Reason #47293 why I'm now making sure I owe a tiny amount each year instead of getting a refund. I'd rather pay them $50 than let them hold my $2000 hostage for a year with no recourse.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with the IRS. Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and unfortunately all too common. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you have several good options to try: 1. **File Form 911 for Taxpayer Advocate Service** - This seems to be the most recommended route for cases like yours where normal channels have failed 2. **Contact your Congressional representative** - Multiple people here have had success with this approach, with some getting results in just 3 weeks 3. **Try to get the specific fax number** for the department handling your EIC case - one person mentioned this worked after 14 months of waiting The fact that you've been dealing with this since 2021 and haven't received a refund since then is absolutely unacceptable. The IRS's antiquated systems and understaffing issues don't excuse holding taxpayers' money hostage for years. I'd definitely start with the Taxpayer Advocate route and congressional contact simultaneously. Document everything - dates of calls, names of representatives, case numbers, etc. You shouldn't have to fight this hard for your own money. Hang in there and don't give up. Your refund belongs to you, not them.

Maybe I'm paranoid but I've had my identity stolen before and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix. I wouldn't give copies of my SS card to ANYONE, not even my mom lol. There's zero reason they need a copy vs just the number.

Trust your instincts - this is definitely not standard practice and you're right to be concerned. I've been preparing taxes for over 15 years and have never required clients to provide physical copies of their Social Security cards. The SSN itself is all that's needed for tax preparation and filing. Your accountant's explanation about "security purposes" is actually backwards - keeping copies of SS cards creates MORE security risk, not less. If their office is breached or files are stolen, your most sensitive identity documents could be compromised. I'd recommend having a direct conversation with your accountant about this. Ask specifically why they need copies rather than just the numbers, and what their document security protocols are. A legitimate professional should be able to explain their reasoning and should be willing to work with you on alternatives, like verifying the cards in person without keeping copies. If they're unwilling to budge on this unusual request without a valid explanation, that might be a red flag about their practices in general.

Has anyone successfully done this using regular tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block? I have my original 2018 return I did through TurboTax but not sure if I can use it to create the 1040X or if I need to start from scratch.

I went through this exact situation last year with a missing W-2 from 2018! Here's what I learned that might help: First, don't panic - it's really not as complicated as it looks. The key is being methodical about it. Make sure you have your original 2018 return handy and the missing W-2. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if the missing W-2 results in you owing additional tax, you'll want to pay that amount when you file the 1040X to minimize interest charges. The interest runs from the original due date (April 15, 2019) regardless of when you actually file the amendment. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING. Your university will probably want proof that you filed the amendment, and with current IRS processing times being 20+ weeks, having documentation that you submitted it will be crucial for your financial aid office. The explanation section (Part III) doesn't need to be elaborate - just clearly state "Amendment due to missing W-2 from [employer name] not included in original filing" and attach the W-2 copy. Don't let the form intimidate you - most people overthink it. You've got this!

Cycle 05 updates are different from cycle 20 in a key way. With 05, your transcript typically updates Thursday night/Friday morning, whereas cycle 20 updates daily. If you verified 2 weeks ago on cycle 05, you've probably missed 1-2 update windows already. Compare this to 2023 when post-verification updates were taking 3-4 weeks due to backlog. This year seems faster based on what I'm seeing across different forums.

I'm also cycle 05 and verified about 10 days ago through ID.me. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like the timing really varies even within the same cycle. What's been helpful for me is checking my transcript early Friday mornings since that's when cycle 05 typically updates. I've noticed that some people are getting their 846 codes faster this year compared to 2023, but like Mateo mentioned, I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. Has anyone else noticed if the method of verification (phone vs ID.me) actually makes a difference in processing speed? The IRS agent I spoke with wasn't clear on that detail.

Have you considered using a payroll service that handles all your 940/941 filings automatically? I switched to Gusto last year and they take care of all the filings and deposits for my S-corp. Yes, there's a monthly fee, but the time saved and peace of mind is totally worth it when you factor in how much your time is worth per hour.

Just wanted to point out that if you're mailing the forms but paying electronically through EFTPS, the IRS should be able to match your payment to your account even if there's some delay with the paper forms. I've been doing this for years with my small business and never had an issue. The key is making sure your EFTPS payment has all the correct information (form number, tax period, EIN).