As someone who's been waiting for refund checks for years, I can tell you that Informed Delivery is NOT reliable for IRS mail. The Treasury Department uses special envelopes that often don't get scanned properly by the postal imaging system. I've gotten multiple refund checks over the years and maybe only half showed up in my daily digest. Don't stress about the 3 weeks - mail has been really slow lately and IRS checks can take 4-6 weeks easily, especially during tax season when volume is high. Just keep checking your mailbox daily and don't throw away any plain white envelopes!

I can relate to your anxiety about this! I went through the same thing last year - checked Informed Delivery obsessively for weeks with no sign of my refund check. Turns out it just showed up one day without ever appearing in the daily digest. The IRS uses these generic Treasury envelopes that look like boring government mail, and the postal imaging system doesn't always catch them. Three weeks is still within the normal range, especially with all the mail delays we've been having lately. I'd recommend checking the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov to confirm when they actually mailed it, and try not to stress until it's been at least 4-5 weeks from that mail date. Keep checking your physical mailbox daily and don't toss any plain white envelopes!

I totally understand your anxiety about mailing tax returns! I went through the same thing last year. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed record of everything - screenshots of the USPS tracking, copies of all documents, and the date I mailed it. The "In Transit" status is normal and USPS tracking for IRS deliveries isn't always super detailed until it actually gets delivered. Once it shows "Delivered," give it at least 4-6 weeks before expecting to see it in the IRS system. I know that feels like forever when you're waiting for a refund! If you're really anxious after the 6-week mark and it's still not showing up in "Where's My Refund," that's when you might want to call the IRS. But honestly, most of the time it's just their slow processing during tax season. The key is patience (easier said than done, I know!). For next year, if you have complicated stuff again, consider finding a tax professional who can e-file even complex returns. It's usually worth the extra cost for the peace of mind and faster processing.

I completely understand your anxiety about mailing tax returns! As someone who works with tax compliance issues regularly, I can offer some reassurance and practical advice. First, your USPS tracking showing "In Transit" is completely normal - IRS deliveries often don't update with detailed location info until they reach the final facility. The tracking you paid for will give you confirmation once it's actually delivered. Here's what to expect timeline-wise: - USPS delivery: Should happen by your expected Thursday delivery date - IRS processing: 4-6 weeks after delivery before showing in their system - Refund processing: Additional 2-3 weeks after it appears in "Where's My Refund" For future reference, you can actually e-file most "complicated" returns! Many issues that seem too complex for consumer software (like foreign income, rental properties, or business expenses) can be handled by professional tax preparers who use advanced software. It's usually worth the fee to avoid the mailing stress. Right now, just hang tight and resist the urge to send duplicates if delivery is delayed by a day or two. The IRS is used to processing millions of mailed returns and they have good systems in place, even if it feels slow from your end!

Great discussion here! I've been dealing with a similar situation and want to add a few points that might be helpful: 1. **Keep detailed records**: When you refinance, make sure to get an itemized breakdown of all closing costs. This makes it much easier to categorize them correctly later. 2. **Watch out for prepaid items**: Things like prepaid property taxes or insurance aren't actually refinancing costs - they're just advances on future expenses and shouldn't be added to basis or amortized. 3. **Consider the timing**: If you refinanced mid-year, make sure you're handling the amortization correctly. For example, if you paid $1,200 in points on a 30-year loan that closed in July, you'd only deduct $20 that first year (6 months × $40 annual amortization). 4. **State vs federal differences**: Some states have different rules about how refinancing costs are handled, so double-check your state tax requirements too. The IRS really does scrutinize rental property returns more closely, so it's worth getting this right. When in doubt, conservative treatment is usually safer than aggressive deductions.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but have an additional wrinkle - I refinanced my rental property through a cash-out refi and used some of the proceeds to pay off credit card debt that was originally used for property repairs from the previous year. How should I handle the allocation of refinancing costs in this case? Do I need to separate the costs based on the portion that was for the original loan balance versus the cash-out portion? And does it matter that the cash-out was used to pay off debt that was originally for property-related expenses? I paid about $3,800 in total closing costs on a $180K refinance where $135K paid off the existing mortgage and $45K was cash out. My accountant wasn't sure how to advise me on this, so I'm hoping someone here has dealt with a similar situation.

Has anyone done the CRTP first, then EA later? I'm wondering if the CRTP education credits would count toward the EA exam requirements or if I'd be starting from scratch.

Coming from someone who's been in the tax industry for over a decade, I'd strongly recommend going straight for the EA if you're serious about advancing your career. The CRTP might seem like an easier entry point, but it's really limiting your potential right from the start. Here's what I wish someone had told me early on: the EA exam isn't as scary as it seems, especially with your bookkeeping background. You already understand basic accounting principles, which gives you a huge advantage. The three-part structure means you can tackle it piece by piece rather than one massive exam. Given that you're considering a move to Oregon, the EA is a no-brainer. California-specific credentials won't help you there, and you'd essentially be starting over. Plus, even if you stay in California, EA status commands more respect and higher fees than CRTP. My advice? Skip the CRTP entirely, invest in good EA exam prep materials, and dedicate 4-6 months to serious study. The return on investment is so much better long-term. You'll thank yourself later when you're charging $150+ per hour for representation work instead of being stuck at basic prep rates.

This is definitely identity theft and you need to act fast! I went through something very similar last year. Here's exactly what worked for me: 1. File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS immediately - don't wait until tax season 2. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to report potential SSN misuse 3. Contact that "Apex Innovations" company directly if you can find legitimate contact info - sometimes they're victims too and someone filed fake paperwork using their name 4. Keep the original W-2 as evidence but make copies for your records The combination of your maiden name with current address is a classic sign someone pieced together your info from multiple sources. Also, legitimate W-2s are printed on special paper with watermarks - check if yours feels like regular printer paper. Most importantly, when you file your real tax return, attach a statement explaining you never worked for this company. The IRS sees this stuff all the time and they have procedures to handle it, but you need to be proactive about documenting everything.

This is definitely a red flag situation and you're right to be concerned. The fact that it shows your maiden name with your current address is a dead giveaway that someone has compiled information about you from different sources. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Don't ignore it** - Even though you didn't work there, the IRS will eventually receive a copy of this W2 and expect you to report the income 2. **Contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit** at 1-800-908-4490 to report the fraudulent document 3. **File Form 14039** (Identity Theft Affidavit) - you can download it from the IRS website 4. **Request your IRS wage and income transcript** to see what employers have actually reported wages under your SSN 5. **Place a fraud alert** on your credit reports with all three bureaus The "SSA number" instead of "SSN" is particularly suspicious - legitimate W2s use standard IRS formatting. Also, check if the paper feels like regular printer paper versus the security paper that real W2s are printed on. When you file your taxes, include a statement explaining you never worked for this company and attach documentation of your identity theft report. The IRS deals with this frequently and has procedures in place, but you need to get ahead of it before they try to match unreported income to your return. Save everything - the envelope it came in, copies of all forms you file, and records of every phone call you make about this issue.