Document EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every case number. You'll need it all later trust me

This exact thing happened to me last year! The key is getting your IP PIN from the IRS - call the Identity Protection PIN line at 800-908-4490. Once you have that, you can file your return even while the fraud investigation is ongoing. Also make sure to file a police report - some states require it for identity theft cases and it strengthens your documentation trail.

Pro tip: Next time scan all your tax docs before giving them to a preparer. learned that one the hard way lol

I went through this exact same situation last year! You can definitely file the amendment yourself - I used FreeTaxUSA and it walked me through the whole 1040-X process step by step. Just make sure you have your original return and all the missing W2s. The hardest part is waiting for them to process it, but at least you'll know it's done right this time. Good luck!

One thing to consider - are you filing any other complicated schedules besides Schedule C? I tried FreeTaxUSA last year for my business but gave up because I also had investment income, rental property, and some foreign tax issues. Ended up going back to a professional. Construction business should be straightforward though as long as you don't have complicated depreciation schedules for expensive equipment or vehicles. What software were you using before?

I made the switch from a tax preparer to FreeTaxUSA for my electrical contracting business last year and it went smoothly. The IRS really doesn't care what method you use to prepare your return - they only care about accuracy. Since you have QuickBooks P&L reports already organized, you're ahead of the game. FreeTaxUSA's Schedule C section walks you through each expense category and even has helpful explanations for what qualifies. Just make sure you have good documentation for vehicle expenses, equipment purchases, and any home office deductions if you claim them. One tip: when you import your business expenses, double-check that similar costs aren't getting split between different categories (like materials going to both COGS and supplies). The software is pretty good but it's not perfect at categorizing everything from QuickBooks exports. Filing both 2022 and 2023 shouldn't be an issue - just treat them as separate projects and take your time with the first one to get familiar with the interface.

Did you verify your identity on ID.me? Sometimes that helps speed things up

Code 570 is basically the IRS putting a temporary hold on your refund while they review something. With your Head of Household status, 4 exemptions, and EIC claim totaling over $11k, they're likely just doing standard verification - making sure your dependents qualify, income matches what employers reported, etc. The good news is your transcript already shows all the credits processed and ready to go once the hold lifts. Most 570 holds resolve within 2-4 weeks if everything checks out. Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates to 571 (hold released) or 846 (refund issued). Your refund amount looks solid based on what you've shared!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might be able to reduce your MAGI through retirement contributions! For 2024, you can still make contributions to a traditional IRA until the tax filing deadline (April 15, 2025) that count for the 2024 tax year. If you're near a threshold for the repayment caps, putting some money into a traditional IRA could lower your MAGI enough to qualify for a lower repayment cap. For example, if you contribute $4,000 to a traditional IRA, that could reduce your MAGI by that same amount, potentially dropping you into a lower repayment bracket.

Your situation is super common for people who start making more money mid-year! For next time, remember that you NEED to report income changes to the marketplace as soon as they happen. They'll adjust your premium tax credit each month based on your new projected annual income. When I got a promotion last year, I immediately updated my marketplace application with my new estimated income. My monthly premiums went up, sure, but I'd much rather pay a bit more each month than face a huge tax bill at the end of the year. Plus, if your income ends up being lower than you projected, you'll get additional credit when you file taxes.