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 ā 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
I'm in the exact same boat - filed February 8th, NetSpend account, WMR showing approved since March 1st but still nothing deposited. Called NetSpend twice and they confirmed no rejected deposits on their end. The uncertainty is killing me because I have rent due next Friday. Based on what everyone's saying about the additional verification for prepaid cards, it sounds like this is just how the system works unfortunately. At least knowing it's not just me makes me feel a bit better. Going to try calling the IRS tomorrow to see if they can give me any timeline, even though I'm dreading that hold time!
Liam McGuire
ā¢I totally feel your frustration about the rent deadline - that kind of pressure makes waiting so much worse! Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like there's definitely a pattern with NetSpend accounts getting caught in this additional verification step. Since you filed February 8th and got approved March 1st, you're already past the typical timeframe which suggests you're probably in that same verification queue @Malik Johnson mentioned. If you do call the IRS tomorrow, maybe ask specifically about Treasury Regulation 1.6302-4 verification since @QuantumLeap brought that up - having the specific regulation number might help the agent understand exactly what you re'asking about. Hang in there, it sounds like most people are getting theirs within 2-3 weeks of the approved status!
Sophia Russo
Same exact situation here! Filed February 15th through TurboTax, NetSpend account, WMR has shown "approved" since February 28th but still no deposit. I've been checking my account obsessively every morning hoping to see something. What's really frustrating is that my friend who filed the same day with a regular bank account got her refund over a week ago. I had no idea about this additional verification layer for prepaid cards - wish the IRS was more transparent about these delays! At least now I know it's not just me going crazy checking my balance 50 times a day. Definitely going to look into getting my transcript to see what's actually happening behind the scenes.
@Sophia Russo I m'so glad you mentioned the obsessive account checking - I thought I was losing my mind doing the same thing! It s'really frustrating that TurboTax and other filing services don t'warn you about these potential delays with prepaid cards when you re'entering your banking info. I ve'been in this exact situation for about the same timeframe as you. What I learned from this thread is that @Emma Wilson s suggestion'about checking your transcript might actually show you specific codes that explain what s happening,'unlike the vague WMR status. Have you tried accessing your IRS transcript online? I m thinking'of doing that before calling since the hold times sound brutal.
Join the conversation
As someone who's dealt with transcript codes before, I can confirm that transcripts absolutely do NOT update multiple times per day. The IRS processes accounts in weekly batches, and your cycle 05 means Thursday updates only. A 570 code typically indicates they need to verify something on your return - could be income matching, identity verification, or they caught an error that needs manual review. I've seen this process take anywhere from 1-3 weekly cycles to resolve. Since you're filing from abroad for the first time, it's quite possible they're just doing additional verification due to foreign address/income reporting. My advice? Stop checking daily (I know it's hard!) and plan to check again next Thursday. The anxiety is real, but checking hourly won't change anything unfortunately.
Sophia Clark
ā¢This is really helpful context about filing from abroad! I'm in a similar situation as a first-time filer living overseas, and I was wondering if the foreign address might be what's triggering additional scrutiny. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you filed internationally, or was it just the standard forms? I'm trying to understand if there's anything I should be prepared for when dealing with the IRS as an expat.
Yara Haddad
As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm that transcripts only update once per weekly cycle. Your cycle 05 means Thursday updates, so unfortunately you'll need to wait until next Thursday to see any changes. The 570 code is frustrating but common - it just means they need to manually review something on your return. Since you mentioned filing from abroad for the first time, that could definitely be a factor as the IRS often does additional verification for international filers. I'd recommend setting a reminder to check next Thursday rather than checking daily (trust me, I've been there!). In the meantime, you might want to gather any documentation related to your foreign income or address changes just in case they need additional verification. The waiting is tough, but the system is pretty predictable once you understand the weekly cycle pattern.
