Anyone know what the realistic chances are of actually getting a whistleblower award? My brother-in-law claims he got like 15% of what the IRS collected after his report, but that sounds like BS to me.

Based on my experience working in tax compliance, your evidence sounds pretty solid for a Form 211 submission. Emails discussing "keeping it off the books" combined with screenshots of accounting discrepancies can be very compelling evidence - the IRS looks for patterns that show intentional tax evasion rather than just mistakes. A few key points for your documentation: - Organize everything chronologically to show the pattern over time - Include dates, amounts, and context for each piece of evidence - Your $450K estimate is fine - show your methodology for how you arrived at that figure - Keep detailed notes about those overheard conversations (who, when, where, what was said) The IRS doesn't expect you to have perfect proof - that's their job to investigate. Your role is providing substantial information that gives them a starting point. From what you've described, you definitely have enough to warrant filing. Just make sure you're only using information you had legitimate access to through your normal job duties to avoid any retaliation issues. Good luck with your submission!

Does anyone know how wash sales are represented on the Robinhood 1099? I did some frequent trading of the same stocks last year and I'm concerned about how to handle it correctly.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same panic last year! That section 1D number is definitely just your total proceeds from all sales - NOT what you'll owe taxes on. I had a similar situation where my 1099 showed like $200k in proceeds but my actual taxable gains were only around $12k. The key thing to remember is that the IRS expects to see these big numbers because they represent ALL the money that moved through your account from sales. What you actually pay taxes on is the difference between what you sold stocks for and what you originally paid for them (your cost basis). Make sure to look for the sections that show your net gains/losses - that's the number that matters for your tax return. And definitely keep all your records in case you need to verify any cost basis calculations later!

Check if you have a 971 code coming after the 570. That usually means they sent you a notice explaining the hold

Code 570 with EIC claims is pretty standard - they're just verifying your qualifying children and income. Since your credits are already scheduled for April 15th, the IRS is confident they'll release the hold by then. The fact that you filed so early (February) actually works in your favor because there's plenty of time for them to complete their review before the scheduled release date. Most EIC verification holds clear within 4-6 weeks, and yours should be resolved well before April 15th based on the timeline shown.

mine cleared after 6 weeks. hang in there!

Looking at your transcript, the good news is your refund amount is solid at $15,621 - all your credits and withholdings add up correctly. The 570/971 combo usually means they're verifying some of your credits, possibly the large ones totaling $10,846. Since your 971 notice was issued 03-27-2023, you should have received or will receive mail explaining what they need. Sometimes it's just identity verification or documentation for certain credits. The April 16th dates you're seeing are just processing cycle dates, not your actual refund date. With a cycle code ending in 05, you're on a weekly cycle which is actually better for getting updates. Keep checking your transcript weekly for changes - once that 570 drops off, you should see an 846 refund date code pretty quickly after. Have you received any mail from the IRS yet? That 971 notice will tell you exactly what's holding things up.

Check if you can verify your identity online through ID.me - sometimes that speeds things up

I went through this exact same situation last year! The 570/971 combo is frustrating but pretty standard - it just means they're doing some kind of verification review. Since your math is perfect and you filed early, it's likely just a random audit or income verification check. The good news is your transcript shows everything processed normally on 4/17, so you're definitely getting that $8,368 refund - it's just a matter of when. The 971 notice should arrive soon and tell you exactly what they need. In my case, it was just identity verification and took about 6 weeks total once I responded to their letter. Pro tip: keep checking your transcript weekly for updates. Once you see the 570 code reverse (showing as a negative amount), your refund should be released within a few days. Hang in there!