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Looking at your transcript, you're actually in a great position! That -$6,595 account balance is what the IRS owes YOU - that's your refund amount. Here's what happened: You originally had credits of $2,600 + $9,095 + $4,995 EIC = $16,690 total. The 767 code removed the $9,095 credit (likely correcting an error from your amended return), leaving you with the other credits. Code 290 with $0.00 means all processing is officially complete, and 971 is just them sending a notice to explain the adjustments. Since these codes just posted on 12/17 and processing is finalized, you should see your $6,595 refund hit your account within 1-2 weeks if you have direct deposit. I know the waiting is stressful, but you're at the finish line now! The hardest part is over and your money is definitely coming. Try to relax and check your bank account in a few days π
This gives me so much hope! I was literally having anxiety attacks looking at these codes thinking something terrible happened with my return. Your explanation about the math really helps - I didn't realize that the 767 removing that big credit was actually just fixing an error rather than taking away money I was supposed to get. The fact that the -$6,595 means they owe ME that amount is such a relief. I have direct deposit with Wells Fargo so hopefully I'll see it soon. Thank you for being so patient explaining all this - this community has been a lifesaver during this stressful process! π
Looking at your transcript, you're actually in really good shape! That -$6,595 account balance means the IRS owes you that exact amount as a refund. Here's what happened: You originally had credits totaling $16,690 ($2,600 + $9,095 + $4,995 EIC), but the 767 code removed the $9,095 credit - this was likely an error correction from your amended return processing. The 290 code with $0.00 means all processing adjustments are complete, and the 971 is just a notice being sent to explain the changes. Since these codes just posted on 12/17 and everything shows as finalized, you should see your $6,595 refund within 7-10 business days if you have direct deposit set up. I know the waiting is anxiety-inducing when you really need the money, but you're literally at the finish line now! The hardest part is over and your refund is definitely on the way. π
This is such a detailed and reassuring explanation! I've been checking my transcript obsessively since these codes appeared and was getting really panicked about what they all meant together. Your breakdown about the 767 being an error correction from the amended return makes total sense now - I was so scared they were taking away my entire refund. Knowing that the negative balance actually means they owe me that money is such a huge relief. I have direct deposit set up so I'll be watching for it to hit my account over the next week or so. Really grateful for everyone here taking the time to help newcomers like me understand these confusing codes! π
I'm so sorry for your aunt's loss. Going through tax issues while grieving is incredibly difficult. One important point I'd add - if your uncle had any business income or was self-employed, your aunt will need to file Schedule C or other business forms as part of that final joint return. The IRS transcripts mentioned by others will help identify if there were any 1099-NEC or other business income forms issued. Also, since your aunt has mobility issues, she might want to consider having the tax documents sent to a different address where you or another family member can help manage them. You can specify an alternate mailing address on Form 4506-T. The IRS also has a Taxpayer Advocate Service that can help in situations like this where there are hardships. Given her age, recent loss, and mobility issues, they might be able to provide additional assistance if she runs into any roadblocks with the normal process. Hang in there - this process is manageable once you get the right information, and it sounds like you're being a wonderful support for her during this difficult time.
Thank you for mentioning the Taxpayer Advocate Service - I hadn't heard of that before and it sounds like exactly what my aunt might need. With her arthritis making it hard to get around and everything being so overwhelming right now, having someone who can provide extra help with the process would be amazing. Quick question about the alternate mailing address on Form 4506-T - does that require any special authorization since the tax information would technically be going to someone other than the taxpayer? I'm happy to help manage the paperwork but want to make sure we do everything properly. Also, regarding business income - my uncle did some occasional handyman work for neighbors, mostly cash payments. Do you think that would require Schedule C even if it was pretty informal? I'm worried there might be income we don't know about that could complicate things.
For the alternate mailing address on Form 4506-T, your aunt would need to sign the form herself and can specify where she wants the documents sent. As long as she's the one requesting them as the surviving spouse, she can choose any mailing address - no special authorization needed. Just make sure she signs the form, not you. Regarding your uncle's handyman work, even informal cash payments should technically be reported as self-employment income if they totaled $400 or more for the year. The tricky part is that if it was mostly cash, there might not be 1099-NEC forms to help track it. Your aunt should try to estimate the income as best she can based on any records or her memory of his work schedule. The Taxpayer Advocate Service can definitely help navigate these complexities. You can reach them at 1-877-777-4778. Given your aunt's circumstances (recent widowhood, mobility issues, and the complexity of potential unreported income), they should be able to assign a caseworker to help guide her through the process. Don't let the potential complications discourage you - the IRS understands that surviving spouses often don't have complete records, and they're generally reasonable about working with people in good faith to resolve these situations.
