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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 – 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!
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- 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 :)
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To all those having trouble reaching a human at IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
If your call gets after paying for the service, you should definitely contact Claimyr's customer support immediately. Most legitimate callback services have policies in place for technical issues like this. Document the time of disconnection and your payment confirmation. You can also try calling the directly using their main line (1-800-829-1040) - while wait times are long, it's free. For future reference, consider calling early morning or late in the week when call volumes might be lower.
Thanks for this helpful advice! I'm actually dealing with this exact situation right now. My call got cut off yesterday after waiting 2 hours through Claimyr and I haven't heard back yet. I'll definitely reach out to their customer support like you suggested. The early morning tip is gold - I never thought about timing my calls strategically. Has anyone else had success getting through to the directly in the early hours?
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I'm actually a tax preparer and see this scenario often. Just to be super clear: if you received NO compensation whatsoever (no wages, no benefits, nothing of monetary value) from the second job during 2024, then there's nothing to report on your 2024 return. The employer won't issue a W-2 for zero dollars. Just keep those employment documents for your 2025 taxes when you actually start earning from that position.
What about if you got like a signing bonus in December but don't actually start working until January? Would that count for this year's taxes?
Yes, a signing bonus received in December 2024 would need to be reported on your 2024 tax return, even if you don't start working until 2025. The IRS operates on a cash basis for most taxpayers, meaning you report income in the year you actually received it, not when you earned it through work. So if the money hit your account in 2024, it goes on your 2024 return. The employer should issue you a W-2 or 1099 for that payment.
This is a really common question that trips up a lot of people! The key thing to remember is that tax reporting is based on actual income received, not employment status or paperwork. Since you didn't earn any money from that second job in 2024, there's no income to report and the employer won't even generate a W-2 for you. Just make sure to keep all those employment documents you signed - you'll need them for reference when you do start earning income from that job in 2025. TurboTax will handle everything correctly when you input only the jobs that actually paid you during the tax year. You're doing everything right by only including income you actually received!
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I went through this same verification process about 6 months ago and completely understand your concern about scams! Here's what helped me feel confident it was legitimate: The real Letter 5071C will have: - Official IRS letterhead with the Department of Treasury seal - Your correct name, address, and the last 4 digits of your SSN - Reference to your specific tax year (2023) and filing status - The exact website: idverify.irs.gov (no variations) - Phone number 800-830-5084 for the Identity Protection Specialized Unit The verification process itself asks questions only you would know - things from your previous year's tax return (specific line amounts) and credit report information like previous addresses, loan details, etc. It took me about 15 minutes once I had my 2022 return and ID ready. If you're still unsure about the letter's authenticity, you can call the main IRS line at 800-829-1040 and ask them to confirm whether they sent you a 5071C letter. They can verify it without you having to give any sensitive info to a potentially fake number. My refund was released about 3 weeks after I completed the verification, so there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! I really appreciate you taking the time to list out all the specific elements to look for. The tip about calling the main IRS line to verify they actually sent the letter is brilliant - I hadn't thought of that approach. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people that this is a normal (if stressful) part of the process. I'm going to gather my 2022 return and other documents this weekend and get this verification done. Thanks again for sharing your experience!
I got the exact same letter about 3 months ago and totally understand your paranoia - my first instinct was that it had to be a scam too! But it turned out to be completely legitimate. Here's what helped me verify mine was real: The letter had the official IRS letterhead with Treasury Department seal, referenced my specific 2023 tax return, showed the last 4 digits of my SSN, and directed me to idverify.irs.gov (exactly that URL - no variations). The phone number matched what others have mentioned: 800-830-5084. When I did the online verification, they asked very specific questions about my 2022 tax return (exact amounts from certain lines) and credit-related info like previous addresses and account details. It was actually pretty straightforward once I had my documents ready - took about 25 minutes total. The Fresno address you mentioned is definitely legitimate - that's one of their main processing centers. If you're still worried, you can always call the main IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040 first to confirm they actually sent you a 5071C letter before proceeding with verification. My refund was released exactly 21 days after I completed the verification process. Hang in there - it's stressful but totally worth getting through!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been staring at this letter for two days trying to decide if it's real or fake. The fact that so many people have gone through the same thing and can confirm the specific details (Treasury seal, exact website URL, phone number) makes me feel much more confident. I think I was overthinking it because I've never had to do identity verification before. Your tip about calling the main IRS line first is really smart - I'll probably do that just for extra peace of mind before starting the online process. Thanks for sharing your timeline too - knowing it took 21 days for your refund helps set realistic expectations!
