I've been in your exact situation and it's so frustrating! The "Maximum attempts exceeded" error is a security lockout that triggers after failed verification attempts, and unfortunately you really do have to wait the full 24 hours - there's no workaround. Here's what I learned to avoid getting locked out again: **Critical details to get exactly right:** - Use the EXACT refund amount from line 35 of your Form 1040 (not an estimate - even $1 off counts as a failed attempt) - Make sure your filing status matches precisely what you filed - Double-check your SSN entry for any typos **Better strategy for tomorrow:** - Try the basic "Where's My Refund" tool first instead of jumping straight to transcripts - it has a higher threshold before triggering lockouts - Only attempt 1-2 times max, then step away if it doesn't work - Clear your browser cache before trying The silver lining is this lockout doesn't affect your actual refund processing at all - your money is still being processed normally behind the scenes. The IRS just ramped up security big time this year after data breaches, which is why everything seems so much more sensitive now. I know waiting another day when you're anxious about your refund is awful, but you should be able to get through tomorrow with the precise info from your return! Hang in there! 💪

I've been dealing with this same exact error message! It's incredibly frustrating when you just want to check your refund status. The "Maximum attempts exceeded" lockout is a security measure that kicks in after failed verification attempts, and unfortunately there's no way around waiting the full 24 hours. When you try again tomorrow, here's what saved me from getting locked out again: **Get these details exactly right:** - Use the precise refund amount from line 35 of your Form 1040 (not an estimate - even being off by a few dollars triggers another failed attempt) - Make sure your filing status matches exactly what you submitted - Enter your SSN carefully without any extra spaces or formatting **Try this approach:** - Start with the basic "Where's My Refund" tool instead of going straight to transcript access - it's less likely to trigger lockouts - Only attempt once or twice max, then step away if it doesn't work - Clear your browser cache and cookies before trying The good news is this security lockout doesn't affect your actual refund processing at all! Your refund is still being processed normally in the background. The IRS just got really strict with their security this year after some data breaches, which is why the system seems so much more sensitive than before. I know waiting another day when you're anxious about your refund feels awful, but you should be able to get through tomorrow with the exact info from your return. Stay patient - you've got this! 🤞

To all those having trouble reaching a human at IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I've been waiting 28 weeks now with the same code 971 on my transcript! It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening. I called the IRS multiple times but they just keep saying "it's being processed" with no real timeline. Has anyone actually gotten through to someone who could give more specific info about why it's taking so long? At this point I'm wondering if there's an issue with my amendment that I don't know about.

Has anyone considered the insurance implications here? Your standard homeowner's insurance might not cover you if you're renting out rooms and something happens. I learned this the hard way when a roommate's cooking started a small kitchen fire and my insurance initially denied the claim because I hadn't disclosed I had renters!

Great advice from everyone here! I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to add one more thing - make sure you're keeping detailed records of EVERYTHING from day one. I made the mistake of being casual about tracking expenses in my first year and it was a nightmare trying to reconstruct everything at tax time. I created a simple spreadsheet where I log every rent payment received, every expense that might be deductible (utilities, repairs, supplies, etc.), and what percentage applies to the rental portion. Also keep all receipts and bank statements. The IRS can audit rental income, and having organized records makes a huge difference if that ever happens. One tip that saved me time: take photos of receipts immediately and store them digitally. I've lost too many paper receipts over the years! Also, if you do any improvements to the house, track those separately since they might need to be depreciated differently than regular maintenance expenses.

Don't let Subchapter K scare you away from tax! Yes, it's genuinely complex, but that complexity becomes more manageable once you understand the underlying policy reasons. Partnership tax is flexible precisely because partnerships themselves are flexible business structures - the tax rules have to accommodate infinite variations in economic arrangements. I'd suggest focusing on the "why" behind each rule rather than just memorizing the mechanics. For instance, the substantial economic effect test exists to prevent tax allocations that don't match real economic consequences. The Section 704(c) rules prevent partners from shifting built-in gains or losses to each other. Once you grasp these policy objectives, the technical requirements start making sense. Also, don't feel like you need to master everything before you can be useful. Even experienced practitioners regularly consult references and colleagues on tricky issues. The key is developing good research skills and knowing when you're in over your head. Start with simple partnerships and work your way up to the exotic stuff.

As someone who's been wrestling with partnership tax for about 5 years now, I can confirm it's genuinely challenging but absolutely learnable! What helped me was starting with the IRS's Publication 541 (Partnerships) - it's free and gives you a solid foundation before diving into the heavy stuff. One thing that really clicked for me was understanding that partnership tax is essentially about tracking two things: economic reality and tax consequences. The complexity comes from making sure these align properly while accommodating all the different ways partners can structure their deals. My suggestion? Don't abandon ship just yet! Try working through some basic examples first - like a simple 50/50 partnership with equal contributions. Once you nail the fundamentals of how income flows through and basis adjustments work in straightforward scenarios, the complex stuff becomes much more approachable. Plus, there's definitely good career potential here since so many people get intimidated and avoid it entirely!

Great question! I had this exact same situation last year with two 1095-A forms from the same insurer. The good news is that FreeTaxUSA handles this really well - when you're in the health insurance section, it will ask after you complete the first 1095-A if you have additional forms to enter. One important tip: when you're entering the second form, make sure you're careful about the coverage months. Since your first form only covers January and the second covers Feb-April, FreeTaxUSA will automatically combine them to show your total coverage period without any gaps or overlaps. Also, double-check that the policy numbers on both forms are different - this confirms they're truly separate plans rather than a correction. If they have the same policy number, you might want to contact BluePath Health to clarify before filing. The IRS Publication 974 has detailed instructions about multiple 1095-A forms if you want to review the official guidance, but most tax software handles this automatically once you enter both forms correctly.

I just went through this exact situation last month! Had two 1095-A forms from the same insurer (Anthem) after switching from their Bronze plan to Gold mid-year. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet before entering anything into FreeTaxUSA. I listed out each month, which form it came from, the premium amounts, SLCSP values, and APTC amounts. This made it much easier to spot any inconsistencies and ensured I didn't miss anything when entering the data. Also, keep both original forms in your tax records even after filing. I know someone who got an IRS notice months later asking for clarification about their premium tax credit calculation, and having the original 1095-A forms made resolving it much quicker. The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got organized. FreeTaxUSA walked me through each form step by step, and the final calculation matched what I expected based on my monthly premium payments.