Not sure if this helps, but I had a similar situation a few years back. The key thing I learned is that certified mail gives you proof of MAILING, but not proof of what was INSIDE the envelope. The IRS sometimes argues that even though the envelope was timely, the return inside wasn't complete. Did your denial letter mention anything specific about the contents of your return being incomplete? Sometimes they use that as a technicality. If they're only disputing the mailing date, you have a much stronger case.

A little shocked nobody mentioned Publication 5, "Your Appeal Rights and How to Prepare a Protest If You Don't Agree." Even though you missed the initial appeal window, you can still file what's called an "audit reconsideration" request. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5.pdf This is basically asking the IRS to take another look at your case based on new information (or in your case, information they may have overlooked - your certified mail receipt). Mail this to the EXACT address on your denial letter, not to a general IRS address. Include copies (never originals) of your certified mail receipt and a clear explanation citing IRC Section 7502 about timely mailing being timely filing.

Anyone know if using different brokerages for the traditional ira contribution vs the roth conversion causes any issues? I contributed to a traditional ira at Vanguard but want to convert and have the roth at fidelity.

Just want to add another perspective on timing - I've been doing backdoor Roth conversions for about 5 years now and have never waited more than a few days between contribution and conversion. My CPA has never raised any concerns about the step transaction doctrine, and I've never had any issues with the IRS. The key thing is proper documentation on Form 8606 as others have mentioned. Make sure you report the nondeductible contribution in Part I and the conversion in Part II. The $2 in earnings you mentioned is totally normal and expected - I usually end up with somewhere between $1-10 in gains depending on how quickly I can complete the conversion. One tip: if you're planning to do this annually, consider setting up both accounts at the same brokerage to make the process smoother. I do mine at Schwab and can complete the entire conversion online within their system, which minimizes the time the money sits earning taxable gains.

I'm currently going through this same process! My congressman's office got me connected with a tax advocate about 10 days ago. The advocate called me within 48 hours which was a relief after months of getting nowhere with regular IRS phone lines. She explained that my case involves some additional verification steps that are causing the delay, but said she'd put a priority flag on it. Haven't gotten the refund yet but at least I finally feel like someone is actually working on it. The advocate told me to expect 3-6 weeks from our initial call, so fingers crossed! Will update this thread when I hear something.

Currently in week 3 of waiting after getting my tax advocate assigned through my congressman's office. The advocate was super responsive at first - called me the same day I got the referral and explained exactly what was holding up my refund (some identity verification issue that never got resolved properly). She said she'd expedite the verification process and estimated 4-6 weeks total. So far so good, though the waiting is still brutal when you really need that money! One thing that's helped my sanity is that she gave me her direct line and said to call if I don't hear anything by week 5. Having that direct contact instead of going through the general IRS nightmare phone system makes such a difference. Will definitely update when I get movement!

Just wanted to add a practical tip for anyone dealing with foreign accounts - make sure you keep detailed records of your account balances throughout the year, not just at year-end! I learned this the hard way when I had to file FBAR. The form requires you to report the maximum value of each account during the year, and I had to scramble to get monthly statements from my home country bank to figure out the highest balance. Some banks charge fees for historical statements, so it's much easier to track this yourself. I now keep a simple spreadsheet with month-end balances for all my foreign accounts. Also, don't forget that if you have signature authority over accounts that aren't yours (like if you help manage a family member's account), those might need to be reported too under certain circumstances. The key is to start keeping good records from day one - it makes tax time so much less stressful!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding your state tax obligations too! While everyone's focusing on federal requirements (which are absolutely crucial), don't forget that each state has different rules for resident vs non-resident taxation. Some states like Texas and Florida have no state income tax, so you're golden there. But others like California or New York will want their piece of your worldwide income once you're considered a resident for state purposes. State residency rules can be different from federal rules too - some states might consider you a resident based on where you spend most of your time, regardless of your visa status. I made the mistake of assuming state taxes would be simple and ended up owing unexpected money to my state. It's worth researching your specific state's requirements early on. Also, if you move between states during your H1B period, you might need to file multiple state returns for that year! Just adding this because dealing with federal taxes is complex enough without getting surprised by state obligations later.

Pro tip: If you create an ID.me account, you can get your IP PIN online instantly instead of waiting for mail. Way easier tbh

I had the exact same issue last month! Mine showed up in Informed Delivery on a Wednesday but never actually arrived. I ended up filing a missing mail report with USPS online and also called the IRS IP PIN line. The USPS report didn't help much, but after about 5 days I was able to get through to the IRS and they issued me a new one over the phone after verifying my identity. Definitely don't wait too long - tax season is already stressful enough without this added headache!