If nothing else works, I ended up using a free screen recording tool (OBS Studio) to scroll through all my entries slowly, then typed them up while watching the recording. Not elegant but worked for me when I had a similar problem with 43 trades last year.

I've dealt with this exact frustration before! Here's what worked for me with H&R Block Desktop: Try using the "Print Preview" function first - sometimes this unlocks the ability to select text that you can't normally copy from the main interface. From Print Preview, you can often highlight and copy the transaction data. Also, check if your version has a "Data Export" or "Export to Accountant" feature under the File menu. Some versions hide this option but it can export your entire return including Schedule D details to various formats. One workaround I discovered is to use the "Interview Notes" or "Tax Summary" view instead of the forms view - the data is often presented in a more copy-friendly format there. You might find it under View > Interview or similar. With 53 transactions, manual entry would be brutal, so definitely worth trying all the automated options first. If you do find the hidden export feature that others mentioned, make sure to double-check the wash sale calculations since those can get tricky when moving data between systems.

As someone who works in cybersecurity, I'd add that you should also check the physical characteristics of the letter itself. Legitimate IRS correspondence uses specific paper stock and printing quality that's difficult to replicate. Look for perforated edges if it's a multi-part form, consistent font spacing, and clear, high-resolution printing of the IRS seal. Scammers often use lower-quality paper or inkjet printing that looks slightly "off" compared to official government correspondence. Also, the mailing envelope should have official IRS return addresses and postmarks - never from generic PO boxes or private mailing services. When in doubt, take photos of both the letter and envelope and compare them to samples on the official IRS website before proceeding with any verification steps.

Great question about verifying 5071C letters - I went through this same concern last year! Here's what helped me feel confident about the authenticity: First, I logged into my IRS online account at irs.gov to see if the same notice appeared there (it did). Second, I called the main IRS line at 800-829-1040 rather than any number on the letter itself - they confirmed it was legitimate and walked me through the process. The verification itself was straightforward through IDVerify.irs.gov, though you'll need access to your credit report information or financial account details to complete it. One tip: don't wait too long to respond, as there's typically a 30-day window before your return gets further delayed. The whole process took me about 15 minutes once I verified it was legitimate, and my refund was released within a week after completion.

I went through this exact same thought process when I started my S Corp! The contractor idea seems logical at first, but as others have pointed out, it actually creates more problems than it solves. What really helped me understand this was learning that the IRS has specific tests for determining whether someone is an employee vs. contractor, and as an S Corp owner performing services for your own company, you pretty much always fail the contractor test. The key factors they look at include who controls how the work is done, whether you use your own tools/equipment, and the nature of your relationship with the business. Since you own the S Corp, you inherently have control over the work and the business relationship, which puts you squarely in employee territory. The IRS has been very consistent on this - S Corp owners who provide services to their corporation are employees, period. Stick with the reasonable salary approach you're already using. It's the compliant way to get the tax advantages of S Corp status without creating audit risks.

Great discussion everyone! As someone who's been through multiple IRS audits with my S Corp, I can confirm that owner-contractor arrangements are absolutely a red flag they look for. During my last audit in 2022, the agent specifically asked about my compensation structure and whether I had ever tried to pay myself as a contractor. What many people don't realize is that the IRS has gotten much more sophisticated in detecting these arrangements through automated screening systems. They can easily cross-reference your 1120S with your personal return to spot inconsistencies in how you're reporting income from your own corporation. The "reasonable compensation" requirement isn't just a suggestion - it's mandatory for any S Corp owner who provides services to their business. The penalty for getting this wrong isn't just back taxes, it's also interest and potential fraud penalties if they determine you were deliberately trying to avoid payroll taxes. Stick with the tried-and-true approach: take a reasonable W-2 salary for the services you provide, then take additional profits as distributions. It's compliant, defensible, and gives you the tax benefits you're looking for without the audit risk.

I went through this exact same nightmare last month! After getting rejected 6 times with IND-031-04, I finally discovered the issue was that the IRS had made a small adjustment to my 2023 return that I wasn't aware of. Here's what worked for me: 1. Get your Account Transcript (not Return Transcript) from the IRS website - this shows any changes they made after processing your original return 2. Look for transaction code "290" or "291" which indicates adjustments 3. Calculate your adjusted AGI by adding/subtracting any adjustment amounts from your original AGI In my case, they had corrected a math error that reduced my AGI by $89. Once I used the corrected amount in TurboTax, it went through immediately. The whole process is incredibly frustrating because they don't notify you when they make these adjustments, but you're expected to know about them for e-filing verification. If you can't decipher the transcript codes (they're pretty cryptic), calling the IRS directly to confirm your correct AGI might be worth it, even though their phone system is a nightmare. Good luck!

I went through this exact same rejection nightmare with IND-031-04 just two weeks ago! After getting rejected 5 times, I was ready to throw my computer out the window. What finally solved it was realizing that the IRS had made a small adjustment to my 2023 return that I never knew about. Here's my step-by-step solution that worked: 1. Go to IRS.gov and use the "Get Transcript" tool 2. Request your **Account Transcript** for 2023 (NOT the Return Transcript - this was my mistake initially) 3. Look for any transaction codes starting with "29" that have dates after you originally filed 4. These codes show adjustments the IRS made to your return - could be math corrections, missing forms, etc. 5. Calculate your new AGI by adding/subtracting these adjustment amounts from your original AGI In my case, they had corrected an error with my retirement contribution deduction that increased my AGI by $73. Once I used that adjusted amount in TurboTax instead of my original AGI, it went through immediately. The most frustrating part is that the IRS doesn't notify you when they make these adjustments, but then expects you to somehow know about them for e-file verification. It's like they want us to fail! Don't give up on e-filing though - your refund will come much faster than mailing a paper return.

Did anyone address the OPs question about changing withholdings to "deduct mortgage interest month by month"? My understanding is you can adjust your W-4 to have less tax withheld based on ANTICIPATED deductions, but you're taking a risk if you end up not itemizing.

Great question! I went through this exact same confusion when I bought my first home last year. Here's what I learned after making some mistakes: The key thing everyone's touching on is that you need to compare your TOTAL itemized deductions against the standard deduction ($27,700 for married filing jointly in 2023). With your $425k mortgage, you'll probably pay around $20,000-25,000 in interest the first year (depending on your rate), plus property taxes, but that might still not exceed the standard deduction. Regarding withholding adjustments - yes, you can reduce your withholdings through your W-4 if you anticipate itemizing, but I'd be conservative. Maybe adjust for only 75% of what you think you'll save, because if you end up taking the standard deduction instead, you could owe money at tax time. My advice: Run the numbers with a tax calculator first, then make any withholding adjustments gradually. Better to get a refund than owe penalties!