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I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - made a $2,200 estimated payment in January 2025 that I desperately need applied to my 2024 return. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! It sounds like there are multiple approaches that can work: calling the IRS directly (if you can get through), using the callback services mentioned, or even claiming it on your return with an explanation. I'm leaning toward trying the phone route first since several people here had success with that approach. Does anyone know what specific department or phone number works best for payment reassignments? I want to make sure I'm calling the right place and not getting transferred around between departments.
For payment reassignments, you want to call the main IRS taxpayer assistance line at 1-800-829-1040. When you get through the automated system, select the option for "account inquiries" or "payment questions" - this usually gets you to the right department without transfers. I'd recommend having your payment confirmation number, the exact date and amount of the payment, and your SSN ready before you call. Also mention upfront that you need to reassign an estimated tax payment from 2025 to 2024 - this helps the agent understand exactly what you need right away. If you do get transferred, don't hang up! Sometimes they transfer you to a specialist who can handle payment adjustments more efficiently than the general customer service reps.
I went through this exact same situation last year and can confirm that calling the IRS directly is definitely your best bet. The key is timing your call - I found that calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or during lunch hours (around 12-1 PM) tends to have shorter wait times. When I called, I had my payment confirmation number ready and explained that I made an estimated payment for 2025 but needed it applied to my 2024 return instead. The agent was able to make the change immediately while I was on the phone and gave me a confirmation number for the adjustment. One important thing to note: make sure you haven't already filed your 2024 return yet. Once you file, it becomes more complicated to reassign payments. But since you mentioned you're still working on your return, you should be fine. The whole process took maybe 15 minutes once I got connected to an agent.
This is really encouraging to hear! I'm definitely going to try calling first thing in the morning then. Quick question - when you got the confirmation number for the adjustment, did you need to reference that anywhere when you filed your 2024 return? Or does the IRS system automatically update so that when you file, it recognizes the payment as being applied to 2024? I just want to make sure I don't create any confusion or delays when I actually submit my return in a few weeks.
One thing nobody's mentioned yet - check if you're having additional withholding taken out accidentally. On your pay stub, there should be a line for "Additional Withholding" or something similar. When I started my new job, somehow HR put that I wanted an extra $50 withheld per check even though I never requested that!
This happened to me too! My company's HR department somehow entered an additional $75 per paycheck in withholding that I never asked for. Took me three months to notice it. Once I fixed it, I got all that money back in my tax refund, but it was frustrating to be short all year.
Great advice in this thread! I wanted to add one more thing that might help - make sure you're taking advantage of any pre-tax benefits your employer offers beyond just the 401k. Things like health insurance premiums, dental/vision coverage, flexible spending accounts (FSA), or health savings accounts (HSA) all reduce your taxable income. I was in a similar situation when I started my current job and felt like too much was being withheld. After enrolling in my employer's health plan and setting up an FSA for medical expenses, my federal withholding dropped noticeably while I was actually getting better benefits. The FSA alone saved me about $300 in taxes last year since I contribute pre-tax dollars for things like copays and prescriptions I was already paying for anyway. Also, double-check that your employer classified you correctly as an employee (not contractor) - contractors have to pay both the employee AND employer portions of FICA/Medicare taxes, which would definitely explain why those seemed high!
This is really helpful advice! I didn't even know about FSAs - that sounds like it could save me some money since I do have regular medical expenses. Quick question though - if I'm already struggling with my take-home pay being lower than expected, won't contributing to an FSA or HSA make my paycheck even smaller in the short term? I understand it saves on taxes, but I'm trying to figure out if the tax savings actually make up for the reduced take-home pay. Also, you mentioned making sure I'm classified correctly as an employee - how would I know if I was misclassified? I'm pretty sure I'm a regular employee since I get benefits and they take out all these taxes, but is there something specific I should look for on my pay stub?
