Just a practical tip about pulling client contact info - if you can't access his practice management software, check if he used a tax software like Lacerte or Drake. You can often export client lists with contact details directly from these programs. Also, look for client engagement letters - they should have contact information and might be stored either physically in filing cabinets or digitally in a folder on his computer.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is an incredibly difficult situation to navigate while grieving. From a practical standpoint, I'd recommend checking if your brother had any written protocols or wishes documented about how to handle his practice in case of emergency. Some CPAs include basic succession planning in their business documents. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to secure his office and any physical client files immediately if you haven't already. You'll want to change locks and ensure confidential documents are protected during this transition period. Also, consider reaching out to your local CPA society chapter. They often have resources and volunteer programs to help families in situations exactly like this. They may even be able to connect you with CPAs who specialize in practice transitions and can guide you through the proper procedures. Your sister-in-law's emotional state is completely understandable, but I'd gently suggest that transparency tends to work better in the long run. Clients who discover the truth later may feel deceived, which could create unnecessary complications during an already challenging time.

7 Just FYI - if you're e-filing (which I highly recommend), the software automatically includes all the required schedules. You don't have to worry about which forms to send or in what order. The software calculates everything and submits all required forms electronically. I do both 1099 and W2 income every year and e-filing makes it so much simpler.

11 One thing nobody mentioned - if your 1099 income is below $400 for the year, you don't need to file Schedule SE because you won't owe self-employment tax. Saved me some paperwork last year!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation. Filed my return on February 5th and my cycle code date passed on March 8th - it's been over 6 weeks now with absolutely no movement on my transcript. Just keeps showing "processing" like it's stuck in some kind of digital purgatory. The timing couldn't be worse either since I was counting on that refund to help with some unexpected medical bills. I've called the IRS four times this week and keep getting that infuriating "high call volume" message before it disconnects me. It's like they don't even want to talk to taxpayers! @Natasha Volkova your breakdown of codes to look for is incredibly helpful - I'm going to check my transcript tonight for those 570/971 codes you mentioned. And honestly @Connor O'Neill that ClaimYr service is starting to look really appealing. $20 to actually speak to a human being seems totally reasonable at this point considering I've probably wasted 10+ hours trying to get through their regular phone lines. Has anyone had any luck with contacting their local congressman's office? I heard they sometimes have special lines to the IRS for constituent services. Might be worth a shot if we're all still stuck in limbo much longer. This whole system really needs an overhaul! 😤

I'm in exactly the same situation and it's driving me absolutely insane! Filed on February 14th and my cycle code passed on March 12th - it's been over a month now with zero updates. My transcript still shows the same processing date and "Where's My Refund" is completely useless. What really gets me is that I did everything right - filed electronically, double-checked all my info, used direct deposit - and yet here I am waiting like everyone else. Meanwhile my coworker who filed a week after me got her refund 3 weeks ago! Makes no sense. @Natasha Volkova thank you SO much for that detailed list of tips! I had no idea about those specific codes to look for. I'm definitely going to check my transcript tonight for 570 or 971. And the Taxpayer Advocate Service sounds like something I should know about - will look into that too. @Connor O'Neill that ClaimYr service is looking more and more tempting. I've wasted probably 15+ hours this week trying to get through to the IRS with no luck. $20 to skip the phone tree hell seems totally worth it at this point! Has anyone noticed if certain tax software seems to have more delays? I used TurboTax this year but wondering if that could be a factor. At this point I'm grasping at straws trying to figure out why some of us are stuck while others breeze through! 😩

Has anyone dealt with the IRS actually processing an amended return for this type of situation? I filed mine 8 months ago to fix a similar dependent claim issue and still nothing.

Based on what you've described, your ex's demand for a retroactive Form 8332 covering all 7 years seems unreasonable and potentially problematic. Since you mentioned you're the custodial parent and your decree doesn't specifically mention Form 8332, there's an important issue here that others have touched on. If your ex has been claiming his designated children for the past 6 years WITHOUT having Form 8332 from you, he may have been filing incorrectly. The IRS requires the custodial parent to release their claim via Form 8332 for the non-custodial parent to legally claim the child, regardless of what the divorce decree says. My recommendation: 1) Only provide Form 8332 for 2021 (the year with the actual error), 2) Document that you've been following the agreement correctly for 6 years, and 3) Consider whether he actually needs retroactive forms to fix his own past filing errors. Don't let his aggressive tactics pressure you into signing something that could create complications with your correctly filed returns. The mistake was limited to one year, so your response should be too.

If anyone else finds themselves with an unexpected deposit, whatever you do, DON'T SPEND IT until you know for sure it's yours. My cousin got a random $7k from the IRS last year, spent it all, and then 3 months later they said it was an error and wanted it all back. He didn't have it anymore and now he's on a payment plan with the IRS.

Just want to add another perspective here - I work in banking and see these "TCS TREAS 449 MISC PAY" deposits fairly regularly. The code specifically indicates miscellaneous Treasury payments that fall outside normal tax refund processing. In most cases I've seen, these are legitimate payments from: - Amended returns that took years to process - Interest payments on delayed refunds (the IRS pays interest when they take too long) - Automatic adjustments when their systems catch calculation errors - Various tax credits that got processed separately from your main return The key thing is that the IRS almost never sends money by accident - their systems have multiple checks. But definitely verify what it's for before spending it. The advice about checking your transcripts and looking for any IRS mail is spot on. One more tip: if you do need to contact the IRS directly, try calling early morning (7-8 AM) when the phone lines first open. You'll have much better luck getting through than during peak hours.