Can't reach IRS? Claimyr connects you to a live IRS agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the IRS
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the IRS drops your call
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!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
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 β 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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Mei Wong
Great question about the EA exam timeline! I'm actually in a similar boat - working full-time at a regional CPA firm and just started my EA exam prep last month. From my research and talking to colleagues who've passed, three months is definitely doable but you'll need to be really disciplined. I'm planning about 15-20 hours per week, which breaks down to roughly 2 hours on weeknights and 6-8 hours total over the weekend. One resource I haven't seen mentioned yet is the IRS's Continuing Education Provider directory - many of them offer EA exam prep courses that you can take at your own pace. I found a few that have evening and weekend options specifically designed for working professionals. Also, if your firm has any EAs on staff, definitely ask if you can pick their brains about study strategies. My supervisor gave me some old practice exams and shared which topics tend to be heavily tested versus what you can skim over. The commute study idea is brilliant - I've been using the IRS Tax Pro podcasts during my drive, and while they're not specifically EA exam focused, they cover a lot of the same material in a digestible format. Keep us posted on how your prep goes! It would be great to have someone else going through this journey at the same time.
Zainab Yusuf
β’This is really encouraging to hear from someone in the same situation! I'm also at a regional firm and it's helpful to know others are making this work with similar schedules. The IRS Continuing Education Provider directory sounds like a great resource I hadn't considered - do you happen to remember any specific providers that stood out for their EA prep programs? I'm particularly interested in the evening/weekend options since my weeknight study time is pretty limited. Your point about talking to EAs at the firm is spot on. I actually just realized we have two EAs on staff that I could reach out to. Sometimes the best resources are right under our noses! Thanks for mentioning the IRS Tax Pro podcasts too - I've been looking for good audio content for my commute and those sound perfect for building foundational knowledge even if they're not exam-specific. Would you be interested in checking in periodically on our progress? It would be great to have an accountability partner going through this at the same time, especially someone who understands the challenges of balancing firm work with exam prep!
I'd absolutely love to be accountability partners through this process! It's so reassuring to connect with someone facing the exact same challenges of balancing firm work with exam prep. For the CE providers, I found that Kaplan and Becker both have evening programs specifically for EA prep, though they're a bit pricey. There's also NTPI (National Tax Practice Institute) which has more affordable self-paced options with weekend virtual sessions. I ended up going with a hybrid approach - using Gleim as my primary study material but supplementing with NTPI's weekend review sessions for the trickier topics. Definitely talk to those EAs at your firm! I was surprised how willing people were to share their experiences and even lend study materials. One of our EAs told me she keeps a running list of the "tricky areas" that show up frequently on exams, which has been incredibly helpful for focusing my study time. Feel free to message me anytime - we could even set up weekly check-ins to discuss progress, share difficult practice questions, or just vent about how exhausting it is to study after long days at the firm. Having someone who truly understands the struggle will make this so much more manageable! Looking forward to celebrating when we both pass! π
This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - working about 40 hours a week at a tax prep firm and considering the EA exam. Reading everyone's experiences is really encouraging. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned much is the importance of understanding your own peak learning times. I discovered I retain information much better early in the morning before work rather than trying to study when I'm exhausted after a long day. I started waking up an hour earlier and doing focused study sessions from 6-7 AM, then using my evening time for lighter review or listening to podcasts. Also, for anyone using practice questions, I found it helpful to keep a running "mistake log" where I wrote down every question I got wrong and why. This became my go-to review material in the weeks leading up to each exam part. Sometimes seeing your common error patterns written out helps you avoid them on test day. The three-month timeline is definitely achievable with discipline! I'm planning to start my prep in January and take my first part in April. Would love to connect with others on similar timelines for mutual support and accountability.
