Hey just an FYI - I'm an accountant and this question comes up all the time. For future reunions, you might want to consider setting up a simple "unincorporated association" for your family reunions. It's super easy and doesn't require any formal filings in most states, but gives you a legitimate structure for collecting and spending money for family events.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year organizing our church's annual retreat! Collected about $12,000 through various payment methods and was absolutely panicking about tax implications. Here's what I learned after consulting with a tax professional: since you're acting as a "fiscal intermediary" and not keeping any of the money as profit, this isn't considered taxable income. The key is that you can demonstrate the money flowed directly from collection to expenses for the reunion. A few practical tips: - Pull all your payment statements from the relevant period - Create a simple reconciliation showing money in vs money out - Keep copies of receipts from the camp and other vendors - Note that the payment descriptions (like "Smith family - 4 people") actually help show this was clearly for a family event You can file your taxes normally with just your W-2s. The payment platforms report business income, not family/personal transfers like this. Just keep your documentation in case there are ever questions, but this shouldn't complicate your tax filing at all. Don't stress too much - this is way more common than you think and the IRS understands the difference between actual income and just being the person who handles logistics for family events!

Has anyone else noticed that the 'Where's My Refund' tool is about as useful as a chocolate teapot? 🍫☕

I totally feel your frustration! I'm in a similar situation - filed in January and got that dreaded 60-day review letter in March. It's now been way longer than 60 days and I'm still waiting too. The worst part is not knowing WHY they're reviewing it or what they need from me. From what I've learned lurking in forums like this, the IRS is massively backlogged and those 60-day letters are basically just buying them more time. Some people are waiting 6+ months even after getting that letter. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to wait this long for our own money back! I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool obsessively but it just says the same thing every time. At this point I'm considering reaching out to my local congressman's office since I heard they can sometimes help expedite things when the IRS is being unresponsive for this long. Hang in there - hopefully we'll both get some answers soon! 🤞

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed in late January, had to verify identity in person at the IRS office in early March, and just got that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152 this week. My transcripts are still completely blank too. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - sounds like we're both making progress even though it doesn't feel like it. The fact that multiple people are saying 1-3 weeks for transcript updates after this message gives me hope. I've been checking daily but I think I need to follow the advice here and just check weekly on Fridays. Thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this frustrating situation. Hopefully we both see movement soon! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed in early February, had to verify identity in person at the IRS office last month, and just got that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152 yesterday. My transcripts are still completely blank too which has been driving me crazy. It's actually really reassuring to read all these responses - sounds like this is a normal part of the process after identity verification and that we should see transcript updates within the next few weeks. I've been obsessively checking every day but I think I need to take the advice here and just check weekly on Fridays. The waiting is so stressful when you're depending on that refund money, but it seems like once things start moving after this message, they move pretty quickly. Fingers crossed we both see some movement soon! Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know we're not alone in this.

Has anyone been able to get their amended returns processed faster by visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person? I've heard mixed things about whether this actually helps or if they just tell you to keep waiting.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation as an international student! Filed incorrectly in 2020 using TurboTax before my 5-year waiting period was up, sent in my 1040X amendment in April 2021, and it's still showing "received" status with no progress. What I've learned from calling the IRS multiple times is that international student amendments often get routed to specialized processing units that have much longer backlogs. The agents I spoke with said these cases require manual review because of treaty benefits and residency status changes, which is why they take so much longer than regular amendments. For your 2022 filing, definitely go ahead and file normally based on your original 2021 return (not the amended version). I did this for my 2021 and 2022 returns while my 2020 amendment was still pending, and it didn't cause any issues. The IRS processes each year separately, so the pending amendment won't block your current year filing. One tip that actually worked for me: when you call the IRS, specifically ask to speak with someone in the "International Individual Processing Unit" rather than general customer service. They're much more knowledgeable about F-1 student tax issues and can give you better information about your case status.

Its literally easier to break into fort knox than get an IRS agent on the phone these days smh

I feel your pain! Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of trying: Call the Practitioner Priority Service line at 1-866-860-4259. You don't need to be a tax pro to use it - just say you're calling on behalf of yourself. They answer way faster than the main lines. Also, if you have a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, try walking in with an appointment. Sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get real help. Good luck! 🤞