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I'm in Missouri and dealing with the exact same nightmare! Filed my return in late February and I'm still stuck in that "being processed" status after almost 5 months. Like so many others here, I've called repeatedly and gotten completely different explanations each time - everything from "routine verification" to "system maintenance" to "additional review required." It's clear they have no idea what's actually happening with individual cases. My federal refund came through in 10 days, so I know my return is correct. I'm owed $1,320 and desperately need it for some unexpected childcare costs. The complete lack of transparency is maddening - they're essentially holding our money hostage while giving us the runaround. I'm definitely going to try calling that taxpayer advocate number (573-751-3505) that several people mentioned tomorrow. It's absolutely ridiculous that so many Missouri taxpayers are going through this same bureaucratic nightmare because of their botched system upgrade. Thanks for posting this - it's both infuriating and somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone in dealing with Missouri's completely broken tax system this year!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this too, especially with childcare costs that can't wait! I'm actually new to this community but found this thread while researching my own Missouri tax issues. It's absolutely mind-blowing how many people are stuck in the same situation - this thread alone shows it's clearly a massive systemic failure on Missouri's part, not individual problems with our returns. The fact that everyone's federal refunds came through quickly really proves this is 100% on the state. That taxpayer advocate number (573-751-3505) seems to be the most promising option based on what others have shared here. I'm planning to try it myself tomorrow. Really hope you get your $1,320 soon - childcare expenses definitely can't wait for the state to figure out their broken system!
I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience here in Missouri! Filed my return electronically in mid-March and it's been stuck in that "being processed" status for over 4 months now. Like so many others here, I've called multiple times and gotten completely different explanations each time - first they said "routine processing," then "system backlog," and last week they told me there was an "identity verification hold" but couldn't explain what that meant or what I needed to do. My federal refund came through in just 2 weeks, so I know there's nothing wrong with my return. I'm owed about $1,150 and really need it for some unexpected car repairs that I've been putting off. What's most infuriating is the complete lack of transparency - they're essentially holding our money while giving us vague non-answers. Reading through all these comments, it's clear this is a massive statewide problem affecting thousands of taxpayers due to Missouri's botched computer system upgrade. I'm definitely going to try calling that taxpayer advocate number (573-751-3505) that several people mentioned tomorrow and also contact my state representative's office. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to get our own money back! Thanks for posting this - it's both maddening and somewhat reassuring to know I'm not going crazy and this really is as widespread as it seems. Hopefully we can all get some real answers and our refunds soon instead of being stuck in this bureaucratic nightmare!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have discovered this comprehensive discussion! I'm a small business owner with 7 employees, and the W-4 transition has been a constant source of confusion and stress for me this year. Like so many others here, I've been fielding the same "Single + 0" questions from my team and honestly struggling to provide confident answers. The IRS documentation feels like it's written in a foreign language, and I was starting to worry I might give incorrect guidance that could hurt my employees come tax time. This thread has been a revelation! The consensus is clear and reassuring: for the old "Single + 0" equivalent, employees simply need to check "Single or Married filing separately," skip Steps 2-4, and sign the form. If they want even more withholding for larger refunds, they can use Step 4(c) to add specific dollar amounts per paycheck. I'm particularly excited to try the tools everyone has mentioned - taxr.ai and Claimyr. The idea of getting actual dollar projections instead of trying to interpret vague tax concepts sounds like exactly what I need to help my team make informed decisions about their withholding. The suggestion to create a reference sheet with old vs. new W-4 equivalents is brilliant. I'm going to implement that immediately, along with the proactive paycheck review process several people mentioned to catch any issues early. One question for this knowledgeable group: For a small team like mine, would you recommend scheduling individual meetings with each employee to review their W-4 setup, or is a group training session more efficient? I want to make sure everyone gets the personalized guidance they need without overwhelming myself administratively. Thank you all for turning what felt like an impossible puzzle into manageable, actionable steps!
