Another thing to consider - if you end up having to make the payment again while this is being sorted out, make sure to request abatement of any penalties and interest when you file your tax return. The IRS has a "reasonable cause" exception for situations like this. Form 843 is what you'd use to request abatement, and you'd include all your documentation showing you attempted to make the payment on time. I've seen cases like this where the IRS approved the abatement because it was clearly the payment processor's fault, not the taxpayer's.

I'm going through something very similar right now with a different payment processor! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I used DirectPay to make a $4,200 estimated payment back in February and it's been missing for over 8 weeks now. What's really frustrating is that these third-party processors charge convenience fees (I paid an extra $35) but then can't even guarantee the payment actually reaches the IRS. At this point I feel like paying directly through the IRS website is the only safe option, even though their system is clunkier. I'm definitely going to try the bank dispute route based on what others have shared here. Has anyone had success getting the convenience fees refunded too when disputing these charges? It seems unfair to pay extra for a "service" that didn't work. Also planning to file complaints with both the BBB and CFPB as suggested. These payment processors need to be held accountable for these systemic issues that are clearly affecting multiple taxpayers.

Before you drive yourself crazy trying to figure this out, do what I did and use taxr.ai to decode your transcript. I tried for weeks to understand why I suddenly had a balance due on my taxes and this tool explained it all in normal human language. Turns out I had a calculation error in my original filing and they actually explained what happened and what I needed to do. Worth every penny.

Hey Mei! I went through something very similar with my NY state taxes last year. That "balance due" definitely caught me off guard too, especially when I was expecting a refund. In my case, it turned out to be a combination of two issues: 1) NY didn't properly credit all my quarterly estimated payments I made, and 2) there was a small miscalculation on my return that I hadn't caught. My advice is to definitely NOT pay that $347 right away. First, log into your account and look for any section that shows "account activity" or "payment history" - you want to verify that all your withholding from your W-2 actually got applied to your account. Sometimes there are delays or processing errors. Also, compare the "taxes assessed" amount on your transcript to what you calculated when you filed. If there's a difference, that's your clue that either you made an error or they did. The good news is that even if you do owe the money, NY gives you time to pay without huge penalties as long as you address it reasonably quickly. But definitely verify first - their system makes mistakes more often than you'd think!

Quick question - does anyone know if UNITED STATES NATURAL GAS FUND LP reports to the Swiss tax authorities through any automatic exchange programs? I'm wondering if the IRS shares this K-1 information with Switzerland automatically or if it's only reported if I file something with the IRS?

I went through this exact same situation last year with UNITED STATES NATURAL GAS FUND LP as a non-US resident! For such a small investment ($144), you're likely looking at more hassle than it's worth, but you do technically have reporting obligations. The key thing to understand is that even though you sold quickly and made no profit, the K-1 reports your share of the partnership's activities for the entire tax year, not just your holding period. This could include income, expenses, and other tax items that flow through to partners. As a Swiss resident, you'll want to look into whether you qualify for any exemptions under the US-Switzerland tax treaty. The treaty has provisions that might reduce or eliminate your US tax obligations, especially for small amounts. You might need to file Form 8833 to claim treaty benefits even if you don't owe any tax. My advice: Don't ignore it completely, but consider the practical cost-benefit. A tax professional consultation might cost more than your entire investment, but at least get some basic guidance on whether you can safely avoid filing or need to do minimal reporting. And definitely avoid these partnership investments in the future if you want to keep things simple!

PayUSATax was actually sued in a class action a few years back for similar issues. Search for "PayUSATax processing fees lawsuit" and you'll find the details. Might give you some leverage if you mention this when dealing with them. Their customer service improved dramatically after that lawsuit. Also, if all else fails, you can request Currently Not Collectible status from the IRS while the dispute is ongoing to prevent them from taking collection actions against you. It's temporary but gives you breathing room.

I've been dealing with a similar issue with PayUSATax and wanted to share what finally worked for me. Beyond filing the CFPB complaint (which is absolutely essential), I also filed complaints with both the Better Business Bureau and my state's attorney general office. PayUSATax suddenly became much more cooperative once they had multiple regulatory complaints to deal with. They eventually provided me with detailed transaction logs showing exactly where my payment went wrong in their system. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed spreadsheet of every phone call - date, time, representative name, reference numbers, and what was promised. When I escalated to supervisors, having this timeline made it clear I'd been getting the runaround. Also, if you haven't already, request your complete account transcript from the IRS (not just the online summary). Sometimes payments show up there with different reference numbers or dates that don't match what you're expecting. You can request it by phone or mail - the transcript shows EVERYTHING that's been posted to your account. The whole ordeal took about 3 months to resolve, but I did get my money back plus the IRS waived all penalties once they confirmed the payment processor error. Don't give up - you have more rights in this situation than they want you to know about.

The IRS utilizes a dual-system approach for processing. Your Account Management System (AMS) transcript typically updates on a weekly basis if you're on that cycle, while the Refund Processing System (RPS) operates daily. In many cases, the RPS will initiate your Direct Deposit through the Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service before your next scheduled AMS transcript update. I'd recommend monitoring both the WMR tool and your financial institution, as either could reflect your refund status change before your transcript updates.

I'm in the exact same boat - gig worker, weekly transcript cycle, and just saw my transcript update today with no DDD yet. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring! It sounds like there's a decent chance we could see our deposits before next Friday's transcript update. I'm definitely going to start checking my bank account daily now instead of just obsessing over the transcript. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful during tax season stress!