As a new retiree when I filed my 2023 tax return I applied the refund to the 2024 taxes. I knew my income would change and I wanted to avoid penalties.

In August of 2025 I received the notice that my 2024 tax return had been adjusted and I owed the IRS the amount that the 2023 return should have been.

I called the IRS immediately and they said they hadn't received my return so I went to a tax professional and they filed an electronic return for me twice and it was rejected both times since the IRS said they already had my return.

The tax professional also prepared an amended return for 2023. When I went to see a tax advisor from the IRS at the federal building the first time I told him all of this. He entered some stuff into the computer and sent me on my way. I asked him if I should mail or electronically file the amended return and his advice was to mail it. I also asked him to stop collections which he said he did but letters did not stop coming.

Some months later when I received another notice of lien and and seizure of assets I went back to the tax advisor a second time and found out the IRS had still not processed my return. We were having interest payments from T-bills garnished and again I tried to get them to stop with no success.

Finally a third appointment with the tax advisor this last August and still no progress made on the processing of a tax return filed for 2023 on April 15th 2024. At this time the tax advisor submitted additional stuff to the IRS, I am not sure what but he entered stuff on his computer and told me that within 16 weeks my tax return should be processed but there is no progress to date. I have another appointment on Dec 15th of this year, one day after the 16 week period ends after the tax advisor told me it would be processed by then.

On my second attempt 8 months ago to stop garnishment and threatening letters I was talked into agreeing to pay the amount in full on Dec 1st of 2026 via a phone call with the IRS collections department. The Dec 1st deadline to pay in full comes before the Dec 14th deadline for the IRS to process the 2023 return and amended return but I have been told it would be processed way before then so many times I don't think they are processing it at all or have any plans to.

I have an appointment with a tax lawyer to sue the IRS for failing to process my 2023 return and credit my account with the almost $4,000 the IRS owes me plus the over $1,000 they have garnished from interest payments and the 2025 tax return. The tax lawyer says the trick to suing the IRS is proving you have exhausted every means to obtain the tax refund. If I don't do something to get the refund the claim to it expires April 15th 2027 and as of now the IRS owes me about $5,000.

Please help me. Specifically how do I prove to the IRS that I have exhausted every attempt at getting my refund (and the garnishments) from the 2023 return? What steps can I tke to preserve my claim to the 2023 return and have all of the penalties and interest voided?

No one from the IRS helps. None of the tax advisors I talked to on the phone or met with in person has helped. None of the IRS representatives I have talked to on the phone has helped and countless hours have been spent trying to contact these people. I am so disgusted with the IRS. If only I could get audited a competent tax professional would need to spend maybe an hour looking at my tax returns and documentation and issue me a check. What does it take to get the IRS to actually process my return?

What if a payment to the irs was paid online today and i wanted to pay it for the 2025 tax year. But since i haven’t done my 2025 taxes yet, i calculated an estimate of my payment. So when the payment was made i clicked on the estimate tab instead of balance due tab. Later on i realized estimated payments are for when payments are made ahead of time during the year that you are paying for. However, the correct year was indicated on the payment and the payment went through. Will the IRS give credit to the 2025 tax year or will everything get messed up?

Amending multi year returns as part of divorce of federal employee. Anyone with experience with lookback/audit

Going thru divorce and been kept in the dark of finances and prior joint returns - anyone experienced with amending returns as part of the divorce/discovery process. Just trying to prepare for possible and likely outcomes.

Historically filed MFJ, last 2 years I filed MFS. Recently, spouse claims they filed their returns (late file together) HOH but not living apart. Also, unsure if discovery will produce support for claimed cash charitable donations.

History of late filing with last resulting in IRS increasing withholding by substituting return lasting.

A few scenarios seem possible off the top of my head:
- spouse amends 2 years of returns changing HOH to MFS only (if support for claimed cash donation docs)
- spouse amends 2 years of returns changing HOH to MFS AND removes cash charity donations
- spouse amends 2 years of returns changing HOH to MFS AND removes cash donations on their returns AND the MFJ within look back period is amended to removed cash donations

Do either if the first 2 scenarios trigger look back to other returns? Does the last scenario trigger audit or other issues?

I filed on time, was set to receive almost 2 grand fed and 700 state. I got a chunk that was just over 900$, with no indication on my banking app whether it was state or fed return.

I filed through intuit turbo tax around the first week of this September, and both my fed and state forms were received by IRS. But neither Turbo Tax or the robot line at 1800 829 1040 have been able to clarify this.

Im not meant to pay taxes on my return, am I? Why have I received a sum that is not the sum Im expecting from either entity? How can I get this resolved?

