Just a heads-up based on personal experience: be VERY careful with your record keeping if you're doing Roth corrections or backdoor contributions. I messed up my basis tracking over multiple years and got hit with a CP2000 notice claiming I owed taxes on conversions that should have been tax-free. It took me months to untangle everything because I didn't have proper documentation for which contributions had been withdrawn as excess vs. which ones were converted properly. Make sure you keep ALL your 5498 and 1099-R forms indefinitely!

Based on your description, it sounds like you handled the excess contribution removal correctly by withdrawing before the filing deadline, which should have avoided the 6% penalty. However, there are a couple of areas that need attention: Your basis calculation is indeed incorrect. Since you withdrew the entire 2023 contribution of $1,500, that amount should NOT be included in your ongoing basis. Your basis should only reflect contributions that remain in the account - so for 2024, it should just be $7,000 (assuming you're eligible for the 2024 contribution). You should have received a 1099-R for the 2024 withdrawal showing the $1,530 distribution. The $1,500 principal portion isn't taxable since it was a return of excess contributions, but the $30 in earnings should be reported as taxable income on your 2024 return. If you're under 59½, those earnings are also subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Make sure your IRA provider coded the 1099-R correctly - it should show code P or JP in box 7 to indicate "return of excess contributions." This helps the IRS understand the nature of the distribution. For 2024, double-check that your income still qualifies you for the $7,000 Roth contribution. If you're over the limit again, you'll want to address this before the filing deadline to avoid repeating the same issue. You likely don't need to amend your 2023 return if you properly reported the excess on Form 5329, but you should verify that your 2024 return correctly reports the earnings portion of the withdrawal as taxable income.

Absolutely make copies of everything before mailing! I learned this the hard way years ago when the IRS claimed they never received some documents I sent (though that was a different situation). For something this voluminous and important, I'd recommend: 1) Scan or photocopy every single page before packaging 2) Store digital copies in multiple places (cloud storage, external drive, etc.) 3) Keep physical copies in a safe place for at least 3 years With 1000+ pages, the copying cost might seem annoying, but it's nothing compared to the headache of trying to recreate everything if the package gets lost or damaged in transit. Plus, having digital copies makes it much easier to reference specific transactions if the IRS has questions later. The peace of mind alone is worth the extra effort and cost!

As someone who went through a similar massive Form 8949 situation last year, I want to add a few practical tips that saved me headaches: First, consider breaking your submission into multiple packages if you're hitting over 1000 pages. The IRS can handle multiple packages for the same return as long as each one clearly references your e-filed return and includes your identifying information. Second, use page protectors for at least the first few pages (your 8453 and the first page of Form 8949). These documents are critical for connecting everything to your e-filed return, and you don't want them getting damaged or illegible during handling. Third, include your phone number and email on your cover letter. While the IRS rarely calls taxpayers directly, if there are processing questions about such a large submission, having multiple ways to contact you can prevent delays. Finally, mail early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) so it doesn't sit in a postal facility over the weekend. With that much paperwork, you want it moving through the system as quickly as possible after you send it. The three-day rule gives you some breathing room, but don't push it - mail as soon as possible after your e-file is accepted!

I went through this exact situation a few months ago! The IRS verification system is frustrating when you never got the letter in the first place. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. **Phone verification is your best bet** - Call 800-830-5084 (Identity Protection Specialized Unit) early in the morning. I called at 7:05 AM EST and waited about 30 minutes. They can absolutely verify you without the 14-digit control number using alternative methods. 2. **Have these documents ready**: Previous year's tax return (they'll ask for your prior year AGI), Social Security card, government ID, and W-2s from the tax year in question. 3. **The "resend letter" option** takes 2-3 weeks typically, but honestly the phone route is much faster if you can get through. 4. **In-person appointments** at Taxpayer Assistance Centers are also an option, but you need to schedule ahead and they're often booked out 2-3 weeks. The phone agents have different verification protocols than the online system - they can use your tax history, personal information, and other security questions to confirm your identity without needing that letter. Don't give up on the phone option even if it's busy - persistence pays off with early morning calls!

I've been dealing with IRS verification issues for my small business and wanted to share another option that worked for me. If you're self-employed or have business income, you can also try calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. They have a dedicated identity verification process for business taxpayers that sometimes moves faster than the individual line. Also, a tip I learned from my tax preparer: if you're married filing jointly and your spouse hasn't been flagged for verification, sometimes they can call on behalf of the joint return. The IRS agent will verify the spouse's identity first, then ask them to put you on the phone for your verification questions. This helped us get through faster since my spouse wasn't stuck in the same verification loop I was. One more thing - make sure you're calling the right number for your specific situation. The 800-830-5084 number is specifically for identity protection cases, but if you're dealing with a different type of verification issue, there might be other specialized lines that are less congested.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with the W-7 process since I see a lot of helpful advice here! My husband needed an ITIN and we were really stressed about the whole thing. We ended up going the TAC route that Anastasia mentioned - definitely call ahead because they're booking appointments weeks out. The agent there was super helpful and caught a mistake we would have made on the form (we almost checked the wrong box for his reason code). One thing I didn't see mentioned - if your spouse has any previous U.S. tax history or SSN applications that were denied, make sure to bring documentation of that. The IRS agent told us it helps speed up their background verification process. The whole appointment took about 45 minutes, and we walked out knowing our application was complete and correct. Got the ITIN in about 6 weeks. Way less stressful than wondering if we mailed the right stuff!

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I got married to someone who needed an ITIN. The confusion around the W-7 form is totally understandable - the instructions are written in classic IRS bureaucrat-speak! Here's what worked for us: We filed "Married Filing Jointly" and attached the W-7 form directly with our tax return. You'll need to write "ITIN TO BE REQUESTED" in the space where her SSN would go on your 1040. A few key things that helped us avoid delays: - Make absolutely sure you check box "e" on the W-7 (spouse of US citizen/resident), NOT box "d" - Include a copy of your marriage certificate as supporting documentation - If mailing, use certified mail with tracking - these documents are too important to send regular mail The processing time was about 9 weeks for us, but we got both our tax refund and the ITIN. You can definitely file your taxes while the ITIN application is pending - just be prepared for the longer processing time. Good luck! Tax season stress with immigration paperwork is no joke, but you've got this!

Hey Aliyah! Welcome to the world of doing your own taxes - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused by all the different screens and options! Just to reinforce what others have said, the Federal carryover worksheet is 100% something you can skip as a first-time filer. It's basically TurboTax's way of asking "do you have any unfinished tax business from previous years?" Since you've never filed before, the answer is automatically no. One tip for navigating TurboTax as a first-timer: don't stress about every single screen or option they show you. The software is designed to cover every possible tax situation, so it'll present you with sections that might not apply to your simple W-2 situation. When in doubt, if you don't have the specific documents or situations they're asking about, you can usually skip those sections safely. You're doing great by being careful and asking questions! The fact that you're taking your time to understand each step will serve you well. Good luck with the rest of your return!

Hey Aliyah! Just wanted to chime in as someone who also filed for the first time recently - you're absolutely on the right track by asking questions and being careful! Everyone else has given you great advice about the carryover worksheet, but I wanted to add one more reassuring point: TurboTax is actually pretty good at guiding you through what you need vs. what you can skip. Since you mentioned you're being super careful not to mess anything up, here's a helpful mindset that worked for me: if a section is asking for information from "last year's return" or "previous tax years" and you've never filed before, you can confidently skip it. The software will never penalize you for not having information that doesn't exist! You've got this - the hardest part is honestly just getting started, and you're already doing great by working through it step by step. Once you get through your first return, next year will feel like a breeze in comparison!