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!

Just my two cents, but I think you should definitely tell your tax preparer about the unfiled 2023 return during your appointment for 2024. They deal with this situation ALL THE TIME, trust me. When I worked as a server, I had a similar issue where I owed money multiple years and got overwhelmed. My tax guy handled everything - filed my back taxes, set up a payment plan, and even got some penalties reduced. It was way less painful than I expected. Don't try to handle the 2023 return yourself if you're already planning to see a professional for 2024. Let them handle both and do it right. The peace of mind is worth it, and they might save you money in the long run.

You're definitely not in as much trouble as you think! Missing one year happens more often than you'd expect, especially with multiple W-2s and website issues like you experienced. The lack of IRS notices is actually pretty normal - they're still working through backlogs and it often takes 12-18 months before they start sending letters about unfiled returns. Don't let that false sense of security fool you though - it's better to get ahead of it. Since you mentioned most of your income was from serving, there's a decent chance you might have had enough taxes withheld to cover what you owe, or you might even be due a refund. Server wages often have higher withholding rates, and if you're young, you might qualify for credits you don't know about. Definitely bring up the 2023 situation with your tax preparer at your scheduled appointment. They can handle both years efficiently and help you understand exactly where you stand. In the meantime, start gathering those 2023 W-2s - contact the employer with the website issues directly if needed, or you can request wage transcripts from the IRS. Don't stress too much about this. You're being proactive now, which is what matters. The penalties for late filing aren't pleasant, but they're manageable, especially if you file before the IRS gets around to creating a substitute return for you.

I'm in a similar situation - my refund check was mailed April 16th and still nothing after 11 days. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like anything from 2-7 weeks is "normal" which is crazy when you're waiting on thousands of dollars. I'm definitely going to set up USPS Informed Delivery today and maybe call my local post office to see if they have it sitting there with a scanning error like someone mentioned. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this waiting game!

I'm going through this exact same stress right now! My check was mailed April 15th (the day after yours) and still no sign of it. It's been 12 days and I'm checking the mailbox obsessively. Reading everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful though - sounds like 2-4 weeks is unfortunately pretty normal even though it feels like forever when you're waiting on that much money. I'm definitely going to set up USPS Informed Delivery right now and maybe try calling my local post office tomorrow to see if there's a scanning issue. The idea of mail theft is terrifying but at least if that happened the IRS can track if it was cashed by someone else. Fingers crossed both our checks show up this week! Thanks for posting this - it's oddly comforting to know others are in the same boat.

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!