I got this letter last month too!! Found out it happened because I had a W-2 from a job I worked for only 2 weeks and forgot to include it on my return. Wasn't identity theft at all, just me messing up lol. Still had to go through verification tho.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and it was stressful at first, but turned out fine. The key thing to remember is that receiving an identity verification letter doesn't necessarily mean your identity was actually stolen - the IRS has become much more cautious and flags returns for various reasons. In my case, it was triggered because I had started a side gig and reported 1099 income for the first time. The verification process took about 2 weeks once I called (took me several attempts to get through), and my refund was released 5 weeks after that. Make sure you have your prior year return, current year return, and the letter when you call. Also, try calling early in the morning (8 AM) or later in the afternoon - I had better luck getting through during those times. Don't panic, this is more common than you'd think and gets resolved once you verify your identity.

I had almost this exact situation last year! My license had expired during COVID and I didn't even realize it when I filed. I was also counting on a refund advance from H&R Block that I thought I might lose access to. What ended up happening was my return was accepted normally - no questions about the license. When I called about the advance issue, they actually had a separate system for handling the advances that wasn't directly tied to the return submission. I explained my situation, gave them my application number from the original approval email, and they were able to reactivate it for me. Took about 35 minutes on the phone but they sorted it out. The advance hit my account about 2 days later, and then my actual refund came about 3 weeks after that.

This is really helpful information from everyone! I'm dealing with something similar - I accidentally put the wrong expiration year on my license info when filing through FreeTaxUSA. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the IRS won't reject my return for this mistake, which is a relief. @Javier Cruz - thanks for starting this thread, it's exactly what I needed to see. The consensus seems to be that DL expiration dates aren't part of their automated verification system. @Chloe Robinson - your experience with H&R Block gives me hope! I'm in a similar boat with a refund advance that I'm worried about losing access to. Going to try calling their dedicated tax support line like @Omar Hassan suggested rather than going through general customer service. Has anyone here actually had their return accepted with a completely expired license (like expired over a year ago)? Just want to make sure there's not some threshold where it does become an issue.

Has anyone had the IRS actually question or care about which business code you use for something like transcription? I've been filing with various side hustles for years and just guessing at these codes. Never heard anything back about it.

I can relate to this frustration! For reality TV transcription work, I'd recommend going with code 519100 "Other Information Services" as Emma suggested. The key thing to remember is that you're providing information services to the production company - converting audio content into usable text data for their editors. I've done similar work for podcasts and online content creators, and this code has worked well for me. The IRS really isn't looking to nitpick these codes as long as you're in the right ballpark. Your transcription work is essentially creating information products that support media production, which fits perfectly under 519100. Don't overthink it - just pick one that reasonably describes what you do and move on with finishing your taxes. You're almost there!

My dad and I were in a similar situation last year. We went with the multi-member LLC route with a 75/25 split and it's worked well for us. One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure your dad is actually providing some services or capital to the business! The IRS doesn't look kindly on "partnerships" where one person is just there for tax benefits without contributing anything.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact decision process recently. I ended up choosing a multi-member LLC with my mom (70/30 split) and it's been working great for our consulting business. A few practical considerations that helped me decide: First, the multi-member LLC gives you flexibility to adjust profit/loss allocations in your operating agreement if your business circumstances change. Second, you can always convert to S-Corp status later by filing Form 2553 if you reach the profit threshold where it makes sense. One thing that surprised me was how much simpler the bookkeeping is compared to what I expected. Yes, you file Form 1065, but tax software makes it pretty straightforward, and having clear documentation of who contributed what from the start really helps. Make sure you get that operating agreement drafted properly though - it's worth spending a few hundred dollars on a business attorney to get it right rather than using a template. The IRS will scrutinize family partnerships more closely, so having everything documented properly from day one is crucial.

Has anyone here dealt with the timeline for getting a refund on a paper return for a prior year? I had to mail in my 2020 return last year and I'm still waiting for my refund. Just wondering what OP should expect if they're mailing a 2021 return now.

I went through something very similar with my 2020 return! The key thing to remember is that when a return gets rejected, it's like it never existed in the IRS system at all. So you're not amending anything - you're filing your original return for the first time. Since your kids already amended their returns to show they're your dependents, your return should go through without issues now. Just make sure to: 1. Print and mail your complete 2021 return (don't try to e-file a prior year) 2. Include a simple cover letter explaining the dependent conflict was resolved 3. Sign and date everything 4. Send it certified mail for tracking The good news is you have until April 15, 2025 to claim your 2021 refund, so you're still well within the deadline. Paper returns are slow (expect 4-6 months for processing), but you should eventually get your refund plus any interest that's owed. One tip: if you need to check on the status after a few months, calling the IRS directly is usually a nightmare. The callback services mentioned in other comments here actually work pretty well for getting through to a real person.