Has anyone tried using the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers for help with business returns? I know they primarily focus on individual taxes, but I'm wondering if they could help with a simple inactive 1120 filing.

I went through this exact same situation with my dormant LLC that got converted to a corporation right before COVID hit. One thing I learned that might help - if your corporation truly has had zero activity since formation, you may want to check if your state considers it "never commenced business" which could affect both your state and federal filing requirements. For the federal 1120, paper filing is definitely your cheapest option at zero cost beyond postage. Make sure to check Box G on page 1 if this is a final return, or leave it unchecked if you plan to potentially reactivate later. The IRS actually processes tons of these zero-activity corporate returns, so don't worry about it being unusual. Also worth noting - if you're planning to stay inactive for multiple years, the ongoing compliance costs (both federal and state) might exceed the cost of dissolution and reformation later. Delaware franchise taxes alone can add up quickly for dormant entities.

I'm going through a Head of Household audit right now too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add something that really helped my case - if you have any receipts or documentation for medical expenses you paid for your qualifying dependents, make sure to include those. I paid for doctor visits, prescription medications, and even over-the-counter medicines for my kids throughout 2022, and my tax preparer said these expenses count toward household support since they're directly related to caring for your dependents. Even small amounts like $20 co-pays add up over the year and help show you were the primary financial provider. Also, if you paid for any transportation costs related to the kids (gas money for school pickup, bus passes, etc.), those receipts can help too. The IRS seems to take a pretty broad view of what constitutes "maintaining a household" when it comes to supporting dependents. Your property tax payments sound like they'll be the strongest piece of evidence though - that's a substantial household expense that clearly shows financial responsibility for the home. Combined with everything else you've documented, you should be in great shape!

I just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in tax preparation - your situation is actually quite common and the IRS has seen this before! Many families have utility bills in one person's name while another person actually pays them, especially in multi-generational households. One thing that might help strengthen your case is if you have any written communication (texts, emails, or even handwritten notes) between you and your mom about bill payments. For example, if she ever texted you reminders about when bills were due or thanked you for covering expenses, those can serve as supporting evidence that you were the one handling the financial responsibilities. Also, consider including any receipts for home maintenance or improvements you paid for during 2022 - things like yard work, repairs, pest control, or even basic maintenance supplies from Home Depot. These all count toward "keeping up the home" and help paint a complete picture of your financial responsibility for the household. The property tax receipts you have are excellent evidence, and combined with the school records proving the kids lived with you, you're building a strong case. Don't let the audit stress overwhelm you - you clearly qualified for Head of Household status and just need to document what actually happened. Stay organized and respond thoroughly to their requests!

I've been having the exact same issue! Called at 7:10 AM this morning and got the "call back during normal business hours" message, which makes no sense when they're supposed to be open. It's incredibly frustrating when you have a time-sensitive tax question. One thing I discovered recently is that the IRS has different phone numbers for different types of issues, and some seem to have better availability than others. If you're calling about a specific notice you received, try using the phone number printed directly on that notice rather than the general taxpayer assistance line. I had much better luck when I called the number on my CP2000 notice compared to the main 1-800-829-1040 line. Also, I've found that calling exactly at 7:00 AM (not even 7:01) gives you the best shot at getting through. Their system seems to hit capacity almost immediately after opening. Set an alarm and have your phone ready to dial right at 7:00 on the dot. If all else fails and you just need basic account information, the automated system at 1-800-829-1040 can actually provide quite a bit of info if you have your SSN and filing details handy. It's not ideal, but sometimes it can answer simple questions without needing to talk to a human. Hope this helps - the IRS phone situation is definitely broken, but persistence usually pays off eventually!

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration for weeks now! The IRS phone system is absolutely broken during tax season. What's worked for me is calling at exactly 7:00 AM EST - not 7:01, but right at 7:00. Their system hits capacity within minutes of opening. Also, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings if possible. Mondays and Fridays are the worst for wait times. If you're calling about a specific notice, use the phone number printed on that notice rather than the general line - those department-specific numbers often have better availability. For refund questions, the "Where's My Refund" tool on irs.gov updates daily and might save you from having to call at all. But I totally understand wanting to speak to someone when you have a complex situation like an amended return. The "call back during normal business hours" message is just their way of saying they're at maximum capacity - it doesn't mean they're actually closed. Keep trying every 15-20 minutes and you'll eventually get through. It's ridiculous that we need these workarounds just to reach our own tax agency, but persistence does pay off!

