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Finally got movement on my transcript after filing in February. Had to get a tax advocate last week. I filed Married Filing Separate with an AGI of $34,334.00 and taxable income of $21,384.00. My tax per return was $2,360.00. Looking at my transcript dated May 01, 2023, I see several transactions that I need help understanding. The transcript shows my account balance is $0.00 with no accrued interest or penalties as of May 01, 2023. Here's what I'm seeing on my transcript: INFORMATION FROM THE RETURN OR AS ADJUSTED: - EXEMPTIONS: 01 - FILING STATUS: Married Filing Separate - ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME: $34,334.00 - TAXABLE INCOME: $21,384.00 - TAX PER RETURN: $2,360.00 - SE TAXABLE INCOME TAXPAYER: $0.00 - SE TAXABLE INCOME SPOUSE: $0.00 - TOTAL SELF EMPLOYMENT TAX: $0.00 RETURN DUE DATE OR RETURN RECEIVED DATE (WHICHEVER IS LATER): Apr. 15, 2023 PROCESSING DATE: May 01, 2023 TRANSACTIONS: - CODE 150: Tax return filed - 20231505 05-01-2023 - $2,360.00 (14221-438-58031-3) - CODE 806: W-2 or 1099 withholding - 04-15-2023 - -$15,593.00 - CODE 826: Credit transferred out to 1040 202012 - 04-15-2023 - $9,462.27 - CODE 971: Notice issued - 05-01-2023 - $0.00 - CODE 846: Refund issued - 04-19-2023 - $3,770.73 Can someone help interpret what all these codes mean? I understand that code 150 is the tax return filed showing $2,360.00, but I'm confused about why they took $9,462.27 (code 826 - Credit transferred out to 1040 202012). Also, there's a credit of $3,770.73 (code 846 - Refund issued) from April 19, 2023, but I haven't received anything yet. My W-2/1099 withholding shows -$15,593.00 (code 806). My account balance is currently showing $0.00 with no accrued interest or penalties as of May 01, 2023. I've been searching everywhere trying to figure out if my refund is coming soon, especially since I see that refund issued code from April 19th. Does the refund issued code mean it's already been sent out? If so, should I be concerned that I haven't received it yet?
So I just messed up and I'm freaking out a little. I filed my taxes using FreeTaxUSA on February 5th and my return was accepted right away on the 6th. Everything seemed fine until yesterday when I saw a link about "protecting your identity with an IRS Identity Protection PIN" and I clicked it thinking I'd just get some info. Instead it immediately created an IRS PIN for me! The problem is that when I filed through FreeTaxUSA, they had me create a self-selected PIN (just a 5-digit number I made up). Now I have this official IRS PIN that's completely different. My return is already accepted with the old PIN, but now the IRS has this new PIN on file for me. Has anyone dealt with this before? Will this mess up my refund? Should I call the IRS? I'm worried my refund will get delayed or rejected because the PINs don't match. My refund is about $3,800 and I really need it for some car repairs. UPDATE: Just checked my transcript and I GOT A REFUND DATE FOR MARCH 18TH!! For those in the same situation, here's my timeline: Filed 2/5, accepted 2/6, accidentally created IRS PIN 2/6, opted out 2/12, called IRS 2/14. When I called, they said nothing was wrong with my return. This was only about 48 hours after opting back out. My transcripts were blank since filing but now show a refund date for the very next cycle. For those being told to wait 9 weeks or needing to verify identity - I think either 1) you were already flagged for verification and didn't know until calling, 2) the agent did something to your return because they were having a bad day, or 3) you haven't opted back out of the PIN program. I honestly don't think the PIN affects returns like we thought. Not sure how I got a refund date in the next cycle with zero issues after having blank transcripts. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
You can actually opt out of the IP PIN program! Go to the same section of the IRS website where you opted in, and there should be an option to opt out. I did this last year when I accidentally enrolled. It takes a few days to process, but it worked fine. Just know that if you opt out, you'll need to wait at least a year before you can opt in again, in case you ever want/need an IP PIN in the future.