Welcome to the community, Camila! Your question about individual vs. group sessions is a great one that I've wrestled with myself. For a small team like yours (7 employees), I'd actually recommend a hybrid approach that's worked really well for me. Start with a brief group session (maybe 20-30 minutes) where you cover the basics - show everyone the "Single + 0" equivalent, explain the reference sheet you're creating, and address the most common questions. This gets everyone on the same page and reduces anxiety about the changes. Then follow up with quick individual 5-10 minute conversations with each employee to review their specific situation. Some people will have straightforward needs that match your reference sheet perfectly, while others might have unique circumstances (married couples, side income, etc.) that need personalized guidance. The individual time is really valuable because people are often more comfortable asking "stupid questions" in private, and you can actually look at their specific W-4 form to make sure they filled it out correctly. Plus, you can schedule these conversations as people submit their forms rather than trying to do them all at once. The tools mentioned here (especially taxr.ai) are perfect for those individual sessions - you can run quick scenarios to show employees exactly how their choices will affect their paychecks. It makes the conversation much more concrete and builds confidence in the new system. This approach has saved me tons of time compared to answering the same questions repeatedly, and my employees really appreciate the personalized attention!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this incredibly thorough discussion! I'm a small business owner with 14 employees, and the W-4 transition has been my biggest administrative nightmare this year. Like everyone else here, I've been getting endless questions about translating "Single + 0" to the new form, and honestly, I was starting to panic that I might give wrong advice that could mess up my employees' taxes. This thread has been a lifesaver - the clear consensus that it's simply "check Single, skip Steps 2-4, and sign" is exactly the straightforward guidance I needed. What really impresses me about this discussion is the combination of practical experience and actual tools to solve the problem. I've never heard of taxr.ai or Claimyr, but after reading all these success stories, I'm definitely going to try both. The idea of getting real dollar projections instead of trying to decode IRS jargon sounds like it could save me hours of confusion. I'm planning to implement several strategies mentioned here: creating that reference sheet with old vs. new equivalents, doing proactive W-4 reviews with my team, and following up with paycheck verification after any changes. The hybrid approach of group training plus individual sessions that Emily mentioned sounds perfect for my team size. One thing I'm wondering about - for employees who are married but have always used "Single" for maximum withholding, should I encourage them to switch to the technically correct "Married" status with additional withholding in Step 4(c), or is it fine to let them continue with "Single" if that's what they prefer? I want to give accurate advice but also respect their personal withholding strategies. This community is exactly what small business owners need - real solutions from people facing the same challenges!
Quick question - does anyone know if leasing vs buying changes this calculation? My S corp is in a similar loss situation but I'm looking at leasing options instead.
Leasing is a completely different tax treatment. With leasing, you simply deduct the lease payments as business expenses - no depreciation involved. This can be advantageous in a loss situation because the deductions are spread out over the lease term rather than front-loaded. For an S Corp already in a loss position, leasing might actually be preferable since it doesn't create additional large deductions in the current year when you can't use them anyway. Plus, lease payments remain fully deductible regardless of the type of vehicle (no luxury auto limits on lease deductions, though there may be "lease inclusion amounts" for higher-value vehicles).
I went through this exact situation with my marketing agency last year! When you're already projecting a loss, bonus depreciation is definitely the way to go over Section 179. The key difference is that Section 179 can't create or increase a business loss, so it won't provide any additional tax benefit in your friend's situation. With bonus depreciation (80% for 2023, 60% for 2024), she can still take the large first-year deduction even though the business is operating at a loss. Those excess losses will carry forward to future years when the business is hopefully profitable. For Honda vehicles, you're right to focus on the 6,000 lb GVWR threshold. The Odyssey typically doesn't qualify in any trim, but the Honda Pilot (especially Touring and Elite trims) usually exceeds 6,000 lbs. The Honda Passport also often qualifies. Just make sure to check the exact GVWR on the manufacturer's label - it's usually on the driver's side door frame. One other consideration: if she expects the business to be profitable in the near future, she might want to consider whether spreading the depreciation over several years with regular MACRS might be more beneficial to match deductions with higher-income years. But if cash flow is tight and she needs the immediate tax benefits, bonus depreciation is still the better choice over Section 179 in a loss situation.
This is really helpful advice! I'm new to business taxes and this thread has been super educational. One thing I'm still confused about - when you mention that excess losses "carry forward to future years," does that mean she can use those depreciation deductions to offset income in profitable years down the road? And is there a limit on how long those losses can be carried forward? Also, thanks for the specific Honda model info - I didn't realize the difference between the Odyssey and Pilot in terms of weight classification. Would it be worth having her dealer confirm the exact GVWR before making the final decision?
This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm dealing with a similar situation where a partner's CPA is insisting I provide complete basis tracking going back 8 years for a partnership I only started handling 2 years ago. The previous accountant's records are incomplete at best. What I've found works is being very clear about the scope of what you can and cannot provide. I usually respond with something like: "I understand your need for historical basis information. However, partnership basis tracking is the partner's responsibility under tax law, not the partnership accountant's. I can provide you with all K-1s from the years I've prepared, but I don't have access to complete historical records that would be needed for accurate basis calculations from the partnership's inception." Then I offer what I can reasonably do: "I'm happy to help establish a going-forward basis tracking system if you can provide a starting basis calculation, or I can review any basis reconstruction you prepare for reasonableness." This shows you're being helpful while maintaining appropriate boundaries. The key is documenting everything in writing so there's no confusion later about what you agreed to provide versus what's outside your scope of responsibility.