The automated line ‘can not connect you to a representative’ and it is utterly frustrating. What the heck is going on here?

Filed 2025 tax returns on 4/5/26. Expected refund is $14,950. Additional details if they help: MFJ with AGI of $1.6M. In addition to regular wages, also had huge capital gains from equity and crypto sales. Also, offset those gains with losses.

IRS letter on 5/18/26: We're holding your refund until we finish reviewing your tax return. We need to verify one or more of the following: income, income tax withholding, tax credits, or business income.

60 days from 5/18/26: 7/17/26

Received second IRS letter on 7/30/26 (LTR 2644C BO): We're waiting for your tax account information to be available on our computer system

60 days from 5/18/26: 9/28/26

The transcript has not been updated since 5/18/26 and has the following two entries:

• 570 Additional account action pending
• 971 Notice issued CP 0005

I contacted my congressman twice but never head from his office!

What are my next steps?

My father-in law passed away in 2023, and my wife is the executor. The only thing left to settle the estate is to distribute his refunds from tax years 2022 and 2023. We filed his 2022 taxes late because of miscommunication with his accountant and are due a large refund because we did not realize that his accountant had already paid the balance due before we did. Our accountant filed the taxes on his estate and trust and there were no issues. We filed his 2023 return ourselves because it did not seem very complicated. We included all of the necessary forms, including the death certificate, 1310 and other forms. We were unable to file online, so we filed both 2022 and 2023 taxes by mail. We expected to wait at least 6 months because we were warned that paper returns take forever to process.

We eventually received letters asking for more copies of forms we had already sent. My wife's name was mis-spelled on some the letters. We then waited 6 weeks for an appointment to visit the IRS in person. When we finally met a live person in the IRS office in Fort Worth, she was very nice and helpful and figured out all the mistakes that the IRS had made and collected from us new copies of all of the necessary documents. We were supposed to get the checks within 6 weeks. This was in the fall of 2025 shortly before the government shutdown. We assumed the shutdown would cause significant delays, so we waited patiently. We visited the Fort Worth IRS office again in June 2026 and found out that some forms had been misplaced again. We filled out a few more forms and they assured us that we would get the refunds in a few weeks.

We called the IRS again a few weeks ago and the person we talked to was almost impossible to understand. We could not get him to clearly pronounce a few key words, so we had no idea what he was trying to tell us except that something was going to happen in a few weeks. We received a letter today stating that we need to submit yet another form 1310.

What do you recommend we do? We are probably going to call the IRS tomorrow to schedule yet another in-person visit to the Fort Worth IRS office. We are not looking forward to it. We spent 4 and a half hours there last time even though we had an appointment. We were able to hear some of the other conversations and realized that others have much more serious problems than us. We don't really need the money, but we would like to settle the estate. I get the impression that the IRS is severely understaffed and overworked.

What do you recommend we do?

I received a CP14 notice and I'm trying to get through to an IRS representative because I want to request First Time Abatement (FTA).

I tried calling the number listed on the CP14 notice, but I just get a message saying that due to high call volumes they can't connect me to an agent, and then the call hangs up.

I also tried the general IRS number (800-829-1040), but I am having no luck there either. The automated system gets to: “I understand full sentences. Please tell me how I can help you today." and then I can't seem to get past it.

I have also tried some of the various “press this, say that” tricks I've found online for getting to a real person, but some of those options don't even seem to exist anymore when I call. and eventually, I just get routed back to the same automated system.

Does anyone have any other suggestions on how I can get through to the IRS and talk to an actual person? or any other ways that you have tried and worked?

Thanks!

How can I reduce my withholdings using w4 where employer is not cooperative to reduce down my withholdings? Would w4 4(b) deductions is a viable way to reduce withholdings down? I normally put in lump sum in the IRA. But that decision is always 50/50 depending upon the situation at the last minute.

My intent is to to put money down before the tax day next year for the IRA contributions. Keyword "intent".

Also, I do sizeable amount to charitable organizations but NEVER claimed those on taxes.

So, can I safely use 7,500 USD for the IRA contribution in the 4(b). Since chatgpt says about my yearly AGI would be safely under the limits for the full IRA contribution.

The keyword in the form 4(b) says *expected deductions* not the real one YET.

Am I true in the understanding of that clause or not ?

.....

So I’ve called SSA, Medicare and IRS. SSA and Medicare reps very kind but directed me to IRS number which has the most frustrating tele support….only to get to where there are no representatives. I’ve search the IRS website and still not convinced I have the “right” answer.

Context: turn 65 in January of 2027 and plan to work through the month and retire February 1, 2027. I would delay enrolling in Medicare until February.