Thanks for this info! I actually did opt out already (mentioned in my update), but I wasn't sure if it would actually work or how long it would take. Good to know someone else has successfully done this too. Did opting out cause any delays or issues with your refund?
Opting out didn't cause any delays with my refund at all. The whole process was pretty smooth. My return was accepted about a week before I accidentally opted in for the PIN, then I opted out about 3 days later. The refund came exactly when the "Where's My Refund" tool originally estimated. Just make sure you keep an eye on your account next January to confirm you don't automatically receive a new IP PIN for the 2025 filing season. The system should recognize that you've opted out, but it never hurts to double-check before you file.
My sister works for the IRS (not speaking officially) and she says they see this ALL THE TIME. As long as your return was already accepted before you created the IP PIN, you're totally fine. The self-selected PIN you use when filing is completely different from an Identity Protection PIN. The self-selected PIN is just an electronic signature for that specific return. The IP PIN is a security feature for your entire tax account. Two different systems!
Really? That's reassuring! What about for next year though? Will they need to use the IP PIN next year or can they just use a self-selected one again if they opted out of the IP PIN program?
If they opted out of the IP PIN program like the original poster did, they should be able to go back to using a self-selected PIN for next year's filing. The opt-out essentially removes them from the IP PIN system entirely. However, I'd recommend checking your IRS online account in December/January before filing to make sure the opt-out processed correctly and you don't have an IP PIN waiting for you. Better to verify beforehand than discover an issue during filing season!
Tax season is just around the corner, and I'm honestly fed up with Turbo Tax and their ridiculous pricing. Every year it seems like they're charging more for the same service, and I'm hitting my breaking point with them. I've been using Turbo Tax for about 5 years now, and my return isn't even that complicated - just a W-2, some basic deductions, and a small side business. Last year I ended up paying almost $120 after all their upsells and state filing fees! I know there are other options out there like Free Tax USA, and I've noticed some banking apps like Cash App and Current are advertising tax services now too. Has anyone tried any alternatives that they'd recommend? What was your experience like compared to Turbo Tax? Did you save money without sacrificing quality or accuracy? Just trying to make a smart choice before tax season hits and I feel trapped into using the same expensive option again.
Has anyone tried TaxSlayer? My brother-in-law recommended it but I'm curious about real experiences before switching from TurboTax.
I used TaxSlayer last year. It's definitely cheaper than TurboTax ($29.95 for federal + state when I used it), but the interface feels a bit dated. Got the job done though and my refund was exactly what I expected. The questions weren't as clear as TurboTax, so I had to google a few things to make sure I was entering information correctly.
I made the switch from TurboTax to H&R Block's online service last year and was pleasantly surprised. The pricing was much more transparent - around $55 for federal and state with my small business income, compared to the $120+ I was paying with TurboTax after all their add-ons. What I liked most was their "second look" review feature where a tax professional actually reviews your return before filing. It caught a deduction I had missed for my home office expenses. The interface was pretty intuitive too, though not quite as polished as TurboTax. They do have some upsells, but they're much less aggressive about it than TurboTax. You can easily decline the extras without feeling like you're missing something critical. The import features worked well for my bank statements and investment documents too.
I'm in a bit of a panic right now. I filed my taxes super early this year (mid-February) because I wanted to get my refund quickly. The IRS already accepted everything and I've received my refund of about $650. But yesterday I got a surprise in the mail - a 1099-NEC from this side gig I did last summer that I COMPLETELY forgot about! The amount is for $8,945 and I didn't pay any taxes on it throughout the year. I'm guessing I need to file an amended return with a 1040X? And I'm assuming I need to do this before the April 15 deadline? I'm so mad at myself right now because I'll probably end up owing instead of the refund I just got. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? Do I need to send the refund back??
For next year, make sure you're tracking all your side gig income as you go! I use a simple spreadsheet to track all income sources, and I don't file until February so I have time for any late forms to arrive. I also keep a folder in my email specifically for payment confirmations from any contract work.
