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Just checked my mail and got this notice from IRS saying I owe $800 for 2020 tax year. How is this even possible when I only made around $10,000 that year?? I've checked IRS.gov and the tax tables for 2020 and someone in my income bracket should barely owe anything. I moved to the US in 2019 and filed everything correctly according to TurboTax. This doesn't make sense at all. Has anyone dealt with something similar?
Ever tried calling the IRS directly? It seems like the obvious solution, but have you experienced the nightmare of waiting on hold for hours only to be disconnected? I was in the same situation with my small business return last month. After five failed attempts, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed my return was flagged for additional review due to my Schedule C. Isn't it worth knowing exactly what's happening rather than guessing?
I've been doing my small business taxes for 7 years now, and returns with Schedule C income almost always take longer. Last year I filed on February 12th and didn't get my refund until April 22nd. The year before that was similar. The IRS prioritizes simple W-2 returns first, then moves to the more complex ones with business income. I've learned to just expect 45-60 days minimum and file as early as possible. Checking transcripts weekly rather than daily helps keep the anxiety down too.
I may be in the minority here, but I actually prefer calling the IRS directly rather than relying on the online tools. I called the dedicated refund hotline (800-829-1954) last week about my March 9th filing, and while I had to wait about 35 minutes, the representative was surprisingly helpful. She confirmed that my return was selected for a random review (something that wouldn't have been clear from just the transcript codes) but that everything looked good and processing should be complete within 7-10 days. Sure enough, my refund was deposited yesterday, exactly 8 days later. Sometimes, the human touch can provide insights that the automated systems simply can't.
You got incredibly lucky. I tried calling that exact number on April 2nd, April 5th, and April 9th - each time I got the automated message saying call volume was too high and to try again later. Never even made it to the hold queue.
9d
I filed on March 11th, just one day before you, and had the exact same WMR status change on March 18th. My transcript became available on April 8th showing code 570 (temporary hold) dated March 25th. On April 15th, it updated with code 571 (hold released) and code 846 (refund issued) with a date of April 20th. The refund hit my account this morning, April 19th, one day early. The entire process took exactly 39 days from filing to refund. Based on the similar timeline, I'd guess your transcript will update very soon if it hasn't already.
Are you dealing with a situation where the 1099-NEC amount doesn't match what you actually received? I'm curious if this is similar to what happens with 1099-K discrepancies where payment processors report the gross amount without considering fees and returns. Have you already tried contacting the issuer of your 1099 to see if they can provide clarification or issue a corrected form?
Under Internal Revenue Code Ā§6654(e)(3), you may qualify for a waiver of underpayment penalties if you can demonstrate reasonable cause for the discrepancy. THIS IS TIME-SENSITIVE! You need documentation from the IRS acknowledging the 1099-NEC issue BEFORE submitting your quarterly payment on April 15th. The Practitioner Priority Service line (866-860-4259) is technically for tax professionals but can be accessed if you indicate you're calling about a specific compliance issue under Notice 2022-36. You'll need your EIN or SSN, the tax period in question, and specific details about the discrepancy ready when you call.
That Practitioner line suggestion isn't accurate for most taxpayers. They verify preparer credentials with a CAF number in exactly 98.7% of calls. A better approach is to call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 for 1099 issues. They have an average wait time of 32 minutes versus the general line's 97 minutes during the period of March 15-April 15.
10d
Using Form 843 terminology really helped me get through to someone when I had a similar issue. When I finally reached an agent after trying for days, I immediately mentioned "Request for Abatement under Notice 2022-36 for reasonable cause exception" and the agent knew exactly what I was talking about. They transferred me to a specialized unit that handles these cases. The IRS phone system is like a labyrinth - you need the right keywords to navigate it effectively!
8d
I had success with my 2021 refund after waiting patiently. Filed in February 2024, received in April 2024. The key was having meticulous documentation. I created a folder with copies of all supporting documents. Included a cover letter explaining my late filing. Made sure every form was properly signed. Verified my direct deposit information three times. The effort paid off with a smooth process and no unexpected delays.
Different approach that worked for me: ā¢ Filed through a tax professional instead of DIY ā¢ Used Certified Mail with Return Receipt ā¢ Included Form 8822 to update address ā¢ Called the dedicated Prior Year Return hotline (not the main IRS line) ā¢ Requested Tax Advocate assistance after 60 days Result: 2021 refund processed in 7 weeks instead of the quoted 16 weeks. Anyone tried this combination?
I actually found that using a tax professional made my process slower, oddly enough. They made an error on my return that I wouldn't have made myself, and that triggered a manual review. But I do think the Certified Mail approach is smart - I'll definitely use that next time.
7d
Did the Prior Year Return hotline actually help? I've been trying different IRS numbers with no luck. What's the best time to call them?
7d
OMG I'm in the EXACT same boat!!! Filed on January 29th and STILL waiting! Called yesterday and they told me it could be ANOTHER 60 DAYS!!! I have bills due NOW! This is absolutely INSANE! The deadline for us to file is strict but they can take FOREVER to process?! š¤š¤š¤ If I owed them money they'd be charging me interest and penalties already!
This delay is actually shorter than what many people are experiencing with amended returns. Standard processing is running about 10-18 weeks compared to amended returns taking 6-8 months in some cases. The error correction queue moves faster than the manual review queue, at least based on what I've seen across different tax situations.
Shorter than amended returns? Is that supposed to make anyone feel better? Why can't the IRS just process returns correctly in the first place? Why do we accept this level of incompetence from a government agency? My state refund came in 8 days, but federal takes months?
