I've been stuck in Error 6001 hell for about 8 months now and this thread is absolutely incredible - finally found people who actually understand this specific nightmare! The detailed solutions and phone numbers everyone's sharing here are more helpful than literally dozens of calls to both IRS and ID.me support. The pattern everyone's describing is EXACTLY what I've experienced - both agencies acting like they've never heard of Error 6001, then immediately blaming the other system. I've gotten the classic "that's an ID.me authentication issue, contact them" from IRS and "the IRS portal is rejecting you, we can't fix that" from ID.me. It's like they have a playbook for passing the buck! Reading through all these experiences, I'm starting to piece together what might be causing my issues. I've had 2 address changes since setting up my ID.me account, plus I sometimes use my full name "Christopher David Martinez" on tax forms and sometimes just "Chris Martinez" depending on the document. That inconsistency could totally be creating authentication chaos between the systems. I'm taking detailed notes on all the specific approaches mentioned: - Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778) - Identity Protection Specialized Unit (800-908-4490) - Requesting "IAL2 authentication status refresh" - Checking exact name/address formatting between ID.me and tax returns - Form 8822 to force system refreshes Going to start with the simple name formatting check that @Jade Lopez suggested - seems like such a small thing but these government systems are apparently incredibly picky about exact matches. Then I'll escalate through the specialized departments if needed. This community knowledge is pure gold! Thank you everyone for sharing your specific solutions and victories - finally gives me hope after 8 months of bureaucratic purgatory! 🙏

I've been dealing with Error 6001 for about 6 months now and honestly thought I was going crazy until I found this thread! The level of detailed, actionable solutions here is incredible compared to the generic "clear your cookies" responses I've been getting from both agencies. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's experience is with the finger-pointing between IRS and ID.me. I've had the exact same conversations - IRS saying "that's an ID.me verification problem" while ID.me says "the IRS system is blocking your authentication." It's like they're reading from the same script to avoid taking responsibility! Reading through all these solutions, I'm realizing I probably have several data mismatch issues. I moved last year and sometimes file with my full name "Sarah Elizabeth Chen" but other times just "Sarah Chen" - that formatting inconsistency could totally be causing authentication conflicts. I'm going to start with checking my exact name formatting between ID.me and my most recent tax return (brilliant insight from @Jade Lopez!), then try the Taxpayer Advocate Service route if that doesn't work. Having all these specific phone numbers and department names is game-changing - finally feels like I have a real strategy instead of just calling the main lines repeatedly. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and victories! This community knowledge is worth more than months of official support calls. Finally have hope I can escape this Error 6001 nightmare! 🙏

This thread has been absolutely incredible for clearing up my confusion about collectible tax rates! I've been holding some gold and silver coins for about 2 years now but was completely paralyzed when it came to understanding the tax implications if I decided to sell. Like so many others here, I kept seeing that "up to 28%" language and assumed it meant everyone automatically paid 28% on collectible gains. Reading through all these real experiences has been eye-opening - I finally understand it's just your ordinary income tax rate with a 28% ceiling for high earners. I'm in the 22% bracket, so knowing I'd pay exactly 22% on my gains (not automatically 28%) makes planning a potential sale strategy so much more manageable. The emphasis everyone has placed on keeping detailed purchase records really hits home too - I've been pretty casual about my documentation, but I can see how crucial that becomes for calculating gains accurately. What I appreciate most is how this community shares actual experiences rather than just repeating generic tax advice. As someone who was genuinely considering hiring a CPA just to understand the basics, this discussion has given me the confidence to handle this myself. Thanks to everyone for making such a complex topic so accessible!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm new to precious metals investing and was getting completely overwhelmed trying to understand the tax implications. Like so many others here, I kept seeing that "up to 28%" rate mentioned everywhere and assumed it was some flat tax that everyone had to pay on collectibles. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been incredibly clarifying - I finally understand that it's simply your ordinary income tax rate with a 28% maximum cap. Since I'm in the 22% tax bracket, I would pay 22% on any long-term gains from gold or silver investments, not automatically 28%. The practical advice about keeping detailed records from day one is really valuable too. I can see how having good documentation of purchase dates and costs would make calculating gains much smoother when it's time to sell. Thanks to everyone for sharing their actual experiences and making such a confusing topic so much more approachable for newcomers like me! This discussion has given me the confidence to finally move forward with adding some precious metals to my portfolio.

Does anyone know if there's a certain amount of items you can sell before eBay considers you a business seller? I'm cleaning out my house too but worried about crossing some threshold.

The IRS looks at several factors to determine if you're operating a business rather than just selling personal items: frequency of sales, intent to make profit, time and effort spent, expertise in the items you're selling, and whether you're buying items specifically to resell. From what you've described - clearing out personal items from your house - this sounds like casual sales of personal property rather than a business. However, keep detailed records of everything: what you sold, original purchase price (or good faith estimates), sale price, and all expenses like eBay fees and shipping costs. The $3,200 you've made isn't automatically taxable income if you're selling items for less than you paid for them. But if some items sold for more than your cost basis, that profit portion would be taxable. Also remember that even if eBay sends you a 1099-K, you still need to determine what portion (if any) represents actual taxable income vs. return of your original investment in those items.

I'm confused by FreeTaxUSA's handling of this. When I tried to create a superseding return, the software only gave me the amended return option. Does anyone know if FreeTaxUSA actually supports filing superseding returns properly? Or do I need to manually handle this somehow?

Thanks for asking this question! I was in a similar boat last month and learned the hard way that there's a big difference. Just to add to what others have said - timing is really crucial here. Since you're still before April 15, you have the choice between superseding (complete replacement) or amending (correction to original). One thing I wish someone had told me: if your changes are significant (like major income additions or big deduction changes), superseding is usually the better route because it treats your situation as if you filed correctly the first time. But if it's just minor corrections, an amendment might be simpler. Also, keep in mind that if you go the superseding route, you'll need to paper file since most tax software doesn't handle the specific markings required for superseding returns. The IRS needs to see "SUPERSEDING RETURN" clearly marked at the top of a new 1040, not a 1040-X form. Have you determined what kind of changes you need to make? That might help decide which path is better for your situation.

Does anyone know if Schedule E passive losses are subject to the SALT cap limitation of $10,000? My tax guy says no because they're "below the line" deductions not itemized deductions, but I'm not 100% convinced.

Great question about Schedule E passive losses! I went through something similar last year with my rental property. One thing I'd suggest is double-checking that your preparer properly classified all your expenses. That $14,500 loss you mentioned - make sure the roof repair was correctly categorized. If it's truly a repair (fixing existing damage), it's fully deductible in the current year. But if it's considered an improvement (like upgrading to a better roof system), it might need to be capitalized and depreciated over time, which would reduce your current year loss. Also, since you're handling the property management yourself, make sure you're documenting your active participation hours. The IRS can be picky about this during audits. Keep records of time spent on tenant communications, property inspections, repair coordination, etc. With your AGI around $95,000, you should definitely qualify for the full $25,000 special allowance, so those losses should flow directly to your 1040 and offset your ordinary income. Just verify that your preparer didn't accidentally trigger any Form 8582 (Passive Activity Loss Limitations) requirements.