I work as a tax preparer and deal with Form 2553 filings regularly. The IRS Ogden service center address issue is unfortunately common, but there are several reliable workarounds. First, the "Internal Revenue Service Campus" formatting suggested by the USPS worker above is absolutely correct and what we use in our office. However, I'd also recommend asking specifically for a postal worker who handles business mail - they're usually more familiar with these special government addresses. If you're still having issues, here's what I tell my clients: use certified mail with return receipt requested, and if the postal system continues to reject the address, you can add "MS 4912" after the department name. This is the official mail stop code for S-Corp elections at Ogden. So it would be: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service MS 4912 Ogden, UT 84201 This gives the postal system the additional identifier it needs while ensuring your form reaches the correct processing unit. I've never had a rejection with this format, and the IRS processes these normally. The key thing is getting that certified mail receipt as proof of timely filing. Don't let postal system quirks jeopardize your S-Corp election deadline!

As someone who's been through this exact frustration, I can tell you there's light at the end of the tunnel! I had the same issue with my Form 2553 filing last year - the postal worker kept insisting they needed a "real" street address and wouldn't accept the IRS service center format. What ended up working for me was a combination of the great suggestions already mentioned here. I went to the main post office downtown (not my local branch), used the "Internal Revenue Service Campus" format that the USPS worker suggested above, and specifically asked for certified mail with return receipt. The downtown clerk was immediately familiar with government mailings and processed it without any questions. One thing I'd add - if you're really pressed for time, you might also consider electronic filing options. The IRS actually allows electronic submission of Form 2553 through their business services online portal in some cases, though you'll need to check if your specific situation qualifies. This completely bypasses the mailing headaches and gives you instant confirmation of receipt. Don't let this postal system quirk stress you out too much - your S-Corp election will get through once you find the right approach. The key is just getting that proof of timely filing, whether it's through certified mail receipt or electronic confirmation!

I went through this exact situation two years ago! My preparer somehow entered 1992 instead of 1993 for my birth year. I was stressed for weeks thinking it would delay my refund, but it processed completely normally. The IRS has sophisticated matching systems that cross-reference your SSN with their existing records - that's your primary identifier. Since you mentioned everything else is correct (SSN, income, etc.), you should be fine. The DOB error will likely be flagged internally but won't stop processing. I'd recommend just monitoring your refund status through Where's My Refund and avoid spending money on unnecessary services or amended returns unless the IRS specifically requests it. Save your stress and your money - this is way more common than you think!

I work as a tax professional and can confirm what others are saying here - DOB errors are incredibly common and rarely cause processing delays. The IRS receives millions of returns with minor data entry mistakes every year, and their systems are specifically designed to handle these discrepancies. Your SSN is the key identifier they use for matching, and since that's correct along with your income information, you're almost certainly fine. I've seen clients panic over similar mistakes (wrong middle initial, transposed address numbers, etc.) and in nearly every case, the return processes normally. The IRS will internally correct the DOB using their existing records from your previous filings. Just keep monitoring Where's My Refund and resist the urge to file an amended return unless specifically requested. Your refund timeline should stay on track!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my daughter who just started doing some tutoring work and got her first 1099-NEC. One thing I learned from our tax preparer that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your daughter ends up owing self-employment tax this year, she might be eligible for the "safe harbor" rule next year. Basically, if she pays at least 100% of this year's total tax liability through withholding or estimated payments next year, she won't owe any underpayment penalties even if she ends up owing more at filing time. This is really useful for students whose freelance income might be unpredictable from year to year. Since her 2024 tax liability will probably be pretty low (maybe just the self-employment tax), meeting that 100% threshold next year shouldn't be too difficult even if her income grows. Also, I second what others said about keeping meticulous records. My daughter uses a simple spreadsheet to track every payment she receives and every business expense. Takes maybe 5 minutes after each transaction but will save hours during tax prep!

