Had this exact same issue a few months back and it was maddening! Here's what finally got me through: First, definitely try that phone number Oliver mentioned but call right at 8am EST when they open - I got through in about 20 minutes vs the 3+ hour waits later in the day. Second, while you're waiting for ID.me to sort itself out, you can still get your transcripts other ways. The IRS2Go mobile app lets you check basic refund status without ID.me, and you can request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T (just takes about a week). Also, if you're on Twitter/X, try messaging @IDmeSupport - their social media team actually responds way faster than email support. Hang in there, it's frustrating but you'll get through it! 🤞

Ugh, I feel you on this! ID.me suspended my account last year right when I needed to file an extension. What finally worked was a combo approach: I called their phone support at exactly 8am EST (way shorter wait), AND I also submitted a complaint through the IRS website about being unable to access my account. The IRS complaint seemed to light a fire under ID.me because they called me back within 24 hours to resolve it. Also, while you wait, you can still check your basic refund status using the "Where's My Refund" tool on irs.gov without needing ID.me - just need your SSN, filing status, and refund amount. Hope this helps!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - 4 years running with late K-1s from our S-corp. What's really frustrating is that I'm a 15% shareholder, so this significantly impacts my tax situation each year. After reading through everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach: 1) Request estimated K-1 numbers by March 1st like Leila suggested, 2) Document all my communications with the S-corp about K-1 timing as recommended by the IRS agent, and 3) Push our management to either get the accounting firm to prioritize earlier completion or find a new firm that commits to March 15th delivery. It's reassuring to know this is so widespread, but also frustrating that it seems to be accepted as "normal." Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions and experiences!

I've been lurking on this thread because I'm dealing with the exact same situation, but from a slightly different angle. I'm actually an enrolled agent who has several clients with S-corp interests, and I can confirm that late K-1s are unfortunately the norm rather than the exception. From a practitioner's perspective, here's what I've observed: about 70% of the S-corps I work with miss the March 15th deadline for K-1 distribution. The main culprits are usually: 1) accounting firms that are swamped during tax season and prioritize individual returns, 2) S-corps that wait until the last minute to provide their accounting firms with year-end information, and 3) complex S-corp situations (multiple states, unusual transactions) that require extra time to sort out. What I tell my clients is to set expectations early - assume you'll file an extension and plan accordingly. Make sure you're making adequate estimated tax payments throughout the year, and if possible, try to get involved with your S-corp's management to push for earlier deadlines with their accounting team. Some of the larger accounting firms have dedicated S-corp teams that work specifically on getting these done by March 15th, but you usually pay a premium for that service. The silver lining is that the IRS is very aware this is a widespread issue, so properly filed extensions due to late K-1s are rarely scrutinized.

Just wanted to add one important timing consideration that might help with your planning. You don't have to change the beneficiary immediately when your child is born. Since you're the account owner, you maintain control over when to make this change. This could be strategic from a gift tax perspective - you might want to wait until early in the tax year to make the change so you have the full annual exclusion available, or you could time it around other gifts you're planning to make to your child. Also, keep in mind that if your account values are substantial, you and your wife can each make separate gifts using your individual annual exclusions. So if you have $30,000 in the account, you could each gift $15,000 to stay under the annual limits (assuming 2023 limits), effectively doubling your gift capacity without needing to file Form 709. Congratulations on the upcoming arrival! It's great that you're thinking ahead about these tax implications.

One thing to keep in mind is that the growth in your 529 account since you opened it will also be considered part of the gift when you change the beneficiary. So if you originally contributed $20,000 but the account has grown to $25,000, the entire $25,000 would be treated as the gift amount, not just your original contributions. This is why timing can be particularly important if your accounts have performed well. You might want to consider making the beneficiary change sooner rather than later if you expect continued growth, since waiting could potentially push you over the annual exclusion limits. Also, don't forget that each parent can make separate gifts, so if you and your wife are both listed as account owners on separate 529s, you could potentially use both of your annual exclusions. Just make sure you're clear on which spouse is the account owner for each 529 to properly calculate the gift tax implications.

Does anyone know if the payment processors send you a receipt or confirmation? I paid through one last year but never got anything by email, just the confirmation number on the screen which I wrote down. Is that normal?

For anyone still concerned about the 1040-V voucher - I had the same worry last year! The key thing to remember is that when you pay online with a credit card, the payment processor automatically links your payment to your tax return using your SSN and other identifying info you enter during checkout. The 1040-V is essentially just a paper trail for mailed payments. Think of it like a deposit slip at the bank - if you're doing online banking, you don't need the paper slip because the electronic transaction handles all the routing. One tip: after you make your online payment, you can check that it went through by logging into your IRS account online after a few business days. It should show up under your payment history, which gives you extra peace of mind that everything was processed correctly.

Speaking from experience (3 years running a US-based online marketing business while traveling), the technical/practical aspects were actually harder than the legal/tax aspects. Time zone challenges when clients expect meetings during US business hours but you're in Asia was brutal. Internet reliability is another huge factor - I learned to always have backup internet options (local SIM with hotspot capability + regular wifi). Also recommend setting up a good VoIP phone service that lets you maintain a US number. I use Google Voice which lets me make/receive US calls from anywhere. Clients never knew I was responding from a beach in Bali at 11pm my time.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is visa requirements and how they might affect your tax situation. While you can absolutely run your US business from abroad, some countries have strict rules about working on tourist visas, even if it's remote work for a US company. Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and several European nations are cracking down on "digital nomads" working on tourist visas. Getting caught could result in deportation and future visa denials. Consider looking into digital nomad visas that several countries now offer - Portugal, Estonia, and Barbados have legitimate remote work visas. Also, be aware that spending too much time in certain countries (usually 183+ days) can trigger tax residency there, which could complicate your US tax situation even with the FEIE. Each country has different thresholds and rules. I'd strongly recommend consulting with both a US international tax attorney AND researching the work visa requirements for each country you plan to visit. The $500-1000 you spend on proper legal advice upfront could save you from major legal and tax headaches down the road.