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Daniel White
I've been lurking on this sub for a while but had to jump in because I literally just resolved this exact same issue last week! Got a CP81 notice back in February showing a $2,890 credit with the same "we don't have your return" message. Like everyone else here, I was totally confused because I distinctly remember e-filing through FreeTaxUSA and getting confirmation emails. After reading similar threads and trying the suggestions people mentioned, here's what actually worked: First, I checked my filing software account and found a rejection notice buried in an obscure "messages" section that I had completely missed. My return was rejected because I fat-fingered my prior year AGI by one digit. The software showed "submitted" but never actually made it through to the IRS. Second, I created the IRS online account everyone keeps mentioning and pulled my wage transcript. Sure enough, it showed my exact W-2 withholding amounts that matched the credit in the notice - so I knew the money was real. The whole process from refiling to getting my refund took about 4 weeks once I corrected the AGI error. The relief when that direct deposit finally hit was incredible! For anyone dealing with this - don't panic, check your tax software for hidden rejection messages, and definitely create that IRS account to verify what they have on file. That credit is YOUR money waiting to come home!
This is such a relief to hear from someone who just went through the exact same process! Your experience with FreeTaxUSA having the rejection notice buried in an obscure "messages" section is eye-opening - it makes me wonder how many people miss these critical notifications because they're not prominently displayed. The one-digit AGI error is exactly the kind of thing that would be so easy to miss but would cause a rejection. I'm definitely going to double-check my prior year AGI when I refile. Four weeks from correction to refund doesn't sound too bad either, especially considering how backed up the IRS has been. Thanks for sharing the step-by-step of what actually worked - it's giving me a clear roadmap to follow. The fact that your wage transcript matched the credit amount in the notice perfectly really confirms that these CP81 notices are legitimate and not some kind of error or scam like I was worried about initially.
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I received a CP81 notice last week showing a $5,234 credit but claiming my 2021 return was never received. Like many of you, I used TurboTax and was certain I had filed everything correctly. After reading all these responses, I immediately went to check my TurboTax account and found a rejection notice from April 2022 that I had completely missed! It was rejected for an incorrect prior year AGI, just like several others mentioned here. The scary part is TurboTax still showed my return as "submitted" in the main dashboard, but the rejection was buried in a separate notifications area. I just created my IRS online account this morning and pulled my wage transcript - it shows the exact W-2 withholding amounts that add up to the credit mentioned in my notice. This confirms that the money is real and represents actual tax withholdings my employer reported to the IRS. It's honestly shocking how common this issue seems to be based on everyone's experiences here. Makes me wonder if there was a systematic problem with e-filing systems in 2021/2022 that affected way more people than anyone realized. I'm planning to refile this weekend with the correct prior year AGI. Thank you all for sharing your stories - knowing I'm not alone in this and that it's totally fixable has been such a huge relief!
Wow, your story is almost identical to what so many others are experiencing! The fact that TurboTax showed "submitted" on the main dashboard while hiding the rejection notice in a separate area is really concerning - how many people are missing these critical notifications? It's fascinating that the prior year AGI error seems to be such a common rejection reason. I'm wondering if there was something specific about how that information was being validated in 2021 that caused more rejections than usual, or if people were just more likely to make mistakes with their AGI after all the pandemic-related tax changes. Your $5,234 credit being perfectly matched by your wage transcript is exactly the confirmation everyone needs to see that these CP81 notices are legitimate. It really drives home the point that this is YOUR money that's been sitting there waiting, not some kind of IRS error or scam. Good luck with your refiling this weekend - sounds like you've got all the pieces figured out now!
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Just a quick heads up - if you decide to mail in your Form 1065, make sure you're using the CURRENT YEAR form from the IRS website. I made the mistake of using an old form I had saved, and it caused all kinds of problems. Also, send it certified mail so you have proof of when you sent it. The IRS lost my mailed form one year and tried to hit me with late filing penalties!!
Diego Vargas
ā¢This happened to me too! The IRS claimed they never received my mailed Form 1065 and I had no proof of mailing. Ended up paying over $800 in penalties. Certified mail with return receipt is absolutely worth the extra few dollars.
Yeah, the return receipt is key! I learned my lesson after that first disaster. Also, keep a complete copy of everything you mail them - all schedules, attachments, everything. They sometimes claim they received the form but not all the required schedules, which can also trigger penalties.
I've been in the exact same boat with those ridiculous software fees! Another option you might consider is hiring a local CPA or tax professional who specializes in small business returns. I found one who charges around $300-400 for Form 1065 preparation and e-filing, which is still way less than what the premium software was charging me. The advantage is that they handle all the complexities, ensure everything is filed correctly, and can advise you on the business name change process too. Plus, if there are any issues or questions from the IRS later, you have someone to call who already knows your situation. Just make sure to get quotes from a few different professionals in your area - prices can vary quite a bit. Some even offer package deals if you have them handle both your personal and business returns.
