Has anyone used one of those DIY cost segregation software programs? I've seen a few advertised that supposedly let you do your own study for a few hundred bucks. Wondering if those are legitimate or just asking for trouble.

I was in a similar situation with my rental duplex last year. My CPA initially suggested the case law approach, but after reading all these responses, I decided to go with a hybrid solution and used the taxr.ai service that Ella mentioned. What really sold me was that it gave me professional-level documentation without the full engineering study cost. The report they generated was detailed enough that my CPA was comfortable filing it, and it included specific references to the methodology they used for categorizing different property components. For your $875K property, you're probably looking at significant potential savings. I'd suggest at least getting a quote from taxr.ai to compare against what a full engineering study would cost. In my case, the additional first-year deductions more than paid for the service cost, and I feel much more confident about audit defense than I would have with just the case law approach. The peace of mind was worth it for me - especially since rental property depreciation can be scrutinized more closely by the IRS.

I've seen this happen before, and sometimes the issue isn't with the IRS processing but with how the amendment was prepared. Back in 2022, I had a similar situation where my amended return showed $0 adjustment because I had made an error in how I calculated the change. Have you considered getting a second opinion on your amendment from a tax professional? It might be worth paying for an hour of a CPA's time to review what you submitted. In my case, I had to submit a second amended return to correct the first one, which was a headache but eventually resolved the issue. Sometimes the DIY approach with amendments can lead to technical errors that aren't obvious to non-professionals.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed my amended return in June and it's been showing that same frustrating $0 adjustment since September. What I've learned from talking to multiple IRS reps is that when your amendment involves claiming additional credits (especially CTC or EITC), it automatically triggers what they call an "identity verification review." The $0 is basically a placeholder while they verify you're eligible for the credits you're claiming. The really annoying part is that this review can take 16-20 weeks from the processing date, not the filing date. So even though yours was "processed" in September, the clock for the review period actually started then. As for the CTC payments stopping - that's standard procedure when there's any kind of review involving child-related credits. They pause all payments until the review is complete to avoid overpayments. I know it's incredibly frustrating, but from what I've seen in this community, most people eventually get their full refund once the review is complete. Hang in there!

Check if you have a 971 code coming after the 570. That usually means they sent you a notice explaining the hold

Code 570 with EIC claims is pretty standard - they're just verifying your qualifying children and income. Since your credits are already scheduled for April 15th, the IRS is confident they'll release the hold by then. The fact that you filed so early (February) actually works in your favor because there's plenty of time for them to complete their review before the scheduled release date. Most EIC verification holds clear within 4-6 weeks, and yours should be resolved well before April 15th based on the timeline shown.

mine cleared after 6 weeks. hang in there!

Looking at your transcript, the good news is your refund amount is solid at $15,621 - all your credits and withholdings add up correctly. The 570/971 combo usually means they're verifying some of your credits, possibly the large ones totaling $10,846. Since your 971 notice was issued 03-27-2023, you should have received or will receive mail explaining what they need. Sometimes it's just identity verification or documentation for certain credits. The April 16th dates you're seeing are just processing cycle dates, not your actual refund date. With a cycle code ending in 05, you're on a weekly cycle which is actually better for getting updates. Keep checking your transcript weekly for changes - once that 570 drops off, you should see an 846 refund date code pretty quickly after. Have you received any mail from the IRS yet? That 971 notice will tell you exactly what's holding things up.

Check if you can verify your identity online through ID.me - sometimes that speeds things up

I went through this exact same situation last year! The 570/971 combo is frustrating but pretty standard - it just means they're doing some kind of verification review. Since your math is perfect and you filed early, it's likely just a random audit or income verification check. The good news is your transcript shows everything processed normally on 4/17, so you're definitely getting that $8,368 refund - it's just a matter of when. The 971 notice should arrive soon and tell you exactly what they need. In my case, it was just identity verification and took about 6 weeks total once I responded to their letter. Pro tip: keep checking your transcript weekly for updates. Once you see the 570 code reverse (showing as a negative amount), your refund should be released within a few days. Hang in there!