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Doesn't this whole situation expose a huge loophole in the system? If casinos only report jackpots over $1,200 but someone's putting millions through machines, couldn't they just play in a way that avoids big jackpots? I'm thinking about games like basic video poker where you could avoid going for royal flushes (the big jackpot hands) and still win consistently with smaller hands. Basically "staying under the radar" by avoiding reportable wins while still potentially laundering money.
This actually isn't as effective as you might think. Modern casinos employ sophisticated player tracking and anti-money laundering systems that look for exactly this type of behavior pattern. If someone is cycling large amounts of money through machines while intentionally avoiding jackpots (by playing suboptimal strategy, for instance), this would trigger internal alerts. Additionally, casinos are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for unusual gambling patterns, regardless of whether reportable jackpots are hit. These reports go to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) and can trigger investigations. Casino compliance departments specifically look for players who appear to be deliberately structuring their play to avoid reporting thresholds - it's one of the red flags they're trained to identify. For exactly this reason, money launderers have found casinos to be increasingly difficult venues for cleaning significant amounts of money. The combination of cameras, player tracking, transaction monitoring, and trained staff makes sustained laundering activity quite risky.
This is a really fascinating case study that highlights how complex gambling taxation can be. I've been following similar situations in my work, and there are a few additional considerations worth mentioning: The $61.2 million "coin in" vs $6.3 million reported winnings discrepancy is actually quite normal for high-volume video poker players. What many people don't realize is that video poker has a very high "churn rate" - you're constantly winning and losing smaller amounts, but only the bigger jackpots (typically $1,200+) generate W-2Gs. Regarding your money laundering question - while theoretically possible, it's become much harder in practice. Beyond the AML controls others mentioned, there's also the issue of source of funds. If someone suddenly starts gambling with millions in cash without a clear legitimate income source, that itself triggers scrutiny from multiple agencies, not just the IRS. One thing I'd add is that the IRS has been increasingly sophisticated about cross-referencing gambling activity with other income sources. They can spot patterns where reported gambling winnings don't align with someone's overall financial profile. So even if the casino reporting has gaps, other data sources can fill in the picture. The key takeaway is that while the reporting system isn't perfect, the overall surveillance and compliance framework makes sustained large-scale laundering through gambling quite risky and difficult to execute successfully.
This is really eye-opening! I had no idea the IRS could cross-reference gambling data with other income sources. Does this mean they're actively looking for discrepancies, or is it more like they only investigate if something else triggers their attention first? I'm asking because I'm a small business owner who occasionally plays poker tournaments, and while my winnings are nowhere near these amounts, I want to make sure I'm handling everything correctly. If I win a few thousand here and there but don't receive W-2Gs (since poker tournaments have different reporting thresholds), should I be worried about reporting discrepancies if I'm not meticulously tracking every session? Also, when you mention "overall financial profile" - what kind of data sources are we talking about? Bank records, credit reports, or something more comprehensive?
Luca Ricci
Just FYI, there's a special charitable giving deduction for 2025 that lets you deduct up to $600 for married filing jointly ($300 for single) EVEN IF YOU TAKE THE STANDARD DEDUCTION! So you can get at least some benefit from your church donation regardless.
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PixelPrincess
•I need to correct this information. The special $300/$600 charitable deduction for non-itemizers was a temporary provision for 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. It has expired and is not available for 2025 tax returns unless Congress brings it back. Currently, to deduct charitable donations, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A, and your total itemized deductions need to exceed the standard deduction to get any tax benefit. I recommend checking the most current IRS publications for the tax year you're filing, as tax laws do change.
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Daniel Rogers
Thanks everyone for the helpful discussion! This has been really educational. I just wanted to clarify one more thing - since we're definitely taking the standard deduction this year, should I still keep all my donation receipts and records from our church? I'm wondering if it's worth tracking everything just in case our situation changes in future years, or if there's any other reason the IRS might want to see proof of these donations even when we're not claiming them as deductions. Also, that "bunching" strategy several people mentioned sounds interesting - basically doubling up donations every other year to get over the standard deduction threshold. Has anyone actually tried this approach successfully?
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Tristan Carpenter
•Definitely keep those records! Even if you're not claiming the deductions this year, you'll want them for future reference. Your financial situation could change - maybe you'll have higher medical expenses, state taxes, or decide to bunch donations in future years. Plus, it's always good practice to maintain donation records for at least 3-7 years in case of any IRS questions. As for bunching, I've been doing it for the past few years and it works great! Instead of donating $10K each year, I donate $20K every other year. This gets me over the standard deduction threshold every other year, so I actually get tax benefits instead of losing them to the standard deduction. The key is planning it out and making sure your charity is okay with receiving larger, less frequent donations. Some people even use donor-advised funds to make it easier to manage the timing.
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