I just wanted to jump in with some practical advice since I went through this exact situation with my son last year. Here are a few key points that really helped us: First, even though your daughter's income is only $1,350, she definitely needs to file her own return because of the $400 self-employment threshold that others mentioned. We learned this the hard way when we initially thought her income was too low to matter. Second, I'd strongly recommend having her apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS if she plans to continue freelance work. It's free and takes about 10 minutes online. She can use this instead of her Social Security Number on future 1099 forms, which is better for privacy and security. Third, something that saved us money - if she did this work from your home (like a home office setup), she might be able to deduct a portion of household expenses like utilities and internet. The home office deduction can be tricky, but for a college student doing freelance work from home, it's often legitimate. One last tip: consider having her file electronically and pay any taxes owed electronically too. The IRS processes e-filed returns much faster, and if she's owed a refund from any withholding or credits, she'll get it back sooner. Plus, there's less chance of errors compared to paper filing. Good luck! The first year is always the most confusing, but once you get through it, future years become much more straightforward.

5 Has anyone here used TurboTax for filing after a spouse died? I'm trying to figure out if it handles this situation well or if I should use a different software.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through this same situation when my wife passed away three years ago, and I understand how overwhelming it can feel to handle taxes during such a difficult time. From my experience, filing jointly for the year of death is usually the better choice financially, even when one spouse had lower withholdings. The combined income often falls into more favorable tax brackets, and your higher withholdings will help offset any taxes owed from his income. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all his final paychecks, any accrued benefits paid out, and making sure I had his W-2 for the partial year. Don't forget to look for any retirement account distributions or other income sources that might not be immediately obvious. The qualifying widow status for the following two years is a real benefit - it essentially lets you keep using the married filing jointly tax brackets and standard deduction amounts. Take advantage of it when those years come around. If you're feeling uncertain about doing this yourself, there's no shame in getting help from a tax professional for this first year. The peace of mind might be worth the cost, especially since surviving spouse situations can have some unique considerations I hadn't thought of on my own.

I'm jumping in as another newcomer who just went through this exact confusion! I installed a heat pump in November and have been pulling my hair out over Form 5695 for the past few days. Reading through all these explanations has been a huge relief - I was convinced I was making some fundamental error because I'm getting both the full $2,700 credit AND a refund. The "two buckets" concept that several people mentioned really helped it click for me. My situation: $3,200 tax liability (line 18), reduced to $500 after the $2,700 heat pump credit, and I had $2,800 withheld during the year. So I'm getting a $2,300 refund ($2,800 - $500). The math works out perfectly, but I kept second-guessing myself because the word "nonrefundable" made me think I shouldn't be getting money back. Now I understand that "nonrefundable" is just IRS-speak for "this credit can't make your tax liability negative" - it has nothing to do with whether you can get refunds from overwithholding. The Form 5695 line 31 instructions are spot on about using the line 18 amount. Thanks to everyone who shared their real numbers and experiences - it's so helpful for newcomers like me to see how this actually works in practice rather than just trying to decode the IRS instructions alone!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I literally just joined because I was searching for answers about Form 5695 and the heat pump credit confusion that everyone here has described. I installed my heat pump in October and have been staring at the tax forms for days, convinced I was making some kind of error because I'm getting both the full $2,700 credit AND a substantial refund. Reading through everyone's real-world examples and explanations has been such a relief. The "nonrefundable" terminology is genuinely misleading for newcomers like me - I kept thinking it meant I shouldn't get any money back at all. But understanding that it's just IRS technical language meaning "the credit itself can't make your tax liability negative" while having nothing to do with refunds from overwithholding finally made everything click. My situation mirrors so many others here: $4,100 tax liability reduced to $1,400 after the heat pump credit, with $3,500 in withholdings throughout the year, resulting in a $2,100 refund. The math is straightforward once you understand the "two buckets" concept that Sofia mentioned. This community is amazing for breaking down these confusing tax concepts with real examples and patient explanations. As someone brand new to energy credits, having access to all these shared experiences makes filing with confidence possible instead of just guessing and hoping for the best. Thank you all!