As someone who's been through multiple IRS notices, I want to emphasize that you're handling this exactly right by asking for help and not panicking. The CP2000 notice you received is actually one of the more straightforward ones to resolve. Since you've identified the PayPal income as the likely issue, here are your next steps: 1. **Review the proposed changes carefully** - The letter should show exactly how much additional tax, interest, and penalties they're proposing. 2. **Gather your records** - Pull together any documentation about that translation work, including PayPal statements, any business expenses you had, and records of what you actually earned. 3. **Choose your response** - You have three options: - Agree completely (if their numbers match your records) - Partially agree (if you want to claim business deductions they don't know about) - Disagree (if their information is wrong) 4. **Respond by the deadline** - This is crucial. Even if you need more time to gather information, you can request an extension. The good news is that since this appears to be legitimate unreported income rather than an IRS error, the resolution should be straightforward. Just make sure to respond within the timeframe given, and don't let the tax terminology intimidate you - the IRS forms usually have clear instructions for each option.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add some perspective as someone who works in tax preparation. The advice here has been really solid - Miguel, you're absolutely on the right track with identifying that PayPal income as the issue. One thing I'd emphasize is to keep detailed records of your response. When you send in your partial agreement (which I'd recommend given those business expenses), make copies of everything and keep a timeline of when you sent it. The IRS can sometimes be slow to process responses, and having documentation helps if you need to follow up. Also, since English isn't your first language and tax terminology can be confusing even for native speakers, don't hesitate to have someone review your response before you send it. Many community centers and libraries offer free tax help during filing season, and they might still have volunteers available to help review IRS correspondence. The key thing is that you're handling this proactively instead of ignoring it. That puts you way ahead of people who just panic and do nothing. You've got this!

Just wanted to add that if you're ever unsure about your tax code, you can check it online through your HMRC personal tax account. You'll be able to see exactly how they calculated your code and what factors they've taken into account (like benefits, previous underpayments, etc.). Also, don't worry too much if your code changes between jobs - it's actually quite common. When you start a new job, your new employer uses the tax code from your P45 (if you have one) or puts you on an emergency code temporarily. HMRC then sends them your correct code once they've processed your employment details. The 1242L code is indeed the standard one for most people in the 2024-25 tax year, so you're likely on the right track. Just keep an eye on your payslips to make sure the deductions look reasonable for your salary level.

Just to add another perspective - I had the exact same confusion when I switched jobs last year! The 1242L code is definitely the standard one, but what really helped me understand my take-home pay was using a simple salary calculator online to work out exactly what should be coming out. With your £38,500 salary, after the £12,420 personal allowance, you'd be paying 20% tax on £26,080 (which is £5,216 annually). Don't forget National Insurance contributions too - that's 12% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, so roughly £3,112 per year on your salary. Your monthly take-home should be around £2,550-£2,600 depending on your pension contributions. If it's significantly different from that, it might be worth checking if you're on an emergency tax code temporarily or if there are other deductions you weren't expecting. The good news is that if you have been overpaying due to an incorrect code, HMRC will refund you once it's sorted!

Why is it so hard for the IRS to just communicate clearly?? "We are now processing your return" could mean anything from "we'll deposit your refund tomorrow" to "see you in 3 months bud" 😤

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed in March, forgot my 1095-A, sent it in late April, and have been stuck on that "we have reviewed your return" message for about 4 weeks now. The question marks instead of checkmarks really threw me off at first - I thought something was broken with the website. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like we're all in for a long wait (6-10 weeks seems to be the consensus). The 1095-A really does seem to trigger manual processing that just takes forever. I've been checking WMR obsessively but I guess that's pointless since the bars disappeared. I might try that Claimyr service some of you mentioned - I've called the IRS probably 15 times and never gotten through. Getting an actual timeline from a real person would be such a relief instead of just staring at this vague message every day wondering if there's a problem with my return. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know this is normal and not just me!

I had the EXACT same timeline. Filed Feb 22, got told to wait 90 days. I didn't take that answer. Called every single day for a week straight until I got someone who actually looked at my file instead of just reading the script. They found that my return was just sitting there waiting for someone to review the documents I'd already sent in. Got my refund 10 days later. Don't just accept the 90-day answer - keep pushing.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Filed on February 18th and got the same "wait 90 days" response. What's really frustrating is that I run a seasonal landscaping business and this delay is hitting right when I need to purchase equipment for spring. I've been reading through all these responses and it sounds like there might be more options than what the first representative told you. Has anyone here had success with calling at different times of day to reach different representatives? I'm wondering if the 7 AM strategy mentioned by Ellie Simpson actually works, or if there are other optimal calling times. Also curious about the transcript analysis tools - seems like understanding what codes are actually on your account could help determine the best approach. The cash flow impact is real for small business owners like us. Even if we can't expedite the process, it would be helpful to at least understand what's actually causing the delay versus just getting the standard "wait 90 days" response.

When I got my confirmation required letter, it was because someone had attempted to file a return using my name and SSN, but the IRS caught it as suspicious. This identity verification process is how they confirmed I wasn't the one who filed that return. You might want to check your credit reports and put a freeze on them just in case.

I went through this exact same process last year and can confirm it's legitimate - the IRS has really ramped up these identity verification letters due to increased fraud attempts. A few key things that helped me: First, definitely verify the phone number independently through irs.gov as others mentioned. Second, have your complete tax return, prior year return, and a government-issued ID ready when you call. They asked me about specific line items from my current return, my previous address, filing status, and exact refund amount. The whole call took about 25 minutes including hold time. The agent was professional and explained that my return had been flagged for routine verification - nothing I did wrong. After verification, they released my refund processing within 2-3 business days. One tip: call early in the morning (right when they open) for shorter wait times. And don't worry too much - this is becoming pretty standard procedure to protect taxpayers from identity theft.