I've been through this exact situation before! The 810 and 570 codes together usually indicate they're doing an income verification review, especially common with self-employment income and EIC claims like yours. The March 17th processing date is actually a good sign - it means they have your return scheduled for completion around then. Since you're on cycle ending in '05, your transcript will only update on Friday mornings, so don't stress checking it daily. A few things that helped me when I was in refund limbo: • Keep checking your mail for any IRS letters (CP05, 4464C, etc.) • Your refund amount is still showing as the full $12,884, which means they haven't adjusted anything yet • Most income verification reviews resolve without needing additional documents from you I know the waiting is brutal when you're counting on that money. In my case, it took about 6 weeks total but I eventually got every penny. The IRS is just being extra careful this year with larger refunds involving self-employment income. Hang in there - that March 17th date gives me hope you'll see movement soon!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year with my self-employment income and EIC claim! The 810 freeze and 570 pending codes are definitely nerve-wracking, but in most cases they resolve without you having to do anything. From what I learned during my own refund delay, the IRS often does these income verification reviews on returns with significant EIC claims and self-employment income - which is exactly your situation. The good news is that your transcript still shows the full $12,884 refund amount, meaning they haven't found any issues that would reduce your refund. That March 17th processing date is actually encouraging. When I had similar codes, my transcript showed a processing date about 6 weeks out from when the review started, and my refund was released within a few days of that date. A couple things that helped ease my anxiety during the wait: • I only checked my transcript on Friday mornings (since you're on a weekly cycle ending in 05) • I watched my mail carefully but never received any letters requesting documents • The review resolved completely on its own after about 5 weeks I know it's incredibly stressful when you're counting on that money, especially with bills piling up. But try to stay optimistic - the vast majority of these reviews end with the full refund being released. Your return looks straightforward and legitimate to me!

I had success with my 2021 refund after waiting patiently. Filed in February 2024, received in April 2024. The key was having meticulous documentation. I created a folder with copies of all supporting documents. Included a cover letter explaining my late filing. Made sure every form was properly signed. Verified my direct deposit information three times. The effort paid off with a smooth process and no unexpected delays.

Different approach that worked for me: • Filed through a tax professional instead of DIY • Used Certified Mail with Return Receipt • Included Form 8822 to update address • Called the dedicated Prior Year Return hotline (not the main IRS line) • Requested Tax Advocate assistance after 60 days Result: 2021 refund processed in 7 weeks instead of the quoted 16 weeks. Anyone tried this combination?

Has anyone actually been audited for messing up the foreign tax credit calculations? I'm wondering if I should just take the simplified foreign tax credit since my foreign taxes are just under $600. Seems way easier than going through all these calculations with percentages and filling out Form 1116.

I went through this exact same situation last year with multiple mutual funds and had to piece together all the foreign source income percentages. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything. I made columns for: Fund Name, Total Dividends (from 1099-DIV), Foreign Source %, and Calculated Foreign Income. This made it much easier to double-check my math and keep everything organized when filling out Form 1116. Also, don't forget to look for any foreign taxes that were actually withheld - these should show up on your 1099-DIV as well. You'll need both the foreign income amount AND the foreign taxes paid to complete the foreign tax credit calculation properly. For your domestic funds, even if the foreign percentage seems small (like 2-5%), it's still worth including since every bit helps with the credit calculation.

Question for anyone who knows - if my employer already issued the 1099-R for the excess contribution and took out withholding, can I still get them to correct the W-2 instead? Or am I stuck with the double taxation situation at this point?

I went through almost the exact same situation last year with my 401k excess contribution! The confusion around company acquisitions and payroll transitions seems to create these issues more often than you'd think. From my experience, your instincts are absolutely correct - they should be correcting your W-2 from last year rather than issuing you a 1099-R for this year. Since you discovered and reported this in February (well before the April 15th deadline), you're entitled to the "return of excess deferrals" correction method that avoids double taxation. Here's what worked for me: I had to be very persistent and specific about citing IRS regulations. When I called my 401k administrator, I specifically mentioned IRC Section 402(g) and asked for their "excess deferral correction procedure for contributions identified before April 15th." I also referenced IRS Publication 525 which covers this exact scenario. The 20% withholding they took is standard for any distribution from a qualified plan, but if they do the correction properly, you'll get credit for that withholding and they should issue you a corrected W-2 showing the reduced contribution amount added back to your taxable wages for last year. Don't let them convince you that their way is correct just because it's easier for them administratively. You have the right to the proper correction method, and it will save you from paying taxes twice on the same money. Keep escalating until you find someone who understands the retirement plan rules - many HR generalists simply aren't familiar with these specific correction procedures.

There's a simple way to check if an extension was actually filed. Call the IRS at the Practitioner Priority Line (1-866-860-4259) and ask for a "tax account transcript" for the tax year in question. The transcript will show exactly when your return was received and if an extension was filed. This is official IRS data that can't be manipulated by your accountant. You can also request it online through the IRS website if you create an account. The transcript will show every transaction with date stamps. If your accountant really filed an extension, it will appear with code "460" on your account transcript.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a violation of trust when a professional you rely on isn't honest with you. Based on everything you've described, I agree with the other commenters that your accountant appears to be lying. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: you should document everything immediately while it's still fresh. Write down all the dates your accountant told you things were filed, save every email and text message, and keep copies of any documents he provided (even the suspicious ones). This documentation will be crucial if you decide to pursue malpractice claims or file complaints with regulatory bodies. Also, since you mentioned this is affecting both federal and state taxes, make sure you're addressing both separately. State tax authorities often have their own penalty abatement programs, and the process might be different from the federal IRS abatement. The $13,000 in penalties is substantial enough that you might want to consult with a tax attorney who specializes in penalty abatement cases. Many offer free consultations and can quickly assess whether you have grounds for both penalty relief and potential recovery from your accountant's errors or omissions insurance. Don't let this drag on any longer - every day those collection notices get more serious, and your options may become more limited.