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I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed in early March, accepted immediately, but still getting that "Your Information Is Not Available" message when I try to check my balance. One thing that helped me was checking my account transcript instead of just the balance page - go to "Get Transcript" and look at your Account Transcript for 2023. Mine actually showed the return was processed even though the balance page was still showing the error message. Also, if you know you owe $3,800, you can absolutely make a payment now through IRS Direct Pay without waiting for the balance to show up. Just select "Form 1040" and "2023" as the tax year. The system will accept payments even when your balance isn't displaying properly. I did this last week and got a confirmation number, so at least I know my payment went through. The waiting is nerve-wracking but from what I've read, this seems to be happening to a lot of people this year. Hopefully both our accounts update soon!
Thanks for the tip about checking the Account Transcript! I just tried that and you're right - it shows way more detail than the balance page. Mine actually shows "Return Posted" with a date from last week, so it looks like it is processed even though the balance page still gives me that error message. I'm definitely going to go ahead and make the payment through Direct Pay like you suggested. Better to get it done now rather than risk any interest charges while waiting for their system to catch up. Did your balance page ever start working normally after you saw the transcript update?
I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my 2023 return in mid-February, got the acceptance confirmation within 24 hours, but I've been getting that same "Your Information Is Not Available at This Time" message for over 6 weeks now. What's really frustrating is that I can see on my Account Transcript that the return was actually posted to my account about 10 days ago, but the balance page still won't load properly. It's like their systems aren't talking to each other. I ended up calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778) after getting nowhere with the regular IRS lines. They told me this is a known system issue affecting thousands of taxpayers this season, particularly those who filed early. The representative said the balance pages should start updating properly over the next 2-3 weeks as they work through their backlog. In the meantime, I went ahead and made my payment through IRS Direct Pay like others have suggested. At least I have peace of mind knowing I won't accrue interest while waiting for their technology to catch up. Definitely check your Account Transcript though - it might show more current information than the balance page.
This is really helpful to know it's a widespread system issue! I've been stressing about this for weeks thinking something was wrong with my specific return. The Taxpayer Advocate Service sounds like a much better option than trying to get through the regular IRS phone lines. Quick question - when you made your payment through Direct Pay, did you just use the amount you calculated you owed from your return? I'm worried about paying the wrong amount since I can't see my actual balance, but waiting much longer for interest to accrue seems worse than potentially overpaying by a small amount. Also, did the Taxpayer Advocate rep give you any timeline on when the balance pages might start working normally again? It would be nice to have some idea of when this will all get sorted out.
Based on your transcript and the CP21B letter from December 5th, you should definitely have received your by now. The typical timeframe is 2-3 weeks, so something might be holding it up. I'd suggest calling the IRS directly to check on the status - they can see if there are any issues or additional processing steps. Sometimes there are backend delays that don't show up on the automated systems. Keep your CP21B letter handy when you as they'll likely reference it. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
Hey Thomas! Looking at your situation, since you got the CP21B in December and it's now well past the typical 2-3 week processing time, I'd definitely recommend calling the IRS to check what's going on. Sometimes there can be backend holds or additional verification steps that aren't obvious from the transcript. When you call, have your CP21B letter and transcript ready - they'll need those reference numbers. The regular IRS customer service line should be able to tell you exactly where things stand and if there are any next steps needed on your end. Hope you get it resolved quickly!
Thanks Carlos! This is really solid advice. I'm also dealing with a delayed situation and wasn't sure if I should wait longer or take action. Having the specific documents ready before calling makes a lot of sense. Did you have to wait long to get through to someone when you called the IRS? I've heard the wait times can be pretty brutal.
Has anyone tried using the IRS's Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system to submit the 1099? I heard you can submit them electronically instead of mailing paper forms but i'm not sure if that applies to individuals or just businesses.
The FIRE system is mainly designed for businesses or tax professionals who file large volumes of information returns. For an individual filing just one or two 1099 forms, it's probably overkill. You'd need to apply for a Transmitter Control Code (TCC) which takes time, and the system isn't very user-friendly for casual filers.
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I paid my divorce attorney $4,200 last year and had no idea about the IRS filing requirement. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like I need to file a 1099-MISC (Box 10 for attorney fees) with the IRS along with Form 1096 as the transmittal form, even though this was for personal legal services. I'm definitely going to check out both taxr.ai for getting the forms prepared correctly and Claimyr if I need to speak with an IRS agent about any penalties for late filing. It's frustrating that TurboTax doesn't make this clearer for individual taxpayers who aren't running businesses but still need to issue 1099s. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this could have been a costly mistake to overlook!
Quinn, you've got the right idea! I went through this exact same situation with my divorce attorney payments last year. Just want to add that when you're preparing the forms, make sure you have your attorney's correct TIN (Tax Identification Number) - you'll need either their SSN or EIN for the 1099-MISC. Most attorneys will have an EIN since they're running a business, but some solo practitioners might use their SSN. You should be able to get this from the invoices they sent you or by asking them directly. Also, don't stress too much about the late filing penalties for individual situations like ours - they're usually pretty reasonable compared to what businesses face. The IRS understands that individuals often aren't aware of these requirements.
Just a heads up - I'm from Spain too and distribute music through CD Baby. When I submitted my W-8BEN claiming the 0% rate, they rejected it the first time saying I needed to include my Spanish tax identification number (NIE) as well as get an ITIN from the US. Had to resubmit with both numbers.
I went through this exact same situation last year with my music royalties from Spain! The confusion about 0% vs 5% rates comes from different types of royalties being grouped together in some documents. For copyright royalties specifically (which includes music compositions), Spain does have a 0% withholding rate under Article 12 of the US-Spain tax treaty. The 5% rate you're seeing likely refers to industrial royalties or patents. A couple of important things I learned the hard way: 1. You absolutely need an ITIN to claim treaty benefits - the form will be rejected without it 2. Make sure to write "Copyright Royalties" specifically in line 10, not just "royalties" 3. Keep copies of everything because some distributors will ask you to resubmit the form annually The process took me about 4 months total (mostly waiting for the ITIN), but it was worth it to avoid that 30% withholding. Good luck with your $1,200 payment - that's a nice chunk of change to not lose to unnecessary taxes!
Thanks for sharing your experience! This is super helpful. Quick question - when you applied for your ITIN, did you have to send original documents or were certified copies acceptable? I'm nervous about mailing my original passport to the IRS and having it get lost. Also, did you use the Certifying Acceptance Agent route or mail everything directly to the IRS? I've heard the CAA route is faster but more expensive.
NeonNebula
My sister got hers in 3 weeks but shes only getting like $100 back. Maybe bigger refunds take longer to process?
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Isabella Costa
β’nah mines only $75 and im still waiting since feb 5th
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Lena MΓΌller
Same situation here - filed Feb 3rd electronically and still waiting. The lack of updates on the Where's My Refund tool is frustrating. At least it's good to know others are experiencing delays too. Hopefully we'll see movement soon!
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Aaliyah Reed
β’Totally agree! The waiting is the worst part. I filed around the same time and keep refreshing that site hoping for an update. At least we know from @Paolo Longo that 6-8 weeks is normal right now, so we re'probably still within the expected timeframe. Hang in there!
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