From my experience going through this exact process last year, it took about 4-5 months total from start to finish. Here's roughly how it broke down: - 2-3 weeks to gather all documents and request IRS transcripts for missing forms - 1-2 weeks to actually prepare and file the returns (I did 3 years worth) - 12-16 weeks for the IRS to process and send refunds (as @Maxwell St. Laurent mentioned, prior year returns take much longer) The key is getting organized upfront and not rushing through the document gathering phase. I made the mistake of filing my first return before I had all my transcripts back from the IRS, and ended up having to file an amended return later when I discovered additional income I had missed. One tip that saved me time - I created a simple spreadsheet tracking which documents I had for each year and what was still missing. It helped me stay organized when dealing with multiple tax years and made sure I didn't file incomplete returns. The wait for refunds was definitely the most frustrating part, but seeing those direct deposits hit my account after months of work made it all worthwhile. Don't get discouraged by the timeline - just start the process and let it work through the system!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation to @Edison Estevez - found some old W-2s from 2020-2022 while cleaning out my apartment and realized I never filed those years. I was working multiple part-time jobs during college and just completely lost track of my tax obligations. Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like I can still claim refunds for 2021 and 2022, but 2020 might be cutting it close depending on the exact dates. I'm definitely going to start with requesting those IRS wage transcripts that several people mentioned to make sure I have all the income documentation before filing anything. One question - for those who used the IRS transcript service, how long did it take to receive them? I want to make sure I'm not running up against any deadlines while waiting for documents. Also, did anyone run into issues with transcripts for years where you had multiple employers? I probably had 4-5 different W-2s in 2021 alone and I'm worried some might not show up in the IRS records. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this went from feeling like an impossible mess to having a clear roadmap forward!

Alternative verification options to consider: • In-person verification at Taxpayer Assistance Centers (appointment required) • Phone verification via the dedicated Identity Verification hotline • Third-party in-person verification through certain tax professionals • Online verification through ID.me (fastest option) Each has different processing times. I've found the online method typically reduces overall processing by 7-10 days compared to other methods. Hope this helps with your analysis!

This is incredibly helpful data! I've been tracking my own verification timeline and can confirm the 15-day delivery window. Filed on February 28th, got flagged for verification on March 3rd, and received my CP01 letter on March 18th - exactly 15 days later. What I found interesting is that checking my transcript daily showed the 971 code appeared 2 days before I actually received the physical letter. For anyone waiting, I'd recommend checking your transcript on the IRS website regularly since it updates faster than mail delivery. Currently waiting for my verification to process after completing it online through ID.me last week.

This is incredibly helpful information from everyone! I'm dealing with this exact same checkbox issue and was getting really worried about messing up my return. Just to summarize what I've gathered from this thread for anyone else who finds this: **The main solutions seem to be:** 1. Manually enter the correct standard deduction amount on line 12a (thanks Oliver for the specific amounts!) 2. Try the save/close/reopen workaround that Dmitry mentioned 3. Switch to a different tax software like TaxAct or TurboTax 4. Use services like Claimyr to get through to the IRS for official confirmation 5. Use taxr.ai to double-check your return before submitting I think I'm going to try the manual calculation first since multiple people confirmed the IRS said this would work. If I'm still nervous about it, I might use one of those analysis tools to double-check everything before hitting submit. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is so much more helpful than the official IRS help pages!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been struggling with this exact same checkbox issue for the past three days and was starting to panic that I'd have to pay for tax software or miss the deadline. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the manual calculation approach is the safest bet. I'm 67 years old, so if I understand correctly from Oliver's explanation, I need to add $1,850 to my base standard deduction of $14,600, giving me $16,450 for line 12a. I'm still a bit nervous about submitting with that broken checkbox, so I think I'll also try that taxr.ai service Miguel mentioned to double-check everything before I file. At this point, spending a few dollars on peace of mind is worth it compared to dealing with potential IRS correspondence later. Has anyone who used the manual calculation method already received their refund or gotten confirmation that it processed correctly? That would really help ease my anxiety about this whole situation!

Don't forget about state tax implications too! I went through something similar in California and while I was fixing the federal issues, I completely missed that I also needed to address the state filings. Ended up with a whole second headache. Make sure whatever solution you choose, you're addressing both federal AND state requirements. Each state has different rules about conforming to federal S-corp elections.

Make sure to get a new CPA! I had a similar situation where my accountant messed up my S-corp election. I went through 3 different accountants before finding someone who actually knew how to handle the correction properly. Look for someone who specifically has experience with entity election corrections and IRS abatement requests. A good CPA will know exactly what documentation to prepare and what procedures to follow for your specific situation.

i feel ur pain... i'm in literally the exact same situation except i filed back in february. the whole system is just a complete dumpster fire 😩

I'm going through almost the exact same thing! Filed electronically in March, got accepted immediately, but now it's been over 6 weeks with completely blank transcripts. The "Where's My Refund" tool hasn't budged at all. I tried the online identity verification tool multiple times and keep getting that same error message you posted. It's so frustrating that their own system tells you to verify your identity but then won't let you actually do it online. I haven't been able to get through to anyone at the IRS yet - every time I call I either get disconnected or the wait times are insane. Did the rep give you any timeline for when the verification letter might arrive? I'm really hoping mine doesn't take as long as some of the other people here are saying. This whole process is absolutely ridiculous - we shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to get our own money back!