I've been following this thread closely as someone who's been struggling with the exact same issue - my automated payment plan payment of $312 from March just vanished from their system despite clearing my bank account weeks ago. I was starting to think I was going crazy until I found this community discussion! The collective problem-solving here is absolutely incredible. You've all basically created the definitive guide to actually reaching IRS agents when dealing with payment processing issues. The strategy is so clear now: call 800-829-0922 (collections number) early morning around 8:30 AM on weekdays, have all documentation ready, and mention the "reconciliation queue" or "unpostable transactions" issues right away. What really gives me confidence is seeing how consistent the success rate has been once people started using this approach. Every single person who tried the collections number has gotten through to knowledgeable agents like Patricia and Maria who immediately recognize these March/April processing problems and can resolve them quickly. I'm planning to call first thing Monday morning with my bank statements and payment confirmation numbers organized. After reading through all these detailed success stories - from 15-minute resolutions to helpful email confirmations with reference numbers - I finally feel like this is a solvable problem instead of an impossible bureaucratic nightmare. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies. This thread has transformed what felt like a hopeless situation into a manageable problem with proven solutions. I'll definitely report back with my results to keep this valuable resource going for other taxpayers dealing with similar issues!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same nightmare for weeks now - my automated payment of $287 from March completely vanished from the IRS system despite being withdrawn from my bank account over a month ago. I've been getting increasingly frantic notices saying I'm behind on payments when I know I paid on time. I tried calling the main IRS number five times over the past two weeks and got trapped in those soul-crushing automated loops every single time. I was starting to lose hope and worry about accumulating penalties for something that wasn't even my fault. Reading through all these detailed success stories has been like finding a lifeline! The pattern is so clear - the collections number (800-829-0922), early morning timing around 8:30 AM, having documentation ready, and mentioning the "reconciliation queue" issues upfront. It's incredible how this community has reverse-engineered the entire IRS phone system. I'm planning to call tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 8:30 AM sharp with my bank statements, payment confirmations, and account numbers all organized. After seeing so many people get their March/April payment issues resolved in 15-25 minutes once they reach agents like Patricia and Maria, I finally have hope this will actually get fixed. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with IRS payment problems. Thank you to everyone who shared their strategies and experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a manageable problem with proven solutions!

Just wanted to share what happened with my craft business - I started recording everything as net sales, but when I started doing significantly more volume, my accountant suggested separating the discounts as "Other expenses" with a clear description. This actually helped me realize I was giving way too many discounts on certain product categories! By seeing the total discount amount separately on my Schedule C, I made some pricing adjustments that increased my profits by almost 15% the next year. So while tax-wise it makes no difference, the business insight from separating them out can be really valuable!

Great discussion everyone! As someone who's dealt with this exact issue, I'd recommend starting with the simpler net sales approach (recording after-discount amounts) unless you have a specific business need to track discount patterns. One thing I learned the hard way is that if you do choose to separate discounts as "Other expenses," make sure to keep detailed records of what constitutes those discounts. During an audit, the IRS will want to see that these are legitimate customer discounts and not other types of expenses that got lumped together. Also, whatever method you choose, stick with it consistently throughout the tax year. Switching methods mid-year can create complications and potentially trigger questions from the IRS. QuickBooks actually has good reporting features for either approach if you set up your accounts properly from the start.

This is incredibly concerning, especially given what others have shared about refund fraud schemes. Three weeks without a copy of your return is absolutely unacceptable - legitimate preparers provide copies immediately. Given the stories shared here about fraudulent preparers inflating refunds and disappearing, I'd strongly recommend taking immediate action: 1) Send a written demand (email with delivery receipt) giving them 24 hours to provide your complete return, 2) simultaneously request your tax transcript from the IRS online or by calling them, and 3) place a fraud alert on your credit reports as a precaution. The fact that they mentioned a "good refund" but won't show you the return is a major red flag. Many scam preparers inflate refunds with fake deductions or credits, then disappear when the IRS eventually catches up. You could end up owing back the entire inflated refund plus penalties and interest, even if you had no knowledge of the fraud. Don't wait any longer - protect yourself now. If they're legitimate, they'll provide your return immediately. If they're not, you want to get ahead of any potential issues before they escalate.

