


Ask the community...
I'm really sorry you're going through this - tax levies are incredibly stressful, especially when you're already struggling financially. The advice here about keeping the money in Cash App is spot on. The IRS levy is specific to your bank account, so funds that never touch that account should be safe from seizure. Here's what I'd recommend for your immediate situation: **Keep the $600 in Cash App** - Use their debit card directly for groceries, gas, and other essentials. Don't transfer any of it to your levied bank account. **Call the IRS hardship line immediately** - This is crucial. Call 1-800-829-1040 and tell them you need to speak about levy hardship release. Be very specific: "I have $X left for food this week, my rent of $Y is due on [date], and I cannot afford basic necessities due to the levy." The IRS is legally required to leave you enough for survival. **Consider the Taxpayer Advocate Service** - If the regular IRS line isn't helpful, call 1-877-777-4778. They specialize in situations where normal processes aren't working and can expedite hardship reviews. **Alternative money transfer options** - If you're worried about Cash App, consider having your brother send money via Western Union (cash pickup) or load a prepaid card that's not connected to your bank. Remember, there are legal protections that prevent the IRS from leaving you completely destitute. You have rights even with an active levy. Stay persistent, document everything, and focus on getting that payment plan finalized. This situation is temporary and you will get through it.
This is excellent comprehensive advice! I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you do end up needing to open a new bank account as a temporary measure, consider credit unions instead of big banks. In my experience, credit union staff were much more understanding about my IRS levy situation and some even offered small emergency loans to help bridge the gap while I was getting my payment plan sorted out. They tend to be more willing to work with members facing financial hardship. Just another option to consider if the Cash App route doesn't cover all your immediate needs. The most important thing is not to panic - you have more options and rights than it feels like right now.
I've been through a similar situation and completely understand the panic you're feeling right now. The advice about keeping the money in Cash App is absolutely correct - the IRS levy is specific to your bank account, so funds that never touch that account should remain safe. A few additional thoughts that might help: **Immediate cash access:** Beyond Cash App, you could also have your brother send money through Zelle to a friend's account, then have them withdraw cash for you. Or use services like PayPal, Venmo, or even old-school Western Union for cash pickup. **Know your rights:** The IRS has specific Collection Standards that require them to leave you enough for basic living expenses. For 2024, this includes allowances for food, housing, transportation, and medical expenses. If your levy has taken everything, you have strong grounds for immediate hardship relief. **Documentation tip:** When you call the IRS hardship line, have your monthly budget written down with specific dollar amounts. Being able to say "I need $120/week for groceries, $800/month for rent due on the 15th" is much more effective than general statements about financial hardship. **Timeline reality check:** While you work on the payment plan, remember that even after it's approved, it can take 1-2 weeks for the levy to actually be released from your account. Plan accordingly with these alternative funding methods. You mentioned ignoring notices initially - don't beat yourself up about that. Focus on moving forward. The IRS actually wants to work with people who are willing to pay, and once you get that payment plan in place, this whole nightmare will be behind you. Hang in there!
This is really helpful advice, especially about the Collection Standards - I didn't know the IRS had specific allowances they're required to leave for basic expenses. When you mention having your brother send money through Zelle to a friend's account, is there any risk that the IRS could later trace those transactions if they're investigating your finances? I'm probably being overly paranoid, but I want to make sure I'm not creating bigger problems down the road while trying to solve my immediate cash flow issue. Also, when you called about hardship relief, did you need to provide bank statements or other documentation, or were you able to get initial approval based just on your verbal explanation of expenses?
the irs website is useless for this stuff fr fr. Called them 3 times got 3 different answers smh
been on hold with them for 2 hours rn š
I've been through three tax seasons with an IP PIN now. In 2022, I had to verify despite having the PIN. In 2023, no verification needed. This year, verification required again. From my conversations with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, the IP PIN primarily prevents someone else from filing under your SSN, but doesn't exempt you from the IRS's internal verification algorithms. These algorithms flag returns based on multiple factors including income changes, new credits claimed, address changes, etc. Your remote work situation might be triggering geographic inconsistency flags if your employer is in one state and you're working from another.