Lucy Taylor
β’Your point about peak learning times is so valuable! I'm definitely more of a night owl, but I've been forcing myself to study after work when I'm mentally drained. Maybe I should experiment with early morning sessions like you're doing. The mistake log idea is brilliant - I can't believe I haven't been doing this already. I tend to just move on after getting practice questions wrong without really analyzing the patterns. Starting a mistake log today! I love that we have several people here on similar timelines. It's making the whole process feel less overwhelming knowing there's a community going through this together. Your January start for April testing sounds like a solid plan with good buffer time built in. Would you be open to joining the accountability group that @Nathaniel Mikhaylov and @Zainab Yusuf are forming? It sounds like we re all'in similar situations with full-time work and could really benefit from the mutual support and check-ins!
Join the conversation
Has anyone used the "my529" plan from Utah? I'm in a multi-state situation too (Utah and Idaho) and I've heard Utah's plan has good investment options even for non-residents. Trying to decide if I should put money in both states' plans or just use Utah's for everything.
Ryan Young
β’Utah's my529 is consistently rated as one of the top plans nationally. I use it even though I don't live in Utah. The fees are really low and they have Vanguard index funds options. The user interface is also way better than my home state's clunky website. Only downside is I don't get the state tax deduction since my state only gives it for in-state plans.
I've been using Utah's my529 for two years now and really like it. The investment options are solid - they have age-based portfolios that automatically adjust as your kids get closer to college age, plus static options if you want more control. The fees are among the lowest I've found (around 0.17-0.20% for most options). Since you're in Utah and Idaho, you'll want to check if Idaho gives you a deduction for contributing to Utah's plan or only their own. Some states are more flexible than others. If Idaho only gives deductions for their own plan, you might want to split contributions - put enough in Idaho's plan to max out that deduction, then put the rest in Utah's plan for better investment options. The online portal for Utah's plan is definitely user-friendly compared to some other states I've dealt with. Easy to set up automatic contributions and track performance.
Ava Williams
Great question! I'm dealing with a similar multi-state situation between Florida and Virginia. One thing I learned that might help is to also consider the rollover rules between state plans. If you start with separate 529s in different states and later decide you want to consolidate, most states allow you to roll funds from one 529 to another once per 12-month period without tax consequences. This gives you flexibility to optimize your strategy over time. You could start by maximizing deductions in both states with separate accounts, then potentially consolidate later into whichever plan performs better or has lower fees. Also worth noting - make sure you understand each state's recapture rules. Some states will make you pay back the tax deduction if you roll the money out to another state's plan within a certain timeframe. Virginia, for example, has a recapture period, while other states don't. The administrative overhead of multiple accounts isn't too bad if you set up automatic contributions. I use a spreadsheet to track everything and review annually to see if I want to adjust my strategy.
This is really helpful insight about the rollover rules and recapture periods! I hadn't considered that some states might want their tax deductions back if you move the money out too quickly. Do you know if there's a standard timeframe for recapture rules, or does it vary significantly by state? Also, when you say you review annually, what metrics do you use to decide whether to stick with your current allocation or consolidate? I'm trying to set up a similar system to track performance across multiple plans.
Join the conversation
I'm currently weighing my options between these same prep courses and this thread has been incredibly insightful! As someone who learns best through a mix of visual and hands-on practice, I'm leaning toward Fast Forward Academy based on the feedback about their interactive approach and conceptual explanations. The mobile functionality aspect is huge for me since I have a 45-minute commute each way. @Isabella Santos and @Rudy Cenizo's positive experiences with the tablet/mobile interface really sealed the deal for me. Being able to make productive use of that commute time could add up to significant extra study hours over the course of my prep. I'm also really intrigued by the combination approach that @PrinceJoe described. Starting with Fast Forward for understanding and then supplementing with Gleim's practice questions closer to exam time sounds like a solid strategy, even if it means a bigger upfront investment. One question for those who've passed - how important was it to stick to a rigid study schedule versus being more flexible? With my work demands varying week to week, I'm wondering if I should plan for consistent daily study time or if longer weekend sessions can be just as effective for retention. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here - this community feedback is way more valuable than any marketing material from the prep companies!