This is exactly the situation I was in last year! At your income level ($270k projected), you're definitely above the Premium Tax Credit threshold, so that simplifies things quite a bit. The process everyone outlined is correct - have your S-Corp pay the premiums (either directly or reimburse you), add them to your W-2 Box 1 wages, then take the self-employed health insurance deduction on your personal return. The net effect is that the premiums become tax-deductible. One thing I'd add - make sure you establish this policy formally before the end of 2024 if you want to implement it for this tax year. Your S-Corp needs to have a clear policy in place about reimbursing health insurance as part of your compensation package. A simple corporate resolution or memo in your company records will suffice. Also, since you mentioned this is your first year as an S-Corp, double-check that your $110k salary meets the "reasonable compensation" requirement for your industry and role. The health insurance premiums don't count toward this requirement, so you'll want to make sure your base salary alone is defensible if the IRS ever questions it. Good luck with your first year as an S-Corp - it's definitely worth getting these details right from the start!
This is really helpful advice about establishing the policy formally! I'm new to S-Corp requirements - when you say "corporate resolution," does that need to be filed anywhere or just kept in company records? And should I retroactively document this for premiums I've already paid this year, or does it only apply going forward? Also, regarding the reasonable compensation - I'm a software consultant, so the $110k seems reasonable for my area and experience level. But I'm curious if there are any IRS guidelines or safe harbors for determining what's "reasonable" in different industries?
Great questions! For the corporate resolution, you just need to keep it in your company records - no filing required. It's just documentation showing your S-Corp has a formal policy of paying health insurance as part of compensation. You can actually make it retroactive for 2024 by dating the resolution and stating it applies to the entire tax year. For reasonable compensation in software consulting, the IRS doesn't have specific safe harbors, but they do look at factors like: what you'd pay someone else to do your job, industry standards in your geographic area, your experience level, and the time you spend on the business. At $110k for a successful software consultant generating $270k in business income, you're probably in good shape, especially if you can document similar salaries in your market. The IRS has been more aggressive about unreasonably LOW S-Corp salaries in recent years, but your ratio seems reasonable. Some tax pros use a rough guideline of 30-40% of net business income as a starting point, and you're right in that range.
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - first year S-Corp owner with marketplace insurance. One thing I want to emphasize that I learned the hard way: make sure your S-Corp actually has the cash flow to handle paying these premiums throughout the year. I initially set up the reimbursement structure but didn't plan well for the timing. My business has seasonal cash flow, so I ended up having to pay premiums personally for a few months when cash was tight, then reimburse myself later. This created some messy bookkeeping. My advice: if you're going to have your S-Corp pay the premiums directly (which is cleaner), make sure you have a business bank account with enough buffer to handle the monthly premium payments even during slower periods. The tax benefits are definitely worth it, but the cash flow management aspect caught me off guard in my first year. Also, a quick tip for anyone using QuickBooks - set up the health insurance as a separate payroll item so it automatically flows to the right boxes on your W-2. Saves a lot of headache at year-end!
That's such a practical point about cash flow planning! I hadn't thought about the timing mismatch between when premiums are due versus when business income comes in. As someone just starting to set up my S-Corp structure, this is exactly the kind of real-world insight I needed. The QuickBooks tip is gold too - I've been dreading the year-end payroll reporting, so having it automatically categorized correctly will save me so much stress. Did you set it up as a non-taxable benefit initially, or does QuickBooks handle the "add to Box 1 but not Box 3&5" automatically once you configure it as health insurance reimbursement? Also, for the seasonal cash flow issue - did you find it better to just build a bigger cash reserve in the business account, or did you end up doing a mix of direct payments and reimbursements depending on cash availability?
I completely understand your frustration - nearly 2 years is absolutely ridiculous for an amended return! I filed mine in May 2022 and finally got it processed last month, so there's hope. A few things that might help based on my experience: 1. **Check your transcript religiously** - Look for transaction codes like 290 (additional tax assessed), 300 (additional tax increase), or 766 (credit to your account). These often appear weeks before the Where's My Amended Return tool updates. 2. **Document everything** - Keep a log of when you check status, any phone calls, etc. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate. 3. **Consider the Taxpayer Advocate Service** - They helped several people in my local tax group get movement on stuck returns. You don't need extreme hardship, just reasonable cause for why the delay is impacting you. 4. **Don't panic about statute of limitations yet** - For 2022 returns, you generally have until April 2026 to claim refunds, and the IRS can't deny based on their own processing delays. The system is completely broken right now, but most 2022 amended returns I'm seeing are finally getting processed. Hang in there - your turn should be coming soon!
