What exactly is American Opportunity Credit and how do I qualify?

I'm filing my taxes for the 2023 tax year and noticed something called 'American Opportunity Credit' on the tax software I'm using. Can someone explain what this is? I'm in my second year of college and paying tuition out of pocket and with some loans. Is this something I can claim? How much is it worth and what documentation do I need? I want to make sure I'm not missing out on any potential refund money since tuition is killing me right now.

E-filed March 10th: WMR still showing "processing" with 810 freeze code on transcript after 21-day period

I e-filed my return on March 10th and my 21 day processing period ends tomorrow. When I check Where's My Refund tool, I'm still getting the message that "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays, please see our Refund Frequently Asked Questions." The WMR tool shows: Tax year 2024 Return: Received Refund Approved: ? (question mark) Refund Sent: ? (question mark) There's also a note at the bottom that says "Please Note: For refund information, please continue to check here, or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day." It also shows my filing status as Single for Tax Year 2024. My transcript is mostly blank except for an 810 code which I've heard might be a freeze code? I definitely don't owe any taxes - I should be getting a refund according to my calculations. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal or should I be concerned? The WMR tool isn't showing any approval or sent status either. I've been checking the IRS2Go app and the website multiple times daily hoping to see a change, but it's been stuck on this message for almost 3 weeks now. I expected to see at least the "approved" status by now since we're at the 21-day mark.

Refund frozen since April 2024 now showing 971/977 codes with mysterious February 2025 date - my tax preparer claims her "assistant" might have filed an amended return?

I gave up on my 2023 tax return situation months ago, but I just checked my transcript and noticed something strange. My refund has been frozen since April 2024 (code 810) but now I'm seeing code 971 and 977 dated February 17, 2025 saying an amended return was filed and forwarded for processing. I never filed an amended return! I asked my tax person about it and she said maybe her assistant did it? That sounds super fishy to me. Here's what my transcript actually shows: TAX PER RETURN: $3,665.00 SE TAXABLE INCOME TAXPAYER: $12,804.00 SE TAXABLE INCOME SPOUSE: $0.00 TOTAL SELF EMPLOYMENT TAX: $2,806.00 RETURN DUE DATE OR RETURN RECEIVED DATE (WHICHEVER IS LATER): Apr. 15, 2024 PROCESSING DATE: May 13, 2024 TRANSACTIONS CODE EXPLANATION OF TRANSACTION CYCLE DATE AMOUNT 150 Tax return filed 20241705 05-13-2024 $3,665.00 810 Refund freeze 04-04-2024 $0.00 766 Credit to your account 04-15-2024 $2,407.00 766 Credit to your account 04-15-2024 $10,458.00 768 Earned income credit 04-15-2024 -$4,995.00 971 Amended tax return or claim 02-17-2025 $0.00 forwarded for processing 977 Amended return filed 02-17-2025 $0.00 This Product Contains Sensitive Taxpayer Data My original return shows filing date of May 13, 2024 with tax of $3,665.00. I had credits totaling $12,865.00 ($2,407.00 + $10,458.00) plus earned income credit of $4,995.00. My refund has been frozen since April 4, 2024 with that code 810, and now suddenly there's these mysterious codes (971 and 977) dated for February 17, 2025 saying an amended return was filed and forwarded for processing. What does this mean? Is this actually a positive development or should I be worried? I definitely didn't file an amended return, and I'm suspicious about my tax preparer's vague answer about her assistant possibly doing it. What typically happens next in this situation? Could this help release my frozen refund?

Code 810 Refund Freeze on 2024 Tax Return - Transcript Shows "No Return Filed" Despite February Submission

I filed my 2024 taxes back in early February and was expecting my refund by now. Checked my transcript today (March 2, 2025) and noticed I have a code 810 (Refund freeze) from February 3rd. I don't see any other transaction codes after that. Here's what my transcript shows: Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury This Product Contains Sensitive Taxpayer Data Request Date: 03-02-2025 Response Date: 03-02-2025 Account Transcript FORM NUMBER: 1040 TAX PERIOD: Dec. 31, 2024 ACCOUNT BALANCE: 0.00 ACCRUED INTEREST: 0.00 AS OF: Mar. 03, 2025 ACCRUED PENALTY: 0.00 AS OF: Mar. 03, 2025 ACCOUNT BALANCE PLUS ACCRUALS (this is not a payoff amount): 0.00 ** INFORMATION FROM THE RETURN OR AS ADJUSTED ** EXEMPTIONS: 00 FILING STATUS: Single ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT TAXABLE INCOME: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT TAX PER RETURN: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT SE TAXABLE INCOME TAXPAYER: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT SE TAXABLE INCOME SPOUSE: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT TOTAL SELF EMPLOYMENT TAX: RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS CODE EXPLANATION OF TRANSACTION CYCLE DATE AMOUNT No tax return filed 810 Refund freeze 02-03-2025 $0.00 This Product Contains Sensitive Taxpayer Data My question is: has anyone experienced having a refund freeze resolve itself without calling the IRS? Or once you get code 810, do you absolutely have to call them to get things moving again? I'm also confused about the dates on my transcript - the "as of" date shows March 3rd but the freeze code is from a month earlier (02-03-2025). Does this timing mean anything? What's also strange is that it says "No tax return filed" even though I definitely submitted my return in early February. The transcript shows a zero balance but I haven't received my refund yet. It's also showing "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" for all my income and tax information sections. Is this normal with a code 810? Should I wait it out or start trying to get through to an agent now? Anyone dealt with this situation before?