@Freya Nielsen Great question about study schedules! As someone who just started my EA journey, I ve'been wondering the same thing. From what I ve'gathered reading through everyone s'experiences here, it seems like consistency might be more important than the total hours per session. I m'planning to start with Fast Forward Academy too based on all the positive feedback about their mobile platform and conceptual approach. The fact that you can pick up right where you left off across devices seems perfect for accommodating unpredictable work schedules. For the combination approach that @PrinceJoe mentioned, I m'thinking of budgeting for both platforms from the start but maybe spacing out the purchases - start with Fast Forward for the foundation building, then add Gleim closer to exam time when I m'ready for intensive practice questions. That way I can spread the cost over a few months while still getting the benefits of both approaches. Has anyone tried setting up study accountability with other EA candidates? I m'wondering if having a study buddy or small group might help with motivation, especially during the tougher topics. The tax material can be pretty dry, so having others to discuss concepts with could make it more engaging. Looking forward to hearing more experiences as people progress through their studies!
As someone who just passed all three EA parts last month, I wanted to share my experience since this thread has been so helpful for others planning their approach. I ended up going with Fast Forward Academy after reading through similar discussions, and I'm really glad I made that choice. What stood out most was how their adaptive learning system actually worked - it wasn't just a marketing gimmick. The platform really did identify my weak areas (especially in partnership taxation and estate planning) and adjusted my study sessions accordingly. The mobile experience was seamless, which was crucial since I was studying during my commute and lunch breaks. I probably got in an extra 8-10 hours of study time per week just by using those small pockets of time effectively. One thing I'd add to the discussion is their customer support - when I had questions about specific tax scenarios that seemed confusing, their subject matter experts actually responded with detailed explanations within 24 hours. That level of support made a huge difference when I was stuck on complex topics. For timing, I studied about 6-8 weeks for each part, putting in roughly 15-20 hours per week. The key was staying consistent rather than trying to cram everything into weekend marathon sessions. The spaced repetition approach really helped with retention. Final scores were 82%, 85%, and 79% respectively - all comfortable passes on first attempts. Happy to answer any specific questions about the platform or study approach!
Ana ErdoΔan
β’Congratulations on passing all three parts! Your experience with Fast Forward Academy is really encouraging, especially the details about their adaptive learning actually working as advertised. I'm just starting my EA prep journey and have been leaning toward Fast Forward after reading through this thread. Your point about the customer support responding to specific tax scenario questions is huge - I can already think of several complex situations from my work that I'll probably need clarification on during my studies. The timing breakdown you shared (6-8 weeks per part, 15-20 hours/week) seems very realistic for someone working full-time. I'm curious - did you take the parts consecutively or space them out more? I'm trying to plan my timeline and wondering if there's an advantage to maintaining momentum versus giving myself breaks between parts to avoid burnout. Also, your scores show you had solid margins above the passing threshold, which gives me confidence that the Fast Forward preparation really does set you up well for success. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed feedback!
Join the conversation
Kylo Ren
Kinda late to the party but I wanted to add that these energy efficiency credits are extended through 2032, so you've got time to plan future home improvements to take advantage of the credits each year. I'm doing a multi-year home upgrade plan specifically to maximize these credits!
Is there an income limit for claiming these credits? I've heard some tax benefits phase out at higher incomes.
Good news - there's no income limit for the residential energy efficiency credits (25C)! Unlike some other tax credits that phase out at higher incomes, these credits are available regardless of your AGI. However, keep in mind these are non-refundable credits, so they can only reduce your tax liability to zero - you won't get money back if the credit exceeds what you owe in taxes.
Tasia Synder
Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year! I had a massive HVAC and window replacement project that would have blown way past the credit limits if done all at once. What I did was work with my contractor to phase the installations strategically. We did the HVAC system in December 2023 (claimed that year's credits) and then did all the windows in February 2024. This let me maximize the credits across two tax years instead of losing out on thousands in potential savings. The key thing I learned is that the IRS really does care about the "placed in service" date - meaning when the installation is 100% complete and functional. Make sure your contractor gives you detailed invoices with specific completion dates for each phase of work. I kept photos with timestamps too, just to be extra safe. Also, don't forget to get the Manufacturer Certification Statements for everything! The IRS has been cracking down on people claiming credits for products that don't actually meet the energy efficiency requirements. Your contractor should be able to provide these, but double-check that they're included with your documentation. Planning ahead like this can save you serious money if you're doing major home improvements!
