Thanks for this advice. I've been looking at professionals online, but wasn't sure about the CPA vs EA distinction. Do you know if there's a national directory specifically for EAs who specialize in estate tax issues?

The National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) has a directory on their website where you can search by specialty, including estate and trust taxation. Just go to the NAEA website and look for their "Find an EA" feature. I'd also recommend calling a few estate attorneys in the deceased's city - they typically work closely with tax specialists who handle complex estate matters and can make solid recommendations. When you talk to potential EAs, specifically ask about their experience with unfiled returns and IRS collections for deceased taxpayers, as this is a specialized area.

What's the difference between account transcripts and wage/income transcripts? Aren't they the same thing?

Do they handle Schedule 3 forms with the free version? And is the interface easy to use? I'm not super tax-savvy but I can follow instructions well enough.

Yes, they handle Schedule 3 forms in their free federal version. Their interface isn't quite as slick as TurboTax, but it's definitely user-friendly and walks you through everything step by step. The free version includes virtually all federal forms and schedules - the only things they charge extra for are audit assistance and amended returns. State filing does cost around $15, but that's still way cheaper than what TurboTax charges for their "Deluxe" tier.

I tried Cash App Taxes this year but it kept glitching on me when I tried to enter my student loan interest deduction. Did you have any technical issues with it?

That's a great suggestion I hadn't thought of! Did you just call your representative's local office? Was there a specific person or department you asked for? I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Yes, I called my rep's local district office (not their DC office). Just ask to speak with the caseworker who handles IRS issues. Every congressional office has staff dedicated to constituent services. They'll email you a privacy release form that you need to sign and return, which gives them permission to inquire about your case. Make sure you provide them with copies of all the correspondence you've had with the IRS so far, including your notice numbers and any reference numbers. The magic happens because congressional inquiries go to a special unit at the IRS that is much more responsive than regular channels. They have to provide updates to congressional offices, so things suddenly start moving much faster.

I've used the online account system and while it's good for viewing your tax records and making payments, I found the document upload feature to be hit or miss. I uploaded documentation for an issue similar to OP's, and there was no confirmation that anyone had reviewed it or that it was attached to my case. I ended up having to mail in physical copies anyway after calling and finding out the uploaded documents weren't associated with my specific case/notice. The system needs a lot of improvement.

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's disappointing to hear. I was hoping the online system would be more efficient, but sounds like it has the same problems as mailing documents. Did you at least get some kind of upload confirmation when you submitted the documents, or was it completely unclear if they were received at all?

Oh that's really interesting and not something I had considered! My combined income won't be anywhere near that limit this year, but good to know for the future. Are there any other deductions that might work this way when you have multiple employers?

Medicare withholding is different - there's no wage base limit for the standard 1.45% Medicare tax, so that continues regardless of how much you earn. However, there is an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% that kicks in when your income exceeds $200,000, which can also be overwithheld with multiple employers since each employer starts withholding this when your wages with them exceed $200,000. State unemployment insurance contributions might also have wage bases that work similarly to Social Security, where you could have excess withholding with multiple employers. This varies by state though, so you'd need to check your specific state's rules.

I've heard about this but haven't tried it. Is it the same as creating an account on irs.gov? Is it easy to set up? I've had three W-2 jobs this year plus some freelance work and I'm worried about keeping track of everything.

Thank you all for the great advice! I'm going with e-filing for sure now. My amendment is pretty straightforward - just forgot to include some charitable donations. Does anyone know if there's a way to check the status of an e-filed amended return online? Or do I just have to wait?

Yes, you can definitely check the status online! Go to the IRS website and use the "Where's My Amended Return?" tool. You'll need to enter your SSN, date of birth, and zip code. It takes about 3 weeks for an e-filed amended return to show up in their system. Once it shows up, the tracking will tell you if your return is received, adjusted, or completed. The tool updates weekly, usually on Thursdays, so don't worry if you don't see updates every day. It's a great way to keep tabs on where things stand without having to call.

This is really important advice! I'd also recommend taking screenshots of any confirmation screens when you e-file. My tax software said my amended return was accepted, but when I checked the IRS site 4 weeks later, they had no record of it. Had to resubmit everything.