I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed January 15th, accepted on the 17th, and I've been stuck with that 9001 code for over 6 weeks now. What's really frustrating is that TurboTax estimated February 10th for my refund date, so I planned my budget around that. I finally broke down and tried calling the IRS last week. After being on hold for 3 hours (seriously!), the agent told me my return was selected for "additional review" but couldn't tell me what specifically they were reviewing or how much longer it would take. She just said to keep checking WMR and that I'd get a letter if they needed anything from me. The most annoying part is that I double-checked everything before filing. All my documents matched, I didn't claim anything unusual, and my return was pretty straightforward. It feels completely random who gets stuck in this limbo. Hang in there - from what I'm reading here, it sounds like most people eventually get their refunds, it just takes way longer than the IRS advertises.

I've been dealing with the exact same 9001 code situation since early February! What helped me was creating that IRS online account someone mentioned earlier and checking my tax transcript regularly. Turns out my return was flagged because I claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit and they needed to verify I was actually eligible for it. The transcript showed way more detail than the useless "Where's My Refund" tool ever did. I could see specific transaction codes that explained exactly what was happening. Once I understood what they were verifying, I was able to call the IRS with the right documentation ready, which made the conversation much more productive. It's definitely frustrating that their system is so opaque, but the transcript really is the key to getting actual information about your refund status. Don't just rely on that 9001 code - dig deeper into your account details on IRS.gov. It might give you the clarity you need about what's actually causing the delay.

This exact same thing happened to me two years ago! I was so frustrated that I ended up doing some research and found out that TurboTax uses deceptive design patterns to funnel people into paid upgrades. They'll often flag things like having more than one W-2 (if you and your spouse both work) or even basic things like claiming the Child Tax Credit as requiring their "Deluxe" version. What really bothers me is that they wait until the very end to spring this on you - after you've invested all that time entering your information. It's psychological manipulation at its finest. You're already mentally committed to finishing, so you're more likely to just pay the fee rather than start over elsewhere. I've been using the IRS Free File program ever since, and it's been genuinely free every year. The interface isn't as fancy as TurboTax, but it gets the job done without any surprise charges. The fact that TurboTax dropped out of the Free File program in 2021 tells you everything you need to know about their priorities. Sorry you had to deal with this - it's infuriating when companies pull bait-and-switch tactics during tax season when people are already stressed.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and alternatives! I had no idea how widespread TurboTax's deceptive practices were. What really gets me is how they've essentially weaponized our psychology against us. They know that after you've spent an hour entering all your information, you're emotionally invested in completing the process with them rather than starting over elsewhere. It's the classic sunk cost fallacy, and they're deliberately exploiting it. I'm bookmarking several of the alternatives mentioned here - FreeTaxUSA, the IRS Free File program, and even the Free File Fillable Forms for next year. The $59.99 I got charged this year is going to be the last money TurboTax ever sees from me. Has anyone tried filing an FTC complaint about their misleading advertising? It seems like there should be consequences for advertising something as "free" when it clearly isn't for the majority of users who try it.

I've been dealing with IRS issues for months and the whole system is just incredibly frustrating to navigate. Between error codes that don't explain anything and hold times that seem endless, it feels like they make it as difficult as possible to resolve simple problems. One thing that really helped me was using taxr.ai to understand what was actually happening with my account. I was getting all these confusing codes on my transcript and couldn't figure out if there were issues, delays, or what was going on. The AI tool explained everything in plain English and helped me understand exactly what steps I needed to take. It saved me so much time trying to decode everything myself or waiting hours on hold just to ask basic questions about my account status. For your specific Error 6000 issue, definitely call the identity verification line that others mentioned, but having a clear picture of your overall account status first can really help when you talk to an agent. Good luck getting this resolved!

I've been dealing with various IRS issues lately and the whole system is just incredibly frustrating to navigate. Error codes that don't explain anything, endless hold times, and different departments that can't actually help with your specific problem - it's like they designed the system to be as confusing as possible! Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about how common the Error 6000 issue is. It's ridiculous that they send you a letter demanding online verification but then block you from actually completing it due to their own system flags. One thing that really helped me understand what was going on with my account before calling was using taxr.ai to decode my transcript. All those cryptic codes and dates were completely meaningless to me, but the AI explained everything in plain English - what was happening, why there might be delays, what steps I needed to take. Made my eventual phone conversation with an IRS agent so much more productive because I actually knew what questions to ask. For your Error 6000 situation, definitely follow everyone's advice about calling the 800-830-5084 identity verification line early morning. Having a clear picture of your overall account status first can really help when you finally get through to someone. Good luck getting this mess sorted out!

2 I sign this form with my accountant every year, totally standard. But your old accountant asking for bank passwords?!? That's absolutely NOT normal and a huge red flag! No legitimate tax professional should ever need your actual login credentials. They might need statements or transaction histories, but those can be downloaded and provided without giving access to your accounts.

Yes, Form 2848 is absolutely standard! Every reputable tax professional will have you sign this if they need to communicate with the IRS on your behalf. It's actually required by law for them to represent you. The key things to know: 1) It's LIMITED to tax matters only - no access to bank accounts or general financial decisions, 2) YOU control what tax years and what level of authority they get by filling out specific sections, and 3) You can revoke it anytime by sending a written notice to both your accountant and the IRS. Your instincts about the previous accountant were spot-on - legitimate tax pros never need your actual bank login credentials. They might ask for statements or use secure read-only connections, but never passwords. Good for you for asking questions before signing! That's exactly what you should do with any legal document.

I just went through this with TaxAct too. For interest over $1,500, you do need Schedule B. But here's a tip: switch to FreeTaxUSA. They include Schedule B in their free federal filing. I switched last year when TurboTax tried to upcharge me for the same reason. FreeTaxUSA charged me $0 for federal with Schedule B (just had to pay like $15 for state).

Pro tip: don't let tax software upsell you! Schedule B is literally just listing your interest sources. Mine looked like this: Bank Name: $2,200 Total: $2,200 That's it! I used Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) and paid $0 for both federal and state, including Schedule B. TurboTax is notorious for making simple things seem complicated so they can charge you.