Has anyone else noticed the OIC pre-qualifier seems ridiculously strict? I got rejected automatically too because of a tiny 401k, but when I actually applied for an OIC with help from my accountant, I got approved! The pre-qualifier is just a basic screening tool and doesn't consider all the factors a real IRS employee would.

The key thing to understand is that the OIC pre-qualifier is essentially a basic screening tool that doesn't capture the full picture of your situation. At 52 with only $16k in retirement savings, you're actually in a much better position than the pre-qualifier suggests. Here's what I'd recommend: Don't let the pre-qualifier rejection discourage you from pursuing an actual OIC application. The IRS will consider several factors that the online tool doesn't account for: 1) Your age (52 is definitely a factor in your favor) 2) Whether this is your only retirement savings 3) Your future earning potential 4) The age of your tax debt (2011 is getting close to the 10-year collection statute) Given that your debt will be around $6,300 after your refund is applied, and you have $16k in retirement savings, the math might actually work in your favor for an OIC. The IRS typically values retirement accounts at 80% of current value for collection purposes, so they'd see about $12,800 in available funds. However, they also consider that forcing you to liquidate your only retirement savings at 52 creates a genuine hardship. I'd strongly suggest working with a tax professional who can help you document your financial situation properly and present a compelling case for why preserving your retirement funds serves both your interests and the government's long-term collection interests.

Anybody know if there are penalties for filing Form 5500-EZ late? If the IRS is delaying releasing the forms, will they extend the deadline?

I've been in the same boat waiting for the 2023 Form 5500-EZ! Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like we have a few solid options while we wait for the paper form to be released by the end of February. I'm leaning toward trying the electronic filing route since it's already available and seems more reliable than waiting. The EFAST2 system being free (even if a bit clunky) is appealing, though I might also look into taxr.ai based on the positive reviews here - especially if it can catch errors and handle the submission process smoothly. For anyone else still waiting, it's good to know we're not alone in this frustration. The IRS really seems to be running behind schedule this year on multiple forms. At least we have until July 31st to get everything filed, so there's still plenty of time even with the delays. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Back in 2022, I had a similar situation with a PCS move and refund timing. I learned that while many prepaid cards like Dasher Direct advertise "early deposits," it's not guaranteed for tax refunds. The IRS batch processing system doesn't work like regular direct deposits. In my case and for most military families I know, refunds typically hit Dasher 0-24 hours before the DDD, but I've seen some arrive right on the date. My advice from going through three PCS moves: always assume it will arrive on the exact DDD and consider any early arrival a bonus. The last thing you need during a move is financial stress!

As someone who's used Dasher Direct for tax refunds the past two years, I can share my experience. My 2023 refund had a DDD of 3/8 and actually hit my Dasher account on 3/7 around 2 PM - so about 22 hours early. But my 2022 refund with a DDD of 2/24 didn't show up until exactly 2/24 at around 8 AM. So it's really inconsistent, even with the same bank/card. Since you're dealing with PCS timing, I'd definitely echo what others said about planning for the actual DDD date. Military moves have enough moving parts without adding the stress of uncertain deposit timing. Have you considered setting up account notifications so you'll know immediately when it hits? That might give you a little more flexibility in your planning without having to constantly check your balance. Good luck with your move and thanks for your service!

Just a heads-up that the 3-year limit for amending 2020 returns is coming up soon if you filed on the regular deadline in 2021. If you're gonna file an amendment, don't wait too much longer!

I was in almost the exact same boat last year with a forgotten 1099-NEC from 2019. I kept putting off dealing with it because I was scared of what might happen, but honestly it turned out to be much less scary than I thought. I ended up filing the amended return (1040-X) myself using the IRS Free File software, and it was actually pretty straightforward. The additional tax I owed was only about $85, plus maybe $15 in interest. No major penalties since it was clearly an honest mistake and the amount was small. The hardest part was just getting over the anxiety of dealing with it. Once I actually sat down and did the paperwork, it took maybe an hour total. Filed it electronically and got confirmation that it was processed about 6 weeks later. My advice would be to just bite the bullet and file the amendment sooner rather than later. The peace of mind is worth it, and you'll probably find the actual financial impact is much smaller than you're imagining.

Has anyone noticed discrepancies between what tax software calculates for QBI and what shows up on their transcript? My H&R Block software showed about $1,800 for this deduction but my transcript shows almost $2,400. Is that normal or should I be concerned?

I went through something very similar! The F8995 line on your transcript is actually showing that the IRS automatically calculated and applied your Qualified Business Income deduction - this is a good thing, not something you missed. Since you mentioned you included your K-1 from the partnership, that's exactly what triggered this deduction. The QBI deduction allows you to deduct up to 20% of your qualified business income from pass-through entities like partnerships, S-corps, sole proprietorships, etc. TurboTax should have handled this calculation behind the scenes when you entered your K-1 information. The fact that it shows up on your transcript with that dollar amount means it was properly applied to reduce your tax liability. You don't need to file an amended return - you already got the benefit of this deduction. The "COMPUTER" part just means it was calculated automatically by the IRS processing system based on the information in your return. This is totally normal and happens with many tax calculations.