I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! Applied for my EIN for my small IT consulting business about 3 weeks ago and have been getting that dreaded "high call volume" message every single day. It's incredibly frustrating when you're trying to get your business paperwork in order and the government systems seem designed to block you at every turn. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been a huge help - I had no idea about the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 or the early morning timing strategies. The success stories from people who got through at 7:01-7:02 AM give me real hope that there's actually a way to break through this phone system maze. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling approach tomorrow with all my application details organized exactly like the successful callers described. Having backup options like faxing and the in-person TAC visits is reassuring too - it's good to know there are multiple paths to resolution. What strikes me most is how many applications get delayed due to classification errors or technical glitches that could probably be avoided with better system design. But for now, I'm just focused on getting my EIN so I can move forward with my business setup. Thanks to everyone for sharing real solutions instead of just venting - this community has been more helpful than hours of searching the IRS website!

I'm going through the exact same frustration! Applied for my EIN for a small freelance marketing business 4 weeks ago and have been stuck in that endless "high call volume" loop. It's maddening when you're trying to get your business legally set up and the system seems designed to keep you out. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 or all these timing strategies. The detailed success stories from people like @Jamal Harris and @Nia Williams give me real hope that there's actually a way through this maze. I'm going to try the 7:01 AM calling approach tomorrow with all my details organized exactly like the successful cases described. The phrase "I'm calling to check the status of my EIN application that I submitted X weeks ago" seems to be key for getting straight to the right department without transfers. Also planning to double-check my original application for potential classification issues since so many people discovered errors that were causing delays. The backup options like faxing and visiting a local TAC office are great to know about too. It's frustrating that basic government services require this level of strategy, but I really appreciate everyone sharing what actually works instead of just complaining. This community has been more helpful than anything on the official IRS website!

I actually made a huge mistake with these classifications last year. I treated the sale of my business equipment as straight capital gains without considering the 1245 recapture rules. Ended up having to file an amended return and pay a bunch more tax plus interest. Don't be like me - make sure you understand how these work or get professional help. The difference in tax treatment can be significant!

The good news is that once you understand the basic framework, it becomes much clearer! Here's my simplified approach: Think of it as a two-step process: 1. First, determine if your property qualifies as Section 1231 property (business use, held over 1 year) 2. Then, figure out if it's 1245 (personal property like equipment) or 1250 (real property like buildings) for depreciation recapture For your equipment and commercial property situation: - Equipment = likely 1231 AND 1245 property - Commercial building = likely 1231 AND 1250 property - Land portion = just capital asset (no depreciation involved) The key insight is that 1231 gives you the framework for favorable tax treatment, while 1245/1250 determine how much of any gain gets "recaptured" as ordinary income due to depreciation you've already claimed. I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet listing each asset, its original cost, accumulated depreciation, and potential sale price. This will help you see exactly how the rules apply to your specific situation. And definitely don't rush through this - as others have mentioned, getting it wrong can be costly!

I went through this exact same situation when I bought my engagement ring last year - $13,000 wire transfer through Chase, and I was absolutely terrified about the IRS implications beforehand! Everyone here has given you spot-on advice. You definitely don't need to report anything to the IRS as the person sending the wire. Chase handles all the Currency Transaction Report (CTR) filing automatically - it's completely behind the scenes and part of their standard compliance for any transfer over $10,000. Here's what actually happened in my case: I called Chase the day before to give them a heads up (which they really appreciated), got written wiring instructions from the jeweler, and initiated the transfer online. Chase called me within about 30 minutes to verify all the details - they went through the amount, recipient, and purpose just to confirm it was really me authorizing it. The whole thing was processed same day, and the jeweler confirmed receipt that afternoon. Fast forward over a year later - I never heard anything from the IRS, had nothing special to include on my tax return, no follow-up questions. It was truly just a one-and-done business transaction. The verification call from Chase actually made me feel more confident, not less - it showed they were taking security seriously while still making the process smooth. You're doing everything right by researching this thoroughly, but you can absolutely proceed with confidence knowing this is routine business for both luxury retailers and major banks like Chase!

