Does 'c' mean 'checked' on tax forms? Need help understanding IRS markings

Thank you for explaining! Do these marks ever indicate that something is wrong or missing though? I noticed there are 'c' marks next to my dependents section and I'm a bit worried now.

The 'c' marks by themselves don't indicate problems - they simply show which items were reviewed. If there were issues with your dependents section, the IRS would have sent a specific notice explaining the problem and requesting documentation or corrections. If you didn't receive any notices about your dependents, then the marks are just showing that part of your return was examined as part of their standard processing procedure. Nothing to worry about unless you received an accompanying notice requesting action.

How does the system work with all those weird IRS markings? Like does it explain what each one means or just the common ones?

I'm skeptical honestly. There are hundreds of different IRS codes and markings. How could an automated system possibly know all of them? Plus how much does something like this cost? Seems like you could just call the IRS directly.

The system works by scanning your document and identifying official IRS markings, symbols and codes - then explaining each one in plain English. It covers pretty much all the standard notations you'd find on typical tax documents including the processing marks, verification symbols, and even those mysterious reference numbers. It's actually pretty impressive in recognizing even the unusual ones. The whole point is saving you from having to call the IRS and wait on hold forever (which I tried first and gave up after 2 hours). They don't charge for basic document analysis - I only uploaded my confusion points and got clear explanations without any sales pitch.

Wait how does this actually work? Does it just call the IRS for you or what? I don't understand how this gets you through faster than calling yourself.

This sounds like BS honestly. Nothing can get you through the IRS phone system faster. I've worked with tax issues for years and there's no "secret backdoor" to reaching agents. It's just a matter of calling at the right time and being persistent.

It doesn't call the IRS for you - it holds your place in the queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. Their system navigates the IRS phone tree and stays on hold so you don't have to. When an agent is about to pick up, you get a call to connect you directly with them. No waiting on hold for hours. I was skeptical too, but the difference is they have a system that can stay on hold indefinitely while monitoring for a human response, which is something most of us can't do with our personal phones. I've been calling the IRS for years too, and this genuinely worked better than any "right time" strategy I've tried. I was connected in about 20 minutes when I'd previously wasted hours over multiple days.

Do we need to request transcripts before filing amendments? I assumed I just need my original return copy. Also, how far back can you amend returns? I might have similar issues with my 2021 taxes.

You don't absolutely need transcripts before filing amendments, but they're extremely helpful to ensure you have the exact information the IRS has on file. Having your own copy of your return is good, but the transcript shows how the IRS actually processed it, which sometimes differs from what you submitted. For amended returns, you generally have 3 years from the original filing date or 2 years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later. So for 2021 taxes (typically filed in 2022), you should still be within the amendment window for the 2025 filing season. I'd recommend grabbing the transcript though - it makes the amendment process much smoother when you can see the IRS's internal codes and processing marks.

That's a good point about tax preparers! My accountant uses checkmarks and little symbols all over my returns before submitting. I always thought it looked so messy but I guess that's their system.

Thanks for bringing this up! I double-checked, and you're right - the documents are actually from my tax preparer's office, not directly from the IRS. They sent me copies of what they submitted. That makes so much more sense why there are these little marks all over them. I feel kinda silly now for worrying, but at least I understand what I'm looking at. Guess my preparer was just marking things they verified before submitting. Learning something new about taxes every day!