Its probably because its tax season and everyones trying to check their refunds at the same time lol

Been dealing with the same thing! What worked for me was switching to incognito/private browsing mode. Sometimes the regular browser gets stuck with cached data that conflicts with their system updates. Also try different times throughout the day - seems like mid-afternoon is the worst for traffic.

Yo I was in the exact same situation and couldn't get anyone on the phone. I used that Claimyr app (claimyr.com) that someone else mentioned and it was clutch. Got through to an agent who found that my return was flagged because I had a discrepancy with my property tax credit. Was able to fix it on the spot and got my refund 10 days later. Finding a way to talk to an actual human made all the difference. Their callback system saved me from hours on hold.

I'm dealing with the same frustrating situation! Filed my Illinois return in early March and it's been radio silence ever since. The "still being processed" message is basically meaningless at this point. One thing that helped me was creating a detailed timeline of when I filed, what I claimed, and any communications I've had with the state. I also started checking my credit report to make sure there wasn't any identity theft that might be causing delays. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help cut through the bureaucracy when state agencies aren't being responsive. My friend had success with this approach last year when her refund was delayed for 5 months. Also, make sure you're keeping records of all your attempts to contact them - dates, times, reference numbers if they give you any. If this drags on much longer, you might need that documentation to file a complaint or seek assistance through other channels. The whole system is broken honestly. We're expected to file on time and pay penalties if we're late, but they can sit on our money for months with zero consequences. Hope you get some resolution soon!

One thing nobody has mentioned yet is that you should also check if Sweden has special provisions for artists and entertainers in their US tax treaty. Many countries have what's called an "Artistes and Sportsmen" article (usually Article 16 or 17) that can override the royalty provisions for certain types of income. Also, make sure you're actually considered a tax resident of Sweden and not Denmark as you mentioned being from Denmark in your post. You need to claim treaty benefits based on where you're a tax resident, not your citizenship.

I just want to clarify something from the original post - you mentioned being "based in Sweden" but there might be some confusion about your tax residency status. For the W-8BEN form, what matters is where you're considered a tax resident for treaty purposes, not just where you're currently living. If you're genuinely a Swedish tax resident, then Article 12 of the US-Sweden treaty should apply to your royalties with a 0% withholding rate. However, you need to make sure you meet Sweden's tax residency requirements and that you're actually liable to tax there on your worldwide income. For Part II, line 10, you would write something like "Article 12 - Royalties - 0%" assuming your producer advance and future royalties qualify under this article. One additional tip: keep documentation showing your Swedish tax residency status (like a tax residency certificate from Skatteverket) in case the record label or IRS requests proof later. This is especially important if your residency situation is complex or if you've moved recently. The advance payment structure you described (advance + future royalties) is pretty standard in the music industry and typically qualifies as royalty income under most tax treaties.

Has anyone here actually gone through the process of converting RMDs from an inherited IRA to a Roth? I understand the two-step process (take distribution, then contribute to Roth), but I'm worried about potential tax implications or gotchas.

Just wanted to add one more important point that I learned the hard way - make sure to keep detailed records of WHY your spouse qualified as a DEB at the time of inheritance. I'm dealing with this exact situation now where my husband has been on SSDI for years and inherited his father's IRA last year. The financial institution initially set up the account correctly as a DEB inherited IRA, but during a recent review, they questioned whether his SSDI status was sufficient documentation. Even though SSDI recipients generally qualify under IRC Section 72(m)(7), having a complete paper trail made all the difference. I recommend keeping copies of: the original SSDI award letter, recent benefit statements showing payments were active at the time of inheritance, and any medical documentation that was used in the SSDI determination process. This documentation package will save you headaches if the IRS or financial institution ever questions the DEB status. Also, regarding the Roth conversion question - we decided against it in our case because the RMD would push us into a higher tax bracket. Make sure to run the numbers on the tax impact before making that decision!

Protip: call your local taxpayer advocate if it goes beyond 120 days. They can sometimes help speed things up.

I went through something similar last year! CP05 notices can be frustrating but they're actually pretty routine. The Kansas City office tends to be thorough but fair in their reviews. Since your 810 freeze was already removed, this CP05 is likely just their standard verification process for returns that may have triggered certain filters (could be anything from higher than usual withholding to certain tax credits). The good news is that CP05 reviews are usually more straightforward than other types of holds. They're literally just double-checking the three items they mentioned against your W-2s and other tax documents on file. Most of these clear within 6-8 weeks in my experience, though it can take up to the full 120 days during busy periods. Keep that notice handy with all the reference numbers (CP05, 32y-1040, Caller ID 29H) - you'll need them if you have to call. And definitely keep checking your transcripts weekly like others suggested. You'll see movement there before you get any official notice in the mail.