Can't reach IRS? Claimyr connects you to a live IRS agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the IRS
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the IRS drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
I've been through this exact nightmare myself - 3 years behind and absolutely paralyzed by anxiety about it. What finally got me moving was realizing that the IRS actually wants you to file those missing returns, and they're surprisingly reasonable to work with when you come forward voluntarily. Here's my practical advice: Start by gathering ALL your tax documents for the missing years (W-2s, 1099s, investment statements, etc.). Even if some are missing, get what you can and start there. The IRS can provide transcripts of what they have on file for you if needed. For the actual filing, while PriorTax is legitimate, I'd honestly recommend checking out FreeTaxUSA for multiple years since it's much cheaper (around $20 per federal return vs $45+ elsewhere). Yes, you'll have to mail the returns instead of e-filing, but that's an IRS rule for prior years anyway. The penalties really aren't as catastrophic as your brain is probably telling you. I owed about $5,800 across three years and my total penalties were under $900. The key is filing ASAP because that failure-to-file penalty (5% per month) is the real killer. Most importantly: stop letting fear keep you frozen. Every day you wait just makes it slightly worse. You've already taken the hardest step by deciding to deal with it. Trust me, the relief you'll feel once it's handled is incredible.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been stuck in that paralysis phase for months now, constantly thinking about it but too scared to actually do anything. Your point about the IRS actually wanting you to file the missing returns is something I hadn't considered - I kept thinking of them as the enemy waiting to pounce. The penalty numbers you shared are really reassuring too. I think I've been catastrophizing this whole situation in my head. $900 in penalties on almost $6k owed really puts things in perspective. I'm definitely going to start gathering my documents this weekend. I know I'm missing some 1099s from freelance work, but like you said, I should start with what I have. Quick question though - when you say the IRS can provide transcripts of what they have on file, is that something I can request online or do I need to call that dreaded phone number? Thanks for the push I needed to finally get moving on this!
@Jasmine Quinn You can actually request tax transcripts online! Go to irs.gov and look for Get "Transcript Online -" you ll'need to verify your identity, but it s'way easier than calling. They ll'show you what W-2s, 1099s, and other tax documents were reported to the IRS for each year, which is super helpful for filling in gaps. The transcript won t'have everything like (if someone paid you cash and didn t'file a 1099 ,)but it ll'show you the major income sources the IRS already knows about. That way you can make sure you re'not missing anything they ll'eventually match up anyway. Diego s'advice about starting with what you have is spot on. I made the mistake of spending weeks trying to track down every single document before I started, when I could have been making progress with what I already had. You ve'got this!
I went through almost the exact same situation a couple years ago - was 3 years behind and absolutely terrified about what would happen. Let me share what I learned that might help: First, yes PriorTax.com is legitimate and IRS-authorized, but it does get expensive when you're filing multiple years. I ended up using a mix of services to save money - TurboTax for one year and FreeTaxUSA for the others. The most important thing is to file those returns ASAP, even if you can't pay everything immediately. The failure-to-file penalty is 5% per month (up to 25%) while the failure-to-pay penalty is only 0.5% per month. So filing stops the bigger penalty from growing. For your 2023 1099 income, make sure to report it on your 2023 return specifically - don't try to add it to a current year return. The IRS will eventually match that up anyway since they received a copy of the 1099. Regarding payment, yes you can absolutely pay all your back taxes when you file. If you can't afford to pay everything at once, the IRS has very reasonable payment plan options - you can even set them up online for a small fee. The penalties really aren't as devastating as your mind is probably making them out to be. I owed about $4,500 total across three years and my penalties/interest were around $600. Definitely not fun, but not the financial disaster I was imagining. Don't let fear keep you paralyzed like I did - every month you wait just makes it slightly worse. The relief of finally getting it handled is absolutely worth it!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This is incredibly helpful and reassuring. I'm in almost the same boat - been avoiding this for way too long and building it up in my head as this massive catastrophe. Hearing that your penalties were around $600 on $4,500 owed really puts things in perspective. I'm definitely going to start gathering my documents this weekend and stop letting fear paralyze me. Your point about the failure-to-file penalty being so much worse than failure-to-pay is something I didn't know - that alone makes me want to get moving on this ASAP. Quick question: when you used the mix of TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA, did you run into any issues with having different software for different years? I'm wondering if there are any complications from not having everything in one place, or if it's pretty straightforward to just treat each year separately. Thanks again for the encouragement - I really needed to hear from someone who actually went through this successfully!
Join the conversation
Has anyone here actually been audited for this kind of thing? I've been doing something similar with electronics and credit card rewards for years and just reporting the sales as income and purchases as expenses without factoring in the cashback. Now I'm worried I've been doing it wrong...
That's really concerning. I wonder if it would trigger an audit if I suddenly start filing differently. The amounts weren't huge - maybe $5-6k in unreported profit over 3 years due to not accounting for the cashback properly. Do you think that's enough to worry about?
