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.

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 this suggestion! She does have a visa stamp in her passport. Are you saying we could use the visa number in place of an ITIN? I had no idea that was an option. Do you just enter the visa number where the tax form asks for the spouse's SSN/ITIN?

Not exactly - I should have been more clear. You can't use the visa number on the actual tax forms in place of an ITIN/SSN. What I meant was that for certain purposes (like opening bank accounts), sometimes the visa number can be used temporarily. For tax filing, you'd still need to follow one of these approaches: 1) Get the ITIN by submitting the W-7 with your return, 2) File as "married filing separately" now and amend later when you get the ITIN, or 3) File for an extension to give yourself more time to complete the ITIN process. Sorry for any confusion!

Did you need a professional translation service for the driver's license or just a certified translator? My wife has a Japanese driver's license but I'm not sure how to get it properly translated for the IRS.

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.