Have you tried checking if your issue can be resolved online first? The IRS has actually improved their online services quite a bit. 😅 I was dreading calling them about my payment plan, but ended up being able to set everything up through the online payment agreement tool without speaking to anyone. Saved me hours of hold music torture!

I've had success with the Practitioner Priority Line (866-860-4259) even though I'm not a tax professional - they sometimes route individual taxpayers through if you explain your situation clearly. Also, try calling right at 7:00 AM EST when they open, not 7:30 or later. I got through in 22 minutes last Tuesday using this approach. The key is persistence and timing - I know it's frustrating but don't give up!

Just a warning - if they do reimburse you for a portion of your rent, make absolutely sure they set it up properly. My company tried to do this last year and messed it up. They gave me rent reimbursements but didnt document it as an accountable plan. At tax time, I found out they had added all those "reimbursements" to my W-2 as income! I ended up paying taxes on money that was supposed to just be covering my expenses. Double check how it shows up on your paystubs!

This is such great advice from everyone! As someone who went through this exact transition last year when our office closed, I can confirm that getting the accountable plan set up correctly is crucial. One thing to add - since you mentioned you're at a tiny company with just 5 total people, your bosses might actually appreciate you bringing this up. Small business owners often aren't familiar with accountable plan rules, and setting this up properly can save them money too (no employment taxes on the reimbursements vs. having to pay FICA on stipends). For your specific situation with the desk in your living room corner, I'd suggest being conservative with the percentage calculations. The IRS looks for "regular and exclusive use" for business, so focus on documenting things like your internet usage during work hours, any office supplies you buy, maybe a portion of utilities if you're running equipment all day. Keep it reasonable and well-documented. Also, since you swap custody years with your ex, just make sure any home office stuff doesn't accidentally complicate that arrangement if you end up needing to track square footage or anything like that. But honestly, with proper accountable plan reimbursements, it shouldn't affect your personal tax return at all.

Has anyone had success getting this resolved online? I hate making phone calls 😖

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! Don't stress too much - it's actually pretty straightforward once you get through to someone. Just make sure you call from the phone number that's on file with the IRS, and have your Social Security card handy too. They might ask for details about previous addresses or family members. The wait times can be brutal though, so definitely try calling first thing in the morning around 7 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck getting through quickly.

My mailman been playing games wit my check I just know it 🤡

I'm in the same situation - 2/7 mail date and still nothing here in Texas. Called my state tax office yesterday and they confirmed it was mailed on schedule, so it should arrive within the next few days. The rep mentioned that mail delivery has been slower than usual this month due to weather delays in some regions. Hang in there!

lol welcome to the club fam 🤡 ive been trying to sort out my taxes for months now. its like playing whack-a-mole with these people i swear

I just went through this exact same process a few months ago! The 4883C letter can be stressful, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you get through to someone. Here's what worked for me: - Call first thing in the morning (8am sharp) - way better chance of getting through - Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and last year's tax return ready - They'll ask you verification questions like previous addresses, employers, etc. - The whole call took about 20 minutes once I got connected For the refund status, definitely use the "Where's My Refund?" tool, but don't panic if it doesn't update right away after verification. Mine took about 2 weeks to show movement, then got my refund about 3 weeks after that. Good luck! You got this! 💪