I'm in the exact same situation - filed in February and still waiting on a $4,100 refund! After reading through all these detailed strategies, I'm finally feeling hopeful that there's actually a way to get through this mess. The transcript-first approach makes so much sense - I can't believe I've been calling blindly for months without knowing what error codes might be causing the delay. I'm definitely going to check my transcript tonight and then try the 7AM Tuesday strategy with Omar's phone sequence. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become IRS detectives just to get our own money back, but I'm ready to try anything at this point. Thank you everyone for sharing what actually worked - this thread has been more helpful than anything I've found online! I'll report back with hopefully good news after trying this approach.

I've been reading through everyone's experiences here and I'm amazed at how helpful this community is! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed in early March and still waiting on my $2,850 refund. Like many others, I've been calling randomly with no success, but after seeing all these detailed strategies, I realize I've been doing everything wrong. I had no idea about checking transcripts first or that specific error codes could explain delays. The consistency of success with the 7AM Tuesday/Wednesday approach combined with Omar's phone sequence is really encouraging. I'm planning to check my transcript tonight and set my alarm for 6:55 AM Tuesday. It's frustrating that we have to become IRS code experts just to get our own money, but at least now I have a real plan instead of just dialing and hoping. Thank you everyone for sharing what actually worked - this thread has given me more useful information than months of googling!

Something that confused me when I first started my business was that "filing" and "paying" are sometimes different deadlines. You might need to FILE by a certain date but PAY by another date... or sometimes pay BEFORE you file (like with estimated taxes). The IRS website has a tax calendar that might help: https://www.irs.gov/tax-calendars

As someone who moved to the US and started a business here, I can relate to your confusion! The tax system is definitely complex. One thing that really helped me was understanding that business tax obligations go beyond just annual filing - there are also monthly employment tax deposits if you have employees, and various state and local tax requirements that vary by location. I'd recommend starting with the IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed) - it has a good overview of different business types and their requirements. Also consider getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) early even if you don't have employees yet, as many banks and vendors require it. The learning curve is steep, but once you understand the basics it becomes much more manageable. Don't hesitate to consult with a tax professional for your first year - the peace of mind is worth the cost!

I know this is stressful, but the good news is the IRS is actually NOTIFYING you that someone accessed your transcript. That's the security system working! Years ago they didn't even send these notices and third parties could access your info without you knowing.

I had this exact same panic when I got one of these letters last month! Turns out it was completely legitimate - my credit union had requested it as part of a routine review for a credit line increase I had applied for weeks earlier and completely forgotten about. The key thing is don't ignore it, but also don't assume the worst. Call that IRS number that Liv mentioned (1-800-908-4490) and they'll tell you exactly who requested it and when. In my case, the representative was really helpful and explained that these notifications are actually a good security feature - it means no one can access your tax information without you being informed. If you can't get through on the phone (those lines can be brutal), you can also request a copy of your Account Transcript online through the IRS website, which will show you a record of who accessed your information. Just make sure you're on the official IRS.gov site, not some third-party service.

I'm so deeply sorry for your friend's loss. This is an unimaginably difficult situation, and it's wonderful that you're trying to help them navigate these practical matters during such a heartbreaking time. Everyone here has provided excellent guidance about the tax implications. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - many states have specific grief counseling services for parents who have lost newborns, and some of these programs also provide guidance on handling the administrative aspects (paperwork, benefits, etc.) that come up after such a loss. The National Stillbirth Society and similar organizations often have state-specific resources that can help with both the emotional support and practical guidance your friends might need. Sometimes having an advocate who understands both the grief process and the bureaucratic requirements can be invaluable. Please let your friends know that there's no rush on any of this tax-related paperwork - they have until the tax filing deadline to sort through everything, so they should take the time they need to grieve and process before tackling these administrative tasks. The most important thing right now is their emotional healing.

I'm so sorry for your friend's tremendous loss. Having gone through infant loss myself, I know how overwhelming it can be to handle practical matters while grieving. The advice here about claiming their baby as a dependent is absolutely correct - there's no minimum time requirement. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: they should also check if their employer offers any bereavement benefits or if their health insurance covers any additional services related to infant loss, like grief counseling or support groups. Also, if they had a baby shower and received gifts, they don't need to worry about any tax implications from returning those items or donating them - that won't affect their tax situation at all. I know it might seem like a small detail, but when you're grieving, sometimes these little questions can feel overwhelming. Please let them know that this community is here for them, and there's no pressure to handle any of this paperwork until they feel ready. Their healing is the most important thing right now.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I want to gift some Nvidia shares to my grandson for his college fund. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like I should definitely use specific identification to choose which shares to transfer rather than just defaulting to FIFO. One question though - does the timing of when I actually execute the gift matter for tax purposes? Like if I set up the transfer in December but it doesn't complete until January, which year does it count for gift tax purposes? And does that affect which tax year my grandson would report any gains if he sells them relatively quickly? Also really appreciate the mentions of taxr.ai and Claimyr - going to check both out since my broker (Schwab) has been just as unhelpful as Vanguard was for the OP!

Just wanted to add something that might help with your Vanguard situation - I had a similar experience where customer service wouldn't explain the tax implications, but I found their online resource center actually has some decent explanations about cost basis methods for gifts and transfers. The key thing to understand is that when you gift shares, you're essentially passing along your "tax history" with those shares to your niece. The cost basis method you select determines exactly which shares (with their specific purchase dates and prices) get transferred. Since you've held these tech stocks for 7 years, you probably have multiple "tax lots" purchased at different times and prices. FIFO (which you selected) means you're giving away your oldest shares first. This could be good or bad depending on whether those early purchases were at higher or lower prices than your more recent ones. If the stock price has generally gone up over those 7 years, FIFO would transfer your lowest-cost-basis shares, meaning higher potential capital gains for your niece when she sells. For future reference, "specific identification" gives you the most control - you can literally pick and choose which exact shares to transfer based on what's most tax-advantageous for your niece's situation. But since you already completed the transfer, don't stress too much about it. The main thing is that you documented everything properly for both your records and hers.