I can completely relate to your anxiety about this! I went through the exact same situation about 6 months ago when I purchased a luxury watch that required a $15,000 wire transfer. As someone who had never done anything like this before, I was equally worried about IRS reporting requirements and potential complications. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I can personally confirm that you don't need to report anything to the IRS yourself. The banks handle all Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) automatically for transfers over $10,000 - it's completely automated and happens behind the scenes without affecting your transaction at all. My experience with Chase was very smooth: I called them the day before to let them know about the large wire (which they appreciated), got all wiring instructions from the jeweler in writing, and initiated the transfer. Chase called me within about 45 minutes to verify the details as a security measure, processed it same day, and the jeweler confirmed receipt within 2 hours. Six months later, I've had zero follow-up from the IRS and nothing special was required on my tax return. It truly was just a routine business transaction despite feeling like such a big deal beforehand. The key things that helped me feel confident were: being transparent with Chase about the jewelry purchase purpose, double-checking all wiring details, and keeping good documentation. You're being smart by researching this thoroughly, but you can definitely proceed with confidence knowing this is standard business for luxury retailers and major banks!

Slightly off topic but this is exactly why I now require ALL contractors to fill out W9 forms BEFORE I cut them their first check. No W9, no payment. Learned this lesson the hard way.

I actually dealt with this exact situation two years ago with a plumber who did major work on my office building. After months of trying to get his W9, I ended up consulting with a tax professional who walked me through the process. Here's what I learned: You absolutely need to file the 1099-NEC even without their TIN. Put "Applied For" or "Unknown" in the TIN field - don't leave it blank or put zeros. The IRS wants to see that you're making the effort to comply. Make sure you keep detailed records of every attempt you made to get their information - screenshot those texts, save voicemail recordings if you have them, and consider sending one final certified letter requesting the W9. This documentation is crucial if you face any penalties later. The backup withholding situation is tricky since you've already paid in full, but as others mentioned, documenting your good faith efforts can help reduce or eliminate penalties. The key is showing the IRS you were trying to follow the rules, not circumvent them. Don't let this stress you into not filing at all - that would be much worse than filing with incomplete information!

I went through this exact same frustrating situation with ADP a few months ago. Here's what ultimately worked for me after weeks of getting nowhere with their customer service: **The Legal Records Request Approach:** I sent a formal written request via certified mail to their corporate headquarters (not just customer service) specifically requesting copies of tax documents filed on behalf of my business, citing my legal right to access records of filings made using my EIN. I referenced the fact that these are MY tax records that they filed as my agent. In the letter, I included: - My business name and EIN - The specific quarters I needed (Q1-Q4 2023 in my case) - A statement that these records are needed for IRS compliance - My signature as an authorized representative of the business **The key phrase I used:** "As the taxpayer and business owner, I am requesting copies of tax documents filed on my behalf using my Federal EIN. These records belong to my business regardless of service provider changes." Within 10 business days, I received a package with copies of all my 941s along with a form letter explaining their "former client document request process" - apparently this is a standard procedure they just don't advertise to regular customer service reps. The corporate mailing address for these requests is usually listed in the fine print of your original service agreement. If you can't find it, try searching "[Company Name] corporate headquarters address" - it's often different from their customer service centers. Worth trying this parallel to the IRS transcript route since it might get you the actual filed forms rather than just the summary data.

I've been through this exact nightmare with both Paycor and ADP over the years, and it's infuriating how these companies basically hold your own tax documents hostage once you terminate service. One thing that worked for me recently was contacting the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and filing a complaint specifically about "denial of access to legally required business tax records." Paycor actually responded to my BBB complaint within 3 business days and provided a direct contact for their "regulatory compliance department" - a department I didn't even know existed after calling regular customer service dozens of times. The BBB complaint process is free and creates a paper trail that shows you've exhausted reasonable efforts to retrieve your own documents. More importantly, it often gets routed to executive-level customer service teams who actually have the authority to override the standard "sorry, can't help" responses. In your complaint, emphasize that you're not asking for ongoing service or account access - you're requesting copies of tax documents that were filed using YOUR Federal EIN and that you need for IRS compliance. Frame it as a regulatory compliance issue rather than a customer service request. While you're waiting for that to potentially work, definitely pursue the IRS transcript route as your backup plan. But I've found that the combination of BBB pressure plus the formal written request approach mentioned by others often gets faster results than dealing with the IRS directly.