This situation is extremely troubling, especially after reading the experiences shared by other community members here. As someone who's dealt with tax preparation issues before, I want to emphasize that your instincts are absolutely correct - this is NOT normal behavior. The legal requirement that Connor mentioned is crucial: IRC Section 6107 requires preparers to provide you with a complete copy of your return. The fact that they're avoiding this basic obligation while mentioning a suspiciously high refund ($4,200) raises serious red flags about potential fraud. I'd recommend taking these steps immediately: 1) Document everything - save all your communications with this preparer, 2) Send them a certified letter demanding your complete return within 48 hours, 3) Contact your state's licensing board if they claim to be licensed, and 4) File IRS Form 14157 to report them. Most importantly, don't cash any refund check until you've verified what was actually filed. As NebulaNomad's story shows, fraudulent preparers often inflate refunds with fake deductions, and when the IRS catches up (and they will), you'll be responsible for paying back the entire amount plus penalties and interest. The tools mentioned by others like tax transcripts and verification services can help, but your first priority should be getting that return copy or cutting ties with this preparer immediately. Three weeks of excuses is three weeks too many when it comes to your financial security.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar last month. I had a W2C where my employer corrected my state tax withholding amount (they had under-reported it by about $200). The key thing I learned is to treat the W2C as your "real" W2 - don't enter both forms into TurboTax. When you get to the W2 section, there's actually a checkbox that asks if you have a corrected W2. Check that box and TurboTax will walk you through entering just the corrected information. For your situation with just the SSN being wrong, you're in good shape since that won't affect any of your tax calculations. The dollar amounts should all be identical between your original W2 and the W2C. Just double-check that all the wage and withholding amounts match up before you submit. One thing that helped me was laying both forms side by side and going through each box to see exactly what changed. In your case, it should literally just be the SSN field that's different. This gave me confidence that I was entering everything correctly in TurboTax.

I'm going through something similar right now with my W2C! My employer had my middle initial wrong which affected some automated matching systems. One thing I learned from calling my payroll department is that you should keep both your original W2 and the W2C for your records, even though you'll only use the corrected version for filing. The IRS recommends keeping the original to show what was initially reported versus what was corrected, especially if there are any questions later. Also, since you mentioned this happened for both this year and last year - even though the IRS didn't flag anything last year, your employer is required to send corrected information to the Social Security Administration too. This ensures your earnings are properly credited to your SSN for future Social Security benefits calculations. So getting this fixed now is definitely the right move! For TurboTax, when you get to the W2 entry section, look for the option that says something like "Do you have a corrected W2 (W2-C)?" - that will guide you through the process step by step.

A lower refund usually means you had more money in your paychecks throughout the year. Check your final pay stubs from both years and compare the net pay. Bet you'll find you were bringing home more per check this year! A refund is just you getting your own money back that you overpaid, it's not free money from the government lol

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me! Expected around $2,000 and only got $750. After digging through everything, I found a few key things that changed between last year and this year: 1. My employer switched payroll companies mid-year and the new one used slightly different withholding calculations - even though my W-4 stayed the same, they were withholding about $15 less per paycheck. 2. I had a small amount of freelance income this year ($800) that I reported on a 1099, which pushed me just over a threshold for one of the tax credits I was getting last year. 3. The big one - last year I was still getting some pandemic-related tax benefits that expired. I didn't realize how much those were helping my refund until they were gone. My advice is to pull out last year's tax return and compare it line by line with this year's. Look especially at your credits section and any COVID-related items from last year. Also check if your employer changed anything about payroll - sometimes they don't announce small changes to withholding procedures. It's frustrating but you probably didn't actually pay more in taxes, you just got more money throughout the year in your paychecks instead of at refund time!