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Sean Kelly
You might also want to consider filing a complaint with your state's Department of Labor if your former employer is still dodging their responsibilities. Many states require employers to provide W-2s even after closing, and some have penalties for failing to do so. In the meantime, definitely go with Form 4852 as others have suggested. One tip that helped me in a similar situation: if you remember your hourly rate or salary, multiply that by the hours/months you worked to get your gross wages. Then use online tax calculators to estimate what would have been withheld based on your income level and filing status. Also keep any emails or documentation showing you tried to get the W-2 from your employer - this proves you made good faith efforts to get accurate information, which the IRS appreciates if they ever have questions. Don't let this stress you out too much. The IRS deals with these situations regularly, especially with all the business closures in recent years.
Jacinda Yu
ā¢This is really helpful advice about filing with the Department of Labor! I didn't even think about that angle. Does anyone know if there's a time limit on filing those kinds of complaints? My employer closed down over a year ago now. Also, the tip about using tax calculators to estimate withholding is smart. I was just guessing at random percentages before, but using an actual calculator based on my income level would definitely give me more accurate numbers for the Form 4852.
Sara Unger
I went through almost exactly this situation two years ago when my company suddenly folded. The fact that your wages aren't showing up on your IRS wage transcript is a dead giveaway - they definitely never submitted your W-2 information despite their claims. Here's my step-by-step advice based on what worked for me: 1. **File Form 4852 immediately** - Don't wait any longer since your extension deadline is approaching. This substitute form is specifically designed for missing W-2 situations. 2. **Gather whatever evidence you have** - Even if it's just bank deposit records showing your net pay, work emails mentioning your salary, or anything that helps establish what you earned. 3. **Be methodical with your estimates** - I used my final pay stub (luckily I had one) to calculate my year-to-date totals. If you don't have that, work backwards from your known salary/hourly rate and time worked. 4. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your attempts to contact the employer, any responses you got, and how you calculated your estimates. The IRS wants to see you made good faith efforts. 5. **Don't panic about perfect accuracy** - The IRS understands these situations happen. As long as your estimates are reasonable and well-documented, you should be fine. The key thing is just getting your return filed before the October deadline. You can always amend later if more accurate information becomes available. Good luck!
This is exactly the kind of comprehensive advice I needed! Thank you so much for laying out the steps so clearly. I've been paralyzed by not knowing where to start, but this gives me a concrete action plan. I do have a few bank statements showing the direct deposits, and I remember my hourly rate, so I should be able to work backwards to get reasonable estimates. The part about documenting my good faith efforts is really important - I have email exchanges with the former owner where they kept promising the W-2s were "being worked on." One quick question: when you filed Form 4852, did you attach any kind of explanation letter, or did you just submit the form with your supporting documentation? I'm wondering if I should write something explaining the situation or if that's unnecessary. Really appreciate you sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know others have successfully navigated this mess!
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Try clearing your cache and cookies before logging in. Sometimes that fixes the 6000 error. Worked for me last year!
Zainab Ali
ā¢tried that already but no luck :
Error 6000 is super frustrating! I had the same issue last month. If clearing cache doesn't work, try using a different browser or incognito mode. Also make sure you're using the direct IRS.gov link and not going through any third-party sites. Sometimes the verification system gets confused if you've been bouncing between different entry points. The 7-10 day wait for the letter is accurate in my experience - got mine on day 9.
Luca Romano
ā¢This is really helpful advice! I've been dealing with the same error and hadn't thought about the third-party sites issue. Quick question - when you say "direct IRS.gov link", do you mean going straight to irs.gov/identity-protection-pin rather than through Google search results? Just want to make sure I'm doing it right when I try again.
Yara Haddad
The IRS publication about this (Pub 970) actually explains it but in the most confusing way possible lol. For AOTC, you can claim it for only 4 tax years, AND you have to be in one of the first 4 years of your post-secondary education program. So if you took 5 years to complete a 4-year bachelor's program, you can only get AOTC for the first 4 years. For year 5, you'd need to switch to the Lifetime Learning Credit.
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Keisha Robinson
ā¢I thought it was just 4 years total regardless of what "year" you're in academically? My advisor told me as long as you haven't claimed it 4 times already you can still get it.
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Yara Haddad
ā¢Your advisor is partially right, but there's more to it. You can claim AOTC for up to 4 tax years, but there's also a requirement that you must be enrolled in one of the first 4 years of post-secondary education (what the IRS considers your freshman through senior years). If you're in what would academically be considered your 5th year or greater (like if you're working on a second bachelor's or have been in school longer than the typical 4-year program), you generally wouldn't qualify regardless of how many times you've claimed it before. The Lifetime Learning Credit doesn't have this restriction, which is why it's available for graduate students and lifelong learners.
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Paolo Conti
Quick tip for future reference: Keep good records of which years you claim each education credit! I've been audited before specifically about education credits and had to go back through 5 years of returns to prove my eligibility. I use a really simple spreadsheet now that tracks: 1. Which years I claimed AOTC 2. Which years I claimed Lifetime Learning 3. My qualified expenses for each year 4. Which 1098-T forms correspond to which tax year
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Amina Sow
ā¢How do the 1098-T forms work with this? Mine always seems to have different amounts than what I actually paid because of timing of the payments vs when classes start.
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