I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in early April and still stuck with Tax Topic 152 and that frustrating "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message. The no status bars thing is what really gets me - like, give us SOMETHING to show progress is being made. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like getting your transcript is really the key to understanding what's actually happening. Going to try setting up that IRS account tonight and see if I can get some real answers about why this is taking so long. Has anyone had success with just waiting it out vs. actively trying to contact them? I'm torn between being patient and trying to get through to an actual person who can help move things along.

I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in late March and still getting that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152. The lack of any status bars is so frustrating because you have no idea if any progress is being made at all. From reading through all these comments, it really seems like getting your transcript is the most important first step. That's where the real information is hiding that the Where's My Refund tool doesn't show you. I'm definitely going to try setting up an IRS account this weekend to see what codes are actually on my return. The calling services people mentioned sound helpful but I'm wondering if I should try the transcript route first before spending money on those. Has anyone here found that just having the transcript information was enough to understand the delay without needing to actually call? Also really appreciate the tip about contacting your congressman's office - I had no idea that was even an option for tax issues!

Has anyone tried filing as Head of Household instead? I've heard that might be an option if your spouse is a nonresident alien and doesn't live with you in the US. Could save on taxes compared to MFS.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I got married to my husband who was still in the UK waiting for his green card. Here's what I learned from experience: You absolutely cannot e-file with "NRA" in the SSN field - every tax software I tried (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA) rejected it immediately. The IRS e-filing system requires a valid 9-digit identifier. My recommendation is to go the ITIN route if you plan to file jointly in future years or if your spouse will be coming to the US soon. Yes, it takes 8-10 weeks to get the ITIN, but it's worth it for the convenience of e-filing. You'll need to submit Form W-7 along with your tax return and original or certified copies of your spouse's identification documents. If you need to file immediately and don't want to wait for an ITIN, paper filing with "NRA" written in the spouse SSN field is perfectly acceptable. I did this my first year and had no issues - just make sure to clearly write "NRA" and don't leave it blank. One tip: if you do decide to get an ITIN, consider using a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) who can verify your spouse's documents instead of mailing originals to the IRS. It's safer and often faster.

2 Has anyone used Koinly for this purpose? I'm looking at options for sorting out my crypto taxes and that's one I've heard mentioned.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is checking if you have any old email confirmations from your 2021 purchases. Coinbase used to send detailed transaction confirmations that included the exact amount, price, and fees for each purchase. I was in a similar situation last year and found these emails buried in my Gmail - they were a lifesaver for reconstructing my cost basis. Even if you can't find the emails in your inbox, try searching for "Coinbase" or "You bought" in your email from 2021. Also, if you linked a bank account for your purchases, your bank statements from 2021 will show the exact dollar amounts you transferred to Coinbase on specific dates. You can then cross-reference those dates with historical crypto prices to get a pretty accurate cost basis estimate. The IRS accepts reasonable reconstruction methods when original records are unavailable, so don't stress too much about getting it perfect down to the penny. Just document your methodology clearly.

Does anyone know how long amendments are taking to process these days? I filed a 1040X back in November for 2022 and still haven't heard anything.

Just to add some reassurance - I was in almost the exact same situation last year when I forgot to include rental income from a small duplex I own. Filed my original return in early March, realized the mistake a few days later, and immediately filed a 1040X. The key things that worked for me: 1. Filed the amendment right away (didn't wait for original return processing) 2. Included payment for the additional tax owed with the amendment 3. Used certified mail to send it so I had proof of delivery The IRS processed my amendment without any issues, and because I got it filed and paid before April 15th, there were no penalties or interest charges. The whole process took about 4 months to complete, but the important thing was getting it submitted quickly. Don't stress too much about it - honest mistakes happen and the IRS understands that. Just get your 1040X filed ASAP with payment included and you'll be fine!

As someone who's worked for a tax resolution firm, here's a tip: When you send your response, write "RECEIVED [date you got it]" in big letters at the top of their original notice and include a photocopy. Also include the envelope showing the postmark if you still have it. The IRS tracking systems don't automatically adjust for mail delays, but the employees reviewing your case can. Making the late receipt date super obvious helps ensure that info gets entered into their system.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - living in Canada and just received an IRS notice that's 6 weeks past the response deadline! Reading through all these responses has been really reassuring. One thing I want to add is that when you call the IRS international line, ask them specifically about Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance). If you're experiencing significant hardship due to the mail delays and can't resolve the issue through normal channels, the Taxpayer Advocate Service can intervene on your behalf. They have special authority to work with international taxpayers facing these kinds of systemic issues. Also, I've found that including a brief timeline in your response letter helps - something like "Notice dated [X], postmarked [Y], received [Z]" makes it crystal clear to whoever reviews your case that this was a mail delay issue, not procrastination on your part. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made this whole situation feel much more manageable!