Have you tried checking if your issue can be resolved online first? The IRS has actually improved their online services quite a bit. 😅 I was dreading calling them about my payment plan, but ended up being able to set everything up through the online payment agreement tool without speaking to anyone. Saved me hours of hold music torture!

I've had success with the Practitioner Priority Line (866-860-4259) even though I'm not a tax professional - they sometimes route individual taxpayers through if you explain your situation clearly. Also, try calling right at 7:00 AM EST when they open, not 7:30 or later. I got through in 22 minutes last Tuesday using this approach. The key is persistence and timing - I know it's frustrating but don't give up!

My mailman been playing games wit my check I just know it 🤡

I'm in the same situation - 2/7 mail date and still nothing here in Texas. Called my state tax office yesterday and they confirmed it was mailed on schedule, so it should arrive within the next few days. The rep mentioned that mail delivery has been slower than usual this month due to weather delays in some regions. Hang in there!

I'm in almost the identical situation! Filed my 2024 return in early February, got hit with the 570/971 codes three weeks later because I never filed my 2021 return. It's so stressful when you think everything is going smoothly and then this curveball hits you. I sent my missing 2021 return via certified mail 12 days ago and have been obsessively checking my transcript twice a day (I know, I know, everyone says not to do this but I can't help myself!). Reading all these responses is actually really reassuring - it sounds like the 3-4 week timeframe is pretty consistent across different situations. @Hugh Intensity - thanks for that detailed timeline! That 571 code tip is super helpful. I had no idea what to look for besides just hoping the 570 would disappear. Now I know there's actually a specific code that shows when the hold gets released. For anyone else going through this - we're definitely not alone in this situation! Seems like missing prior year returns while being newer to the US tax system is more common than I thought.

I went through this exact scenario last year! Filed my 2024 return in January, got the dreaded 570/971 codes in February because I had never filed my 2020 return (I was new to the US and honestly didn't realize I needed to file that year since my income was below the threshold, but apparently I still should have). The waiting is absolutely the worst part - I was checking my transcript obsessively too! Here's what happened with mine: - Mailed my missing 2020 return via certified mail on February 18th - Transcript showed no changes for weeks (so nerve-wracking!) - On March 15th, I finally saw the 571 code appear (like Hugh mentioned - this is the "hold released" code) - Refund hit my account on March 19th So total timeline was about 4 weeks from mailing the old return to getting my current year refund. The IRS processed everything internally without showing me any intermediate steps, which was frustrating but apparently normal. One thing I learned: if you have a complex situation or multiple missing years, consider getting a tax professional to help. I tried to handle it myself initially but ended up spending way more time and stress than if I'd just gotten help from the start. Good luck - you'll get through this! 🤞

Just a warning - if they do reimburse you for a portion of your rent, make absolutely sure they set it up properly. My company tried to do this last year and messed it up. They gave me rent reimbursements but didnt document it as an accountable plan. At tax time, I found out they had added all those "reimbursements" to my W-2 as income! I ended up paying taxes on money that was supposed to just be covering my expenses. Double check how it shows up on your paystubs!

This is such great advice from everyone! As someone who went through this exact transition last year when our office closed, I can confirm that getting the accountable plan set up correctly is crucial. One thing to add - since you mentioned you're at a tiny company with just 5 total people, your bosses might actually appreciate you bringing this up. Small business owners often aren't familiar with accountable plan rules, and setting this up properly can save them money too (no employment taxes on the reimbursements vs. having to pay FICA on stipends). For your specific situation with the desk in your living room corner, I'd suggest being conservative with the percentage calculations. The IRS looks for "regular and exclusive use" for business, so focus on documenting things like your internet usage during work hours, any office supplies you buy, maybe a portion of utilities if you're running equipment all day. Keep it reasonable and well-documented. Also, since you swap custody years with your ex, just make sure any home office stuff doesn't accidentally complicate that arrangement if you end up needing to track square footage or anything like that. But honestly, with proper accountable plan reimbursements, it shouldn't affect your personal tax return at all.

Has anyone had success getting this resolved online? I hate making phone calls 😖

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! Don't stress too much - it's actually pretty straightforward once you get through to someone. Just make sure you call from the phone number that's on file with the IRS, and have your Social Security card handy too. They might ask for details about previous addresses or family members. The wait times can be brutal though, so definitely try calling first thing in the morning around 7 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck getting through quickly.