This is exactly what I needed to hear as a newcomer to the US tax system! I've been obsessively checking my transcript every few hours since seeing that 570 code appear, but it sounds like I'm just torturing myself for no reason. The weekly cycle explanation makes so much sense - I come from a country where most government systems update in real-time, so I was expecting the same here. Thanks for the tip about gathering documentation related to foreign income. I do have some documents from my previous country that might be relevant. Should I wait for the IRS to contact me first, or is there a way to proactively submit additional verification documents to speed up the process?
Join the conversation
Olivia Evans
This has been such an enlightening discussion! I'm in a similar position with my photography business ($48K) and small event planning side business ($33K), and after reading through everyone's real-world experiences, I'm convinced the single S Corp route is the way to go. One aspect I haven't seen discussed much is how to handle client contracts when you have two different types of businesses under one entity. Do you use separate contract templates for each division, or do you have one master service agreement that covers both types of work? I'm wondering about liability language and how to structure terms when the same legal entity might be providing both creative services and event coordination. Also, for those who mentioned using class/division tracking in QuickBooks - have you found any limitations with the reporting when it comes to analyzing profitability by division? I'd love to be able to generate separate P&L statements for each business line to better understand which activities are most profitable. The SE tax savings potential at my combined $81K revenue is definitely compelling enough to move forward. Thanks to everyone who shared such detailed practical advice - this thread has been more valuable than hours of research on generic business sites!
Great questions about contracts and reporting! For client contracts, I use separate templates for each business division but ensure they're all signed under the same S Corp entity name. This gives you flexibility to tailor liability language and terms to each type of work while maintaining legal consistency. For photography, you might focus on intellectual property and delivery timelines, while event planning contracts would emphasize coordination responsibilities and vendor relationships. QuickBooks class tracking works really well for separate P&L analysis - you can generate individual profit/loss reports for each division that show exactly which business line is more profitable. The only limitation I've found is with shared expenses (like your salary or office rent), which you'll need to allocate manually between classes. But for direct revenue and expenses, the reporting is quite detailed. At $81K combined revenue, you're definitely in that sweet spot for S Corp benefits. The administrative efficiency of one entity handling both creative services and event planning far outweighs the minor complexity of separate contract templates. Just make sure your business insurance policy covers both types of professional services under the single entity structure!
This thread has been incredibly comprehensive! I'm dealing with a similar situation - freelance copywriting ($44K) and a small jewelry business ($28K) - and all these real-world experiences have been so much more helpful than the generic advice I've been finding. One thing I wanted to add that I discovered during my research: if you're selling physical products (like with your food truck), make sure you understand how inventory valuation methods will work within the S Corp structure. Unlike pure service businesses, having inventory adds another layer of complexity to your bookkeeping, especially at year-end when you need to count and value remaining stock. Also, regarding business insurance, I found that some carriers offer "business package" policies specifically designed for entities with multiple business activities. These can sometimes be more cost-effective than trying to piece together separate coverage for each division. At your combined $107K revenue, the SE tax savings really is substantial - probably around $15K annually based on what others have calculated. That alone makes the single S Corp approach a no-brainer financially. The key seems to be having solid systems in place from day one for tracking everything separately within the unified structure. Has anyone dealt with trademark or intellectual property considerations when operating different business types under one entity? I'm wondering if having both creative services and product sales under the same S Corp creates any complications for protecting business names or creative work.
Aisha Ali
ā¢Great point about inventory valuation complexity! I hadn't fully considered how that would affect year-end accounting for the food truck operation. That's definitely something to discuss with an accountant upfront to make sure the inventory tracking methods align with S Corp requirements. Your question about trademark and IP protection is really interesting. From what I understand, trademarks are typically registered to the legal entity (the S Corp), so having multiple business activities under one entity shouldn't create issues. In fact, it might be simpler since you only need to manage IP assets under one legal name. However, if you want to protect separate brand names for each business division (like having distinct marketing identities), you'd still file separate trademark applications but they'd all be owned by the same S Corp entity. The business package insurance approach sounds smart - I'll definitely look into that option. Having one carrier understand all your business activities from the start probably makes claims processing much smoother too. At $72K combined revenue in my situation, the administrative simplicity of one entity handling both creative services and product sales is really appealing. Thanks for adding those practical considerations about inventory and IP - those are exactly the kinds of details that can trip you up if you don't plan for them early!