7d
Has anyone checked the IRS2Go app for updates? Sometimes the app shows different information than the Where's My Refund website. I've also found that checking your tax transcript on IRS.gov can show processing stages that aren't visible on WMR.
7d
Did your Where's My Refund status change directly from "Still Processing" to showing a deposit date, or did it go through the "Approved" stage first? The technical progression should be Return Received ā Return Approved ā Refund Sent, but sometimes the IRS system updates all at once, skipping the middle stage in the user interface.
Have you tried checking your tax transcript instead of WMR? Isn't that supposed to be more accurate and detailed? I've been checking WMR for weeks with no updates, but when I finally checked my transcript online, it already showed my refund was processed. Why doesn't the IRS sync these systems better?
I've been filing taxes for 20+ years and never knew about checking transcripts until last year! Always just used WMR and wondered why it was so vague. Transcripts show everything - adjustments, holds, verification codes. Last year my WMR showed nothing but my transcript had all the info I needed.
7d
Transcript access is definitely more informative than WMR. Here's what to look for: ā¢ Code 150: Return filed ā¢ Code 570: Processing hold ā¢ Code 971: Notice issued ā¢ Code 846: Refund issued The cycle code (last 2 digits) tells you which processing cycle you're in. 05 cycles update on Thursdays/Fridays, 02 cycles update on Mondays/Tuesdays.
7d
Have you checked your tax transcript instead of just WMR? Many people don't realize that transcripts update more frequently and with more detailed information than WMR ever provides. Here's what might be happening: 1. Your return could be in the verification queue, which doesn't trigger WMR updates 2. There might be a minor discrepancy that's being fixed automatically 3. The IRS could be experiencing database synchronization issues between their systems I'd recommend checking your account transcript every Tuesday and Friday morning (when the IRS typically updates their systems). If you see cycle codes ending in 05, you're on a weekly update schedule. If they end in 01-04, you're on a daily update schedule. That alone can tell you when to expect movement.
THANK YOU for explaining the cycle codes! I've been so confused about why some people get updates different days than others! This makes so much more sense now and gives me something to actually look for instead of just checking randomly and hoping. Really appreciate you taking the time to break this down!
9d
WMR is notoriously unreliable. It doesn't update consistently. Many returns are processed without WMR changes. Mine updated only after deposit. Check your bank account daily. That's more reliable. IRS is processing 2/20-2/25 filers now. You're probably in that batch. The system is overloaded. Delays are normal. Don't panic yet.
Have you checked your Account Transcript for TC 570/971 combination codes? These specifically indicate a hold on your refund that wouldn't show on WMR. TC 570 indicates a temporary freeze while TC 971 typically indicates a notice being generated. If you see these followed by TC 571, that means the hold was released.
7d
I'm wondering if perhaps the OP might have any credits on their return? Sometimes, returns with certain credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit might possibly be subject to additional verification, which could potentially explain the delay, I believe.
7d
OMG I JUST GOT MY DDD TODAY AFTER BEING STUCK WITH CODE 152 FOR WEEKS! ššš Filed 3/5, accepted same day, and NOTHING until today! My transcript updated overnight with an 846 code and deposit date for next Wednesday! The WMR tool is STILL showing processing. Don't lose hope! The system is just completely overwhelmed this year. For what it's worth, I never called or did anything special - it just suddenly updated. Sending good vibes your way! š
Last year I was in a similar situation with medications I needed. What worked for me was contacting my local Taxpayer Advocate Service office. They can help when you have a financial hardship situation like medical needs. I called on April 12th, had an appointment on April 15th, and my refund was processed by April 22nd. They have special authority to expedite returns when there's a documented hardship. I brought my prescription receipts and a letter from my doctor explaining the necessity.
Do you think this would work for me too? I'm worried about bothering them. Would they need specific documentation? How do I find my local office? I'm sorry for all the questions.
11d
I went through this exact situation and needed clarity on whether amending was worth it. Called the IRS for three days straight and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr.com (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to connect with an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed I would benefit from amending and explained exactly how to proceed. Saved me days of frustration and uncertainty. Some things you really need to hear directly from an IRS rep.
Thank you! I might try that service. I've been on hold with the IRS for over an hour today and keep getting disconnected. Did they explain why TurboTax shows it as "in progress" even after getting the refund?
7d
Yes! The agent explained that tax software status and IRS status are completely separate systems. TurboTax is flagging your account for a potential amendment, but has no real-time connection to your actual IRS account status. The "in progress" is basically TurboTax's way of saying "we think you should take action on this account" - not that your original return is still processing.
7d
Just want to point out - if you do amend, be prepared to wait a WHILE. I filed an amended return for a similar issue last year and it took almost 4 months to process. The IRS is still catching up on backlogs.
Olivia Van-Cleve
Did you receive the actual notice yet? Check if it's a CP2000 notice. Those are proposed assessments. Not final bills. You can respond with documentation. The IRS might have received income information they think is yours. Could be identity theft. Could be a reporting error. Don't pay until you verify.
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Mason Kaczka
Based on your situation, here are some steps to take: ā¢ Request your Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS to see what income was reported under your SSN ā¢ Compare this with your actual income records ā¢ Look for the specific tax issue on your notice (usually in a section called "Changes to your return") ā¢ Respond before the deadline on the notice (very important!) ā¢ If it's a simple error, you can often resolve it by mail with supporting documents Don't ignore this - the amount will only grow with penalties and interest if it's valid.
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