I've been in a very similar situation and wanted to share what worked for me. First, don't panic about those transcript entries - they're scary looking but don't mean immediate action is happening. Here's what I learned through my experience: **Payment Plan Strategy**: Set up your payment plan ASAP, even before your refund gets applied. This shows good faith and stops the collection clock. You can always adjust the payment amount later if needed. **Communication Timeline**: Once you establish a payment plan, the IRS typically sends confirmation within 30 days. Keep checking your online account - sometimes the updates show there before you get the paper notice. **Pro tip**: When you call or apply online, ask specifically about "Currently Not Collectible" status if your financial situation is still tight. This can pause collection activities while you get back on your feet, though interest will still accrue. **Your refund advantage**: That $2,500 refund will definitely help! After it gets applied automatically, you'll only owe around $2,800. At $100/month, that's less than 3 years to pay off - very manageable. The most important thing is to act now rather than wait. The IRS really does prefer working with people who are proactive. I wish I had reached out sooner instead of letting the anxiety build up. You've got this!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I also had a major life event (divorce) in 2019 that completely derailed my tax situation for 2020. The stress and confusion of trying to understand all those IRS codes and notices is overwhelming. Your situation actually sounds more manageable than mine - at least you've been current on your taxes since then and have that refund coming. I'm still catching up on multiple years. One thing I learned recently is that those transcript codes can mean different things depending on your specific situation, so it's really worth getting clarification directly from the IRS rather than trying to guess. The "levy imposed" language is definitely scary, but from what others are saying here, it sounds like you still have time to get ahead of this. I'm probably going to try some of these suggestions myself - the payment plan option sounds way less intimidating than I thought it would be. Thanks for posting this question because the responses are helping me understand my own situation better too! Have you checked if there are any local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs in your area? They sometimes have people who can help interpret IRS notices for free, though I'm not sure if they handle collection issues.

I went through almost the exact same situation with TaxSlayer last year! The interface really is confusing and not being able to see the actual form before submitting is such poor design. The reality is that Form 4868 mistakes like yours are incredibly common and the IRS system is designed to handle them. Since you're expecting a refund, you're in the best possible position - there are literally no penalties that can apply to you. The IRS only cares about underpayment when you actually owe taxes. Your final tax return will completely override whatever was on that extension form. Think of the 4868 as just a placeholder that bought you time - your real tax situation gets determined when you file your complete return. The mistake won't affect your refund amount at all, and you won't get any scary letters from the IRS about it. Just file your complete return by the October 15th deadline and you'll be totally fine. The stress you're feeling is way worse than the actual problem!

I completely understand your anxiety about this! Form 4868 errors are actually one of the most common tax mistakes people make, especially with confusing software interfaces like TaxSlayer's. Here's the key thing to remember: Form 4868 is purely administrative - it's just telling the IRS "I need more time to file my complete return." The estimated tax amount on line 6 doesn't create any obligation or expectation on the IRS's part. They won't send you a bill based on that number, and they won't expect payment. Since you're anticipating a refund when you file your actual return, you're in the safest possible position. The IRS only assesses penalties for underpayment of taxes, not overpayment. When someone is due a refund, there's literally no penalty mechanism that could apply. Your complete tax return (Form 1040) will show your actual tax liability and refund amount. That's what determines everything - the extension form becomes completely irrelevant once your real return is processed. The math error on your 4868 won't impact your refund by even a penny. Just make sure to file your complete return by October 15th, and you'll get your full refund without any issues or complications from this extension form mistake.

If you have your last paystub from December, it should show year-to-date totals for all your earnings and withholdings. You can actually use those numbers to fill out a Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) if your employer doesn't correct this soon. I had to do this once when my employer went bankrupt before sending W-2s. Just be sure to explain on the form that your original W-2 had empty boxes 1-6. The IRS will follow up with your employer about it.

I'm a restaurant manager too, and this happened at our place last year because of a software update in our payroll system. Check your paystubs against your bank deposits to make sure you're actually getting paid correctly first. Sometimes when boxes 1-6 are empty, it means you've been miscategorized in the system. Our payroll company had accidentally marked several managers as "statutory employees" which messed up their W-2s. Took about 2 weeks to get corrected W-2s issued. Definitely don't file with the empty W-2!

Just wanted to share my timeline for anyone in a similar situation. My wages were garnished on April 7th. I finally reached the IRS on April 13th after countless attempts. I explained my hardship situation, and they released the levy on April 19th, so about 12 days total from start to finish. The agent set me up on a $150/month payment plan (much more manageable than the $800/month they were taking through garnishment). They also told me the garnishment wouldn't have happened if I had responded to their notices - but I never received them because they were sending them to my old address from two years ago!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! The IRS started garnishing 35% of my paycheck two weeks ago for about $8,900 I owe from 2020-2021. Like you, I never got any warning notices - they must have gone to my old apartment. I've been reading all these responses and tried calling the IRS every single day. Finally got through yesterday using the early morning strategy someone mentioned (called at 7:02 AM). The wait was still 45 minutes but at least I didn't get disconnected. The agent was actually really helpful once I explained my situation. She said I qualified for economic hardship relief because the garnishment was preventing me from paying rent and utilities. I had to fax over my bank statements, pay stubs, and bills to prove my expenses. She said it should take 5-7 business days to process the hardship request and release the levy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this actually works. The stress of not knowing if I can pay my bills is killing me. Will update if the garnishment gets released!

Whatever you do dont use Jackson Hewitt, there even worse than H&R. File yourself and save the $$

fun fact: you can file for free on the IRS website if you make under 73k