$5-6k in unreported profit over 3 years is definitely significant enough to worry about. The IRS uses automated systems to flag inconsistencies, and if they notice a sudden change in how you're reporting similar income, it could trigger questions. However, voluntarily correcting past mistakes through amended returns actually demonstrates good faith compliance and typically results in better treatment than if they discover the errors during an audit. You'd likely just owe the additional tax plus interest (and possibly small penalties), but it's much better than having them find it later. I'd suggest consulting with a tax professional who can help you file the amended returns properly. They can also advise whether the amounts and circumstances warrant the effort and cost of amending versus just doing it correctly going forward.
This is a really complex situation that highlights how cash back rewards in business contexts are treated differently than personal rewards. I've been following this thread and it seems like there's solid consensus that you need to treat the cash back as reducing your cost of goods sold rather than ignoring it entirely. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the potential quarterly estimated tax payments. Since you're making consistent profits from this activity, you may need to make quarterly payments if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year. The IRS can penalize you for underpayment even if you file correctly at year-end. Also, keep in mind that as a California resident, you'll need to handle state taxes too. California generally follows federal treatment for business income, so the same principles should apply for your state return. I'd strongly recommend keeping detailed records going forward - not just for the cash back calculations, but also for any expenses related to your coin business (gas for pickups/deliveries, storage costs, etc.) since these can be legitimate business deductions on Schedule C.
This is really helpful about the quarterly payments - I hadn't even thought about that! Since I'm making steady profits throughout the year, I definitely don't want to get hit with underpayment penalties. Do you know if there's a specific threshold or formula for calculating how much the quarterly payments should be? I'm probably looking at around $1,500-2,000 in additional tax liability for the year once I factor in the cash back properly. Also, thanks for mentioning the California state tax implications. I was so focused on the federal side that I completely overlooked how this might affect my state return. Good to know they generally follow the same treatment.
Join the conversation
This is such helpful information for anyone doing gig work! I've been doing occasional UserTesting sessions myself and had no idea about the separate bank account strategy - that's going to make tracking so much easier going forward. One thing I wanted to add for anyone reading this: if you're doing UserTesting while unemployed like the original poster, don't forget to check if your state has any specific requirements for self-employment income reporting. Some states have different thresholds or additional forms beyond what's required federally. Also, since you mentioned you're job hunting - keep in mind that any expenses related to your job search (resume services, interview travel, etc.) might also be deductible depending on your situation. It's worth looking into all the deductions available to you while you're between regular employment. The record-keeping advice everyone's given is spot on. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, amount, and description of each UserTesting payment. Takes maybe 30 seconds to update after each test, but it'll save hours come tax time!
This is really comprehensive advice! I'm new to gig work and just started with UserTesting last month. The spreadsheet idea is perfect - I've been taking screenshots of payments but not organizing them properly. Quick question about state requirements - I'm in Texas, which doesn't have state income tax. Does that mean I only need to worry about the federal Schedule C and SE forms, or are there still other state-level business requirements I should know about for self-employment income? Also, thanks for mentioning job search expenses! I hadn't thought about those being potentially deductible. I've been using a resume service and driving to interviews, so that could add up.
@Alexis Renard You re'in luck being in Texas! Since there s'no state income tax, you only need to worry about federal forms Schedule (C and SE with your 1040 .)No additional state business forms required for self-employment income like UserTesting. However, keep in mind that if your gig work grows significantly, you might eventually need to consider other business registrations at the local level, but for occasional UserTesting that s'not a concern. For job search expenses, definitely track those! Under current tax law, unreimbursed job search expenses in your current field can potentially be deductible. Keep receipts for resume services, travel to interviews, career coaching, etc. Even if you can t'deduct them this year due to tax law changes, it s'good to have the documentation just in case regulations change. The screenshot + spreadsheet combo is perfect for staying organized. I d'also suggest keeping a simple folder physical (or digital for) any business-related receipts like that microphone upgrade or internet bills. Makes everything much smoother at tax time!
One thing I'd add to all this excellent advice - if you're doing UserTesting regularly while job hunting, consider treating it as a legitimate business from day one. This means not just tracking income and expenses, but also keeping records of the time you spend, the types of tests you complete, and any skills you're developing. I've been doing various gig work for a few years now, and what surprised me was how much more confident I became discussing my "freelance UX testing experience" in job interviews. It's real work experience that demonstrates initiative, tech skills, and the ability to provide detailed feedback - all valuable qualities employers look for. Also, regarding the record-keeping everyone's mentioned - I'd recommend setting up a simple system right away rather than trying to reconstruct everything later. Even if you're only making $50/month now, good habits will save you massive headaches if your gig income grows. I use a basic Google Sheets template with tabs for income, expenses, and mileage (if applicable), and I update it weekly. Takes maybe 5 minutes but makes tax prep so much smoother. Good luck with both the gig work and the job search! Having that extra income can definitely take some pressure off while you're looking for the right opportunity.
