Anyone have recommendations for good tax software for beginners? I've been using whatever free option I can find each year but they're all confusing.

I learned taxes by making a ton of mistakes lol. Seriously though, just start doing them yourself with tax software. Even if you mess up, the IRS usually just sends a letter and you fix it. One year I completely forgot to report my stock sales and they just sent me a bill for the difference plus a small penalty. NBD. The best way to learn is by doing!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Got a CP40 last week and had the same reaction - total confusion about why this was my first notice. After reading through all these responses, I immediately filed Form 12153 to buy myself time (seriously, don't wait on this - that 30-day deadline is no joke). What I found helpful was calling the IRS early in the morning (around 7 AM) and specifically asking them to verify ALL addresses they have on file for me. Turns out they had three different addresses in their system, and notices were going to an apartment I lived in briefly two years ago. I also requested my account transcript online, which showed exactly when they claim to have sent each notice and to which address. Having this documentation made it much easier to explain the situation during my Collection Due Process hearing. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: even if you think the IRS has your correct address because you've been filing with it for years, they can still have old addresses in their system that they use for notices. Definitely file Form 8822 to update your address even if you think it's already correct - creates a paper trail that you tried to ensure they had the right information. The whole situation is stressful but totally resolvable if you act fast on that Form 12153. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly stressful at first, but it ended up being completely resolvable. Like others have mentioned, the CP40 is their "intent to levy" notice, which sounds scary but the key thing is you still have options. The most important thing RIGHT NOW is to file Form 12153 (Collection Due Process hearing request) immediately - you have 30 days from the notice date and this stops all collection actions while you sort things out. Don't wait on this even if you're still gathering information. In my case, I discovered the IRS had been sending notices to my old college apartment address from 4 years ago, even though I'd been consistently filing with my current address. The account transcript (which you can get online at irs.gov) showed they sent CP14, CP501, CP503, and CP504 notices over several months, all to the wrong address. When you call the IRS (try calling right at 7 AM when they open for shorter wait times), specifically ask them to read you ALL addresses they have associated with your SSN. This is often where the problem is - they can have multiple addresses in their system and use the wrong one for notices. Also file Form 8822 to update your address even if you think they have the right one - this creates a paper trail showing you made sure they had correct information. The Collection Due Process hearing bought me the time I needed to prove I never received the prior notices due to their address error. The whole thing took about 3 months to fully resolve, but having that protection in place meant I could sleep at night while working through it. You've got this - just act quickly on that Form 12153 deadline!

Hey Jessica! I totally get the anxiety - I had the exact same reaction when I first saw that message on my account a few weeks ago. What you're seeing is completely normal and nothing to worry about! The "Information Not Available" message for 2024 is just the IRS system's way of saying they don't have any processed data for the current tax year yet, which makes perfect sense since we're still early in 2025 and most people haven't filed their 2024 returns. Your 2023 showing $0.00 is actually great news - it confirms you're in good standing with no outstanding balance. That adjustment message is just standard disclaimer text that covers all scenarios where info might be temporarily unavailable. I've been checking my account regularly and see the same thing, so you're definitely not alone! The 2024 info will populate once you file your return later this year. Really no need to stress - this is just how the system handles the current tax year before filing season gets into full swing.

I can totally understand the panic you felt seeing that message! I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago when I first logged into my IRS account. That "Information Not Available" message for 2024 is completely normal - it's just the system's way of showing that there's no processed data for the current tax year yet. Since we're still in early 2025 and most people won't file their 2024 returns until March or April, the system literally has nothing to display. Your 2023 balance showing $0.00 is actually perfect - it means you're completely current with no outstanding obligations. The adjustment disclaimer is just standard text that appears whenever the system doesn't have current info to show. I've been checking periodically and see the same thing on my account too! Once you file your 2024 return later this year, that section will update with actual data. Really nothing to worry about at all - you're in great standing with the IRS!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I'm a Canadian freelance developer and I've been working with EU clients for years. My accountant advised me to get VAT numbers for my high-volume EU countries through a fiscal representative service. It was expensive but worth it for me because I have many B2C clients in those countries. If you're mainly dealing with B2B clients though, the reverse charge mechanism means you don't need to register or collect VAT. One practical tip: always ask new EU clients for their VAT registration number upfront and include it on your invoice. This documents that they're a business client subject to reverse charge.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a Canadian freelancer and had been worrying about this exact issue with my growing EU client base. One thing I'd add for other Canadians reading this - make sure you're also considering the impact on your Canadian tax obligations. Even though you might not need to collect EU VAT, you still need to report all international income to CRA. I learned this the hard way during my first audit. Also, for invoice templates, I found that including a clear statement about the reverse charge helps avoid confusion with EU business clients. Something like "VAT reverse charged - Customer to account for VAT according to local regulations" seems to work well. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and the tool recommendations. It's so reassuring to know other Canadian freelancers have navigated this successfully!

This is exactly what you want to see! The sudden change to $0.00 across both tax years is a really positive sign - it typically means the IRS has finished processing your return and cleared any outstanding balances from your account. I went through something similar last tax season where my balance showed amounts owed one morning, then by afternoon it had dropped to zero. My refund was deposited exactly 4 days later. The fact that yours changed so quickly (within hours) suggests active processing rather than your return just sitting in queue. Your next step is to check your account transcript for transaction code 846 - that's the definitive "refund issued" code that will show the actual date your refund is scheduled to be sent. Most people see this appear within 24-48 hours after the balance goes to zero. The IRS disclaimer about recently filed returns and pending adjustments is standard language, but when you see such a dramatic change like this across multiple years, it's usually legitimate movement in your case. Keep checking both your transcript and bank account over the next few days. Based on the timing and pattern you're describing, you should see your refund very soon. You're definitely in the home stretch now!

This is absolutely excellent news! That sudden change to $0.00 across both tax years is one of the strongest indicators that your refund is imminent. I've been through this exact scenario and it's such a relief when you finally see those zeros. The timing you mentioned - changing within just a few hours and checking at 12:37 - is actually really significant. The IRS typically makes these balance updates during active processing periods, not as routine maintenance. This suggests your return moved through their final review stages and got approved. What you're seeing is essentially the IRS clearing your account slate before issuing your refund. The fact that both 2023 and 2024 show $0.00 means they've reconciled everything and you're good to go. Your next milestone will be checking your account transcript tomorrow morning (around 6-7am is when they usually post overnight updates) for transaction code 846 with a deposit date. Once you see that code, you'll have your official refund timeline. Based on typical patterns I've observed here, you're looking at roughly 3-6 business days from when the balance went to zero to when you'll see the deposit in your account. The anxiety of constant checking will be over very soon! Definitely set up account alerts with your bank if you haven't already - you don't want to miss that deposit notification! 🎉