Is your friend enrolled as an Electronic Return Originator (ERO)? If so, he can access e-Services online and might have an easier path to resolving this. Also worth checking if he has a dedicated IRS agent through the Practitioner Priority Service - experienced accountants often have this resource and it can bypass many of the normal wait times.

I work at a mid-size CPA firm and we've dealt with this exact scenario before. Here's what I'd recommend for your friend: 1) Call EFTPS immediately at 1-888-353-4537 (not the number mentioned earlier - that's the old one). Explain it's an emergency with multiple clients and pending deadlines. They can issue temporary PINs over the phone that are valid for 30 days. 2) If he can't get through quickly, have him fax a signed letter on his letterhead to 855-264-3287 explaining the situation with a list of all affected EINs. Include his PTIN number if he has one. They usually respond to emergency fax requests within 24-48 hours. 3) As a last resort, clients can make payments directly through their bank's online bill pay system using the "Federal Tax Deposit" option - most major banks offer this and it posts same-day if done before 8 PM ET. The key thing is to document everything he's doing to resolve this. Even if some payments are a day or two late, showing he took immediate action usually results in penalty abatement when you can prove reasonable cause. I've successfully gotten penalties waived in similar situations by providing this documentation to the IRS. Don't let him stress too much - this is more common than people think and there are definitely solutions!

I'm in a similar situation - got the call from the IRS yesterday and they mentioned the 5747C letter is coming. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful! It sounds like there's no getting around the in-person appointment, which is frustrating but at least now I know what to expect. I'm particularly concerned about the wait times for appointments since I need to get this resolved quickly. Has anyone had success calling first thing in the morning to get through to schedule faster? Also wondering if all TAC locations have similar wait times or if some are better than others in terms of availability.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this process recently. The 5747C verification is definitely in-person only - no exceptions. What helped me was being super organized beforehand. I made a checklist of all required documents from the letter and gathered everything the night before my appointment. Also, I'd recommend bringing a book or something to do while you wait, even with an appointment there can still be delays. The IRS agents are actually pretty helpful once you get in there, and they'll walk you through exactly what they need to verify. One thing that surprised me was how quickly my case moved forward after verification - got my refund about 10 days later. The inconvenience is real, but the actual process isn't as scary as it seems from all the horror stories online!

Is anyone else annoyed that investment companies wait until the LAST possible minute to send these 1099 forms?? My friend already filed his taxes and then got a corrected 1099 and had to amend everything 😡

Welcome to the world of investing taxes! As someone who went through this exact same confusion when I started, I totally get how overwhelming it feels. The good news is that with $890 invested, your tax situation is going to be pretty straightforward. Here's what you need to know: You'll likely receive a 1099-DIV showing any dividends your investments earned (probably a small amount), and possibly a 1099-B if you sold any investments during the year. Even if the amounts are tiny, you still need to report them. The key thing is DON'T PANIC if you get the forms late - sometimes they don't arrive until February or even get corrected in March. Just make sure you wait to file your taxes until you have all your investment documents. Since this is your first year, I'd recommend using tax software like TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, or H&R Block online. They all have sections specifically for investment income and will walk you through exactly where to enter the information from your 1099 forms. The software makes it much less scary than it seems! You're being smart by asking questions early. Better to understand this stuff now while your investments are small than to be scrambling later when you hopefully have much more invested!

13 The W-9 is actually super simple! I used to overthink it too. Just remember this: 1. The W-9 just gives your info to the company paying you 2. If you make over $600, they'll send you a 1099-NEC form in January/February 3. You report that income on your tax return (Schedule C) 4. You pay both income tax AND self-employment tax on profits 5. BUT you can deduct business expenses to reduce that taxable amount Don't stress too much! Start keeping good records now, and you'll be fine when tax time comes around. Most tax software can walk you through the whole process pretty easily.

Hey Danielle! I totally get the tax anxiety - I felt the same way when I started my small business. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me feel more confident: One thing that really helped was opening a separate business checking account, even though it's not required for sole proprietorships. It makes tracking income and expenses SO much easier when everything is separate from your personal spending. Also, don't forget about the home office deduction if you have a dedicated space for your jewelry making! Even if it's just a corner of a room that you use exclusively for business, you can deduct a portion of your rent/mortgage, utilities, etc. And here's something I wish someone had told me earlier - you can actually deduct mileage when you drive to buy supplies or ship packages. Keep a simple log in your car and track those trips to craft stores, post office, etc. It adds up! The most important thing is just to start tracking everything now. Even if you're not sure if something is deductible, keep the receipt and ask about it later. It's much easier to have too much documentation than not enough when tax time comes around.

Called the IRS and sat on hold for 2 hours just to be told to wait 21 days... like thanks for nothing 🤮

I'm in a similar situation with cycle 05 and feeling the same anxiety! Filed early February and my transcript shows processing date of 2/26 but still no movement. The waiting is killing me too, especially when you're counting on that money. One thing I noticed from your transcript details - your refund amount is actually $3,388, not $2,388 like someone mentioned earlier. The math checks out: $2,640 withholding + $1,262 EIC - $514 tax = $3,388 total refund. Since you have EIC, the PATH Act requires them to hold refunds until at least February 15th, and with processing backlogs it can take even longer. Your cycle 05 means weekly updates, so definitely check your transcript again this Friday. Hang in there - based on what others are saying, movement should happen soon! The fact that your transcript shows all the right codes and no errors is a good sign.