I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now and it's so frustrating! Filed my taxes in early February and set up my payment plan right away, but I've been staring at that "Your information is not available at this time" message for over a month. I was starting to panic thinking I'd messed something up with the setup. But reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief! I immediately checked my bank statements after seeing everyone's advice, and you're absolutely right - my payments have been coming out exactly on schedule despite that error message. I had no idea the payment processing and website display were separate systems, but that explains everything. I just tried the "Get Transcript" method that so many people recommended and it actually worked! Shows all my payment plan details clearly even though the regular payment portal is still completely broken. That automated phone line at 1-888-353-4537 was a lifesaver too - got my information in minutes without having to wait on hold forever. It's honestly ridiculous that the IRS website is this broken when we're all trying to do the right thing and stay current on our taxes. But knowing this is a widespread technical issue and not something we did wrong makes all the difference. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and workarounds - this community support is invaluable when dealing with government system failures!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating issue! Filed in early March and set up my payment plan immediately, but I've been getting that "Your information is not available at this time" message for about 3 weeks now. It's been causing me so much stress because I want to make sure everything is working correctly. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring though - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem with the IRS website! After seeing everyone's advice, I checked my bank account and sure enough, my first payment processed exactly as scheduled despite the error message. It's such a relief to learn that their payment processing system operates separately from the website display. I'm definitely going to try that "Get Transcript" method that so many people have recommended, and I'll also call that automated line at 1-888-353-4537. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to check our own tax information, but I'm grateful this community has figured out all the workarounds! The anxiety of not being able to confirm my payment plan status has been keeping me up at night, but knowing this is just a technical glitch on the IRS side and not an actual problem with our accounts is incredibly comforting. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system!

I went through this exact same thing when I started my consulting LLC! Those Certificate of Good Standing solicitations are everywhere and they're designed to look so official that it's easy to panic and think you're missing some critical requirement. Here's what I learned after talking to my state's business filing office: the Certificate of Good Standing is a legitimate document, but it's NOT something you automatically need just because you formed an LLC. You only need it for specific situations like opening a business bank account, applying for business loans, registering to do business in another state, or sometimes when clients request proof that your business is in good standing. The $89.50 fee is a dead giveaway that this is from a third-party company, not your state government. Most states charge between $10-25 for the actual certificate when you get it directly from the Secretary of State's office. For your single-member freelance design LLC, you can absolutely wait on this until you actually need it for something specific. When that time comes, just go straight to your state's Secretary of State website - it's usually available online and processed quickly. Fair warning: you'll probably get more of these solicitation letters over the next few months for things like "business compliance packages," "mandatory meeting minutes," and various other "certificates." They're all targeting new business owners who don't know what's required vs. what's just being sold to them. Always verify directly with your state before paying!

I work at the IRS and see questions about these types of solicitations frequently. You're absolutely right to be suspicious! The Certificate of Good Standing solicitation you received is almost certainly from a third-party company, not a government requirement. Here's the key thing to understand: the IRS doesn't require Certificates of Good Standing for tax purposes. This is a state-level document that proves your LLC is current on state filings and fees. You only need it for specific situations like opening business bank accounts, applying for loans, or expanding to other states. The $89.50 fee is a major red flag - legitimate state fees are typically $10-30. These third-party companies monitor new business filings and send official-looking letters to capitalize on new business owners' uncertainty about requirements. For your single-member LLC doing freelance design work, focus on the actual tax requirements: getting an EIN (free from irs.gov), understanding your tax election options, and keeping good records for quarterly estimated payments. Don't let these predatory solicitations distract you from the real compliance issues that matter for your business. When you do need a Certificate of Good Standing (like for banking), get it directly from your state's Secretary of State website for the actual government fee.

