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Another option to consider - you can request a transcript of your account. Go to irs.gov and search for "Get Transcript Online." The transcript will show if they've processed your overpayment and whether a refund has been scheduled. If the transcript shows the adjustment but no refund, that might indicate something is stuck. If it shows nothing about the adjustment, then they haven't processed your response yet.
Thanks for this suggestion! I just checked my transcript online and it shows the full payment I made, but nothing about any adjustment or pending refund. Does this mean they haven't processed my response yet, even though they sent me the revised amount in September? Should I be worried?
That indicates they haven't yet processed the adjustment to your account, even though they acknowledged the correct amount in their September notice. It's not unusual for there to be a delay between them determining the correct amount and actually adjusting your account. I'd give it another 2-3 weeks and check the transcript again. If you still don't see an adjustment by then, that would be the time to call them. When you call, specifically mention that you received a revised CP2000 determination showing you only owed $2,300, but your transcript doesn't show an adjustment for the $2,500 overpayment.
Just a heads up - when you do get your refund, make sure they include interest! By law, the IRS has to pay interest on overpayments. The current rate is around 7% and it should be calculated from the date you made the payment.
Is that interest taxable? I got a refund with interest last year and wasn't sure if I needed to report it.
You can also request an "Account Transcript" from the IRS which will show if they've received your return. Go to irs.gov, create an account (or log in), and request a transcript for 2025. It updates pretty quickly after filing - usually within 24-48 hours. Even if you don't get a refund, it'll show that your return was received and processed. Also, despite what TurboTax says, the IRS considers a return filed on the date it was electronically transmitted. If TurboTax sent it while it was still April 14th in the US, you're good regardless of your local date.
Does that Account Transcript show if you still owe money or if payments were applied correctly? My online account shows I owe $0 but I know that's not right since I just filed yesterday and owe around $3,500.
Yes, the Account Transcript shows your balance due and any payments applied. If you just filed yesterday, there might be a delay before the $3,500 shows up on your account. The transcript will show codes for return filed, assessments, and payments. It usually takes 2-3 business days after your return is accepted for the amount due to appear in your account. Don't worry if it still shows $0 right after filing - that's normal. Just make sure to submit your payment by the deadline even if the balance isn't showing yet.
TurboTax actually has a way to check this too! Log into your account on desktop (not mobile app), go to your tax return, and click "View E-file Status." It should show if your return was accepted or rejected by the IRS. Sometimes the emails get filtered to spam or delayed. As long as you submitted while it was still April 14th in the US, you're considered on time regardless of your local date.
I checked my TurboTax and didn't see any "View E-file Status" option. Is this only available in certain versions? I used the Premier version but only see a general status that says "Filed" with no details about IRS acceptance.
22 We faced this exact problem last year. One thing to consider is that in some states, you can obtain a resale certificate WITHOUT registering for sales tax collection. It's a bit of a gray area, but we were able to get certificates in about 5 states this way by explaining we were below threshold but needed the certificate for our suppliers. It varies by state though. Some states flat-out refused and said we needed to fully register, while others had a simplified registration just for resale certificate purposes.
1 Which states allowed you to get certificates without registering? That might be exactly what we need. Also, did you have to file any returns in those states even though you were below threshold?
22 We were able to get certificates without full sales tax registration in Washington, Indiana, and Tennessee by specifically explaining our situation. Colorado and Arizona had simplified registration processes that didn't trigger filing requirements until we hit thresholds. No, we didn't have to file returns in those states as long as we remained under threshold. Just make sure to get written confirmation that no returns are required, as policies can vary and change. Each state required different documentation to prove we were below threshold. Tennessee was particularly accommodating once we explained the Avalara supplier situation.
16 Just be careful about registering in states where you don't need to. Once you're in their system, some states make it VERY difficult to deregister if you later fall below threshold again. We registered in NY during a sales spike, then our sales dropped below threshold, but they still required us to file zero returns for 3 years before allowing us to deregister. Also, most states have a minimum time period you need to stay registered (often 1-2 years) even if you no longer have nexus. It's a huge administrative headache you don't want unless absolutely necessary.
23 This is so true! We're still filing zero returns in Illinois and Michigan two years after our sales dropped below threshold. The deregistration process is ridiculous - multiple forms, letters explaining why, and constant follow-ups. Not worth registering unless you're consistently above threshold.
I went through this last year with my private company ISO plan. Make sure you also check if there were any state tax implications. In California, for example, the AMT calculation is different from the federal one for ISOs. Also, don't forget about the fees you paid! Those $620 in fees should be added to your cost basis when calculating your gain. So your gain would actually be $19,330 - ($1,330 + $620) = $17,380. Everyone always forgets to account for the fees.
That's a great point about the fees! I didn't realize I could add those to my cost basis. And thanks for the reminder about state taxes - I'm in Illinois and haven't even thought about how they might treat this differently. So if I include the fees in my basis, the capital gain would be $17,380 as you calculated. That would save me some tax compared to reporting the full $18,000!
Illinois follows federal treatment for the most part, but double-check if they have any AMT differences. The fees make a real difference in your case - whenever you're dealing with stock sales, always incorporate the transaction costs into your basis. Be sure to keep all your documentation from the sale and the Form 3921 for at least 7 years. ISO transactions are a common audit trigger because they're often reported incorrectly. Having clear records of how you calculated everything will save you headaches if questions ever come up.
Just to add my experience - I faced this exact situation with ISOs from a private company secondary sale. One thing nobody mentioned yet is that if your company gets acquired or goes public in the future, keeping track of your AMT credits becomes super important. I had a $14k AMT credit from a previous ISO exercise that I was able to claim when our company went public years later. Make sure you file Form 8801 each year to carry forward any AMT credit you can't use immediately.
Amelia Cartwright
Another option to consider is the Tuition and Fees Deduction which lets you deduct up to $4,000 from your taxable income. Course materials can qualify if they're paid directly to the educational institution as a condition of enrollment. But since you bought them separately, this might not apply. The American Opportunity Credit is better than Lifetime Learning if you're eligible (must be in first 4 years of post-secondary education), since it's worth up to $2,500 and 40% is refundable even if you don't owe taxes. But again, you need to be paying some tuition yourself usually.
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Chris King
β’The Tuition and Fees Deduction expired after 2020. It's no longer available for current tax years.
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Amelia Cartwright
β’You're absolutely right about the Tuition and Fees Deduction - I completely forgot it expired. Thanks for the correction! I should have verified before posting outdated information. The Lifetime Learning Credit and American Opportunity Credit are still the main education tax benefits available.
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Rachel Clark
Has anyone actually had success claiming computer equipment for the Lifetime Learning Credit? I tried this last year and got flagged for review because my laptop wasn't specifically listed as "required" in my course syllabus, just strongly recommended.
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Zachary Hughes
β’I successfully claimed a graphics tablet and specialized software for my digital media courses last year. The key was that my professor wrote me a letter stating these items were necessary to complete the coursework, even though they weren't explicitly listed as "required" in the official course catalog. I attached that letter to my return when I filed.
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