Just joined this community as a newcomer and had to share - I'm experiencing the exact same thing as everyone else! Logged into my IRS account this afternoon and was amazed to actually get in without any errors. Seeing that $0.00 balance across all tax years (2022-2024) just like everyone else is reporting. What's really striking me as someone new to tracking all this is how the system performance has completely transformed. Usually I'd give up after getting timeout errors, but today everything loaded perfectly. Reading through all these comments, the fact that literally every single person is having this identical experience after maintenance can't be random. I'm trying not to get too excited since I know we've all been disappointed before, but the combination of major system improvements + universal $0.00 balances + that disclaimer about recently processed returns really does feel like they might be actively working on our returns behind the scenes. As a newcomer, should I be checking my transcript too like others mentioned, or is the improved account access alone a good sign? Either way, it's just nice to finally log in without wanting to throw my phone across the room! 🤞

Just joined as a newcomer and wow, I'm experiencing the exact same thing as everyone else! My IRS account is finally working after being completely inaccessible this morning, and I'm seeing that $0.00 balance across all tax years (2022-2024) that everyone's talking about. What really stands out to me is how much faster everything is loading now. As someone who's been fighting with error messages and timeouts for weeks, being able to actually log in and navigate smoothly feels almost too good to be true! Reading through all these comments, the fact that literally EVERYONE is reporting identical experiences after this maintenance period seems like way more than just coincidence. The improved system performance + universal $0.00 balances + that disclaimer about recently processed returns not being reflected yet really has me thinking they might be actively working through our returns behind the scenes. I know we shouldn't get our hopes up too much given past disappointments, but this feels different somehow. The timing of everything just seems too coordinated to be routine maintenance. At minimum, it's just amazing to be able to check my account without getting frustrated! Has anyone noticed if other IRS tools like "Where's My Refund" are working better today too? Curious if the improvements are system-wide! 🤞

I think people are overcomplicating this. If you're just casually trading skins and occasionally making a small profit, it's hobby income. Report it on Line 8z of Schedule 1 as "Other Income" and call it a day. Only need Schedule C if you're truly running this as a business with regular, consistent activity aimed at making profit.

Based on what you've described, you're definitely running this as a business activity since you're systematically buying skins at below market value with the specific intent to resell for profit. The IRS doesn't distinguish between digital and physical goods when it comes to business income. You'll want to use Schedule C to report this activity. Track your gross receipts (all sales - so yes, that $2,000), then subtract your cost of goods sold (what you paid for the skins) to get your net profit. That $300-400 profit will be subject to both regular income tax and self-employment tax. Pro tip: Keep meticulous records going forward. Save screenshots of all transactions, PayPal receipts, and Steam transaction history. Also consider tracking any business expenses like platform fees, internet costs for trading, or storage costs if applicable. The IRS loves detailed documentation, especially for newer types of businesses like digital item trading. Since you're already 6 months in, I'd recommend gathering all your transaction history now before it becomes an overwhelming task. Most platforms let you export your transaction data, which makes record-keeping much easier than trying to reconstruct everything later.

I can relate to the frustration! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got my federal refund three weeks ago but still waiting on my state (Ohio). What I've learned is that state refunds really have no connection to when you receive your federal. Each state processes at their own pace, and some are just slower than others. Since you're working remotely now, definitely check if you need to file in both your home state and your work state - that could add some complexity. Ohio's website says they're currently processing returns filed in mid-February, so I'm hoping to see mine soon. The waiting game is definitely the worst part of tax season!

The timing between federal and state refunds can be really unpredictable! I'm in a similar situation - got my federal refund about 10 days ago but still waiting on my state (Virginia). From what I've researched, there's actually no connection between when the IRS processes your federal return and when your state processes theirs - they're completely separate systems. Since you mentioned working remotely for a company in another state, that might actually complicate things a bit. You may need to file returns in both your home state and the state where your employer is located, depending on each state's rules. Some states have reciprocity agreements that make this easier, but others don't. I'd recommend checking both states' "Where's My Refund" tools if you had to file in multiple places. Virginia's site has been pretty helpful for tracking progress, though the wait is still frustrating! Hopefully both of ours come through soon.