Just want to add - don't beat yourself up too much about this! It happens to more people than you'd think. I'm a CPA and I see this situation probably 10-15 times every tax season. The important thing is you caught it and are taking action to fix it. One thing I'd recommend is calculating roughly what you'll owe before you file the amendment so there are no surprises. With $8,945 in self-employment income, you're looking at about 15.3% self-employment tax ($1,369) plus regular income tax on top of that, depending on your bracket. This will help you plan for the payment. Also, consider making estimated quarterly payments for this year if you plan to continue any freelance work. The IRS gets cranky when you owe more than $1,000 at filing time without having made estimated payments throughout the year.
I'm pretty frustrated right now with Uber. I did food delivery for them last year and made around $12,800, but they're refusing to send me any tax forms. When I reached out, they're claiming they're a "payment processor" so they only send 1099-K forms if you make over $20,000, not the 1099-NEC which has the $600 minimum threshold. This seems really fishy to me because DoorDash sent me a 1099-NEC and I only made about $2,500 with them. If DoorDash is sending 1099-NEC forms for gig workers, shouldn't Uber be doing the same? I thought any company that pays you over $600 as an independent contractor HAS to send a 1099-NEC. What's weird is that I got 1099-NEC forms from Uber in previous years, but for 2023 they've suddenly changed their approach. Aren't they breaking the law by classifying themselves as a payment processor to avoid sending required forms? I know I can just add up my earnings from the app and report it on my taxes without the official form, but I really prefer having the actual 1099 for my records and to attach to my tax return. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is Uber actually allowed to do this?
I'm in the same boat with Lyft too! I just use the annual summary from the driver portal for my taxes. My tax guy said it's totally fine to use that instead of an official 1099. Just make sure you're tracking your mileage with an app throughout the year cause that's where the big deductions are!
This is such a frustrating situation that so many gig workers are dealing with! I had the same issue with Uber last year - made about $8,500 and got absolutely nothing from them while other platforms sent forms for much smaller amounts. After reading through all these comments, I think the key takeaway is that while it's annoying, we're not actually missing out on anything tax-wise. The IRS cares about accurate income reporting, not whether you have a piece of paper. I ended up using my Uber annual summary along with my bank deposit records to file my taxes. What really helped me was setting up a separate checking account just for gig work deposits. That way I had a clean paper trail of all my earnings throughout the year, regardless of which companies sent forms and which didn't. Makes tax time way less stressful when you're not scrambling to piece together income from different apps with different reporting methods. For anyone still dealing with this - don't waste hours on the phone with Uber support like I did. Just download your annual summary, track your mileage religiously, and move on with filing your taxes!
That's really smart advice about the separate checking account! I wish I had thought of that earlier. I'm dealing with this exact situation right now and it's been such a headache trying to reconcile all my different gig income sources. One thing I learned from calling the IRS (through that Claimyr service someone mentioned) is that they actually prefer when taxpayers keep detailed records like you're describing, even more than just having the 1099 forms. The agent told me that having bank records, mileage logs, and expense receipts is way more valuable for an audit than just having the basic 1099 info. I'm definitely setting up that separate account for this year. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
Holly Lascelles
thats actually not bad that they took care of the old debt and ur still getting something back. i got completely wiped out by my offset ๐ญ
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Andre Rousseau
Looks like you're actually in pretty good shape! The code 846 with date 04-19-2023 means your refund of $3,770.73 was definitely issued. If you haven't received it yet, you should check with your bank first to see if there were any deposit issues. You can also use the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov or call the refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 to track it. The code 826 transfer to "1040 202012" means they applied $9,462.27 to cover a balance you owed from your 2020 tax return (that's what the 202012 refers to). So basically out of your total withholdings of $15,593, they used $2,360 for your 2022 taxes, $9,462.27 for the 2020 debt, and sent you the remaining $3,770.73 as a refund. Your transcript is actually showing everything processed correctly with a zero balance, which is good news!
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