If you're concerned about mailing a check, you can actually pay online through IRS Direct Pay without creating an account. I just did this on April 2nd and it was surprisingly easy. You enter your tax information, choose the tax year (2023), and payment type. The system will confirm your identity with info from your tax return. Then you enter your bank routing and account numbers. You'll get an immediate confirmation email. No fees either! Much less stressful than worrying about mail, and you have instant proof of payment.

I'd definitely recommend certified mail for a $4,000 payment! I've been mailing tax payments for years and learned this lesson the hard way. A few years back, I sent a $2,800 payment via regular mail and it took nearly 3 weeks to show up in their system - I was sweating bullets thinking it got lost. Now I always use certified mail with return receipt for anything over $500. The peace of mind is worth way more than the extra $7-8 fee. Also, make sure you write your SSN and "2023 Form 1040" on the memo line of your check as backup identification. Keep copies of everything and take photos before sealing the envelope. The IRS processes millions of payments, so having that tracking number is crucial if you need to prove you sent it on time!

I swear the IRS is TRYING to keep our refunds. Been waiting 9 months for mine - also with code 570. Called 30+ times. Finally got through to someone who told me they can see all my documents were received but nobody has bothered to review them. So my $9k is just sitting there because... nobody felt like doing their job? 🤬

I feel your pain - went through almost the exact same situation last year with codes 810 and 570. After 6 months of getting nowhere with regular IRS calls, what finally broke the logjam for me was being super persistent about getting escalated to a Case Advocate. Don't just accept "it's still processing" - ask specifically for your case to be assigned to an advocate who can actually DO something. Also, document EVERYTHING. Every call, every name, every promise they make. When I finally got my advocate, having all those records helped them see the pattern of delays and actually prioritize my case. The congressional route mentioned above is legit too - my cousin got results that way when TAS was backed up. Just make sure you emphasize the financial hardship aspect since that seems to be what gets attention these days. Hang in there - 8+ months is absolutely ridiculous but you're not alone in this mess!

Has anyone actually had the IRS challenge their Form 5329 exception for excess Roth contributions? I'm worried about audit risk if I claim the exception.

I went through this exact same situation a couple years ago - foreign earned income exclusion and accidentally contributed to a Roth IRA. You're absolutely on the right track with Form 5329 and exception code 12. One thing that helped me was keeping all the documentation from my investment company showing the "removal of excess contributions" process. The IRS wants to see that you properly corrected the ineligible contribution rather than just taking an early distribution. Your PJ distribution code on the 1099-R actually supports your case - the P shows it's a return of principal (your original contribution) and the J indicates it's from a Roth IRA. Don't let the tax software scare you into paying a penalty you don't owe. The 10% early distribution penalty specifically doesn't apply to corrective distributions of excess contributions when done properly, which it sounds like you did. File the Form 5329 with confidence - it's the correct and expected way to handle this situation.

Just a heads up from someone who got this wrong: if your S-Corp has a fiscal year end different from Dec 31, you MUST have a valid business purpose for that fiscal year or use a "natural business year" where at least 25% of your gross receipts come in the last 2 months of your fiscal year. The IRS has been cracking down on S-Corps with "arbitrary" fiscal years. I had to switch back to calendar year because I couldn't justify my March fiscal year end when they questioned it during an audit. Expensive lesson learned!

This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a December 31st fiscal year end for my S-Corp. Just to make sure I understand the pattern correctly - since my fiscal year ends December 31, 2024, I would file a 2024 tax return by March 15, 2025, covering the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. The confusing part for me is that this means my S-Corp return and my personal return would both be for the same tax year (2024), but my K-1 income from the S-Corp gets reported on my personal return. Is there any timing issue I should be aware of when both returns are due around the same time in 2025? Also, @Mateo Sanchez, your point about needing a valid business purpose for non-calendar fiscal years is concerning. How do you determine if your fiscal year qualifies as a "natural business year"? My business is seasonal and most of our revenue does come in the last few months of the calendar year, so I'm wondering if that helps justify the December 31st end date.

congrats on finally getting a date! im still stuck on delayed beyond normal timeframe 😭

Congrats on finally getting that 846 code! That's such a relief after all the waiting. From what I've seen, most people get their paper checks within 5-10 business days of the 846 date. Since yours is dated 01-07-2025, you should hopefully see it by the end of this week or early next week. The fact that you got the 811 code (refund freeze removed) on 12-21 and then the 846 on 01-07 shows everything is moving along now. Plus getting interest too - that's awesome! Keep checking your mailbox and maybe set up USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already so you can see when it's coming.