I went through this exact process with my wife from the Philippines about 6 months ago. Using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent was definitely the right choice for us. The agent we found through the IRS website was professional and made the whole process much less stressful. A few tips from my experience: First, verify the agent's credentials directly on the IRS website before committing. Second, ask about their experience with your spouse's specific country - some agents are more familiar with certain documentation requirements. Third, get a clear breakdown of all fees upfront (ours was $150 total). The biggest advantage was that my wife didn't have to mail her original passport anywhere. The agent verified everything locally and sent certified copies to the IRS. We got her ITIN in about 7 weeks, which was faster than some people I know who did it themselves. For something this important, having that professional guidance was worth every penny.

I went through this same process with my spouse from Germany about a year ago and can definitely recommend using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent. The peace of mind was worth it, especially since we didn't have to worry about original documents getting lost in international mail. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much here - make sure to ask the Acceptance Agent about their turnaround time for reviewing and submitting your documents. Some agents batch their submissions weekly, while others submit more frequently. This can affect your overall timeline. Also, double-check that they're familiar with Brazilian documentation requirements specifically. Each country has slightly different document formatting and translation requirements, and you want someone who's handled Brazilian cases before. The agent we used had worked with German documents many times, which made the process much smoother. Overall, using an Acceptance Agent saved us probably 2-3 weeks compared to doing it ourselves, and we avoided the stress of mailing irreplaceable documents internationally. Just make sure you're comfortable with their fees and process before committing.

I remember when amended returns took like 12 weeks max. Now we're all out here waiting half a year+ like clowns 🤡

Same here - filed amended return in October and still waiting. The "adjustments pending" status is actually progress though! I've been tracking mine on the IRS website and once it moved to that stage, I got my refund about 6 weeks later. Hang in there, sounds like you're getting close! 🤞

Had the same 570 code last year and it drove me crazy! Turned out to be just routine review - no verification needed. Mine cleared after exactly 28 days with a 571 code appearing first. The key is checking your transcript weekly not daily (saves your sanity). If you haven't gotten any CP notices by now, you're probably just in the normal review queue. Hang in there! 💪

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got a 570 code about 2 weeks ago and it's been radio silence since then. My return is pretty straightforward - just W2 income and standard deduction - so I'm hoping it's just routine review like others have mentioned. The waiting is definitely stressful especially when you see other people getting their refunds already. Thanks for posting this, at least I know I'm not alone! 🤞

Check your wage and income transcript too. Sometimes employers mess up reporting and that triggers the 570

Been through this exact situation! Code 570 with multiple credits can be really stressful but it's actually pretty common. The IRS often puts a hold when there are several credits on one return (like your EIC, multiple 766 codes) - they just want to verify everything is legit. The code 960 (appointed representative) likely means they've assigned a specific examiner to your case, which can actually be good since it means someone is actively working on it rather than it just sitting in a pile. Don't file an amended return unless you get a specific letter asking for one - that could actually slow things down more. Most of these resolve within 60-90 days from the 570 date. Keep checking your transcript weekly and watch your mail for any IRS correspondence. Hang in there! 💪

One tip for your 1040-ES that helped me: set up a separate savings account and automatically transfer 25-30% of each payment you receive as a contractor. That way when the quarterly payment comes due, you already have the money set aside and aren't scrambling. I learned this the hard way my first year when I spent everything I earned and then couldn't make my tax payments! The IRS penalties add up quickly.

Don't forget that as a self-employed person, you likely qualify for some retirement account options that can significantly reduce your taxable income! Contributing to a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k) will lower the income you're calculating your 1040-ES payments on. I reduced my quarterly tax payments by almost 30% by maxing out my retirement contributions. It's like paying yourself instead of the IRS.