I've been with Republic Bank for just over a year and can confirm what everyone else is saying about their speed with tax refunds! My first refund with them last year was scheduled for February 15th and I had it by 1:30 PM that same day. This year was even faster - scheduled for March 5th and it was in my account by 10:45 AM. What I really appreciate about Republic is their transparency with deposits. Unlike my old bank (PNC) which would show pending deposits for days, Republic posts them as available funds almost immediately once they receive the ACH transfer from the IRS. You won't see it sitting in "pending" status - when it hits, it's available. For your situation with bills and the upcoming trip, I'd definitely recommend scheduling any critical payments for Monday the 24th at the earliest, but Tuesday the 25th would give you complete peace of mind. Republic has never disappointed me with timing, but it's always smart to have a buffer when you're dealing with important bills before traveling. One last tip - if you use Republic's online banking, you can set up account balance alerts in addition to the deposit notifications. I have mine set to text me when my balance goes above a certain threshold, which has been super helpful for knowing immediately when my refund posts. Good luck with your deposit and have an amazing trip next month!

I've been banking with Republic for about 6 months now and just went through my first tax season with them. My refund was scheduled for March 12th and I received it at 7:45 AM that same morning - I was honestly surprised how early it posted! What really impressed me was that Republic's customer service was super helpful when I called to ask about their deposit timing beforehand. The rep explained that they process IRS deposits as soon as they receive them rather than waiting for their standard business hour posting times like many banks do. Since you're scheduled for Friday the 21st, I'd expect to see your funds anywhere from early Friday morning through Friday afternoon at the latest. For your bill planning, I think Monday the 24th would be perfectly safe based on all the experiences shared here. Republic has been significantly faster than my previous bank (US Bank) which would routinely hold tax refunds for 2-3 business days. One thing I'd suggest is logging into your online banking Thursday evening to double-check that your account info is all correct and there are no holds or restrictions. That way if there are any issues, you can address them before the weekend. Hope your refund comes through smoothly and you have a great trip next month!

As someone who just discovered this community while frantically searching for IRS phone help, I have to say this thread is absolutely life-saving! I've been procrastinating on calling about a penalty notice for two weeks because I kept hearing nightmare stories about 4+ hour hold times and disconnections. Reading through all these success stories with the 7am Eastern strategy has completely changed my game plan. I was going to try calling during my lunch hour tomorrow (which I now realize would be a disaster based on what I've learned here), but instead I'm setting my alarm for 4am Pacific to try the early morning approach on Friday. I've already downloaded the IRS2Go app, printed my tax transcript, and organized all my documentation tonight based on everyone's preparation tips. The checklist idea mentioned earlier is genius - I'm making one with all my penalty notice details and reference numbers so I don't fumble when I finally get through. It's absolutely mind-boggling that we need Navy SEAL-level planning just to talk to someone about our taxes, but I'm so grateful this community has cracked the code! The transformation from weeks of dread to 30-minute successful calls gives me hope that there's actually a way out of this maze. I know someone mentioned Fridays can be busier, but the early morning timing seems to trump the day-of-week factor based on all these success stories. Fingers crossed - I'll definitely report back with my results to add to this incredible resource!

As a newcomer to this community who's been dealing with the exact same IRS phone nightmare, I just want to say how incredibly valuable this thread has become! I've been avoiding calling about a discrepancy in my tax account for over three weeks because every horror story I heard involved 3+ hours on hold followed by disconnections. After reading through all these detailed success stories and strategies, I finally feel equipped to tackle this. The 7am Eastern timing advice from the former IRS employee makes so much sense - of course that's when the lines are least congested! I'm planning to try Monday morning at 7:00am sharp (yes, 4am Pacific wake-up, but it's clearly worth it based on everyone's results). I've already printed my tax transcript, highlighted my AGI, downloaded the IRS2Go app, and created a checklist with all my reference numbers and key information organized. The level of preparation required just to get basic tax help is honestly absurd, but this community has turned what seemed like an impossible task into a manageable challenge with proven strategies. The transformation stories here - from weeks of failed attempts and hours of wasted time to 20-30 minute successful resolutions - give me genuine hope that there's actually a way through this system. Thank you all for sharing your hard-earned wisdom and creating this incredible resource. I'll definitely report back with my results to hopefully add another success story!