Olivia Clark
β’This is exactly the kind of strategic planning I wish I had known about before diving into my project! Your phased approach is brilliant. I'm curious - did you run into any issues with your contractor being willing to split up the work like that? I'm wondering if there were any additional costs for doing the installations in separate phases rather than all at once. Also, thanks for the tip about the timestamp photos - that's a smart way to document everything for the IRS!
Gabriel Freeman
I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with the exact same Robinhood 1099-B import nightmare. After reading everyone's experiences, I decided to try a few of the suggested approaches. First, I contacted Robinhood support through their app asking for an alternative CSV format. It took about 4 days, but they did send me a cleaner CSV file. However, like others mentioned, it was missing the wash sale adjustments entirely. I also tried the taxr.ai tool that Dylan and Dmitry had success with. I was hesitant about uploading financial documents online, but their security seemed legitimate. The AI extraction was surprisingly accurate - it caught all my transactions AND the wash sales from my PDF. The output format imported into TaxAct without any issues. What really convinced me was being able to cross-reference the AI-extracted data against my official 1099-B line by line. Everything matched perfectly, including some complex wash sale chains I had from trading the same stock multiple times. For anyone still on the fence about these newer solutions - I get the skepticism, but manually entering 180+ transactions would have taken me an entire weekend. This saved me probably 8+ hours and gave me confidence that the numbers were accurate. Just make sure whatever method you use, you do that final verification against your official documents like Ryan suggested.
0 coins
Serene Snow
β’Thanks for sharing your experience with both approaches, Gabriel! It's really helpful to hear from someone who actually tried multiple solutions from this thread. Your point about being able to cross-reference the AI-extracted data line by line is reassuring - that's exactly the kind of verification I'd want to do before filing. I'm curious about the timing aspect though. You mentioned it took 4 days to get the CSV from Robinhood support, while the AI tool presumably worked immediately. For those of us filing closer to the deadline, that response time difference could be a significant factor in deciding which route to take. Did you notice any particular types of transactions that were more likely to have issues during extraction, or did the AI handle everything pretty uniformly? I'm thinking specifically about things like partial share sales or transactions that happened right around ex-dividend dates.
0 coins
Diego Mendoza
I've been lurking on this thread because I'm facing the exact same issue with my Robinhood 1099-B and TaxAct! After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm leaning toward trying the AI extraction route that several people have had success with. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who used these automated solutions, how did you handle the final review process? I'm particularly worried about missing something important since I had some pretty complex trading activity last year, including options that got exercised and a few stocks that went through mergers. Also, has anyone run into issues with TaxAct's import limits? I've got around 300 transactions and I'm wondering if there's a maximum number of line items the software can handle in a single import. The last thing I want is to get 90% through the process only to hit some arbitrary limit. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here - it's so much more helpful than the generic advice you find in most tax forums!
0 coins
Liam O'Sullivan
β’Great questions, Diego! I can share some insights on the review process since I went through something similar last year. For the final review with complex transactions like options and mergers, I created a simple checklist approach. I grouped my transactions by type (regular stock sales, options exercises, corporate actions) and spot-checked a few from each category against my 1099-B. The key is making sure the totals for each section match your official document - you don't need to verify every single line if the subtotals are correct. Regarding TaxAct's import limits, I successfully imported around 280 transactions last year without hitting any caps. The software did slow down a bit during processing, but it handled everything. One tip: if you do hit issues, you can often split your import into chunks (like by date ranges) and import multiple CSV files. For options exercises and mergers, make sure whatever solution you use properly handles the cost basis adjustments. These are often the transactions that trip people up because they involve multiple related entries that need to be processed together. The automated extraction tools mentioned in this thread should handle these complex scenarios, but definitely do that spot-checking on the trickier transactions before you submit!
0 coins