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Has anyone noticed that verification cases seem to follow a pattern? My tax preparer handles about 50 clients who needed verification this year. Almost all of them had their transcripts update within 14-21 days after verification. The ones who verified online through ID.me were faster (average 14 days) than those who had to call in (average 19 days). And here's the interesting part - returns with Child Tax Credit seemed to take 3-5 days longer than those without. Anyone else seeing similar patterns in their experience?
Could you clarify if these timelines are business days or calendar days? And did any of your tax preparer's clients have to verify by mail rather than phone or online? I'm trying to understand all the variables.
I'm wondering if return complexity is also a factor in these processing times? For example, do self-employed returns with Schedule C take longer after verification than simple W-2 only returns?
After going through verification three years in a row (yes, really!), I can tell you that the April timeline is the worst-case scenario. The IRS tells everyone the maximum time to manage expectations. My personal experience: 2022 took 8 weeks (during COVID backlog), 2023 took 4 weeks, and this year took only 17 days from verification to deposit. The system is getting more efficient. Just make sure you've actually completed verification correctly - check your email for confirmation and log into your IRS account to confirm your identity status shows as verified.
Your three-year verification streak is both impressive and unfortunate! It's encouraging to see the processing times improving each year. Quick question - do you know why you keep getting flagged for verification? Is it something specific about your return that triggers it, or just bad luck with their fraud detection algorithms?
Three years of verification sounds exhausting! I'm curious about your IRS account login tip - when I check mine, it just shows my basic info but doesn't specifically say "verified" anywhere. Where exactly should I be looking to confirm my identity status? I want to make sure I'm not missing something important that could be holding up my processing.
10 Professional athletes and entertainers have a special tax situation called the "jock tax" where they often have to file tax returns in EVERY state/country they perform in. Some tennis players might have to file 15+ tax returns each year! Their tax bill can vary hugely depending on where tournaments are held.
15 That's crazy! So do they have to track exactly how many days they spend training in each location too? How detailed does it get?
10 It gets incredibly detailed. They often have to track not just tournament days but practice days, appearances, and even endorsement income that might be allocable to different locations. Their accountants typically create schedules showing exactly which days were spent in which tax jurisdictions. They don't just pay tax on tournament winnings either - they're taxed on a portion of their endorsement income based on where they played/appeared. This is why tax planning is huge for top athletes. Some even schedule their exhibition matches and appearance schedule to minimize time in high-tax locations.
22 This is why so many athletes establish residency in places like Monaco, Switzerland, or Dubai. The tax savings can be millions per year for top earners. But the US is one of the few countries that taxes worldwide income for citizens, so American athletes can't escape US tax even if they move abroad.
4 I heard that's why Rory McIlroy in golf never took US citizenship despite living here - he'd get hit with worldwide taxation. Smart financial move I guess.
Exactly! And it's not just about current earnings - US citizens also face exit taxes if they renounce citizenship after reaching certain wealth thresholds. The IRS treats it as if you sold all your assets on the day you renounce, so you'd owe capital gains on unrealized gains. It's designed to prevent wealthy people from just ditching US citizenship to avoid taxes. For athletes who've built up substantial wealth, renouncing citizenship can actually trigger a massive tax bill even if they never plan to earn another dollar in the US.
To all those having trouble reaching a human at the IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/wMf29SmRU-I
I'm seeing the same message too! It's been showing for about 2 weeks now and it's so frustrating not knowing what's actually going on. Based on what others are saying here, it sounds like this is pretty common right now and we might just need to wait until after the 15th for any real updates. At least it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this vague message. Thanks for posting this - sometimes it helps just knowing you're not alone in the tax refund limbo! π
Has anyone dealt with Schedule M reporting when there are transactions between the two foreign corps but no direct transactions with US entities? In a structure similar to what OP described, our Foreign Corp B does business with Foreign Corp A, but neither directly does business with the US owners.
Yes, those transactions still need to be reported on Schedule M. Schedule M reports transactions between the foreign corporation and any "related persons" as defined in sections 267(b) and 707(b)(1) of the Code. This includes transactions between two foreign corporations that are controlled by the same person or entity, even if that control is indirect. So in your case, if both foreign corporations are related (which it sounds like they are through common ownership), their transactions with each other would need to be reported on each corporation's respective Schedule M.
This is a really complex situation that highlights why international tax compliance can be so challenging! Based on the ownership structure you've described, I think you're dealing with multiple overlapping filing requirements that need careful attention. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the potential impact of the timing of these filings. Form 5471 is due with your tax return (including extensions), but if you're dealing with multiple entities and multiple filing requirements, you'll want to make sure all the information is consistent across the different forms. Also, don't forget about the potential penalties for late or incorrect filing - they can be substantial for Form 5471 (up to $60,000 per form in some cases). Given the complexity of your structure with the constructive ownership issues, it might be worth having a tax professional review everything before filing, even if you use some of the tools others have mentioned to help with the initial analysis. The Schedule M reporting requirements are particularly tricky because related party transactions can include services, loans, guarantees, and other arrangements that aren't always obvious. Make sure you're capturing all types of transactions, not just sales of goods or services.
Lydia Santiago
I dealt with this exact situation two years ago. Send a response to the CP2000 notice with: 1. A copy of your W-2 showing the Code V amount 2. A letter explaining that this amount was already taxed as ordinary income 3. The corrected Form 8949 showing the proper basis adjustment 4. Any brokerage statements showing the exercise and sale If you're worried, call the number on the CP2000 notice and explain the situation. Be prepared to wait, but once you get someone on the phone they can usually see the issue pretty quickly. Don't just pay it - you're right that this would be double taxation.
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Beatrice Marshall
I went through this exact same scenario last year with my NSO stock options and you're absolutely correct to question the CP2000 notice. The IRS receives a 1099-B from your broker showing the gross proceeds from the stock sale, but they don't automatically know that part of your "gain" was already taxed as compensation income when you exercised the options. Here's what worked for me: I responded to the CP2000 with a detailed letter explaining that the $49,000 (or whatever your exact amount is) shown in Box 12 Code V was already included in my Box 1 wages and subjected to income tax withholding. I included copies of my W-2, my final paystub showing the stock option exercise as taxable wages, and the brokerage statements showing the exercise and subsequent sale. The key is completing Form 8949 correctly - you need to show that your cost basis includes the amount already taxed as ordinary income. In Column (e), your basis should be the fair market value at exercise (which equals the amount in Box 12 Code V), not just what you paid for the options. Don't pay this assessment! The IRS accepted my explanation and the proposed tax was reduced to zero. This is a common mix-up with stock options, and once you provide the proper documentation, they usually resolve it quickly.
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