Tax professional here: This is standard procedure for Louisiana's verification program. They randomly select returns to verify income reporting accuracy. Best practices: 1) Send copies not originals 2) Use certified mail 3) Keep proof of mailing 4) Include letter reference number on all docs 5) Make copies of everything you send. Average processing time after docs received is 30-45 days. Pro tip: Use taxr.ai to analyze your federal transcripts first - it can help identify any discrepancies that might trigger state reviews. Worth the $1 cost to avoid headaches later.

Same thing happened to me last year! I was freaking out at first but it really is just routine. Louisiana does these verification checks pretty regularly. I sent in copies of everything they requested and got my refund about 5 weeks later. Just make sure you respond within their deadline - I think they give you like 30 days to send the docs. Don't stress too much about it!

This is really encouraging to hear! I filed about 2.5 weeks ago and have been anxiously checking my transcript daily with no updates yet. Reading these success stories gives me hope that things are moving faster this year. Quick question - when you say your refund "just hit" your account, was it there when you woke up this morning or did you get a notification from your bank? I have alerts set up but I'm wondering if I should be checking more frequently. Also, did your transcript show any other codes before the 846 appeared, or did it go straight from processing to refund issued?

This is such great news to hear! I'm still waiting on mine - filed on February 15th and my transcript hasn't updated beyond the initial processing codes yet. It's really reassuring to see that people are getting their refunds faster this year. Quick question - did you notice any pattern with when your transcript updated? I've been checking mine every morning around 6 AM but wondering if there's a specific time when the IRS systems refresh overnight. Also, for anyone else still waiting, I found that creating an IRS online account to check transcripts directly has been way more informative than relying on the WMR tool, which seems to lag behind significantly. Fingers crossed mine updates soon!

Absolutely agree with @9c1cbad1d199 about the documentation being crucial here! I went through a similar situation last year and learned the hard way that the IRS really does focus on when you first started actively seeking customers, not when you "officially" launched. @d7b1bf01b6c9 Since you mentioned those Facebook ads were for "testing the waters," I'd recommend pulling the exact dates they ran and what the ad copy said. If the ads promoted your services or asked people to contact you for consultations, that's likely your business start date right there - even if you were just testing response rates. One thing that worked well for me was creating a simple spreadsheet with three columns: Date, Expense Description, and Classification (Pre-Business/Post-Business Start). This made it super easy when tax time came around to show my accountant exactly what happened when. The good news is that if your business started with those Facebook ads, most of your $7,500 in expenses probably occurred after that point, which means they'd be regular business expenses rather than startup costs requiring amortization. Your laptop, software subscriptions, and later advertising would all be immediately deductible (subject to having business income to offset them against). Just make sure to keep records showing you had genuine profit motive from the beginning - the fact that you were tracking expenses and testing marketing approaches actually demonstrates this really well!

This entire discussion has been super eye-opening! I had no idea that those Facebook ads I ran in September could actually be considered my business start date. Looking back at the ad copy, I was definitely promoting my digital marketing consultation services and asking people to message me for a free strategy session - so yeah, I was actively seeking customers even if I called it "testing." This actually works out better than I thought! If September is my business start date, then most of my $7,500 in expenses happened after that point, which means they'd be regular business expenses rather than startup costs. The laptop ($2,800), software subscriptions ($1,200), and additional advertising ($800) all came after those initial Facebook ads. I'm going to create that spreadsheet everyone mentioned and pull all my Facebook ad data with exact dates and copy. I actually did get a few inquiries from those ads that I followed up on, so I have email documentation showing I was genuinely pursuing business. Thanks everyone for helping me realize this! I was dreading having to amortize everything over 15 years, but it sounds like I might be able to deduct most expenses immediately. Definitely going to consult with a tax pro armed with all this documentation to make sure I get the classification right. You've all saved me a ton of money and stress - this community is amazing!

This is such a helpful thread! I had no idea about the wash sale rule requiring a 30-day wait period after December 31st - that explains so much. I've been getting annoyed with TD Ameritrade every year for the same reason as the OP. One thing I'm curious about though - do any brokerages offer preliminary forms for simple accounts while they work on the complex stuff? It seems like they could at least give us the straightforward dividend and interest income early, even if capital gains and wash sales take longer to calculate. Also, for those mentioning corrected forms - is there a way to tell which investments are more likely to generate corrections? I'm wondering if I should avoid certain types of funds if I want to file early without worrying about amendments later.

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who gets impatient waiting for tax forms every year, I finally understand why the delays are necessary. The wash sale rule requiring a 30-day wait after December 31st was a total revelation - I had no idea that was even a thing. I'm curious about one more aspect though - do these delays affect retirement accounts differently? I have both taxable investment accounts and a Roth IRA with the same brokerage. Should I expect the retirement account tax forms to come out on a different timeline, or do they all get processed together? I assume retirement accounts might be simpler since there are no wash sales or capital gains to worry about for tax purposes. Also, for anyone dealing with multiple brokerages like I am, is there any advantage to consolidating everything with one company to potentially speed up the tax document process, or does it not really make a difference?

As someone who's helped many taxpayers navigate OIC applications, I'd strongly recommend being very strategic about your car situation. The IRS has specific formulas they use to calculate your "reasonable collection potential," and a 2007 Audi A8 with $10-13k equity will definitely be flagged as excessive for basic transportation needs. Since you genuinely don't need the car due to excellent public transit, selling it could actually strengthen your OIC case - but timing and documentation are crucial. Here's what I'd suggest: 1. Document your public transportation usage starting now - keep receipts, track costs, maybe even take photos of your regular routes to show accessibility. 2. If you sell the car, be prepared to account for every dollar. The IRS will want to see exactly where that money went on Form 433-A. 3. Consider keeping a small portion to buy a much cheaper, basic transportation vehicle (under $4,000 value) - this shows you're being responsible while dramatically reducing your asset base. 4. Don't rush the sale just to file your OIC. Better to take time to properly document everything than to create red flags by appearing to hide assets. The key is showing the IRS that you're making genuine lifestyle adjustments to address your tax debt, not just moving money around to game the system. Transparency and documentation will serve you much better than trying to time things perfectly.

I've been through a similar situation with ADHD-related tax issues, so I really understand the stress you're dealing with. The fact that you're taking proactive steps to address this shows you're on the right track. Regarding your Audi situation, I'd lean toward selling it given your excellent public transit access. A 2007 Audi A8 will definitely be viewed as more than basic transportation by the IRS, and since you genuinely don't need it, this could actually work in your favor for the OIC. Here's what worked for me: I sold my car and used part of the proceeds to buy a reliable used vehicle worth under $3,500 (staying within the IRS's typical allowance for vehicle equity). The rest went toward immediate living expenses that I could fully document. This showed the IRS I was making responsible choices while addressing my financial situation. The key is complete transparency. When you file Form 433-A, you'll need to report the sale and account for where every dollar went. The IRS isn't trying to trap you - they just want to see that you're not hiding assets or spending frivolously. Start documenting your public transportation usage now if you do decide to sell. Keep receipts, note your regular commute routes, and maybe even screenshot transit maps showing coverage in your area. This documentation helps justify why you don't need a car for basic transportation needs. Don't let the complexity paralyze you - the IRS actually wants to work with taxpayers who are making good faith efforts to resolve their situations. Focus on honest disclosure and reasonable financial decisions, and you'll be in a much better position.