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If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls ā which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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Malik Davis
Former film payroll person here! Let me clarify something: in the film industry, whether you're classified as an employee (W-2) or independent contractor (1099) often depends on the production company's payroll practices and sometimes the state you're working in. Most legitimate productions run extras through payroll as W-2 employees because they control when you work, what you wear, where you stand, etc. - all factors that make you an employee under IRS guidelines. Some smaller productions might incorrectly classify extras as independent contractors (1099) to avoid paying the employer portion of taxes, but that's often misclassification. If you received a W-2, be thankful! The production did it correctly, and you don't have to pay self-employment tax. Your friend who files as self-employed likely receives 1099s instead of W-2s.
Wait, does that mean if I'm getting 1099s as an extra I'm being misclassified? I've been paying self-employment taxes for years but the production companies totally control everything about my work!
Malik Davis
ā¢You might indeed be misclassified. The IRS uses a control test - if the company controls what you do and how you do it, you should generally be classified as an employee (W-2), not an independent contractor (1099). For film extras, since the production tells you exactly when to show up, what to wear, where to stand, when to move, etc., you typically meet the definition of an employee. Some production companies misclassify extras as independent contractors to save on payroll taxes, but this isn't usually correct under IRS guidelines. If you believe you're misclassified, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS for a determination, though be aware this might create tension with companies that hire you.
StarStrider
One thing nobody mentioned - if you got a W-2 and had federal taxes withheld, you should DEFINITELY file even if you're not required to! Otherwise, you're just giving the government free money that should be returned to you as a refund. Check box 2 on your W-2 form. If there's any amount there, that's money that was taken from your paycheck for federal taxes. With only $8800 in income for the year and being a student, you'll likely get most or all of that back. I made a similar mistake my first year working in film and lost out on a $700 refund because I waited too long to file. Don't make my mistake!
Wow thank you!!! I just checked my W-2 and there's almost $500 in box 2! I had no idea I might get that back. I'm definitely filing now!
Ravi Gupta
ā¢You can still claim refunds for up to 3 years after the filing deadline! If your mistake was within the last 3 years, you can still file for those years and get your money.
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One thing nobody's mentioned - you should request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS immediately. After my husband had his tax return stolen by his mom's boyfriend (long story), getting an IP PIN was the only thing that prevented it from happening again. It's a 6-digit number that the IRS issues to confirmed identity theft victims, and you'll need it to file all future tax returns. Without it, the IRS will reject any return filed with your SSN, even if it's legitimately from you. You can request one through the IRS website or when you speak with an agent.
I've never heard of an IP PIN before. Will this solve my current filing problems too or just prevent future issues? And does it expire each year or do I keep the same one?
An IP PIN won't solve your current filing issues, but it will prevent this from happening again in the future. You'll receive a new IP PIN each year - the IRS sends it by mail in December or January before the tax season starts, or you can retrieve it online through your IRS online account. For your current situation, you'll still need to follow the advice about paper filing and submitting the Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039). Once the IRS processes that form, they'll automatically enroll you in the IP PIN program. If you don't want to wait, you can proactively enroll through the IRS website's "Get an IP PIN" tool.
Caden Turner
Just want to add that you should also check your credit reports ASAP. Someone who steals your tax identity might try to open credit cards or loans in your name too. Get free reports from all three bureaus at annualcreditreport.com and consider freezing your credit while you sort this out.
This!! I had my taxes filed fraudulently and 6 months later someone tried to get a car loan in my name. Freezing your credit at all 3 bureaus is FREE and you can temporarily lift it whenever you need to apply for something legitimate.
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I'm a bookkeeper (not a tax pro) but have seen both sides of this question with different clients. Here's what I've observed: Tax relief companies: - Often charge $3k-5k upfront - Many use aggressive sales tactics - Some deliver great results, others do very little - They basically do the same paperwork you could do yourself Tax attorneys: - More expensive ($400/hr adds up fast) - Usually more thorough and knowledgeable - Better for complex situations or if you're facing criminal charges - Often overkill for straightforward payment plans For $68k in debt on $52k income, you might actually do fine with an Enrolled Agent who specializes in tax resolution. They usually charge $150-200/hr or flat fees for specific services like OIC applications.
Have you seen clients successfully do this themselves without professional help? I'm in a similar situation but really can't afford to pay someone thousands right now. Is the DIY route completely impossible?
I have seen clients successfully handle smaller tax debts themselves, especially for straightforward installment agreements. The IRS website actually has decent self-help resources for setting up payment plans. For your situation though, I'd be cautious about going completely DIY. The OIC program has a very specific formula and about 60% of applications get rejected, often for simple errors or missing documentation. If you do try the DIY route, get the IRS Form 656 Booklet which walks through the whole process. Also consider getting just 1-2 hours of consultation with a professional to review your application before submission - this middle ground approach can save you money while avoiding major mistakes.
Natalie Wang
Does anyone know if these tax relief companies can actually deliver on claims to settle "for pennies on the dollar"? I've seen those commercials for years and always wondered if they're just scamming desperate people or if they have some secret formula for getting the IRS to accept low settlements.
Lucas Adams
ā¢Those "pennies on the dollar" claims are very misleading. What they're referring to is the IRS Offer in Compromise (OIC) program, which is completely legitimate but has very specific qualifying criteria. The reality is that only a small percentage of taxpayers actually qualify for significant reductions. The IRS uses a formula based on your income, expenses, assets, and ability to pay. If you have significant income or assets relative to your tax debt, you likely won't qualify for a dramatic reduction.
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Has anyone tried using the "Get Transcript by Mail" option on the IRS website? I know it's not immediate, but it doesn't require any credit verification. I used it last year and got my transcript in about 6 days which wasn't terrible.
Amara Okafor
ā¢I used this option back in January and it took almost 3 weeks! I think it depends on the time of year and how busy the IRS is. Right now with tax season ramping up, I wouldn't count on it being quick.
CosmicCaptain
Another option nobody mentioned is pulling your credit report. I've had situations where income was misreported under my SSN, and reviewing all accounts on my credit report helped me identify where the error might have come from. Sometimes it's a company you forgot about or an account that was opened fraudulently.
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Yuki Tanaka
ā¢Would a credit report really show income though? I thought it just showed credit accounts and payment history, not actual income reporting. Did you find specific income information there?
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CosmicCaptain
ā¢You're right that the credit report itself doesn't show income directly. What I meant was that reviewing your credit report can remind you of accounts you may have forgotten about (old bank accounts, investments, etc.) that might have generated income. For example, in my case, I saw an old investment account on my credit report that I had forgotten about, which led me to contact that company, and sure enough, they had issued a 1099 for a small amount of dividend income. The credit report was just a starting point to jog my memory about possible income sources I might have overlooked.
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Giovanni Rossi
If you filed with tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, sometimes they offer audit support or tax notice assistance. Check if your filing package included this - they might help you figure out the discrepancy without additional cost.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
ā¢This! I used TurboTax last year and they had a "MAX" package that included audit support. When I got a similar notice, their tax pros helped identify the issue and even handled some of the communication with the IRS. Definitely worth checking if you already paid for this with your filing.
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