This is such a common issue in our industry! I appreciate you sharing that template language - it strikes the right balance between being professional and setting clear boundaries. The phrase "partnership basis tracking is the partner's responsibility under tax law" is particularly helpful because it references the actual legal framework rather than just saying "that's not my job." I've been in similar situations where CPAs try to push scope creep onto the partnership accountant, especially when they're dealing with incomplete records on their end. Your approach of offering specific, limited assistance (like reviewing their reconstruction for reasonableness) while documenting everything in writing is spot on. One thing I'd add - I always include a brief explanation of the difference between partnership and S-Corp basis rules when I encounter this confusion. Many CPAs who primarily work with S-Corps don't realize that the tracking responsibilities are allocated differently for partnerships. A quick educational note can sometimes defuse the tension and help them understand why you're not the right person to be doing this work.
I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's dealt with this exact scenario multiple times. You're absolutely right that partnership basis tracking is the partner's responsibility, not yours as the partnership accountant. What I've learned over the years is that some CPAs, especially those who primarily work with S-Corps, genuinely don't understand the difference in basis tracking responsibilities between entity types. The aggressive approach you're encountering often stems from their client pressuring them for information they don't have, and they're hoping you can bail them out. Here's what I typically do in these situations: I send a brief but firm email explaining that while I understand their predicament, partnership tax law places basis tracking responsibility on the individual partners. I offer to provide copies of any K-1s I have access to and suggest they work with their client to reconstruct basis using available documentation. The key phrase I use is: "I'm happy to collaborate on finding a solution within the appropriate scope of my responsibilities as the partnership's accountant." This shows you're professional and willing to help without accepting liability for work that isn't yours to do. Most reasonable practitioners back down once they understand the legal framework. If they continue to be demanding after a clear explanation, that tells you more about their character than their knowledge of tax law.
Zainab Ismail
I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience since I just went through something very similar! Filed in early March, got the acceptance confirmation, then radio silence for weeks with that same "no record of processed return" message. What finally worked for me was a combination of the advice I'm seeing here. First, I called my tax preparer (FreeTaxUSA) and they confirmed the transmission was successful on their end. Then I tried calling the IRS for days with no luck getting through. Eventually I broke down and used one of those callback services that several people mentioned - got connected to an actual IRS agent within an hour. Turns out my return was flagged because one of my employers had submitted a corrected W-2 after I filed, creating a mismatch in their system. The agent was able to see this immediately and released my return right there on the call. The whole thing was resolved within a week after that phone call, and I got my refund about 10 days later. The key was actually talking to someone who could look at my specific case rather than just waiting and wondering. @Madison Tipne - since you're already at 7+ weeks, I'd definitely recommend being proactive about calling rather than waiting much longer. That verification letter you got is actually pretty normal when returns are stuck, but you deserve to know exactly what's causing the delay at this point!
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Ellie Lopez
ā¢This is really encouraging to hear! I'm definitely going to be more proactive about this since I'm already past that 7+ week mark. It's interesting that your issue was a corrected W-2 creating a mismatch - I wonder if something similar happened with one of my employers. I had three different W-2s this year so there's definitely potential for some kind of discrepancy. The fact that the agent could see the issue immediately and fix it on the spot gives me hope that once I actually get through to someone, this might be resolved pretty quickly. I think I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy first, but if that doesn't work after a few tries, I'll look into those callback services people have mentioned. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps to know that other people have gotten through this and come out the other side!
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Oscar O'Neil
I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed on 3/20, got accepted immediately, and now it's been over 8 weeks with that same "no record of processed return" letter showing up on my wage and income transcript. Like you, 2024 isn't even showing as an option for my account transcript yet. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing this is way more common than I thought. It sounds like the letter itself isn't necessarily bad news - it just means our returns are stuck somewhere in the processing pipeline. The fact that we both got acceptance confirmations is reassuring since that means the IRS definitely has our returns. I think I'm going to follow the advice here and start by calling my tax preparer (TurboTax) to make sure there wasn't a transmission error, then try the early morning IRS calling strategy. If that doesn't work, those callback services that multiple people mentioned sound like they might be worth trying. The waiting is absolutely maddening, but it's helpful to know we're not alone in this! Hopefully we both get some answers soon and can put this stress behind us.
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