Your explanation statement is definitely on the right track, but there are a few key improvements that will make it IRS-compliant and prevent processing delays. First, complete that last sentence to specify exactly where you're reporting this: "...list the NOL deduction as a negative figure on Schedule 1, line 8a." Second, I'd recommend addressing the calculation more clearly. Your total excess deductions were $18,500 ($32,000 - $13,500), but you're only carrying forward $3,200. You should explain this choice: "While my total excess deductions qualify for NOL treatment, I am electing to carry forward only the rental property loss portion ($3,200) to maintain clear tracking of this passive activity loss across tax years." Third, add a sentence about passive activity compliance: "Passive activity loss limitations were properly applied per Form 8582 prior to determining NOL eligibility." Finally, format this as a separate attachment with your name and SSN at the top, labeled "Statement - Net Operating Loss Carryover from Tax Year 2022." Reference this attachment on Schedule 1, line 8a with "See attached NOL statement." These details will ensure smooth processing and demonstrate to the IRS that you understand both the NOL rules and passive activity limitations that apply to rental properties.

As a new member here, I wanted to share what I learned after going through a similar NOL situation last year with my rental property. Your explanation statement draft is a solid foundation, but based on my experience and the excellent advice already shared in this thread, here are the key refinements that made the difference for me: **Complete the IRS reference**: Finish that last sentence with "...on Schedule 1, line 8a" so the IRS knows exactly where you're claiming this deduction. **Clarify your calculation approach**: Since your total excess deductions ($18,500) exceed what you're carrying forward ($3,200), explicitly state why you're limiting the NOL to just the rental loss. Something like: "While my total deductible excess qualifies for NOL treatment, I am electing to carry forward only the rental property loss portion to maintain clear documentation of this passive activity across tax years." **Confirm PAL compliance**: Add a sentence confirming you applied Form 8582 first, since rental activities must go through passive activity loss limitations before NOL calculations. **Format as proper attachment**: Create this as a separate document with your name/SSN header, labeled "Statement - Net Operating Loss Carryover from Tax Year 2022" and reference it on your Schedule 1. The IRS is particularly careful with NOL claims involving rental properties because of the interaction between passive activity rules and NOL rules. Having clear documentation upfront prevents months of correspondence later. I learned this the hard way when my initial filing was incomplete and resulted in a CP2000 notice that took three months to resolve. Your approach shows you understand the concepts well - these formatting and documentation details will ensure smooth processing.

Something nobody's mentioned yet is that if you make under $73,000, you can use the IRS Free File program to access premium tax software for FREE. The software companies hide this option but are required to offer it. Go through the IRS website directly (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) instead of the tax software sites. I used to pay $89 for TurboTax Deluxe plus $49 for state filing, but now I get the exact same software completely free through this program. The income limit increases slightly each year too.

I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA two years ago and haven't looked back. The interface took a little getting used to at first, but it handles everything I need including my rental property income and business expenses. What really sold me was the price - I went from paying around $150 total (federal + state) with TurboTax to about $25 with FreeTaxUSA. One thing I'd recommend is starting your return early with whatever software you choose so you have time to compare. Most platforms let you input all your info and see the results before you actually pay and file. That way you can test drive a few options and see which interface you prefer and if the refund amounts are comparable. For your side business, make sure whichever software you pick has good guidance on Schedule C deductions. That's where you can really save money if you're tracking business expenses properly - things like mileage, supplies, equipment, even a portion of your phone bill if you use it for business.

Has anyone tried using the IRS withholding calculator on their website? I adjusted our W-4s using that last year and our refund came out almost exactly where we wanted it.

I'm so sorry this happened to you - the disappointment must be crushing when you had plans for that education money! What you experienced is unfortunately very common, and it's not because you did anything wrong. Here's what likely happened in simple terms: When you entered just your income, the tax software was calculating as if you were a single person with that income level. But when you added your husband's income, suddenly the system realized you're a married couple with a much higher combined household income, which changes everything. The key issue is probably that your husband's employer wasn't withholding enough taxes from his paychecks throughout the year. When two people get married, their employers don't automatically know about the spouse's income, so they withhold taxes based on just that one person's earnings. But at tax time, you're taxed on your combined income, which often pushes you into higher tax brackets. Don't give up on your education plans entirely! You might still be able to claim education credits that could help, and you can definitely fix this for next year by adjusting both of your W-4 forms with your employers. The goal is to have the right amount withheld throughout the year so you're not surprised at tax time.