Have you actually managed to get through to the IRS this way recently? I tried calling that number three times last week and couldn't get past the automated system - it just disconnected me after saying they had too many calls.

I've gotten through in the past, but you're right that it's extremely difficult during peak tax season. Your best chance is to call right when they open (7am EST) and be prepared to navigate through several automated menus. Choose the option for "having a problem with your taxes" rather than "need forms" to increase your chances of reaching a person. I should have mentioned that this approach requires a lot of patience and might take multiple attempts. If time is crucial, some of the other options people have suggested might be faster.

The SSA site only shows your lifetime earnings record, not current year W2 details. That won't help with filing taxes for this year. You need the actual W2 or the IRS wage transcript.

So does that mean if I can't resolve the "potential deficiency" with documentation, my case will end up on a docket record too? At what point does it move from administrative to legal proceedings?

The progression typically works like this: First you get the initial inquiry (CP2000 or similar), then if unresolved, you receive a Statutory Notice of Deficiency (90-day letter). Only after receiving that 90-day letter and then filing a petition with the Tax Court would your case appear on a docket. You have significant opportunities to resolve the issue before reaching the Tax Court stage. Many deficiency issues are resolved during the correspondence audit phase or through the IRS Appeals office. Tax Court is usually the last resort when you and the IRS fundamentally disagree about your tax liability and can't reach a settlement.

You can create an account on the IRS website (irs.gov) and view your tax account transcript. It'll show any assessments, payments, and adjustments to your account. I check mine regularly since I had an issue a couple years ago.

Do you know if there are any major changes to the 2023 version? I heard something about some states changing their credit reduction status but wasn't sure if that would affect the actual form layout.

Based on the draft version, the core form layout is practically identical to 2022. The main differences are in Schedule A where they updated which states have FUTA credit reductions. California has been added to the reduction list this year, and I believe Connecticut's reduction percentage has changed. If you don't have employees in those states, the form will be essentially the same as last year for you.

I switched from QuickBooks to Gusto last year and they're much faster with form updates. Their payroll system automatically calculates your FUTA liability throughout the year and they usually have the new forms implemented within days of IRS releases. Little more expensive but worth it for the peace of mind.

Thanks for the suggestion about FreeTaxUSA! Do they handle everything else TurboTax does? I'm already halfway through my return on TurboTax but maybe I should switch for next year. And is there any downside to skipping Form 1116 when the amount is under the threshold?

FreeTaxUSA handles all the same forms as TurboTax for federal filing at a fraction of the cost. Their interface isn't quite as polished but it gets the job done. Their deluxe version is only about $7 and includes priority support and audit assistance. State returns are extra though. There's no real downside to skipping Form 1116 when you're under the threshold. The only limitation is you can't carry forward unused foreign tax credits, but with just $3, that's not an issue for you. If your foreign investments grow significantly in future years, then you'll want to start using Form 1116.

Is Cash App Taxes actually reliable? I've heard mixed things. Anyone used it for investment stuff? Seems sketchy to trust a free app with complicated tax situations...

Thank you for bringing this up! My divorce was finalized in May 2024 so I should be good for the 2025 filing. But that's definitely something important I didn't think about. Did the IRS charge you any penalties or just make you pay the difference?

They only made me pay the difference in taxes between HOH and Married Filing Separately, plus a small amount of interest since I paid after the filing deadline. No penalties since they determined it was an honest mistake rather than deliberate evasion. The IRS actually has a "considered unmarried" provision that might apply in some situations even if you're technically still married on December 31st, but my situation didn't qualify. If your spouse didn't live in your home for the last 6 months of the year, you might still qualify for HOH even if not technically divorced yet.

Absolutely right. The rules for "qualifying person" for HOH are really specific. For a child to qualify, they generally need to be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, or a descendant of one of these (like a grandchild or niece/nephew). Just having a child live with you isn't enough unless you're related by blood, marriage, or adoption in most cases.