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I've been tracking TPG outages for the past three tax seasons using downdetector.com and their reddit community. This appears to be their third major outage this season, with previous ones on February 2-3 and February 28-March 1. According to several online resources, they're experiencing higher than normal volume this year due to increased e-filing rates. In my experience, their system usually updates overnight between 12am-4am EST. I've had success accessing the portal around 5:30am when most users aren't active. If you're using TurboTax, you can also check your order details page which sometimes shows refund status independent of the TPG system.
This is accurate. Per IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 1-2023), third-party processors like TPG must update their systems within 24 hours of receiving IRS deposit information, but there's no regulation requiring their portals to be continuously available. I've found that the SBTPG phone system (their automated line) often works even when their website is down. You can reach it at their customer service number and use the automated options to check refund status using your SSN and expected refund amount.
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Been trying to access TPG since yesterday morning and getting nothing but loading screens. What's really frustrating is that my refund was supposed to be deposited this week according to the timeline my tax preparer gave me. I ended up calling my tax prep office and they said they're getting calls about this all day. Apparently TPG is having widespread system issues but hasn't posted any official notice about it. They suggested checking the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool instead, which is working fine and shows my refund is still being processed. For what it's worth, my neighbor had the same TPG outage issue two weeks ago and her money still came on the expected date even though she couldn't track it online. Seems like their tracking system goes down but the actual payment processing keeps working behind the scenes.
That's really reassuring to hear about your neighbor still getting her refund on time despite the portal being down! I was starting to worry that the system issues might delay the actual payments too. It sounds like TPG's backend payment processing is separate from their customer-facing portal, which makes sense from a technical standpoint. I'll definitely check the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool like you suggested - at least that gives us some visibility while we wait for TPG to get their act together. Thanks for sharing what your tax prep office told you!
I'm also waiting for TurboTax to announce their 2025 refund advance! From what I've seen, they usually launch it around this time but with all the IRS delays this season I wonder if they're being more cautious. Might be worth calling their customer service line to see if they have any insider info on when it'll drop.
Has anyone considered that OP might be confused about what "unearned income" means? Scholarships used for qualified expenses aren't taxable income at all. Only scholarships that exceed your education expenses or are used for room and board are taxable. It sounds like your scholarship was less than your tuition, so none of it should count as taxable unearned income. I think you're getting tripped up by the tax software.
This! The kiddie tax (Form 8615) applies to investment income, not scholarships used for tuition. OP probably just needs to correctly categorize the scholarship in their tax software. Most have a specific question about whether the scholarship was used for qualified education expenses.
I'm sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation, especially with the family complications involved. Based on what you've described, it sounds like you shouldn't need to file Form 8615 at all. You mentioned you're 20, worked full-time, and provided more than half of your own support. This is key - the "kiddie tax" that Form 8615 addresses doesn't apply to students who are financially independent. The fact that you paid your own rent, groceries, and utilities while working full-time clearly demonstrates you're supporting yourself. Additionally, since your $3,000 scholarship went entirely toward your $8,500 tuition (qualified education expenses), none of that scholarship money counts as taxable unearned income. The software is likely flagging this incorrectly. For your tax software issue, try these steps: 1. Double-check that you marked "Yes" when asked if you provided more than half of your own support 2. In the scholarship/education section, make sure you indicated the full $3,000 was used for qualified education expenses 3. Look for an override option - many tax programs have a way to skip forms that don't apply If the software still won't cooperate, you might need to contact their support or consider switching to a different tax program. You definitely shouldn't need your mother's SSN for this situation, and I'm sorry you're having to navigate tax issues while dealing with family estrangement.
This is such a comprehensive and helpful response! I really appreciate you breaking down both the legal requirements and the practical steps for dealing with the software issues. The part about being financially independent is especially reassuring - I was starting to worry that I was missing something important, but you're right that working full-time and covering all my own living expenses should clearly demonstrate independence. I'm going to go back through the software tonight and double-check those specific areas you mentioned. It's frustrating when the technology is supposed to make taxes easier but ends up creating more confusion instead. Thanks for taking the time to explain this so clearly!
Has anyone experienced filing without an IP PIN even when one was issued? My accountant said we could file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) along with paper returns for the years I'm missing PINs. Wondering if this approach works or if I'm still going to face rejections.
That approach might cause problems. If the IRS has already assigned you an IP PIN, you MUST use it when filing. Filing Form 14039 is for reporting identity theft initially, not for bypassing an already established IP PIN requirement. Paper filing without your PIN will likely result in processing delays and possible rejection.
I went through a very similar situation last year! The key thing to understand is that once you're in the IP PIN system, you absolutely need the correct PIN for each tax year you're filing. For your 2022 PIN specifically, try logging into your IRS online account first - sometimes the system will show multiple years of PINs if they were issued. If that doesn't work, I'd honestly recommend calling the IP PIN helpline at 800-908-4490 early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when wait times are typically shorter. One important thing to keep in mind: if you never successfully filed your 2022 return, you might also need to deal with potential penalties and interest when you do get it submitted. The IRS generally expects returns to be filed by the original deadline even if you had PIN issues. Also, make sure to set up your IRS online account to receive electronic notices going forward - this way you'll get your annual CP01A notice with your new PIN digitally and won't have to worry about lost mail. Good luck getting this sorted out!
Liam Fitzgerald
Has anyone tried just skipping the IP PIN entry completely? My sister said she couldn't find where to put her IP PIN either, so she just submitted without it and her return was accepted fine. Maybe it's only required in certain situations?
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Ethan Taylor
β’Your sister got lucky but that's not advisable. If the IRS has issued you an IP PIN, your return will almost always be rejected without it. The IRS uses the IP PIN specifically to verify your identity and prevent fraud. If someone submits without an IP PIN and gets accepted, it usually means one of two things: either they weren't actually issued an IP PIN that year (they aren't mandatory for everyone), or there's a processing delay and the rejection will come later (which can cause much bigger headaches).
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Liam Fitzgerald
β’Thanks for explaining that! I'll definitely make sure to include mine then. I guess she must not actually have been issued one this year and just got confused about whether she needed it or not.
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Liam Duke
I had the exact same issue with TaxSlayer last year! The IP PIN field is ridiculously hard to find. In my case, I eventually found it by going to the "Interview" tab at the top, then scrolling down to find a section called "Identity Protection." It wasn't obvious at all - just a small link that said something like "Enter your IRS Identity Protection PIN here." Another thing to check: make sure you're looking for a 6-digit IP PIN field, not the 5-digit electronic filing PIN you create yourself. They look similar but are completely different. The IP PIN should be the one the IRS mailed or emailed to you earlier this year. If all else fails, try using the search function in TaxSlayer (usually a magnifying glass icon) and search for "IP PIN" or "Identity Protection PIN" - that might take you directly to the right page. Good luck!
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