This is such great advice about treating gig work as legitimate business experience! I never thought about how UserTesting could actually strengthen my resume and interview skills. The feedback and communication aspects really are transferable skills. Your point about starting good record-keeping habits early really resonates with me. I'm just getting started with this, but I can already see how even small amounts could add up over time, especially if I expand to other platforms. The Google Sheets idea sounds perfect - simple but organized. One question: when you mention discussing "freelance UX testing experience" in interviews, do you find that employers view gig work positively? I've been hesitant to mention it because I wasn't sure if it would be seen as "real" work experience or just a side hustle. It would be great to know it could actually be an asset in my job search!
Join the conversation
Don't forget that if you owe more than $1,000 and didn't have proper withholding or make estimated payments throughout the year, you might face an "underpayment of estimated tax" penalty (Form 2210) regardless of when you file or pay the balance due.
Is there any way to get that underpayment penalty waived? I had a big unexpected income bump in December that threw off all my tax planning.
There are a few situations where the underpayment penalty can be waived. The most common exceptions are: 1) If you had no tax liability in the prior year, 2) If you're a qualifying farmer or fisherman, 3) If the underpayment was due to casualty, disaster, or unusual circumstances, or 4) If you meet the "annualized income installment method" which can help if your income was uneven throughout the year. For your situation with the December income bump, you might want to look into the annualized income method on Form 2210. This lets you calculate penalties based on when you actually earned the income rather than assuming equal quarterly payments. If most of your income came late in the year, this method could potentially reduce or eliminate the penalty since you wouldn't have been expected to make estimated payments on income you hadn't earned yet.
This is exactly the situation I was in last year! Here's what I learned the hard way: while there's no interest benefit to paying early (since interest starts accruing after April 15th regardless), filing early gives you peace of mind and more options. What really helped me was getting on a payment plan as soon as possible. Even if you can't pay the full amount by April 15th, paying SOMETHING reduces the balance that penalties and interest accrue on. For example, if you owe $5,000 but can scrape together $2,000 by the deadline, you'll only pay penalties and interest on the remaining $3,000. Also, don't beat yourself up too much about the withholding mistakes - it happens to more people than you'd think, especially when income changes or life circumstances shift. The key is learning from it and adjusting for next year. I immediately updated my W-4 after dealing with my tax debt and started making quarterly estimated payments to avoid the same mess this year. One last tip: if you're really stressed about the numbers, consider using the IRS Online Payment Agreement tool. It shows you exactly what your monthly payments would be and the total interest/penalties you'd pay under different scenarios. Having that concrete information really helped calm my nerves.
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it! I'm definitely feeling overwhelmed by all the numbers and potential penalties. The idea of paying something by the deadline to reduce the balance that penalties accrue on is smart - I hadn't thought about that approach. Quick question: when you set up your payment plan, did you have to pay any setup fees? And did having a payment plan affect your credit score at all? I'm trying to weigh all the options and understand the full picture before making decisions. Also really appreciate the reminder about updating withholdings for next year - that's definitely going to be priority #1 once I get this mess sorted out!
Gianni Serpent
Quick tip that helped us: make sure you're calculating the affordability threshold correctly. It's 9.12% of your ENTIRE household income, not just your spouse's employment income. So take your total AGI (including your self-employment income) and multiply by 0.0912 - that's your annual affordability threshold. If the annual cost of adding you to your spouse's plan exceeds that number, you should be eligible for the deduction.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
•thanks for this clarification! i was doing the math wrong and only using my wife's income, which made it seem like we didn't qualify. but when i included my business income in the calculation, we're definitely over the threshold. hopefully this will save us a bunch on our 2025 taxes!
0 coins
Malik Johnson
This is a great question that many self-employed individuals face! Based on my understanding of the tax code, your husband should indeed be eligible for the self-employed health insurance deduction. The key is that "affordability" test - if your employer's family plan costs more than 9.12% of your household income, then your husband is not considered to have access to "affordable" employer-sponsored coverage. A few important points to keep in mind: 1. The deduction is limited to your husband's net self-employment income - he can't deduct more than his business actually earned 2. Make sure to keep documentation of your employer's family plan costs in case of an audit 3. This deduction goes on Schedule 1 of Form 1040, not Form 8962 (which is for premium tax credits) The IRS recognizes that just because coverage is "available" doesn't mean it's actually accessible if the cost is prohibitive. Since your family was able to get marketplace coverage based on the unaffordability of your employer's family plan, that's a good indication that the IRS would view your situation the same way for the self-employed health insurance deduction.
0 coins
Nina Chan
•This is really helpful! I'm new to navigating self-employment taxes and this situation sounds exactly like what my family might face next year. My husband is planning to start his own consulting business while I stay at my current job. One follow-up question - does the 9.12% affordability threshold change each year, or is that a fixed percentage? I want to make sure we're using the right numbers when we calculate this for our 2025 tax filing. Also, is there a specific form or worksheet we should use to document this calculation, or do we just need to keep the employer plan cost information on file? Thanks for breaking this down so clearly - the distinction between Schedule 1 and Form 8962 was something I definitely would have mixed up!
0 coins