That's great advice about the transcripts! I just requested them online. Do you know how long it usually takes to get them? And would filing a complaint against the accountant actually help my case with the IRS at all?

You should be able to access your transcripts immediately if you set up online access. If you requested them by mail, it typically takes 5-10 business days. The transcripts will show all reported income, your filed return details, and any payments or credits applied to your account. Filing a complaint against the accountant probably won't directly help with your current IRS issue. The IRS generally holds taxpayers responsible for their returns regardless of who prepared them. However, if there were truly egregious errors or misconduct, documenting it officially could potentially help if you need to request penalty abatement based on reasonable cause. It's also just good for consumer protection so others don't experience similar problems.

Yes! I disputed a CP2000 from 2016 just last year. The key is having documentation. In my case, I had records showing I'd already paid the amount through withholding that wasn't properly credited. If you can prove your case with solid documentation, the year doesn't matter as much as having the evidence.

That's really encouraging to hear! I've been stressing about this thinking I had no chance. Luckily I'm somewhat of a document hoarder and kept all my stock transaction records from my brokerage. Going to start putting together my response letter this weekend.

Thanks for the suggestion! I double-checked and I did select "simplified method" from the beginning. TurboTax still shows the same error though. What's frustrating is that the summary page shows my business profit correctly, but then the home office section acts like I have zero profit. Maybe I'll try deleting that whole section and starting over like someone else suggested.

Deleting and starting over is definitely worth a try. Another thing to check is if you have multiple Schedule C businesses. Sometimes TurboTax has a bug where it applies the home office to the wrong business if you have more than one. Also, try entering a slightly different square footage number (like change from 120 to 119 square feet) which sometimes forces the software to recalculate everything. These tax programs have weird quirks that don't always make logical sense!

I switched from TurboTax to H&R Block last year specifically because of home office deduction issues. Found the H&R Block interface much more straightforward for Schedule C and home office stuff. It asks clearer questions and I haven't run into calculation glitches like I did with TurboTax.

That's really helpful to know, thanks! I might just switch over and see if I have better luck. Getting frustrated with all these TurboTax quirks and I'm not even done with my return yet. Did you find the transition between the programs pretty smooth or was there a learning curve?

Just checked and the account info is definitely correct. I used the same account for my state refund and that came through fine. I'm pretty sure the problem is on the IRS side, not mine. Sigh.

That's good you checked. One other thing - did you claim any pandemic-related credits, like recovery rebate credit or earned income tax credit? Those are getting extra scrutiny this year and can delay processing by weeks or even months.

DO NOT file an amended return unless there's actually something wrong with your original return! Filing an amended return will only reset your place in line and create even more delays. It could potentially add months to your wait time.

Thanks for bringing this up. My main job doesn't have any rules against outside work, but I should probably check if the second potential job would have an issue with it. And yeah, I'm a bit worried about burning out... do you think it would be manageable if I did the second job only 3-4 days a week instead of a full 5?

If you can get a second job that's only 3-4 days a week, that would definitely be more manageable than what I tried to do. I was doing 5 days at both places and it was crushing after a few months. Just be realistic about your energy levels and make sure you still have at least one day completely off to recover each week. And be prepared to adjust if you start feeling the effects. The medical bills from my burnout ended up costing more than the extra income I made from that period!

Not all jobs offer overtime though. I'm salaried and can work 60 hours and still just get my regular paycheck. It sucks.

Wait, employers can match 529 contributions? I had no idea that was even a thing! Is that common? My HR department never mentioned anything like this when going over benefits. Do you work at a large company or something?

It's definitely not as common as 401k matching, but it's becoming more popular as an employee benefit, especially at larger companies and in industries competing for talent with families. About 11% of employers offer some form of 529 contribution or matching now. Ask your HR department specifically about education benefits - sometimes they don't promote it well or it might be buried in your benefits handbook. Even smaller companies sometimes offer this benefit. Mine started it last year as part of a "family-friendly" initiative. The company contribution is considered taxable income for federal purposes, but the tax credit/deduction on your personal contribution still applies.

Great question about Ugift! In most states, only the account owner (you) can claim the tax benefits for 529 contributions, regardless of who actually contributes the money. That means gifts from family members to your child's 529 through Ugift typically won't qualify for anyone's state tax deduction or credit. However, a few states (like Colorado and Virginia) have special provisions allowing non-account owners to claim deductions for their contributions. Your family members would need to check their own state's rules if they're hoping for tax benefits.