Need to prove family relationship for claiming my niece on taxes - complicated by adoption

I need some advice on how to prove my relationship to my niece for tax purposes. Heres the complicated part - I was adopted when I was young and my adoptive mother is listed on my birth certificate. My niece's mother and I are actually biological sisters, but we don't have documentation showing this connection. The IRS is questioning my eligibility to claim her as a dependent. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Do I need to get DNA tests or can I use other documentation to establish our biological relationship? The IRS agent I spoke with wasn't very helpful and just kept saying I need "proof of relationship" without explaining what would be acceptable.

IRS Code 810 Freeze on my account has me at breaking point - what does this even MEAN??

I just checked my IRS account and noticed an 810 freeze code on my transcript from April 2024. I filed in March and was expecting my refund by now (almost $4,600). Now this random code shows up and I have no idea what it means. I've been waiting for months! Tried calling the IRS 9 times but can never get through to an actual person. The automated system just says "your return is being processed" which tells me NOTHING. I'm counting on this money for some pretty major bills. Has anyone dealt with this 810 code before? How long does it take to resolve? I'm absolutely at my wits end and don't know what to do anymore.

IRS Audit CP75 for 2024 Return: Must Prove Step-Daughter as Dependent, Filing Status, EIC and American Opportunity Credit Eligibility Within 30 Days

I just received a CP75 notice dated March 3, 2025 from the IRS for my 2024 tax return. They're auditing my return and holding my Earned Income Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit portions of my refund. The notice (CP75 PC0289) was sent from the IRS Examination Operations at 310 Lowell St Stop 854, Andover, MA 01810-0001. They're auditing my 2024 Form 1040 and I need to send supporting documentation within 30 days from the date of the notice. According to the letter, if I don't respond within that timeframe, they'll send an audit report proposing to disallow the items being audited, and I may owe additional tax. I've been claiming my step-daughter for the past 3 years with no issues, but now they're asking for documentation to prove she qualifies as my dependent. The notice specifically says I need to "Review the enclosed Form 886-H-DEP, Supporting Documents for Dependents" and "Submit the documentation requested to show you have eligible dependents." They're also questioning my Earned Income Credit eligibility, asking me to "Review the enclosed Form 886-H-EIC, Documents You Need to Send to Claim the Earned Income Credit on the Basis of a Qualifying Child or Children for tax year 2024" and "Submit the documentation requested to show your child or children met the relationship, age and residency tests." Additionally, they're questioning my filing status and want me to "Review the enclosed Form 14824, Supporting Documents to Prove Filing Status" and "Submit the documentation requested to verify your filing status." On top of all that, they're questioning the American Opportunity Credit I claimed, asking me to "Review the enclosed Form 886-H-AOC, Supporting Documents to Prove American Opportunity Credit" and "Submit the documentation requested to show you had eligible education expenses." The notice gives me a contact number of 866-897-0177 and my Caller ID is 278992. Has anyone gone through this process before? What kind of documentation would prove our relationship since she's not my biological child? Her mom and I aren't legally married but we've been living together for 6 years and I provide most of the financial support. I'm worried I'll end up owing a lot if they reject everything.

Received CP05 Notice for 2024 Return with 810 Code - IRS Reviewing Return for up to 60 Days, No Action Needed Now

IRS put 810 freeze code on my transcript after acceptance, received 12C letter, filed amended return, still showing 810 - what's next?

I e-filed my 2024 tax return on February 10, 2025 and got acceptance confirmation within 24 hours. Everything seemed fine until I checked my transcript on February 16 and saw an 810 code dated February 14. I was confused since I thought my return was processing normally. On February 28, I received a Letter 12C asking for additional information about some income verification. I realize this is probably why the 810 freeze was put on my account. I quickly prepared and e-filed an amended return on March 8 with all the supporting documentation they requested. It's now been almost 3 weeks since I submitted the amended return, but when I check my transcript it's still showing the 810 code from February 14 and nothing else has updated. No indication they've even received my amended return. I'm not sure what to do next. Should I call the IRS? Wait longer? Send in paper documentation? I was really counting on this refund coming through soon.

How to verify my identity for tax refund without receiving the IRS letter? Desperately need refund for newborn expenses

I filed my taxes back in February and got notified that I need to verify my identity with the IRS before they can release my refund. They supposedly mailed a verification letter on April 10th but its almost May and I still havent received anything. I just had my first baby in January and Im not working right now because daycare is too expensive. Im really counting on this refund (around $5800) to help cover expenses until I can figure out childcare and get back to my job. Is there any way to verify without having that specific letter? Ive tried calling the general IRS number but keep getting disconnected after waiting forever. Anyone gone through this? I really need this money soon.