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to start checking my transcript more frequently and looking for those specific codes you mentioned. I had no idea about the 290, 300, and 766 codes - that's exactly the kind of detail that makes all the difference when you're trying to figure out what's actually happening behind the scenes. The documentation tip is smart too. I've been so frustrated that I haven't been keeping good records of my interactions, but you're absolutely right that this could be important later. Quick question about the Taxpayer Advocate Service - did you or people in your tax group have to meet specific criteria to get their help, or were they pretty receptive to just the general "this has been processing for way too long" complaint? I'm hesitant to reach out if they're going to require proof of severe hardship since my situation is more "annoying and stressful" than "financially devastating." Thanks again for sharing your experience - it really does help to know there's light at the end of this very long tunnel!
I'm right there with you - filed my amended return in August 2022 and still stuck in limbo! The frustration is real, especially when you see people getting their regular returns processed in weeks while we're sitting here almost 2 years later. Here's what's been working for me to stay somewhat sane while waiting: **Track everything systematically**: I created a simple spreadsheet to log every status check, phone call, and any changes I see. It helps me feel like I'm doing something productive instead of just waiting helplessly. **Use multiple tracking methods**: Don't just rely on the "Where's My Amended Return" tool. I check my account transcript monthly and sometimes catch processing activity there first. Look for transaction codes like 570 (additional account action pending) or 971 (notice issued) - these can give you clues about what's happening. **Consider your options if it drags on much longer**: The Taxpayer Advocate Service is definitely worth contacting if you can show any kind of impact from the delay. From what I've seen, they're pretty reasonable about what constitutes a valid case - you don't need to be facing foreclosure or anything that dramatic. **Know your rights regarding interest**: If your refund is substantial, the IRS owes you interest on the delay. Make sure to ask about this when (hopefully when, not if) your return finally gets processed. The whole system is absolutely broken right now, but hang in there. Based on what I'm seeing in this community, 2022 amended returns are finally starting to move through the pipeline. Our time should be coming soon!
This is exactly the kind of systematic approach I needed to hear about! I've been checking sporadically and getting more frustrated each time, but creating a tracking spreadsheet is brilliant - at least then I'll have concrete data about what's happening (or not happening) instead of just feeling like I'm losing my mind. I had no idea about those specific transaction codes like 570 and 971. That's the kind of insider knowledge that makes all the difference when you're trying to decode what the IRS is actually doing with your return. I'm definitely going to start looking for those on my transcript. The interest point is something I hadn't even thought about yet, but you're absolutely right. After waiting this long, they should definitely be paying interest on any refund. I'll make sure to ask about that when I finally get through to someone. Thanks for the realistic timeline expectations too. It helps to know that 2022 returns are starting to move - gives me hope that maybe by summer I'll finally see some progress. This whole situation is such a mess, but at least we're all suffering through it together!
Leslie Parker
Don't forget to check if your state allows deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses even though federal doesn't! I'm in NY and we can still deduct these expenses on our state return if they exceed 2% of our adjusted gross income.
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Sergio Neal
ā¢Do you know which states specifically allow this? I'm in Pennsylvania and not sure if I should be looking into this option.
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Mateo Warren
Pennsylvania does allow some unreimbursed employee expense deductions on your state return! You can deduct qualifying work expenses that exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income, similar to how the federal deduction used to work before 2018. For remote work expenses like internet upgrades, office supplies, or dedicated workspace costs, you'll want to look at PA Schedule UE (Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses). The key is documenting that these expenses are ordinary, necessary, and directly related to your job duties. Keep detailed records of your internet bills showing the cost difference between your work-required plan and what you'd need for personal use. Also save receipts for any office equipment, software, or supplies you purchased specifically for work. Since you mentioned paying an extra $25/month for faster internet ($85 vs $60), that's $300 annually. If your other work expenses push you over that 2% AGI threshold, you could potentially deduct the work portion on your PA return even though you can't federally.
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CosmicCadet
ā¢This is really helpful info about Pennsylvania! I had no idea we could still deduct unreimbursed employee expenses on the state level. Do you know if there are any specific documentation requirements beyond just keeping receipts? Like do I need to get something in writing from my employer saying they don't reimburse internet costs, or is it enough that I can show the business necessity of the expense? Also, when you mention the 2% AGI threshold - is that calculated using your federal AGI or does Pennsylvania use a different calculation?
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