I think you might be able to claim a per diem instead of tracking actual expenses. When I did contract work in another state, my accountant had me use the GSA per diem rates (Google "GSA per diem") for that location. The benefit is you don't need to keep meal receipts, and it covers incidental expenses too. It's a fixed amount based on the location's cost of living.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through multiple temporary work assignments. One thing that often gets overlooked is keeping detailed records of everything, even if you're not sure it's deductible. I use a simple spreadsheet to track all my expenses with dates, amounts, and descriptions. Even though groceries aren't deductible, having good documentation of your hotel costs, transportation, and restaurant meals will make tax time much easier. The IRS loves documentation, and if you ever get audited, having organized records will save you a lot of headaches. Also, don't forget about any professional development expenses during your internship - things like professional association memberships, work-related books, or industry conferences might be deductible even if your regular living expenses aren't. Your internship sounds like it's in a legitimate temporary work situation, so you should be able to claim the allowable deductions as long as you keep good records.

Has anyone successfully used tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block for Form 709? I tried last year and ended up having to paper file because the software kept giving me errors about previous year gifts.

I completely understand your frustration with Form 709! I went through the exact same thing for years before I realized I was making it way more complicated than it needed to be. Based on what you've described - giving $15-17k annually to your sister - you actually don't need to file Form 709 at all since you're under the annual exclusion limit ($18,000 for 2025). The form is only required when you exceed that threshold to any single person in a tax year. One thing to watch out for though: when you say you "purchase dividend stocks in her account," make sure you're accounting for the fair market value of those stocks at the time of purchase as part of your total annual gift. The gift occurs when you buy them, not when she sells them. If your combined cash gifts plus stock purchases stay under $18,000 per year, you can skip the whole Form 709 headache entirely. You might want to double-check your past few years to see if you actually needed to file at all - sounds like your tax preparer may have been having you file unnecessarily!

I've been experiencing this exact same frustrating issue for the past week! The "information unavailable" message has been appearing every time I try to check my balance due, which is incredibly stressful when you're trying to make a timely payment. After reading through all the excellent advice shared in this thread, I decided to try the account transcript method that so many people have successfully used. Here's my experience: 1. Went to IRS.gov and clicked "Get Transcript Online" 2. Selected "Account Transcript" for 2024 3. Completed identity verification (took about 9 minutes with the credit history questions) 4. Got my complete balance breakdown instantly, even though the regular balance page is still broken The level of detail in the transcript is incredible! I can see daily interest calculations, exactly when each payment was processed, penalty adjustments, and so much more than the regular balance page ever showed me. It's honestly making me feel more informed about my tax situation than I've ever been. I also followed the smart advice about documenting the error messages - took several screenshots with timestamps just in case I need them for any future penalty disputes. It's really reassuring to know from the tax professional who commented that the IRS is typically reasonable about these system glitches. This community has been absolutely amazing! What started as anxiety about missing my payment deadline has turned into actually understanding my tax account better than ever before. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their solutions - you've saved so many of us from hours of frustration trying to get through to the IRS!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past few days! The "information unavailable" message is so frustrating when you're trying to make a payment on time. After reading through all these helpful suggestions, I just tried the account transcript method that everyone's been recommending and it worked perfectly! For anyone still struggling with this: 1. Go to IRS.gov and click "Get Transcript Online" 2. Select "Account Transcript" for the current tax year 3. Complete identity verification if you haven't done it before (takes about 5-10 minutes) 4. Get your detailed balance information immediately The transcript actually shows way more detail than the regular balance page ever did - I can see daily interest calculations, when my payments posted, and even some adjustments I wasn't aware of. It's honestly a better tool than the broken balance section anyway. I also took screenshots of the error messages with timestamps like others suggested, just in case I need them later. It's really reassuring to know from the tax professional who commented that the IRS is generally understanding about these system glitches when they prevent us from accessing our account information. Thanks to this amazing community for all the practical solutions - you've saved me from what would have been hours on hold with IRS phone lines!