Join the conversation
This thread is incredibly helpful! I just wanted to share my recent experience as a data point for future military families dealing with this timing question. I had my refund issued (code 846 on transcript) on February 28th with direct deposit to Navy Federal. The money actually hit my account on February 27th - a full day EARLY! Apparently Navy Federal processes government deposits overnight before the official release date. For planning purposes, here's what I learned: ā¢ Navy Federal and USAA often post 24-48 hours early ā¢ Regular banks (Chase, Bank of America, etc.) usually post same day or next business day ā¢ Credit unions can be unpredictable - some faster, some slower The early deposit was actually stressful because I wasn't expecting it and thought there might be an error! But it ended up being perfect timing for my household goods shipment payment. One tip I haven't seen mentioned: if you're using a banking app, enable push notifications for deposits. That way you'll know immediately when it hits rather than constantly checking your balance. Saved my sanity during the waiting period! Hope this helps future military families with their PCS financial planning! š¦
This is such useful real-world data! The fact that Navy Federal posted your refund a day EARLY is actually really encouraging for planning purposes - better to have the money sooner than expected rather than later. Your point about enabling push notifications is brilliant and something I definitely need to set up. I'm one of those people who would absolutely be refreshing my account balance every hour during the waiting period, so getting an automatic notification would save me from that obsessive checking. The timing working out perfectly for your household goods shipment payment is exactly why this kind of precise planning matters so much for military families. We can't just wing it with major moving expenses like civilians might with regular purchases. Thanks for sharing the specific bank timing differences too - it's really helpful to see Navy Federal and USAA consistently mentioned as being faster with government deposits. I'm definitely going to factor that into my PCS timeline planning! šŖ
This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been dealing with IRS refund timing confusion for years, I really appreciate all the detailed explanations and real-world experiences shared here. I wanted to add one more perspective from my experience working with federal employees and contractors. The IRS actually has different processing centers across the country, and depending on where your return gets routed for processing, you might see slight variations in timing even with the same bank and deposit method. For example, returns processed at the Kansas City center seem to have slightly faster turnaround times than those processed at other locations, but you have no control over which center handles your return. This is why some people with identical situations (same bank, same filing date) might see their refunds post on different days. The key takeaway I've learned is exactly what others have mentioned - always plan with a buffer. Even with direct deposit and military-friendly banks like Navy Federal or USAA, unexpected delays can happen due to bank holidays, IRS system maintenance, or processing center backlogs. The military-specific banking insights shared here are gold! It's amazing how much the community can help each other navigate these financial planning challenges that come with frequent moves and tight budgets. Thanks everyone for making this such a comprehensive resource! š
Emma Davis
I'm a tax professional and wanted to add some perspective here. You're absolutely correct that you weren't required to file taxes if your self-employment income was under $400 per year. However, for future reference, many freelancers still file even when not required because it creates an official record with the IRS that can be helpful for situations exactly like this. That said, your payment app transaction history is definitely viable documentation. I've helped clients in similar situations, and here's what I recommend: 1. **Export comprehensive transaction records** - Get detailed statements from Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle showing dates, amounts, and memo fields if you used them. The key is showing a pattern of business payments rather than personal transfers. 2. **Create supporting invoices retroactively** - While you didn't invoice at the time, you can create simple invoices now that match your payment records. Include project descriptions, dates, and payment amounts. This isn't falsifying records - it's documenting work that actually occurred. 3. **Consider filing Form 1040 for those years** - Even though you weren't required to, you can still file returns showing your freelance income and zero tax liability. This creates official IRS records that HireRight would definitely accept. 4. **Get a letter from a tax professional** - I often write letters for clients explaining their tax situation and confirming that their income documentation is consistent with IRS requirements. Don't give up on this opportunity! Your situation is more common than you think, and there are legitimate ways to document your freelance work history. The fact that you stayed within legal tax requirements actually works in your favor.