I'm so sorry for your aunt's loss. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while grieving. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your aunt is over 65, she may qualify for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation help specifically for elderly, disabled, and low-to-moderate income taxpayers. Given her mobility issues and the complexity of filing a final joint return, this could be a great resource. Many VITA sites can even arrange home visits for taxpayers who can't travel due to age or disability. You can find locations at irs.gov or call 1-800-906-9887. They're specifically trained to handle situations like this and can help navigate all the forms mentioned by others (4506-T, potential Form 1310, etc.). Also, don't forget that your aunt may be eligible for a higher standard deduction as a surviving spouse, and there might be additional tax benefits she's entitled to that your uncle may not have been aware of when he was handling their taxes. The volunteers at VITA sites are usually very patient and understanding with situations involving recent loss. They can help ensure nothing is missed and that your aunt gets all the deductions and credits she's entitled to.
This is excellent advice about the VITA program! I had no idea they could arrange home visits for people with mobility issues. That would be perfect for my aunt's situation since getting to appointments has been really challenging for her. I'm definitely going to look into this - having someone who's specifically trained to handle surviving spouse situations and can come to her would take so much stress off both of us. Do you know if there's typically a waiting list for home visits, especially during tax season? I want to make sure we get this set up soon given the approaching deadline. Also, you mentioned additional tax benefits she might be entitled to as a surviving spouse - are there specific ones I should ask about when we contact VITA? I want to make sure we don't miss anything that could help her financially during this difficult time.
I actually went through this exact situation with a 2802C letter about 6 months ago. Like you, I was absolutely certain my withholding was correct - I had my W-2, pay stubs, everything matched perfectly. Here's what I learned: The 2802C is basically the IRS saying "hey, we're looking at this" rather than "you definitely owe money." In my case, it turned out my employer had filed a late correction to their payroll reporting that I wasn't aware of. The withholding amount I reported was correct based on my W-2, but the employer had submitted an updated form to the IRS after year-end. My advice: Don't panic, but definitely don't ignore it. Keep all your documentation organized and wait for the follow-up letter. If you get a CP2000 notice later and you're still confident your numbers are right, you can absolutely dispute it with your supporting documents. The key is responding within the timeframe they give you (usually 30 days) if you do get that CP2000. Also, check with your employer's payroll department to see if they submitted any corrections after giving you your W-2. That's often the culprit in these situations.
This is really helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought to check with my employer about any corrections they might have filed. That could definitely explain the discrepancy. Did your employer let you know when they originally filed the correction, or did you only find out about it after getting the IRS letter? I'm going to reach out to our payroll department tomorrow to see if something similar happened in my case.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Got my 2802C letter about 3 weeks ago and have been stressing about it ever since. Like you, I've double and triple-checked everything against my W-2 and it all looks correct to me. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea that employers sometimes file corrections after issuing W-2s without telling employees. That could totally explain what's happening. I'm definitely going to call our HR department tomorrow to see if they submitted any amended forms. The waiting game is the worst part though. Has anyone here who went through this process have any idea how long the IRS review typically takes? I know someone mentioned 60-90 days for the follow-up letter, but I'm curious if anyone has actual experience with the timeline from start to finish. Also really appreciate the heads up about the identity theft angle - that's honestly something I never would have considered but makes sense given all the security measures the IRS has been implementing lately.
I'm in the exact same boat as you! Got my 2802C letter about 2 weeks ago and it's been keeping me up at night. Everything on my W-2 matches what I filed perfectly, but reading through this thread has been eye-opening about all the behind-the-scenes stuff that can happen with employer corrections. The identity theft angle really caught my attention too - I never would have thought of that connection. I'm definitely going to check my credit reports this weekend just to be safe. Better to be overly cautious than get blindsided later. For the timeline question, my neighbor went through something similar last year and she said from the initial 2802C letter to final resolution took about 5 months total. That included the IRS review period, getting the CP2000 notice, and then resolving the dispute (which turned out to be an employer error in her case too). The waiting really is the hardest part - I just want to know what's happening! Thanks for sharing your experience. It's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this right now. Definitely going to call our payroll department tomorrow morning too.
I'm in almost exactly the same boat as you! Filed my 2024 return in early June, had to amend in September for some missed charitable deductions that my tax software didn't catch, and just saw that 977 code pop up on my transcript yesterday. I've been stressing about whether it would mess up my original refund processing. This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring though - it sounds like the consensus is that 977 is just their way of saying "we got your amendment" and it shouldn't affect your original refund timeline. I had no clue about the cycle 03 Wednesday update thing either, so I'll definitely stop checking randomly throughout the week and just look on Wednesday evenings. Since you're adding business expenses (increasing your refund) like I am with charitable deductions, it seems like we're both in good situations where they'll likely send the original refund first and then the additional amount later. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you've got those home repairs waiting, but hearing all these success stories from people with similar timelines gives me a lot more confidence that things will work out normally!
