I'm in the exact same boat! Completed my ID verification through ID.me on Monday and still seeing that frustrating blinking bar. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring - sounds like 9-15 business days is pretty normal even though it feels like forever when you're waiting for your refund. I'm going to try checking my transcript like some of you suggested. Does anyone know if there's a specific code that shows up when verification is actually complete in their system? Also curious if anyone has noticed if filing early vs. late in the season affects these processing times at all. Thanks for sharing your timelines - it really helps to know this delay is normal and not a sign something went wrong!

I went through identity verification last month and it was nerve-wracking! Mine took exactly 11 business days from completion to WMR update. What helped me stay sane was setting up IRS account access to check my transcript weekly instead of obsessively checking WMR daily. One thing I learned - the verification confirmation email/number just means they received your documents, not that they've processed them yet. There's still a manual review step that happens behind the scenes. Also, if you're really anxious about the timeline, you can call the verification line directly (not the main IRS number) at 1-800-830-5084 with your reference number. They can at least confirm if your verification is still in process or if there are any issues. Just be prepared for long hold times! The waiting period is absolutely brutal, but try to remember that no news is usually good news with the IRS. Your refund is coming - they just move at their own pace!

Has anyone used the "check the box" election (Form 8832) to treat their wholly owned LLC differently? My accountant mentioned this might give us more flexibility than just defaulting to disregarded entity status.

I went through this exact same situation last year when our S-Corp acquired a small IT consulting firm. The confusion about where to report the disregarded entity's EIN on the 1120S is totally understandable - there really isn't a specific line item for it. What I learned from our tax preparer is that the key is in the EIN application process. When you applied for the disregarded entity's EIN (Form SS-4), you should have indicated the "responsible party" and the tax classification. Even though an individual SSN was required as the responsible party, the IRS systems link that EIN to your S-Corp for tax reporting purposes. One thing that helped us was keeping a detailed memo in our tax files explaining the acquisition, the disregarded entity election, and how we're treating the income. This documentation proved valuable when we had questions during our S-Corp examination last year. The IRS examiner appreciated having the clear paper trail showing the business relationship. Also, make sure you're consistent in how you handle the 1099 reporting - if the disregarded entity is receiving 1099s under its EIN, just include those amounts in the appropriate income categories on your 1120S. The IRS computer matching systems are pretty sophisticated at tracking these relationships now.

Has anyone else noticed that the IRS seems to be using multiple addresses in Kansas City? My 1099-INT from last year had a different address than what people are posting here. I think they have multiple facilities.

This is such a common issue! I had the exact same problem last year and it drove me crazy. The address format that finally worked for me was: Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service 333 W. Pershing Road Kansas City, MO 64108 Some tax software is really picky about how you format government addresses. If that doesn't work, try shortening it to just "Internal Revenue Service" on the first line. The key is making sure you have the full 9-digit ZIP code (64108-2203 or 64108-2223 depending on which division issued your form). Also, double-check that you're entering the payer information exactly as it appears on your 1099-INT form. Sometimes there are subtle differences in how the Treasury Department vs. IRS is listed that can cause e-filing rejections. Hope this helps and you can get your taxes submitted soon!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately joining the Austin processing center waiting club as well! My amended return has been stuck at "Arrived at Post Office, Austin, TX 73301" for 7 days now, and I was starting to get really worried until I found this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - it's both frustrating and strangely reassuring to learn that this 2-3 week delay at the post office stage is apparently just standard procedure for the Austin center. The fact that we can track a $20 Amazon package with precision but have zero visibility into tax documents worth thousands is honestly absurd. I'm definitely taking the collective wisdom here seriously about using certified mail with return receipt for future submissions. The extra cost seems insignificant compared to the stress of wondering if your important documents just disappeared. It's frustrating that we need to pay extra for basic accountability from the IRS, but clearly that's just the reality of their system. The advice about waiting until 5-6 weeks before calling and requesting case reference numbers even if they can't locate your documents yet seems really smart. Having that systematic approach gives me some hope that there's at least a way to be proactive during this seemingly endless waiting period. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I could find through official channels!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same Austin processing center situation! My amended return has been stuck at "Arrived at Post Office, Austin, TX 73301" for 5 days now, and I was starting to get anxious until I found this incredibly helpful thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both frustrating and reassuring - it's absolutely wild that we can track a pizza order in real-time but have zero visibility into tax documents potentially worth thousands of dollars. The fact that this 2-3 week "black hole" period is apparently just standard operating procedure for the Austin center is honestly mind-boggling. I'm definitely taking all the wisdom shared here to heart, especially about using certified mail with return receipt for future submissions. The extra cost seems trivial compared to months of stress wondering if your documents disappeared completely. It's ridiculous that we have to pay extra for basic proof of delivery from a government agency, but that's clearly the reality we're dealing with. The strategic advice about waiting until 5-6 weeks before calling and asking for case reference numbers even when they can't locate documents yet seems really smart. Having that systematic approach gives me hope there's at least some way to be proactive during this endless waiting period. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping the rest of us sane through this bureaucratic nightmare - this thread has been infinitely more helpful than the official IRS website!

Make sure you keep detailed daycare receipts too! I got audited over this exact credit because one parent was job-hunting. Had to provide proof of both the job search activities AND the daycare payments. Keep emails from job applications, interview confirmations, and make sure your daycare provides detailed receipts showing dates of service and amounts paid.

Great thread with lots of helpful information! Just wanted to add that if you're using Form 2441, make sure to carefully fill out Part II where you list your care providers. You'll need their name, address, and tax ID number (usually their SSN or EIN). Many people forget to get this information from their daycare provider ahead of time and then scramble at tax filing season. Also, since your wife was employed for part of the year and then became unemployed while job searching, you might want to consider whether your family qualifies for any other unemployment-related tax benefits for 2025. The combination of job loss and continued childcare expenses can sometimes open up additional deductions or credits that aren't immediately obvious. One last tip: if your wife does find employment later in 2025, make sure to keep tracking those childcare expenses too - they'll continue to qualify once she's working again.