0 coins
Nia Wilson
ā¢This is incredibly helpful advice! As someone new to this community and dealing with freelancer documentation issues myself, I'm wondering about the retroactive invoice creation you mentioned. When you say it's not falsifying records, how do you ensure these invoices are legitimate from a legal standpoint? Should they be dated when the work was originally done or when they're created now? Also, regarding filing Form 1040 for previous years - is there a time limit on how far back you can file, and would there be any penalties even if no taxes are owed? I'm in a similar boat with needing to prove freelance work from 2-3 years ago and this approach sounds promising but I want to make sure I do it correctly. The tax professional letter idea is brilliant - do you have suggestions on what specific language or certifications background check companies typically look for in those letters?
0 coins
Diego Ramirez
ā¢@e4ee6931f469 Great questions! For retroactive invoices, the key is accuracy and transparency. Date them when the work was originally performed, but include a note like "Invoice created [current date] for documentation purposes" at the bottom. This shows you're not trying to deceive anyone - you're simply creating formal documentation for work that actually occurred. The invoice should match your payment records exactly in terms of dates, amounts, and general project descriptions. For filing previous years' returns, you can generally file up to 3 years back without issues, and there are no penalties when you owe zero taxes. In fact, the IRS appreciates voluntary compliance! Just file Form 1040 with Schedule C showing your freelance income and corresponding business expenses (even minimal ones). This creates an official paper trail that's gold standard for background checks. Regarding tax professional letters, background check companies typically want to see the preparer's PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number), their credentials (CPA, EA, etc.), and specific language confirming that your documentation is "consistent with IRS reporting requirements" and that "the taxpayer operated within legal compliance for the stated income levels." The letter should reference specific tax code sections like IRC 1402(a) regarding the $400 self-employment threshold. I've seen this approach work countless times for freelancers in tech, and it's completely legitimate!
0 coins
Maxwell St. Laurent
As someone who works in HR and has dealt with countless background check issues, I want to reassure you that this situation is absolutely manageable and more common than you think, especially in tech. Here's what I'd recommend based on what I've seen work: **Immediate Steps:** 1. **Compile all digital payment records** - Download complete transaction histories from Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle. Export these as PDFs to preserve formatting and timestamps. 2. **Create a comprehensive work summary** - Make a professional document listing each client, project dates, work performed, and payment amounts. This gives HireRight a clear overview of your freelance history. 3. **Gather client contact information** - Even if you haven't spoken in years, reach out to former clients for brief reference letters. Most people are willing to help, especially if you explain it's for a background check. **Pro Tips:** - Be completely transparent with HireRight upfront. Submit everything with a cover letter explaining your situation and that your income was below tax filing requirements. - The fact that your recruiter already knows about your freelance work is a huge positive - they wouldn't have proceeded if it was a dealbreaker. - Consider having your documentation reviewed by a tax professional who can write a letter confirming your compliance with IRS requirements. I've seen people in your exact situation successfully pass background checks and get their dream jobs. The key is being thorough, professional, and proactive in your documentation. Companies hiring developers understand that many candidates have non-traditional work histories. Don't give up - you've got this!
0 coins
Eva St. Cyr
ā¢This is such helpful advice, especially coming from someone who works in HR! I'm new to this community and facing a similar situation with documenting freelance work for a background check. Your point about being proactive really resonates - I was planning to wait and see what they asked for, but submitting everything upfront with a clear explanation sounds much better. I'm curious about the cover letter you mentioned. What specific language do you recommend when explaining the situation? I want to be transparent but also confident, not apologetic. Should I mention that I intentionally kept income below the tax threshold, or just state it as fact? Also, when you say "comprehensive work summary," do you think it's better to organize it chronologically by client or by type of work performed? I did a mix of web development, tutoring, and some graphic design, so I'm wondering what format would be clearest for the background check reviewers. Thanks for the reassurance that this is common - it's easy to feel like you're the only one dealing with this kind of documentation challenge!
0 coins