To all those having trouble reaching a human at the IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/wMf29SmRU-I

I've been dealing with error 8028 for weeks now when trying to access my tax transcripts. It's frustrating because I'm already verified with ID.me and can access other government services without issues. Has anyone found a reliable workaround besides calling the IRS directly? The wait times are brutal and I just need to check my transcript status. Any recent success stories would be appreciated!

Just wanted to add that if you're still confused about your tax code after reading all these helpful explanations, you can also check your Personal Tax Account online at gov.uk. It shows your current tax code and explains why you have it - really useful for understanding if it's correct for your situation. I discovered mine was wrong last year (I was on an emergency code for months without realizing) and was able to get it corrected through the online service. It also shows if you're due any refunds or owe additional tax, which can be really helpful for planning your finances.

The 1242L tax code is actually the standard code for most people in the UK for the 2024-25 tax year. The number 1242 represents your personal allowance of £12,420 - this is the amount you can earn before paying any income tax. The 'L' suffix confirms you're entitled to the standard personal allowance. So with 1242L, you won't pay income tax on your first £12,420 of earnings in the tax year. Anything you earn above that gets taxed at 20% (basic rate) up to £50,270. Since you mentioned you have one full-time job with no complications, this code sounds absolutely correct for your situation. Your employer uses this code to work out how much tax to deduct from each paycheck throughout the year. If you're paid monthly, they'll divide your annual allowance by 12 and only tax you on earnings above that monthly threshold.

Before you stress too much, just Google the codes along with your employer name. Thats what I did when I had weird codes. Turns out most big companies use similar codes and someone has probably asked this same question before. Also check if your company has an HR portal where they explain benefit deductions.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's dealt with SF-specific W-2 codes before! Since you confirmed you're in San Francisco, those codes are definitely city-related benefits. A few additional tips: 1. Keep that W-2 handy when you file your CA state return - you'll likely need those DINSF amounts for the SDI deduction line 2. If you're using tax software, make sure it's updated for California/SF tax rules since the city has some unique provisions 3. Your employer should have sent out a benefits guide explaining these codes, but if you can't find it, most SF employers are required to provide this info upon request The good news is these are all legitimate deductions/benefits, so nothing to worry about tax-wise. Just make sure you're getting credit for any deductible amounts on your state return!

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you drive a LOT for business, sometimes the actual expense method is better than the standard mileage rate. With an S Corp, you can have the company own the vehicle or you can own it and get reimbursed for actual expenses. Has anyone used TurboTax for S Corps? Does it handle this well?

This is exactly why I switched from doing my own S Corp taxes! The mileage deduction issue drove me crazy for years. I was making the same mistake as CPA #1 suggested - putting everything on Schedule C on my personal return. What finally clarified everything for me was understanding that once you elect S Corp status, you become an employee of your own corporation. Employees can't deduct unreimbursed business expenses anymore (thanks to the 2017 tax changes), so the mileage deduction has to come from the business side. The solution that worked for me: I set up a simple accountable plan for my S Corp (literally just a one-page document), track all my business miles in a spreadsheet, and submit monthly expense reports to myself as the business owner. Then I reimburse myself at the standard rate and deduct that reimbursement as a business expense on the S Corp return. My tax software (I use FreeTaxUSA Business) doesn't have a specific mileage field either, so I just enter the total calculated amount under "Other Deductions" with "Mileage Reimbursement" as the description. Been doing it this way for three years now with no issues. The key is having that paper trail - the accountable plan, detailed mileage logs, and expense reports showing you properly requested reimbursement from your S Corp before taking the deduction.

My bet is you're fine. The IRS and their systems rarely sync up properly. Last year they said my return was 'still processing' for 3 months AFTER I had already received and spent my refund lol.

I went through this exact same thing! Filed in early March, app stuck on "Refund Received" for almost a month. I was checking my bank obsessively every morning. Then one random Tuesday - boom - there was my refund, no warning at all. The app didn't update to "Approved" until 3 days AFTER the money hit my account. Since you filed in early April and it's been 3+ weeks, you're right around that 21-day processing window. The app is notoriously unreliable - I've learned to just check my bank account instead of driving myself crazy with the app. Keep checking your account each morning since deposits usually post overnight. Your money could show up any day now even if the status never changes!