This is such a comprehensive thread with excellent advice! I went through something similar a few years ago and want to emphasize a few key points that really made the difference for me. First, definitely pursue the multi-pronged approach that Jamal mentioned - don't wait for one method to fail before trying others. I found that having multiple pressure points (state labor complaint + direct payroll company contact + IRS involvement) created urgency that wouldn't have existed with just one approach. Second, when you do contact the payroll company directly, ask specifically for their "employee self-service portal" or "former employee document access." Many larger payroll companies (ADP, Paychex, etc.) have online systems where you can retrieve your own tax documents even after your employer's account closes. Sometimes the company just didn't tell employees this option existed. Third, if you end up filing Form 4852, the IRS is surprisingly reasonable about these situations - they see business closures all the time. The key is showing you made good faith efforts to get the real documents. I actually got a letter from the IRS later thanking me for the thorough documentation I provided with my substitute W2. Finally, keep pushing! Your former employer is legally required to provide these documents regardless of whether the business closed. Don't let them make their problem become your permanent tax headache. You've got this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a very similar situation where my former employer closed and I can't get my W2. Reading through all these experiences and solutions gives me a much clearer path forward. I'm planning to take the multi-pronged approach several people mentioned - filing a state labor complaint, contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service, and trying to track down the payroll company through my old bank statements. It's reassuring to know that so many people have successfully navigated this situation and that the IRS is generally reasonable when you can document your good faith efforts. One question for those who've been through this - roughly how long did it take from when you started pursuing these different avenues until you had a resolution? I'm trying to set realistic expectations for myself since tax season feels like it's approaching fast and I don't want to be in this same position next year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. This community is amazing for helping people work through these frustrating tax situations!

This is such a comprehensive discussion! As someone who's been through employer tuition reimbursement programs, I can relate to how frustrating these timing issues can be. The tax code really doesn't account well for the reality of how academic calendars and corporate payment schedules interact. I want to emphasize something that several people touched on but bears repeating - the importance of understanding your company's exact policy language around when benefits are "earned" versus "disbursed." In my experience, many employees (and even some HR representatives) don't fully understand this distinction, but it can be crucial for constructive receipt arguments. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned: if you're planning to take courses across multiple years, consider having a conversation with your benefits team about their payment processing calendar early in the year. Some companies will work with you to batch smaller reimbursements or adjust timing if you explain the Section 127 implications upfront, but they're much less likely to accommodate changes once payments are already in their system. The success stories about reclassification to working condition fringe benefits are encouraging, but I'd caution that this really does require a clear connection between your coursework and current job duties. The IRS scrutinizes these classifications, so make sure you can document how the education maintains or improves skills you actually use in your present role, not just general career development. For your immediate situation with the $2,625 excess - even if you can't avoid the tax consequences, you're still getting substantial value from the program overall. The additional tax burden is frustrating but manageable compared to paying full tuition out of pocket.

This is such a great discussion with so many helpful real-world solutions! As someone new to employer education benefits, I'm amazed at how many potential workarounds exist beyond just accepting the tax consequences. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) Contact benefits administrators directly rather than general HR, 2) Frame timing issues as tax compliance problems rather than personal preferences, 3) Document everything thoroughly with course schedules and processing dates, and 4) Be proactive about understanding payment calendars before problems arise. For the original poster's situation, it sounds like there's still hope for avoiding some of the tax hit through payment timing adjustments or reclassification options. The success stories here show that many companies have more flexibility than they initially advertise - you just need to know how to ask. Even if you end up with some taxable income on the excess amount, the education credits mentioned could help offset the impact. Plus, as several people noted, you're still getting tremendous value from the program overall compared to paying full tuition out of pocket. This thread should be required reading for anyone using employer educational assistance! The practical guidance here goes way beyond what you'd find in typical tax guides or company benefit summaries.