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.

Has anyone used the Section 179 deduction for purchasing business vehicles? I heard SUVs and trucks over 6,000 lbs qualify differently than regular cars.

Just to add some clarity on the current situation - as of April 2024, there's still no finalized legislation that has restored bonus depreciation back to 100%. The House did pass some tax provisions earlier this year, but they stalled in the Senate. What I'm seeing from my CPA contacts is that most businesses are planning with the current rules (60% bonus depreciation for 2024) while keeping an eye on any late-year developments. The reality is that even if something passes, it might not be retroactive to January 1, 2024. For anyone making major equipment purchases, I'd echo the advice about working with current known figures. You can always amend your return if better provisions get passed later. The Section 179 deduction limits are still quite generous at $1.16M, so that might be sufficient for many small businesses anyway.

Don't forget to check if your state has a tax relief program too! I owed the feds $21k and my state another $7k. I qualified for my state's Hardship Program which actually forgave about half of what I owed them. The federal payment plan was still rough but that state relief made a huge difference. Just google "[your state] tax relief program" and see what comes up.

I'm sorry you're going through this - the stress of owing that much to the IRS is overwhelming, but you do have options. First, definitely don't ignore this or let it spiral further. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is requesting penalty abatement for reasonable cause. Since you mentioned you lost your job 6 months ago and are struggling financially, you might qualify to have some of the penalties removed if you can show the failure to file/pay was due to circumstances beyond your control. Also, make sure you're getting proper representation. The IRS has a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) program that provides free or low-cost assistance to people who can't afford professional help. You can find one in your area on the IRS website. These clinics have attorneys and CPAs who specialize in tax debt resolution. Given your current income situation, you'll likely qualify for Currently Not Collectible status while you get back on your feet. Yes, interest still accrues, but it stops the immediate collection pressure and gives you breathing room to stabilize your finances. Document everything about your financial hardship - job loss, medical bills, basic living expenses. This will be crucial for any hardship-based relief programs you apply for.

I had almost the exact same situation with my 2021 return! The "Return Not Present" message with an 810 freeze code is actually more common than you'd think during heavy processing periods. What's happening is your return was received and assigned the freeze code, but it hasn't been fully processed into their main database yet - that's why it shows as "not present" even though they clearly have some record of it (hence the freeze). The 810 code usually means they're doing additional verification or your return got flagged for manual review. Since you e-filed through TurboTax in February, the good news is it's definitely in their system somewhere. I'd recommend calling the practitioner priority line if you have access, or try calling early morning (7-8 AM) for shorter wait times. In my case, it took about 6 weeks after the 810 appeared for everything to update properly and show my actual return info. Keep checking weekly - once it processes fully, all those blank fields will populate with your actual tax info and the freeze should lift automatically.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now with my 2022 return! Filed in late January through FreeTaxUSA and my transcript has been showing the exact same thing - "RETURN NOT PRESENT" but with an 810 freeze code from February 28th. It's so frustrating because you know you filed but the system acts like it doesn't exist. From what I've researched, the 810 code often gets applied when they need to do manual verification of certain items on your return - things like the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, or if you claimed any recovery rebate credits. The "not present" status just means it hasn't been fully processed through their main system yet, but the freeze code proves they definitely have it. I've been checking my transcript every Monday and it's been the same for about 6 weeks now. Planning to call this week since it's been so long. Have you tried using the "Where's My Refund" tool to see if it gives you any different information than the transcript?