completely. We've gotten small refunds the past two years after making the adjustment.

H&R Block user here - mine went through fine with 1099-NEC. Def call again and get a second opinion

This is frustrating but unfortunately pretty common. The IRS systems don't always sync properly with third-party software like H&R Block. A few things to try: 1) Get your tax transcript online to see exactly what the IRS has on file, 2) Contact H&R Block to confirm they successfully transmitted your return, and 3) If you do need to fax the 1099-NEC, send it to the processing center that handles your region (you can find this on IRS.gov). Keep records of everything you send. The processing delays this year have been brutal so you're definitely not alone in this mess.

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - that's an incredibly tough break with the flooding destroying everything right when you were getting started. From what I understand about casualty losses and business equipment, you should actually keep the business equipment losses on Schedule C rather than trying to claim them as personal casualty losses. Since the equipment was purchased for your business, those losses belong with your business deductions even if they were destroyed by a casualty event. The key distinction is that business casualty losses go on Schedule C as part of your business expenses, while personal casualty losses (like damage to your home's structure) would go on Schedule A if they exceed the thresholds. Mixing them up could definitely raise red flags with the IRS. One thing that might help your case is getting a written statement from that potential client confirming your discussions about the IT contract, even if it never materialized. This would help establish legitimate business intent. Also, make sure you have photos of the flood damage and the destroyed equipment if possible - visual documentation can be very powerful. Given the complexity with the 401k withdrawal, business losses, and casualty issues all happening together, I'd really recommend getting a CPA involved. The cost will likely be worth it to make sure everything is properly documented and filed correctly.

I'm really sorry this happened to you - what an absolute nightmare scenario. The combination of the 401k withdrawal, failed business, and flood damage creates a perfect storm of tax complications. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when you can claim these losses. Since your business never actually started operations due to the flood, you might need to treat some of these as startup costs rather than operational business losses. Startup costs have different rules - you can deduct up to $5,000 in the first year and amortize the rest over 15 years, unless you elect to expense them under Section 195. However, the equipment that was destroyed might qualify for immediate loss treatment since it was damaged before you could use it in business operations. This is a gray area that definitely requires professional guidance. Also, document everything related to the mold remediation and basement restoration. If you have to make repairs before you can use that space again, those costs might be deductible as part of getting your business operational, depending on how you structure things. The IRS does understand that legitimate businesses fail, but the key is showing this was a real business attempt with profit motive, not just a way to access your 401k funds. Keep all those emails, texts, and any other evidence of your business planning and the potential contract opportunity.