Pro tip: check your transcript instead of WMR. More detailed info anyway and usually updates b4 WMR does

Down for maintenance probably. Classic IRS moment 🙄

Tbh most of my clients just send me the blank W9 form when they ask for it. Makes it easier for everyone. Not everyone knows where to find the form or which version to use. If u want it done fast just attach the PDF in your email.

From an administrative perspective, you're not required to provide the blank W9 form, but it's often the most practical approach. I work in government contracting and we always include the current W9 form with our initial request - it eliminates confusion about which version to use and removes any barriers for the contractor. The key thing to remember is that you need this information for your 1099-NEC filing, and the contractor is legally obligated to provide it when you've paid them $600 or more. I'd recommend sending one polite email with the blank form attached and a clear deadline: "Please complete and return the attached W9 form by [date] so I can properly report your payment for tax year 2024." If they still refuse after that, document the refusal and proceed with backup withholding as others have mentioned. Most contractors will comply once they understand it's a legal requirement, not just a favor you're asking.

This entire thread has been incredibly valuable for understanding the Form 2848 process for guardianship situations! As someone who might face this scenario with aging parents, I'm taking notes on all the detailed guidance shared here. One practical question I haven't seen addressed - what happens if the IRS requests additional documentation after you submit Form 2848 with your guardianship papers? Are there common additional requests they make that families should be prepared for? Also, I'm curious about the timeline for penalty relief. If you're successful with reasonable cause abatement for the period of incapacitation, does the IRS typically process those requests quickly, or should families expect that to be a separate lengthy process even after getting the representation authority established? The professional insights from Aisha and the real-world experiences everyone has shared here create such a comprehensive guide. This is exactly the kind of detailed, practical information that's usually impossible to find when you're dealing with these stressful situations. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This has been an absolutely incredible thread! I'm a tax preparer who works with elderly clients and their families, and I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as a reference guide. The level of detail and practical advice shared here is better than most professional resources I've seen. A few additional points that might help future readers: **Document everything in writing** - After any phone conversations with the IRS, send a follow-up letter summarizing what was discussed and any commitments made. This creates a paper trail that's invaluable if you get transferred between agents or departments. **Consider requesting a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing** if you're dealing with significant payroll tax liabilities. This can pause collection actions while you get your representation sorted out and negotiate payment terms. You typically have 30 days from certain collection notices to request this. **State tax tip**: Most states have their own taxpayer advocate services too. If you're dealing with both federal and state issues, contact both advocate offices early in the process. They can sometimes coordinate to prevent conflicting requirements or duplicated efforts. The roadmap this thread provides - from the specific Form 2848 language to the multiple service center filing strategy to the penalty abatement documentation - is exactly what families need when facing these overwhelming situations. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and professional insights. This kind of community knowledge-sharing is invaluable!

I'm currently in week 2 after verifying my identity on March 28th, and this thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding what's actually happening! Like everyone else here, this was my first verification letter ever and I was completely convinced I'd made some major error on my tax return. The most frustrating part so far has been how the IRS website makes verification sound like a quick, routine security check, but then you're potentially looking at 2+ months of complete silence. The "Where's My Refund" tool has already been showing "still processing" for two weeks with zero helpful information, which based on everyone's experiences here seems to be totally normal but feels completely broken when you're living through it. It's honestly mind-blowing how widespread these verification requests have become this year. I've asked around my friend group and literally 8 out of 12 people who filed early got the same letter. Clearly the IRS has massively increased their fraud detection efforts, which is probably necessary given all the scams, but the communication about realistic timelines is pretty terrible. Reading through all the real experiences shared here (mostly 5-8 weeks total) has been way more helpful than anything on the official IRS website. I'm trying to mentally prepare for potentially 6+ more weeks of waiting, which is tough when you're budgeting around that refund, but at least now I have realistic expectations instead of hoping it would be resolved quickly. Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing your timelines and experiences - it really helps to know we're all navigating this frustrating process together and that these long wait times are unfortunately just the reality right now!

I'm currently in week 4 after verifying my identity on March 10th, and this thread has been absolutely invaluable for managing my expectations! Like so many others here, this was my first time getting the verification letter and I initially panicked thinking I'd somehow made a catastrophic error on my return. What's been most eye-opening is realizing how the "Where's My Refund" tool becomes completely useless during this process - I've been stuck on "still processing" for a month now with zero indication of progress. Reading everyone's experiences here has been reassuring that this is totally normal, even though it feels like the system is broken when you're going through it. It's fascinating (and frustrating) to see how much more common these verification requests have become this year. I've talked to friends and coworkers and it seems like nearly everyone who filed early got hit with this. The IRS has clearly ramped up their fraud prevention significantly, which is probably necessary, but the 5-8 week wait times with no communication are brutal when you're budgeting around that refund. Based on all the real timelines shared here, I'm cautiously optimistic I might see some movement soon since I'm getting into that 4-6 week range where approvals seem to start happening. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - even just knowing "your refund will be processed the week of April 20th" would be so much better than this complete information blackout. Thanks to everyone for sharing their actual experiences - it's incredibly helpful to know we're all suffering through this waiting game together and that these delays are unfortunately just the new reality with enhanced IRS security measures!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this discussion! I just received my first bonus last week and was absolutely shocked when I saw that nearly 38% was withheld between federal, state, FICA, and other taxes. Like @Statiia Aarssizan, I was counting on that money for some important expenses and felt like I'd been hit by a freight train. Reading through everyone's explanations has been incredibly reassuring - especially understanding that this is just aggressive withholding, not the actual tax rate I'll pay. The analogy about the payroll system being "overly cautious" really clicked for me. It makes sense that the system would rather withhold too much than risk me owing a huge bill later. I'm planning to use the IRS withholding estimator that several people recommended to get a better sense of my overall tax picture for the year. It's comforting to know that so many others have gone through this exact same confusion and that it all works out properly when filing taxes. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing tax situations - thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a very similar situation - just received my first substantial bonus and was completely caught off guard by the withholding amount. Seeing nearly 40% disappear was genuinely shocking and made me wonder if I had somehow made a mistake or if bonuses were penalized differently. What I find most reassuring from reading everyone's experiences is how universal this reaction seems to be. It's clear that the "sticker shock" from bonus withholding is something almost everyone goes through, which makes me feel much less alone in my confusion. The explanations about how the payroll system treats supplemental income differently really helped me understand that this is just a quirk of the withholding process, not an indication that I'm actually losing that money permanently. I'm definitely planning to use the IRS withholding estimator that multiple people have recommended, and I love the suggestion from @Harper Hill about tracking total withholdings throughout the year in a spreadsheet. That seems like such a smart way to stay informed and reduce anxiety about the whole process. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of supportive, educational discussion that makes me excited to be part of this community!