I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Filed in March, amended in August for some missed business equipment expenses, and just noticed the 977 code on my transcript this morning. I was completely freaking out thinking it meant my original refund was somehow frozen or cancelled. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - it really does seem like the 977 code is just their way of acknowledging they received the amendment, nothing more dramatic than that. I had absolutely no idea about the cycle 03 Wednesday update schedule either, which explains why I haven't seen any changes despite checking obsessively every single day! Since I'm also adding deductions (increasing my refund) like so many others here, it gives me a lot of confidence that my original refund should process normally while the amendment crawls through their system. It's honestly criminal how confusing the IRS makes this whole process - would it kill them to just send a simple email explaining what's happening instead of these cryptic codes that send us all into panic mode? Anyway, I'll definitely switch to only checking on Wednesday evenings and keep an eye out for that magical 846 code. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - knowing other people went through this exact situation and got their refunds normally makes me feel so much better about the whole thing!
I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed in February, amended in July for some missed home office deductions, and just saw the 977 code appear yesterday. I was literally losing sleep over it thinking my refund was stuck in limbo forever. This thread has been such a game changer for my anxiety levels! It's crazy how many of us are going through identical situations right now. The fact that everyone's experiences seem to follow the same pattern (977 code = acknowledgment, original refund processes separately, cycle 03 = Wednesday updates) gives me so much confidence. I've definitely been that person checking multiple times a day like a maniac - switching to Wednesday evenings only will probably save my sanity! The IRS really needs to hire someone to write these codes in plain English. "Amendment received and queued for processing" would be so much clearer than "977" π Anyway, fingers crossed we all see those 846 codes soon!
Leila Haddad
Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I need to change the responsible party for my digital marketing LLC from my business partner to myself. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a much clearer picture of what to expect. A couple of additional questions based on what I've read here: 1. If the current responsible party (my partner) has moved to a different state since we originally got our EIN, does that affect the 8822-B filing process at all? Should I use his current address or the original address that's on file with the IRS? 2. I noticed several people mentioned keeping detailed records during the transition. Are there any specific documents beyond the certified mail receipt that you'd recommend holding onto? Also, I wanted to thank everyone who mentioned the various tools and services - the taxr.ai recommendation for form checking and claimyr.com for getting through to the IRS both sound like they could be lifesavers. It's frustrating how difficult it can be to get clear guidance on these processes directly from the IRS. One thing I'm planning to do based on this discussion is create a checklist of all the entities I need to notify about the change (bank, state agencies, CPA, etc.) so I don't forget anyone. This thread has really highlighted how many moving pieces are involved beyond just filing the 8822-B itself! Thanks to Giovanni for starting this discussion and to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been way more valuable than any official IRS publication I've read!
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Andre Laurent
β’Great questions! For your first question about the address - you should use your partner's CURRENT address on the 8822-B, not the original one from when you got the EIN. The IRS wants the most up-to-date information, and using an old address could cause processing delays or returned mail. Regarding documentation, beyond the certified mail receipt, I'd recommend keeping: a copy of the completed 8822-B form itself, any correspondence you send to state agencies about the change, records of when you notified your bank and other service providers, and notes from any phone calls with the IRS (including dates, agent names, and reference numbers if they give you any). Your checklist idea is brilliant! I wish I had done that - I ended up scrambling to remember all the places I needed to update information. You might also want to include your business insurance provider on that list if you have any policies that name the responsible party. The tools mentioned in this thread really are helpful. I was skeptical at first too, but sometimes you need all the help you can get when dealing with IRS processes. Good luck with your change - sounds like you're approaching it with the right level of preparation!
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Zainab Omar
This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who helps small business owners navigate these exact situations, I wanted to add a few final thoughts that might help Giovanni and others going through this process. One thing I always tell my clients is to create a simple timeline document when making responsible party changes. Write down when you mailed the 8822-B, when you expect it to be processed (usually 4-8 weeks), and when you plan to follow up if you haven't heard anything. This helps you stay on top of the process without constantly wondering about status. Also, since you mentioned this is part of a broader restructuring, consider whether any other federal forms might be affected by having David as the new responsible party. Things like quarterly employment tax filings (if you have employees) or annual information returns should reflect the change once it's processed. The advice about coordinating with your CPA is spot-on. They can also help you understand if there are any state-specific requirements in your jurisdiction that might not be obvious. Some states have additional notification requirements when responsible parties change, especially if your LLC has special tax elections or registrations. Finally, don't stress too much about the process itself - it really is routine for the IRS, even though it feels overwhelming when you're going through it for the first time. The key is just being thorough and keeping good records, which it sounds like you're already planning to do. Good luck with your restructuring!
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