I went through this exact same situation last year - the 4-hour drive requirement feels impossible when you're already dealing with financial stress from delayed refunds. One thing that helped me was calling the main IRS customer service line (not the identity verification hotline) and asking to speak with a manager about hardship accommodations. I explained that the travel distance created a genuine financial hardship, and they were able to flag my case for review by a specialist who had more flexibility with verification options. The key was being persistent but polite, and documenting everything. I also sent a written request via certified mail to the IRS office that was handling my case, explaining the hardship and requesting alternative verification methods. While I still ended up having to make the trip eventually, they did provide me with a very specific list of documents that ensured my verification was completed in one visit. Another suggestion - if you do have to make the trip, try to schedule it for a day when you can combine it with other errands in that area to make the travel more worthwhile. Some people also coordinate with others in similar situations to share gas costs, though I know that's not always practical.

I completely understand your frustration with this situation! The 4-hour drive requirement is really unreasonable, especially after you've already been waiting 14 weeks past their promised timeline. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: 1. **Document the hardship**: When you call the IRS, be very specific about why the 8-hour round trip creates a genuine hardship (not just inconvenience). Mention job constraints, transportation costs, or any other factors that make this particularly difficult. 2. **Try multiple approaches**: Don't just call the identity verification hotline - try the main customer service line and ask for a manager. Also consider submitting a written hardship request via certified mail to create a paper trail. 3. **Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service**: They specifically help with cases where IRS processes are causing hardship. The extended delay plus the travel requirement could qualify you for their assistance. 4. **Get everything in writing**: If you do have to make the trip, call ahead to confirm your appointment and get a detailed list of required documents. Ask them to email or mail you the list to avoid any miscommunication. The fact that you're already 5 weeks past their promised timeline gives you additional leverage when requesting hardship accommodations. Don't give up on finding alternatives before making that long drive!

Something nobody mentioned - check if you have any UBTI (Unrelated Business Taxable Income) on your K-1s! It's usually in Box 20 with code V. If you have any amounts there and you're holding these ETFs in an IRA or other retirement account, you might owe taxes even within your tax-advantaged account. I learned this the hard way with a leveraged natural gas ETF in my Roth IRA. Had to file Form 990-T and pay taxes on the UBTI even though it was in my Roth. Most tax software doesn't warn you about this!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I wanted to add one more consideration that might help others in similar situations. If you're trading these leveraged ETFs frequently (especially doing any wash sale transactions), make sure you're tracking the basis adjustments from your K-1s throughout the year, not just at tax time. The K-1 income/loss can affect your wash sale calculations, and if you're not accounting for the basis adjustments properly, you might be inadvertently creating more complex wash sale scenarios. I made this mistake with some triple-leveraged ETFs where I was doing tactical trades. The partnership income from the K-1s changed my effective basis, which then affected whether certain sales qualified as wash sales when I repurchased similar positions. My tax software completely missed these nuances until I manually tracked everything. Also, keep detailed records of when you receive your K-1s versus when you file your taxes. Some of these ETF partnerships are notorious for issuing amended K-1s months after the original ones, which can really mess up your filing if you've already submitted your return.

I went through this exact situation and want to suggest something that nobody has mentioned yet - if this was your only mistake and the additional tax is relatively small (under $1000), you might qualify for the IRS First-Time Penalty Abatement program. If you have a clean compliance history (filed and paid on time for the past 3 years), you can request that they waive the failure-to-pay penalty. They won't advertise this option, so you have to specifically ask for "First-Time Penalty Abatement" after you've filed your amendment and paid what you owe. This won't eliminate interest charges, but it can save you from the more substantial penalties.

I just want to add some reassurance here - I made a similar mistake a few years ago when I forgot to include a 1099-INT for about $400 in interest income. I was absolutely terrified about what would happen, but it turned out to be much more manageable than I expected. The key is acting quickly like you're doing. I filed my amended return about 3 weeks after realizing my mistake, and the total additional cost was only about $80 in taxes plus maybe $15 in interest. No penalties since I corrected it voluntarily before they contacted me. One thing that really helped was keeping detailed records of when I discovered the error, when I filed the amendment, and when I made the payment. This documentation came in handy when I called the IRS later with a question - they could see I had acted in good faith to correct the mistake promptly. Don't let the anxiety paralyze you - just get the amendment filed as soon as you can and you'll be fine!

Try calling your bank. Ask specifically about pending ACH deposits. Many can see them in their system before they post. Worth a shot. Might save you stress. Some banks have early posting policies. Credit unions often process faster. Online banks vary widely. Navy Federal typically posts overnight. USAA sometimes same day.

Military spouse here who's been through several PCS moves! I always get anxious about refund timing during moving season too. In my experience, that TurboTax email usually means you're 24-48 hours away from seeing the money. What I've learned to do is immediately check my bank's mobile app for any pending transactions - sometimes they show up there before officially posting. Also, since you mentioned checking your transcript, that's actually a great idea! Look for code 846 with a date - that's when the IRS actually sent your refund. The gap between that date and when you got the email can give you a better sense of your bank's processing speed. For future PCS moves, I always try to file early January to avoid any refund delays during peak moving season. Hope your deposit comes through quickly and your move goes smoothly!

Has anyone here actually received IRS notices about missing 1099 income? I'm wondering what the timeline typically looks like. I had a similar situation in 2022 (forgot a small 1099) but never amended and haven't heard anything from the IRS yet.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Forgot about a 1099-MISC for about $3,200 in consulting income. I was terrified about penalties too, but honestly it wasn't as bad as I expected. I filed the 1040-X about 6 months after my original return, paid the additional tax plus some interest (maybe $150 total), and that was it. No audit, no scary letters afterward. The IRS actually processed my amendment pretty quickly - got my refund adjustment in about 8 weeks. My advice: just bite the bullet and file the amendment now. The stress of waiting and wondering is way worse than just dealing with it head-on. Plus, like others mentioned, being proactive definitely works in your favor penalty-wise!