I've had an IP PIN for two years now and got hit with verification both times, so you're definitely not alone! The frustrating part is that the IRS documentation makes it sound like the PIN should streamline everything, but in reality it just prevents fraudulent filings - it doesn't bypass their verification algorithms at all. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of every interaction. I document every call, reference number, and rep name because the systems don't always talk to each other properly. Also, if you're still working remotely, make sure your W-2 address matches what you have on file with the IRS - mismatches there seem to trigger additional scrutiny even with a PIN.
This is really helpful info! I'm new to having an IP PIN (just got one this year after some issues) and I was under the impression it would make everything smoother. Your point about keeping detailed records is spot on - I've already had to call twice and got different answers each time. Quick question: when you say W-2 address should match what's on file with the IRS, do you mean the address on the actual W-2 form or the address I have registered with the IRS? I'm remote and my W-2 shows my employer's state but I live in a different state. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I had a similar situation on April 15, 2023. My congressman's office received confirmation from TAS on May 2nd, 2023 that my refund would be processed. The actual deposit hit my account on May 17th, 2023 - exactly 15 days after TAS confirmed the release. The technical process involves the TAS issuing what's called an OAR (Operations Assistance Request) to the specific IRS department holding your return, which typically has a 5-10 business day response requirement.
Hey Cedric! I went through something very similar last year - filed in February and didn't get my refund until August after getting my congressman involved. The TAS process can feel really slow, but once they issue that Operations Assistance Request (OAR), things usually move pretty quickly. In my case, I got my refund about 10 days after receiving the confirmation email from TAS. The July 9th date is basically their internal deadline to give you an update, but your actual refund could come much sooner. I'd definitely recommend keeping an eye on your bank account and maybe checking your transcript online if you can access it. The waiting is the worst part, but you're in good hands with TAS - they really do get results!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Cole! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same process. August seems like such a long time to wait, but I'm glad TAS finally got it sorted for you. I keep checking my bank account obsessively even though I know it's probably too early. Did you get any advance notice when your refund was actually deposited, or did it just show up one day? I'm trying to decide if I should call my TAS advocate before July 9th or just wait it out.
@Cole That timeline gives me hope! I'm in a similar boat right now - filed in January and still waiting after getting my congressman involved last month. Did your TAS advocate give you any heads up about what was actually causing the delay in your case? I'm trying to figure out if there's something specific I should be watching for or if it's just a matter of waiting for them to work through whatever backlog they're dealing with.
Dylan Campbell
I'm seeing a lot of complicated answers here but it's actually pretty simple. I've owned 3 homes and here's what I've learned: if you didn't pay it, you don't deduct it. The seller credit on closing is just an adjustment to make the sale fair - it's not income and it's not a deduction. When you actually pay the property taxes in 2025, that's when you deduct them - regardless of what period they cover.
0 coins
Sofia Torres
ā¢Thanks for this simple explanation. I was overthinking it completely. So just to confirm - even though the seller gave me money for their portion of the taxes, when I pay the full bill next year, I still deduct the entire amount?
0 coins
Maggie Martinez
ā¢Exactly right, Sofia! You deduct the entire amount you pay in 2025. Think of it this way - the seller credit essentially reduced what you paid for the house, so when you pay the full tax bill, you're paying for the full year of ownership responsibility. The IRS doesn't care that part of those taxes were "economically" the seller's - they only care about the actual cash payments you make to the tax authority.
0 coins
Anderson Prospero
As a first-time homeowner myself, I went through this exact confusion last year! You're absolutely right - since you didn't make any actual property tax payments in 2024, there's nothing to deduct on your 2024 return. The key thing to remember is that property tax deductions are based on the cash basis - meaning you can only deduct what you actually paid out, not what was assessed or owed. That seller credit you received at closing isn't taxable income to you, it's just an adjustment to make the transaction fair since you'll be paying the full year's taxes when they come due. When February 2025 rolls around and your escrow company pays those property taxes, you'll be able to deduct the full amount on your 2025 tax return. Keep your escrow statements and closing documents organized - you'll need them to show exactly what was paid and when. One tip: make sure to review your mortgage servicer's annual escrow analysis statement early next year. It will show exactly when property tax payments were made, which is crucial for determining the correct tax year for your deduction.
0 coins
Ella Lewis
ā¢This is really helpful! I'm also a first-time homeowner and was worried I was missing out on a deduction this year. Quick question - when you say to keep the escrow analysis statement, should I be looking for a specific form or document name? My mortgage company sends me so many different statements and I want to make sure I'm saving the right one for tax purposes.
0 coins