Did u verify ur identity on id.me? That's usually step 1 for these freezes

Code 810 freezes are frustrating but usually resolve within 9-16 weeks from the freeze date. Since yours was placed March 2nd, you're getting close to that timeframe. The good news is your transcript shows no math errors or adjustments - just the freeze preventing release of your $10,712 refund. With self-employment income that high and such a large refund, they're likely doing income verification or checking for potential fraud patterns. The fact that you already completed ID.me verification is good, but sometimes they need additional documentation. I'd recommend calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service number mentioned above, but also try calling the regular IRS line early morning (7-8am) for better chances of getting through. Ask specifically about timeline for code 810 resolution and if they need any additional docs from you. Keep checking your transcript weekly - when it updates you'll see a code 846 (refund issued) with your direct deposit date. Hang in there, the money is definitely there waiting for you!

Has anyone tried using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block to calculate their 1040ES payments? I'm wondering if it's worth paying for the self-employed versions just to figure out my quarterly estimates.

I've been dealing with 1040ES forms for a few years now and wanted to share what I learned through trial and error. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the IRS really just wants you to pay as you earn, not wait until the end of the year. For line 6 on the Self-Employment Tax worksheet that you're stuck on - that's asking for half of your self-employment tax. So if you calculated $2,000 in self-employment tax on the earlier lines, you'd put $1,000 on line 6. This represents the "employer portion" that you get to deduct. One thing that saved me a lot of stress was setting up automatic transfers to a separate tax savings account. Every time I get paid, I immediately move 25-30% into that account. Then when quarterly payments are due, I already have the money set aside and I'm not scrambling to find cash. Also, don't stress too much about getting it perfect on your first year. The IRS understands that self-employment income can be unpredictable. As long as you're making good faith efforts to pay what you owe throughout the year, they're generally reasonable about working with you.

Try calling your local taxpayer advocate office. They helped me get mine unstuck after 4 months of nothing

Same exact situation here - verified ID in March, got the 60-day letter in April, and my transcript shows the same 420/570 codes with no movement since. Called multiple times and they keep saying "wait 60 more days" every time I call. It's beyond frustrating especially when you're expecting a large refund. I've heard some people are having luck with contacting their congressman's office for help with IRS issues, might be worth a shot at this point since we're way past the timeframes they promised.

Watch out with amended returns and negative AGI situations! I tried to DIY this myself last year and ended up getting a notice from the IRS because I incorrectly tried to carry forward my entire negative AGI (which included FEIE). The IRS ended up disallowing my claimed carryforward and assessing additional tax plus interest. Make sure you're only carrying forward components that actually qualify - like business losses, not just the negative AGI that resulted from exclusions like FEIE.

Just to add another perspective here - I went through something very similar with my 2021 and 2022 returns. Had a negative AGI in 2021 due to a combination of FEIE and some business losses from freelance work that dried up during COVID. The key thing I learned (after initially getting it wrong) is that you really need to break down what specifically created that negative AGI. In my case, about $18k of the negative was from legitimate business losses that could be carried forward as an NOL, but the rest was from the FEIE which doesn't create a carryover opportunity. I ended up having to file Form 1045 to properly calculate the NOL portion and then amended my following year's return to claim it correctly. The business loss carryforward definitely helped offset some of my 2022 income, but it was way less than I initially thought I could carry forward. If you're dealing with multiple components creating the negative AGI like I was, I'd strongly recommend getting professional help or at least double-checking your work before filing the amendments. The IRS doesn't mess around with incorrectly claimed carryforwards.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant to your situation - check if your teacher retirement system has any vesting requirements that could affect your withdrawal options. Some state systems have rules where you forfeit employer contributions if you withdraw before being fully vested (usually 5-10 years of service). Since you mentioned teaching for just under 3 years, you might want to verify what portion of that $7,200 is actually yours to withdraw versus what might be forfeited employer contributions. This could impact whether withdrawal vs. rollover makes more financial sense, though in most cases the rollover is still going to be the better choice tax-wise. You can usually find this information in your annual benefit statement or by calling the retirement system directly (though as others mentioned, getting through can be challenging). Better to know the full picture before making your decision!

One thing that might help with your decision is to consider your current and projected future income levels. If you're expecting to be in a higher tax bracket in the coming years, the rollover becomes even more attractive since you'd be avoiding taxes on that $7,200 at today's rates and potentially withdrawing it later when you're in retirement at lower rates. Also, don't forget to factor in the growth potential difference. Even if your teacher retirement system offers decent returns while inactive, most 401k plans give you access to low-cost index funds that could significantly outperform over the long term. With potentially 30+ years until retirement, that growth difference could be substantial on your $7,200. One last tip - if you do decide on the rollover, ask both administrators for written confirmation of the process and timeline. Government retirement systems can be notoriously slow, and having documentation helps if anything gets delayed or goes wrong during the transfer.