UPDATE: After 440 days (yes, over a year!), I finally received my amended refund last week. No explanation for the delay, just a check in the mail with interest added. The interest didn't come close to making up for the stress and hassle, but at least it finally arrived. If you're still waiting, don't give up. Keep calling, use the Taxpayer Advocate Service, contact your congressional rep, and utilize any of the services others have mentioned here. Sometimes persistence is the only way through the IRS bureaucracy.

Emma, I feel your pain! I went through something very similar last year with an amended return for the solar credit. What finally worked for me was getting my tax account transcript and finding the specific "freeze code" that was holding up my refund. In my case, it was code 810 which meant they needed additional documentation that I never received a notice about. Once I knew the exact issue, I was able to call the amendments department directly (not the general number) and get it resolved quickly. You can get your transcript online through the IRS website, but honestly the codes are like reading hieroglyphics. If you're comfortable spending a little money, those transcript analysis services that others mentioned really do help decode what's actually happening with your case. Sometimes knowing the specific problem is half the battle. Also, document every call you make - date, time, who you spoke with, and what they told you. If you end up escalating to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, having that detailed record really helps your case. Hang in there - 7 months is frustrating but you will eventually get your refund!

Great question! I actually deal with this exact situation every year. You're absolutely right that you can deduct the portion of your umbrella policy that covers your rental property - it's considered an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRS rules. For your $1,200 annual premium, the 50/50 split sounds reasonable if both properties have similar values and coverage needs. However, I'd recommend being a bit more precise in your allocation method. You could base it on: 1. Relative property values (get recent appraisals or use assessed values) 2. Square footage of each property 3. Replacement cost coverage amounts in your policy Whichever method you choose, just document it clearly and use it consistently year after year. Keep a simple spreadsheet showing your calculation and any supporting documents (like property value estimates). One tip: reach out to your insurance agent and ask if they can provide a breakdown of how the premium is allocated between properties. Some companies can give you this in writing, which makes excellent documentation for your tax files. You'll report the deductible portion on Schedule E under "Insurance" along with your other rental property expenses. At $600 (if you go with 50%), it's a solid deduction that's definitely worth claiming!

Just wanted to add another perspective on documentation - I've found that taking screenshots of your insurance policy declarations page can be really helpful too. Most policies show the coverage limits for each property address, which can support your allocation method. Also, don't forget that if you have a property manager for your rental, their fees are deductible too! I see a lot of people miss that one. And if you're driving to check on the rental property for maintenance or showing it to tenants, those mileage expenses can add up over the year. The umbrella policy deduction is definitely legitimate - I've been claiming it for 4 years now with no issues. The key thing the IRS wants to see is that you're not just making up numbers, but using some logical method to split business vs personal expenses. Your 50/50 approach sounds totally reasonable for properties of similar value.

I still don't understand why the IRS can't create a decent tracking system like literally every other organization on the planet. UPS, FedEx, Amazon, even my local pizza place can tell me exactly where my stuff is in real-time. But the federal government with billions in budget can't tell me where my own money is? It's insane.

I went through this exact same panic last year! The funded to unfunded status change on SBTPG is actually their way of saying "we've processed your refund and sent it to your bank." It's super confusing terminology - they should really call it "forwarded" or "sent to bank" instead of "unfunded" which sounds scary. When I called my bank after this happened, they told me the deposit was already in their system and would post the next morning. Check your bank account early tomorrow - I bet you'll see it there! The timing usually works out exactly as originally scheduled even with the confusing status change.

The form you're looking at for the Annualized Income Installment Method (Form 2210 Schedule AI) is arguably one of the most confusing IRS forms. For each period (Jan-Mar, Jan-May, Jan-Aug, Jan-Dec): 1. AGI cumulative: Your total AGI from Jan 1 through the end of that period 2. Earned income cumulative: Your total earned income (SE income, wages) from Jan 1 through that period 3. QBI deduction cumulative: Your total QBI deduction from Jan 1 through that period The numbers might look strange because: - QBI (17,780) is likely your business profit that qualifies for the QBI deduction - The 19,132 under earned income is probably your total SE income after SE tax deduction - Your gross 32,000 is before all deductions Make sure for each cumulative period you're including ALL income from the beginning of the year, not just for that quarter!

I went through this exact same confusion last year with my freelance income! The key thing that finally clicked for me was understanding that these are three completely different calculations: **AGI cumulative** = ALL your income sources (business, investments, any W-2s, etc.) minus above-the-line deductions, accumulated from Jan 1 through each period end **Earned income cumulative** = Just the income you actively worked for (your self-employment income), accumulated from Jan 1 through each period end **QBI deduction cumulative** = 20% of your qualified business income (subject to limitations), accumulated from Jan 1 through each period end The reason your numbers look different is because: - Your $32,000 gross is before any deductions - Your $19,132 earned income likely reflects your SE income after the SE tax deduction - Your $17,780 QBI is probably your business profit that qualifies for the 20% deduction For your quarterly breakdown, you'll need to calculate each period's income, then create running totals. So if Q1 had $5k, your Period 1 would be $5k. If Q2 had $4k, your Period 2 would be $9k total, etc. The annualization factors come later in the form - first you need these cumulative amounts!

The "transition year" thing is complete nonsense! I worked for H&R Block for 7 years and never once heard of this concept. Your tax status is determined by your marital status on December 31st, period. One thing to consider - if your spouse has already filed incorrectly as Single, and you file correctly as Married Filing Separately, it's going to throw up major red flags in the IRS system. The computer will automatically notice the discrepancy between your returns.

I'm a tax professional and I can confirm that your husband's tax preparer is absolutely incorrect. There is no such thing as a "transition year" for newly married couples in the IRS tax code. This is a serious error that needs immediate correction. Your filing status for 2024 is determined solely by whether you were married on December 31, 2024. Since you got married in May 2024, both you and your husband MUST file as either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately for the 2024 tax year. The fact that you're on a payment plan, when you started living together, or any other circumstances don't change this fundamental rule. Your husband needs to file an amended return (Form 1040X) immediately to correct his filing status from Single to either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately. This is especially critical given your immigration paperwork situation. Having inconsistent filing statuses between spouses can create serious complications with USCIS and may be viewed as fraudulent documentation. Immigration authorities cross-reference tax returns with other paperwork, and discrepancies can delay or jeopardize immigration cases. I'd strongly recommend finding a new tax preparer who actually knows the tax code. A professional with "40+ years of experience" should never make such a basic error about marital filing status requirements.