5 For anyone stressing about EITC refunds - I've filed with EITC for the past 4 years, and it's ALWAYS the same pattern. The IRS holds EITC refunds until mid-February, then releases a huge batch all at once, usually hitting accounts between Feb 17-22. Last year my WMR didn't update until Feb 16th, then suddenly showed approved with a DD date of Feb 18th. The year before was almost the same dates. Just be patient - it's only a couple more weeks now!

3 Has anyone tried checking their transcripts instead of just the WMR tool? I've found that transcripts often update faster than WMR. You need to create an account on irs.gov to access them though.

11 Does anyone know if attorney fees for these cases are deductible? I got a settlement too but almost 40% went to the lawyers. Do I report the full amount or just what I actually received?

Just to add another perspective - I went through something similar with a different class action settlement last year. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely need to keep detailed records of everything related to the settlement. Make copies of your settlement check, any correspondence from the law firm, and especially any documentation that describes what the settlement was for. Even if GM doesn't send you a 1099, having this paperwork will be crucial if the IRS ever questions the reporting. Also, if you're unsure about the tax treatment, consider making quarterly estimated payments on at least a portion of it. Better to overpay slightly and get a refund than to owe penalties for underpayment. The IRS safe harbor rule generally protects you if you pay 100% of last year's tax liability (110% if your prior year AGI was over $150,000). One more tip - if this settlement pushes you into a higher tax bracket, you might want to look into whether you can spread the recognition of this income over multiple years, though that's typically only available in very specific circumstances.

Pro tip: if you do get through to an agent, be super nice to them. They deal with angry people all day and being friendly can sometimes get you better service. Also, ask for a direct number or extension if possible!

Hang in there @Kayla! The fact that your date moved up is actually a really positive sign - it means they're actively working on your case. Code 570 is frustrating but it's not uncommon, especially with EITC claims like you mentioned. Here's what I'd suggest: Keep checking your transcript every few days for that 571 code (release) that @Nora mentioned. In the meantime, make sure you have copies of all the documents you uploaded ready to go in case they need anything else. And if you do decide to call, try the trick @William mentioned about calling right when they open - I had success doing that around 7 AM. Good luck! 🤞

Has anyone noticed that the 1098-T forms are NEVER accurate? My school consistently puts payments in Box 1 for the wrong year (showing January payments that I actually made in December of the previous year). It's like they just report when they process the payment rather than when it was actually made.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My wife is in a PhD program and we've been navigating the employer reimbursement timing issue for three years now. One thing I learned that might help - make sure you understand exactly what your husband's employer considers "qualified education expenses" for their reimbursement program. Some employers have stricter definitions than what the IRS allows for education credits. For example, my wife's employer only reimburses tuition and required fees, but not books or lab fees that we can still claim for the Lifetime Learning Credit. This means we need to track which specific expenses will be reimbursed versus which ones we can claim the full credit for. Also, I'd recommend reaching out to your husband's HR department to get a written timeline for when the reimbursement will be processed. Having that documentation helps with tax planning and ensures you're prepared for the recapture calculation in 2024. We've found that being proactive about getting reimbursement status updates makes the whole process much smoother.

Just wanted to add that when the IRS says you don't qualify for an OIC, that's often just their initial position. I was told the same thing but my tax pro was able to get an OIC accepted after providing additional documentation about my financial situation. The IRS uses a specific formula to determine OIC eligibility based on your income, expenses, assets, and ability to pay. If your financial circumstances have changed or if the initial assessment didn't capture your full situation, an OIC might still be possible.

I'm currently dealing with about $67K in tax debt myself, and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I've been going back and forth between hiring a resolution company or trying to handle it myself with the IRS. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm leaning toward trying the DIY approach first using some of the tools mentioned here. The taxr.ai service sounds promising for identifying any errors in my case, and the Claimyr service could help me actually get through to someone at the IRS without spending weeks on hold. @ApolloJackson - I'd love to hear updates on how your case progresses with the national company. Even if they can't get you an OIC, they might be able to negotiate penalty reductions or get you a favorable payment plan structure. The key seems to be holding them accountable for specific deliverables rather than vague promises. One question for the group: Has anyone had success getting penalty abatements on their own? I have reasonable cause for some of my late filings due to a medical emergency, but I'm not sure if it's worth trying to request abatement myself or if I need professional help for that.