This is really helpful context. If I'm understanding correctly, I should focus less on "I didn't know" and more on "I didn't receive the proper documentation and had no reason to know I was missing anything." Would it also help to mention that these were childhood stocks my husband had forgotten about until we needed the down payment? They weren't part of our regular investment activities.

You've got it exactly right. "I didn't know" is weak, but "I didn't receive the required documentation and had no reasonable way to know I was missing it" is much stronger. Definitely mention that these were childhood stocks outside your normal financial activities - that's important context that shows why this was an unusual situation rather than negligence. Also highlight that you've been fully compliant for 28+ years, immediately paid when notified, and that this was a one-time event related to a home purchase during exceptional circumstances (COVID housing market). These elements together build a much more compelling case than what your accountant originally submitted.

This is such good advice. When I filed my appeal last year, I used USPS certified mail with return receipt AND took photos of all the documents before sending. The IRS initially claimed they never got page 3 of my documents, but I had proof it was included. Having that documentation was the difference between winning and losing my case.

Thanks for the practical advice! I'll definitely use certified mail and keep copies of everything. Do you think I should find a different accountant at this point? The current one seemed pretty confident about the first abatement request but clearly didn't provide enough details.

Thanks for the advice! Do you know how to set up that IRS Online Account? That sounds really helpful for next year.

You can set it up directly on the IRS website at irs.gov/account. You'll need to verify your identity with some personal info and either a credit card, mortgage, or loan account number. They've made the process more user-friendly recently. Once set up, you can see all W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents reported to the IRS under your SSN. It's super helpful for catching missing forms before you file. You can also use it to view your payment history, set up payment plans, and get transcripts of past returns if needed.

Mine took 9 months last year! Paper-filed and regretted it. The electronic amendments seem to go through much faster based on what friends have experienced.

1 I actually tried bringing this up with HR last month, but they said they "don't have the administrative capacity" to handle those kinds of benefits right now. I work for a pretty large retail chain too, so it seems like they just don't want to bother with it. Would there be any other options if they refuse to set up a program like this?

9 Unfortunately, if your employer isn't willing to establish a qualified transportation fringe benefit program, you don't have many other options for making those parking expenses pre-tax. These benefits have to be employer-sponsored. You might consider looking into carpooling with coworkers to split costs or researching if there are any monthly parking passes that might reduce your daily rate. Some cities also have programs for retail workers in downtown areas - might be worth checking with your local transportation authority or downtown business association to see if any special programs exist for essential workers.

4 Monthly passes are definitely the way to go. I used to pay $18/day until I found a lot that offered $180/month instead of the $360+ I was spending. It was a 10-minute walk, but totally worth it. Some places also offer evening/weekend employee discounts if you ask - especially if you work at a business that brings customers to the area.

Wait, so if my tax liability is already low because of other deductions and credits, I might not get the full benefit from this energy credit? Is there any way to carry over unused portions to next year?

That's exactly right - if your tax liability is already reduced by other credits and deductions, you might not be able to use the full energy credit. Your tax liability can only go down to zero, not negative. For the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), there is currently no carryover provision, so any unused portion is unfortunately lost. This is different from the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) for solar panels and similar installations, which does allow you to carry forward unused credits to future tax years.

Good news! The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) doesn't have an income phaseout or limit. Unlike some other tax credits that start to phase out at certain income levels, this one is available regardless of your income. So your one-time bonus won't affect your eligibility at all. Just make sure your improvements meet the efficiency requirements and you have the proper documentation from your installer or manufacturer.

Would this work if the employer hasn't filed the W2 yet? My boss is notoriously late with tax paperwork every year and I'm worried they haven't even submitted the information to the government yet.

That's a good question - it only works if your employer has already submitted the W2 information to the Social Security Administration. If they're behind on their filing requirements, the information won't be there yet. Unfortunately, if your employer hasn't filed the W2 forms with the government yet, you'll likely need to follow the other approaches mentioned here - contacting them directly, using Form 4852 with your paystub information, or getting the IRS involved to put pressure on them to file properly.

This is really important advice! I made this mistake a few years ago waiting for a corrected W2 that my employer promised was "on the way" and got hit with late filing penalties that were completely avoidable.