Have you tried these steps to troubleshoot? 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies 2. Try accessing your account from a different browser 3. Check if you're logged into the correct IRS online account (sometimes people have multiple accounts) 4. Verify the notification you received is actually from the IRS and not a phishing attempt 5. Try accessing the IP PIN section directly through the IRS main page rather than through any links in emails Just curious - how did you receive notification that they issued the PIN? Was it by email, physical mail, or through your online account message center?

This happens more often than you'd think. Here's what you need to know: • IP PINs typically take 2-3 business days to appear online • Peak tax season (now) can extend this to 3-5 days • The notification system and the online display system are separate • If you need it urgently, calling is your best option • Weekend days don't count as business days for IRS systems I'd give it until at least Friday before worrying too much about it.

PLEASE be careful with these refund advances!!! I used one last year through Jackson Hewitt's online system and almost got AUDITED because their system didn't properly handle my self-employment expenses! According to https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions, you could get your refund in 21 days or less by e-filing with direct deposit. My friend just filed on 2/1 and already got her refund yesterday! These advance companies are making $$$ off people who need their money fast. If you absolutely need the advance, make SURE you read all the fine print about fees!!!

Have you considered filing through a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site and then applying for a separate refund advance loan through a financial institution? Ohio has numerous VITA locations that handle self-employment income below certain thresholds, and they file for free. Then you could separately apply for a Tax Refund Express Loan through regional banks like Fifth Third or Huntington that serve Ohio/WV. This separates the filing from the advance, potentially giving you better terms on both. I've seen people get their returns filed more accurately this way while still accessing funds quickly.

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements), refunds are automatically applied to tax debts even with a payment plan. I was in your position last year and needed to speak with an IRS agent about my options. After trying to call for days, I used https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS representative in about 30 minutes. Has anyone else confirmed that there's absolutely no way to request they don't take your refund? I'm looking for definitive information.

The IRS will take your refund. This happens to everyone on a payment plan. Your refund will be applied to your debt automatically. No exceptions. This actually benefits you by reducing your balance faster and cutting down on penalties and interest. Your monthly payment amount stays the same. You'll receive a notice showing how they applied your refund. Don't count on getting any of that money back.

I completely understand your frustration. I've been through this exact situation before. Here's what you need to do now: Step 1: Create an online account at IRS.gov and access your tax transcripts. Look specifically for any transaction codes like 570, 971, or 420. Step 2: If you see those codes, you likely have an audit or review situation. If your transcript isn't available, that's actually important information too. Step 3: File Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Advocate Service) and explain your financial hardship. Be specific about impacts. Step 4: Contact your Congressional representative's office. They have dedicated staff for IRS issues and can often get answers when you can't. Step 5: If possible, visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. Make an appointment first by calling 844-545-5640. I know it's frustrating, but following these steps in this order will give you the best chance of resolution. The system is overwhelmed, but being persistent through the right channels will get you results.

Does anyone know if tax advocate services are free? I'm in the same situation. Filed in March. Still waiting. Getting worried. Will they charge me? How long does it take to get help?

Have you tried making an in-person appointment at your local IRS office? Call 844-545-5640 to schedule. Sometimes getting face-to-face help is more efficient than phone calls. Just make sure you bring ID and any relevant tax documents.

The IRS phone system has different options depending on your specific issue. What exactly are you trying to resolve? That will determine which number and which menu options are best for your situation.

I went through something similar with household employee misreporting last year. Have you tried requesting a wage and income transcript directly from the IRS? This would show exactly how your income was reported to them. Did your employer provide you with any documentation explaining their tax treatment of your compensation? Was any portion of your compensation specifically designated as a housing allowance? Did you receive regular paystubs showing how your income was categorized? The more documentation you have about your actual earnings, the stronger your case will be when filing Form 4852.

Here's a specific example that might help: My client was a live-in elder care provider in 2022, and her employer did the exact same thing - put all wages in Box 14 labeled as "excluded lodging benefits." The IRS held her refund for months. We resolved it by filing Form 4852 along with her employment contract showing her hourly rate, timesheets documenting hours worked, and a statement calculating the reasonable value of lodging versus actual compensation. We explicitly referenced IRS Publication 15-B regarding the proper treatment of lodging benefits. The IRS processed this within 6 weeks and released her refund with interest. The key was providing clear documentation showing which portion of compensation was legitimately excludable lodging and which portion was taxable wages.

You need to file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) immediately. This isn't technically identity theft in the traditional sense, but the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service has confirmed this is the correct form to use when an ex improperly claims a dependent. The key is to check Box 2 and specifically note "Dependent Claimed Improperly by Non-Custodial Parent" in the explanation. This triggers a different review process than just waiting for them to find your return. I've seen processing time reduced from 6+ months to 8-10 weeks when this form is properly submitted with supporting custody documentation.

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent: paper returns with competing dependent claims are taking 4-6 months to process in 2024, compared to 2-3 months for standard e-filed returns. Unlike a simple processing delay, your situation is more complex because it involves the Child Tax Credit, which is now $2,000 per qualifying child ($1,600 refundable). This is significantly more than the old dependent exemption amounts, which is why the IRS scrutinizes these cases more carefully than they did 5-10 years ago. In similar situations I've seen, taxpayers who included a detailed explanation letter and custody documentation with their original filing had faster resolution times than those who just filed a standard return.

What's the amount on the check? Is there any reference number or tax year mentioned? Did your husband have any loan forbearance during COVID? Was there any recent loan consolidation or servicer changes? These details would help determine the exact source of this refund.

Be very careful with unexpected IRS checks. It's like finding money in an old coat pocket - exciting but potentially complicated. I deposited what I thought was a legitimate refund check last year, only to receive a notice six months later saying it was sent in error. The IRS then wanted the money back with interest. Think of it like borrowing from a friend who suddenly remembers the loan - except this friend charges penalties. I recommend setting the money aside in a separate account until you're absolutely certain it's yours to keep.

I've dealt with IRS correspondence for over a decade now, and I've noticed a pattern with certified letters. In my experience, about 70% of them are notices of deficiency (basically saying they think you owe more), 20% are identity verification requests, and 10% are various other issues. Back in 2021, I received a certified letter that wasn't showing in my online account. It turned out to be a simple request to verify some education expenses. The online account didn't update until almost 3 weeks later. The IRS still operates with some systems that don't communicate well with each other.

Ever wonder why the IRS - with all its power and resources - can't seem to get its online system to match its paper notices? I had a certified letter scare last year that turned out to be nothing serious, but it made me realize how archaic their systems still are. What if we ran our finances the way they run theirs? We'd all be bankrupt! My advice: always pick up certified mail promptly, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING tax-related for at least 3 years, and remember that most IRS issues are fixable if addressed promptly. The worst thing you can do is ignore it and hope it goes away - that's when the real problems start.

I had a somewhat similar issue, though perhaps not quite as serious, with a different tax preparation company last year. After several frustrating attempts to resolve it through their customer service channels, I finally spoke with a district manager who was actually quite helpful. They ended up not only fixing the error at no cost but also provided a partial refund of my preparation fees. It might be worth asking specifically for a district or regional manager rather than just dealing with the local office.

I documented a comparable situation with photographic evidence in 2022. The preparer had checked the wrong box for education expenses, causing my American Opportunity Credit to be denied. When I showed them the error with highlighted sections of my original documents compared to their input screens, they couldn't deny responsibility. One effective strategy: create a side-by-side comparison document showing what information you provided versus what they entered. For education credits specifically, Section 25A of the tax code is very clear about qualified expenses, and IRS Publication 970 provides explicit examples they should have followed.