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly frustrating situation. Having dealt with my father's estate last year, I completely understand the helplessness you're feeling after months of generic responses from the IRS. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I want to emphasize a few key points that made the biggest difference in my case: First, definitely use the executor hotline (866-699-4083) and specifically ask for the "Deceased Taxpayer Unit." Regular IRS reps often can't access the same account details or don't know about the specialized departments that handle these cases. Second, the congressional representative route was a game-changer for me. I called my local district office (not DC), asked for constituent services, and had a response from an IRS manager within 5 days. They have direct channels that bypass the normal customer service maze. Third, request your brother's Account Transcript to check for specific transaction codes (like 570 or 971) that might indicate what's causing the hold. In my father's case, we discovered they needed additional documentation that we never received notice about. At 200+ days, you're definitely in the timeframe where these specialized approaches should yield real answers rather than more "wait 30 days" responses. The combination of the right department contacts and having your documentation ready (death certificate, Letters of Administration, certified mail receipt, Form 911 submission) should finally get you the specific information you need. Don't give up - you're closer to resolution than it feels right now!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare with my mother's estate - it's been 7 months now and I feel completely helpless. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly eye-opening about resources I had no idea existed. The most valuable takeaways for me are: 1) Call the executor hotline (866-699-4083) instead of the regular IRS number, 2) Specifically request the "Deceased Taxpayer Unit" when calling, 3) Contact your congressional representative's local office for constituent services, and 4) Request Account Transcripts to identify specific transaction codes causing delays. What really frustrates me is how regular IRS customer service gives you generic "wait another 30 days" responses without mentioning any of these specialized departments. It's like they're designed to wear you down rather than actually help solve the problem. I had no idea about Form 911 or the Taxpayer Advocate Service either. I'm definitely going to file one this week along with trying the congressional representative route. The success stories here give me hope that there's actually a path forward after months of feeling completely stuck. One question - for those who got resolution, what was the typical timeline from when you first contacted your congressional rep to getting actual movement on your case? I want to set realistic expectations as I try these approaches. Thank you to everyone who shared such detailed experiences. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with deceased taxpayer returns. It's community knowledge-sharing like this that makes all the difference when navigating these bureaucratic nightmares!

Great question! I went through this exact same confusion when I bought my Tesla Model 3 last year. The $7500 is indeed a tax CREDIT, not a deduction - meaning it reduces your actual tax bill dollar-for-dollar, which is much better than a deduction would be. At $130k income, you're well under the income limits for single filers ($150k), so you should qualify. The "non-refundable" part just means if you only owe $5000 in taxes for the year, you can only use $5000 of the credit (you don't get the extra $2500 back as a refund). But with your income level, you'll almost certainly owe more than $7500 in federal taxes, so you should be able to use the full credit. One important thing to double-check: make sure the specific Tesla model and trim you're buying meets the price cap requirements ($55k for cars, $80k for SUVs/trucks). Some higher-end configurations don't qualify. Also verify that Tesla still qualifies for the full $7500 - the credit amount can change based on battery component sourcing. Good luck with your purchase! The credit really does make a significant difference in the total cost.

One more thing to consider - timing matters! If you're planning to buy in the next few months, be aware that the point-of-sale rebate option is now available for many dealers. This means instead of waiting until you file your taxes to get the $7500 benefit, you can potentially get it applied as a discount right at the dealership when you purchase. However, not all dealers participate in this program, and if you use the point-of-sale option, you can't also claim the credit on your tax return - it's one or the other. The upfront discount can be nice for cash flow, but make sure you understand how it works with your specific dealer. Also, keep all your paperwork! You'll need the dealer's certification that the vehicle qualifies, along with your purchase agreement showing the VIN, to properly claim the credit if you don't use the point-of-sale option.