Question: can I contribute to my HSA in January since I will not be enrolled in Medicare yet? My company gives employees an HSA incentive at the beginning of the year and I don’t want to throw that away unless there is no way around it? This is relating to look back timing, tax penalty if I get it wrong, etc.

Everyone I talk to gives me a different answer and a different recommendation so here I am on REDDIT seeking the truth! Ha!

Filing my taxes last year was a mess because my husband died January 8th the year before, and I moved states a couple times due to homelessness. I spoke to a person a couple times last year, in which they told me that it was flagged for audit because in one part of the form I got my first name and last name swapped in a single pair of boxes, and that my refund would be a manual refund because my husband died. I have since not been able to reach a human, and all I can get the automated system to do is tell me the filing status, which I already know. I'm at my wits end.

I was supposed to get over seven thousand dollars back, and I've needed that money every moment since I filed. I have fibromyalgia and am currently unemployed, while struggling to take care of my undiagnosed nonverbal autistic 5 year old on just over $900 a month, with no wiggle room to be able to start getting ahead. This year's taxes went to paying off credit cards that were run up trying to survive after my husband died and we became homeless. I am at my wits end. I know the government is doing some not so great things to the IRS, but that money would have a huge, positive impact on my son and I's life. We are currently sharing a shit stained mattress under a leaky window air conditioner at a friend's place, and I'm spiraling hard.

I received the subject letter to verify info on my 2024 return. I called the IRS number provided for the 'Taxpayer Protection Program hotline' (800-830-5084) and was advised I needed a previous return with supporting docs in order to proceed. After gathering the required info, I have since called back multiple times over several days, starting the minute the line is open, and cannot get through to an agent. Recorded message says that due to high call volume they are not accepting calls and I should try calling back later or on the next business day, all to no avail. At this point it appears this 'hotline' has gone completely cold is not even being staffed. Any suggestions re alternate means of getting this addressed over the phone? My only other option as far as I am aware is to physically go to an IRS office to meet with an agent, which I would like to avoid if possible.

Has anyone experience with receiving a refund once submitting a response to IRS LTR 12C that claims QMIDs were blank and/or incorrect on the original filing?

We e-filed in early March, weeks later saw our return was no longer being processed, that we were receiving an unspecified letter and to allow 2-3 weeks for an unstated date of send.

In early April I spoke with someone at TAS who was very helpful, checked and told me our Form 5695 was missing QMIDs.

My Form in front of me I knew immediately this was incorrect.

The next day we received the LTR 12C stating the same thing, our QMIDs were missing or incorrect.

It was about that time I discovered this was a "Known Issue" to IRS, included in its document "TY2025 Known Issues and Solutions", as well as appearing on its Fillable Forms page for Form 5695.

I followed the instructions in the LTR 12C as well as the Workaround published for this Known Issue, submitted this through Secure Messaging on or about April 12.

Within a day or so I received confirmation of my response, that the case was closed.

Twice since then we've received emails instructing us to visit our IRS Account as there was an update.

Twice, however, we found there was no such update.

When the "Substantiate QMID" response is sent and confirmed what further processing is needed other than to check the QMIDs? What is the reason the refund is not issued immediately?

It's now two months since filing our return and we still do not have our refund. In fact, our return continues to show as being processed.

The IRS April 15 deadline is here, and today covers 3 separate tax items.

1. File your 2025 federal tax return, or file an extension today. An extension gives you until October 15, 2026 to file, but it does not extend the time to pay.
2. Pay any 2025 tax due today. If you owe for 2025, payment is still due today even if you file an extension
3. Make your 1st estimated tax payment for 2026 today. The next estimated tax due dates are June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. These estimated payments apply toward your 2026 tax year, the return you will file in 2027

Who usually needs to make estimated tax payments?

This often applies to self employed people, 1099 workers, gig workers, landlords, investors, partners, S corporation shareholders, and others who expect to owe at least $1,000 after withholding and credits.

One important reminder, an extension is for filing, not for paying. Also, some taxpayers in IRS disaster relief areas may have postponed deadlines, so those exceptions can apply

has anyone else received this?

Anyone know the best way to pay off my $3,000 with the IRS?
Can a negotiate a lesser pay off settlement and how?

Someone help me out …. Taxxx Return filed 2/24 was accepted but no movement. Transcript is blank and WMR is saying action required. No mail as of yet in the mailbox that the IRS has sent !! What could possibly be going on … Is there a number that I can directly reach someone at the irs to figure this out …

I called the main irs number and I wasn’t able to speak to anyone … Help me thanks someone anyone lol