Word of advice: Use taxr.ai to check your transcript. Its WAY better than trying to figure this out yourself. Shows exactly whats happening and when youll get paid. Worth every penny imo

I'm in a similar situation - got the 570/971 codes on my transcript last week and have been stressing about it constantly. Your refund amount looks solid with all the proper credits showing up, which is a good sign. The fact that your account balance is showing the full -$11,652.00 with no penalties or interest accruing means the IRS isn't questioning the refund amount itself, just doing their standard verification process. With EIC claims, they're required by law to hold refunds until mid-February anyway, so you're not really behind schedule yet. Keep checking that transcript every Thursday night/Friday morning for updates - that's when most movement happens for weekly cycle accounts like yours. The waiting is brutal but try to stay positive! 🤞

Just wanna warn everyone - my cousin tried deducting business expenses that were on someone else's card and got audited. The IRS made him provide tons of extra documentation and ultimately rejected some of the deductions. Be super careful with this!!!

I'm dealing with something similar as a new business owner. Reading through all these responses, it seems like the key is really about having proper documentation rather than whose name is on the payment method. For anyone else in this situation, here's what I'm taking away: keep the original receipt, document how you reimbursed the cardholder (preferably with a check or bank transfer), and write a brief explanation of the arrangement. It sounds like as long as it's a legitimate business expense with proper documentation, the IRS shouldn't have an issue with it. @Alice Pierce - based on what everyone's saying, you should be fine to deduct this on your Schedule C. Just make sure you have that paper trail showing you paid your brother-in-law back. Good luck with your photography business!

I just went through this exact same verification process last month and completely understand the stress you're feeling! FAGI stands for Federal Adjusted Gross Income, and the most important thing to understand is that they want this number from your PREVIOUSLY filed tax return - so your 2023 return that you filed earlier this year, not the 2024 return you're currently waiting on. You'll find your FAGI on line 11 of your 2023 Form 1040. The critical thing is to enter it EXACTLY as it appears on your filed return - if it shows whole dollars without cents, enter it that way. Don't round or modify it at all since the IRS system needs a perfect match. If you can't locate your physical copy, try logging into whatever tax software you used last year (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) - they typically keep your previous returns accessible online for several years. This was a lifesaver for me when I was panicking and couldn't find my paperwork! The good news is that once you submit the correct FAGI, verification usually processes within 24-48 hours and your refund will start moving again. Just make sure to respond within the timeframe specified in your letter. I know this feels overwhelming right now, but you're so close to getting this resolved - you just need to find that one number and you'll be all set!

I went through this exact same identity verification process about 4 months ago and completely understand your panic! FAGI stands for Federal Adjusted Gross Income - it's your total income minus certain adjustments (like student loan interest, retirement contributions, etc.) but before standard or itemized deductions. The key thing that confused me initially was understanding that they want the FAGI from your PREVIOUSLY filed tax return, not the current one. So if this letter is about your 2024 return, they need the FAGI from your 2023 tax return that you filed earlier this year. You'll find it on line 11 of your Form 1040. Make absolutely sure to enter it EXACTLY as it appears on your return - if it shows whole dollars, don't add cents. The IRS system requires a perfect match with what they have on file. Pro tip: If you can't find your physical copy, log into whatever tax software you used last year (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, etc.) - they usually keep your returns accessible online for years. This saved me hours of searching through old documents! Once you submit the correct FAGI, verification typically completes within 24-48 hours and your refund processing resumes. Just respond before the deadline in your letter. I know it feels overwhelming, but you're almost there - just need to locate that one number and you'll be all set!

Has anyone dealt with the healthcare premium tax credit in this situation? My boyfriend and I are having a baby next month and we get our insurance through the marketplace with a subsidy. We're trying to figure out if claiming the baby will affect our subsidy amount.

Congratulations on your new baby! As someone who went through this exact situation a few years ago, I can share what we learned. The key thing to understand is that since you're unmarried, you both technically qualify to claim your daughter, but only ONE of you can actually do it each tax year. Given that your incomes are similar ($58k vs $62k), the decision should come down to who gets the bigger tax benefit. Here are the main things that will be affected by who claims her: 1. **Child Tax Credit** - Up to $2,000 per child 2. **Child and Dependent Care Credit** - If you're paying for childcare 3. **Earned Income Tax Credit** - This phases out at higher incomes, so might benefit the lower earner more 4. **Head of Household filing status** - Better tax brackets and higher standard deduction than filing single Since you pay for health insurance, that shows you're providing support, but it doesn't automatically mean you should be the one to claim her. The person who gets to file as Head of Household will likely see the biggest benefit. My advice: Use tax software to run both scenarios before you file. See what your combined tax liability looks like with each of you claiming her, then go with whichever saves your household the most money overall. You can also alternate years if that works better long-term. Just make sure you communicate clearly about who's claiming her each year - the IRS will flag duplicate claims and that creates a headache for everyone!

Just adding another data point - I'm from Montreal and I used the US Consulate route last summer. Made an appointment online, brought my passport + W-7 + tax return, and they certified the copy right there. Took about 25 minutes total. Mailed everything to the IRS and had my ITIN in about 7 weeks. One tip they gave me at the consulate: make sure you call ahead to confirm they offer the passport certification service specifically for ITIN purposes. Some smaller consulates apparently don't offer it or have limited hours for this service.

Great thread with lots of helpful info! I went through this process as a Canadian in 2023 and wanted to add a few practical tips: 1. **Timing is everything** - If you're applying during tax season (January-April), expect longer processing times. I applied in May and got my ITIN in 6 weeks, but friends who applied in February waited 10+ weeks. 2. **Double-check your W-7 form** - The most common mistake I see other Canadians make is in Section 6a where you select your reason for needing an ITIN. Make sure you're checking the right exception box based on your specific situation. 3. **Keep copies of EVERYTHING** - The IRS will return your certified passport copy, but sometimes things get lost in the mail. I made photocopies of all documents before sending them. 4. **US Consulate appointment booking** - Book your consulate appointment ASAP. In Toronto especially, they can be booked weeks out. You can find the online booking system on the US Consulate website. The certified copy route is definitely the way to go - never send your original passport! I was traveling internationally while my application was processing and had zero issues.