Has anyone tried using certified mail with return receipt for paper filing? I filed by paper in January and still nothing, but I'm wondering if having proof of delivery would help if I need to escalate this through the Taxpayer Advocate.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation! Filed my paper return in February and still waiting after 3+ months. The financial stress is real - I was counting on that refund to catch up on some medical bills and now I'm getting late payment notices. One thing that helped me was documenting everything - every phone call attempt, every time I checked the "Where's My Refund" tool, screenshots of the processing status. I also kept records of any financial hardship the delay is causing (late fees, inability to pay bills, etc.). This documentation becomes really important if you do end up contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service. I haven't tried suing the IRS, but from what I've researched, the sovereign immunity issue makes it nearly impossible unless there's clear negligence or violation of taxpayer rights. The interest they pay on delayed refunds is their way of acknowledging the delay without admitting fault. It's frustrating, but focusing on the TAS route seems more realistic than legal action. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this nightmare!

Has anyone had any luck with Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer)? I filled one out last year after my preparer made a huge mistake with my Schedule C, but I never heard anything back from the IRS. Wondering if it's even worth the time to file this form.

This is such a common issue, and you're absolutely right to feel frustrated! I went through something similar two years ago with a preparer who missed some important business expense deductions. Here's what I learned: Check your engagement letter or contract carefully. Look for clauses about "accuracy guarantees" or error correction policies. Even if they disclaim liability for penalties, many preparers will at least help fix the issue without additional charges if it was clearly their mistake. For business deductions specifically, the key question is whether you provided all the correct documentation and whether the deductions were legitimately allowable. If you gave them proper records and they misapplied the tax rules, that's on them. But if the deductions genuinely weren't allowed under tax law, that's trickier. I'd recommend documenting everything - your original paperwork, what you told them, and their response. Then give them one more chance to make it right before exploring other options like filing complaints with their professional licensing board or small claims court. Don't just pay up without a fight if this was truly their error. You hired them specifically for their expertise, and they should stand behind their work.

Has anybody actually tried calling the number on the CP2000 notice directly? I had a similar issue last year and was surprised when I got through to someone in only about 25 minutes. The agent was super helpful and explained that I could: 1. Request a 30-day extension to respond (which gives you more time to gather documentation) 2. Set up a payment plan even if I agreed with the changes 3. Make a partial payment now to stop some of the interest from accumulating Just sharing cuz sometimes the direct approach works too!

I went through something very similar when I moved and missed a 1099-B from my old brokerage account. The panic is totally understandable, but you have more options than you think! Here's what worked for me: First, don't just accept the CP2000 as final - it's a proposed assessment, not a bill yet. I called the number on the notice (took about 45 minutes to get through, but persistence paid off) and explained my situation. The agent was actually really understanding about the address change issue. The key thing that saved me money was getting my cost basis information from my broker. Even though I'd moved, I could still log into my online account and download all my transaction history. It turned out that while I did owe some taxes on the gains, it was much less than what the CP2000 calculated because the IRS only had the sale proceeds, not what I originally paid for the stocks. I ended up filing an amended return with the correct information and set up a payment plan for the actual amount owed. The whole process took about 6 weeks to resolve, but my final tax bill was about 60% less than what the CP2000 originally claimed. Don't let this stress consume you - it's fixable! Just make sure to respond by the deadline on the notice.

Ur good fam. The IRS moves slower than my grandma with her walker fr fr

Don't panic! 2 days is actually pretty standard right now. The IRS is swamped with early filers and their systems are processing slower than usual. I've seen returns take up to a week to get accepted during peak season. An audit determination wouldn't happen at this stage anyway - that comes much later in the process after your return is already accepted and processed. Just hang tight!

Be careful about timing here. I tried this route last year and was denied because I waited too long. I filed in February, discovered the offset in March, but didn't contact my loan servicer until May thinking I could take my time gathering documentation. Turns out most servicers have a 90-day window from the offset date, and I missed it by about 2 weeks. Now I'm on an IBR plan but that money is gone for good. The worst part? If I had set up the IBR a month earlier, the offset might never have happened in the first place.

This is such valuable information! I wish I had known about these options when my refund got hit with an offset two years ago. For anyone reading this thread, I want to emphasize what several people mentioned about timing - don't wait like I did. I assumed the money was just gone and didn't even try to fight it. Now I'm kicking myself seeing that there were actually options available. The 60-90 day window seems to be pretty standard across servicers, so if this happens to you, act immediately. Also, document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your bank balance, save any overdue notices, and keep records of all your calls. Having worked in customer service myself, I know that detailed documentation makes a huge difference in how seriously your case gets treated.