This identity verification stuff is getting out of hand fr. Like I get they tryna prevent fraud but why they gotta make it so complicated for us regular folks just tryna get our money back 😤

From my experience, in-person verification at a TAC office is usually faster once you actually get the appointment, but the scheduling can be a pain. I'd recommend calling your local office first thing Monday morning to see what their availability looks like. Meanwhile, you can also try checking your mail daily for the 5071C letter since sometimes it comes earlier than expected. If you're really in a rush for the refund, maybe try both routes simultaneously and go with whichever becomes available first?

Another option is to try calling the IRS early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when they open - you'll have better luck getting through. Also, if you have a local VITA site nearby, they sometimes have connections that can help speed things up. I know it's frustrating but hang in there!

Had this same issue last month! If you're really in a rush, you can also try the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov - sometimes it'll give you a direct link to verify online without waiting for the letter. Also check if your state has any IRS satellite offices, they're usually less crowded than the main TACs. Good luck!

If you can't get an in-person appointment quickly, try contacting your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. I had a similar issue last February and they were able to help expedite the verification process when I explained it was affecting my business operations. Called on a Tuesday, had a callback Thursday, and was verified by the following Monday. Completely free service that's designed exactly for these bureaucratic roadblocks.

I work at a tax prep office and see this identity verification issue constantly during tax season. Here's what I tell clients: Yes, you can absolutely verify in person without the letter, but call ahead to confirm your local TAC office handles identity verification (not all do). Bring your driver's license, Social Security card, and a recent bank statement or utility bill. Pro tip: if you have a passport, bring that too as it counts as both photo ID and citizenship proof. Also, ask specifically for Form 4506-T when you go - this lets you request your own tax transcripts which can help speed up processing of your business returns once verification is complete. The wait times are brutal right now (2-3 hours typical), so bring snacks and patience.

A word of caution from someone who's been burned by this before - make sure you understand your company's PTO policies!! At my last job, all unused vacation time automatically paid out at the end of the year, which meant I couldn't actually avoid the tax impact, just delay it. Check if your company has: - Use it or lose it policy - Automatic cash-out at year end - Caps on vacation accrual These can all affect whether the vacation time actually helps reduce your taxes or just delays the inevitable.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation where my company is offering bonus vacation time vs cash, and I was leaning toward the cash initially. But after reading everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to go with the vacation time instead. One thing I want to add - make sure you also consider the timing of when you'd actually use the vacation days. If you're planning to take time off anyway and would be using unpaid leave, then the bonus vacation time is essentially "free money" since you'd get paid for those days off instead of losing income. Also, for anyone worried about the complexity of tax rules, it sounds like there are some good resources mentioned here for getting clear answers. I might check out that AI tax service since I have some other questions about how this interacts with my HSA contributions and 401k limits.

This is such a great breakdown of how these strategies actually work! I had no idea about the conservation easement abuse - that sounds like a massive loophole that's way more aggressive than the stock donation strategies. One thing that's become clear from reading everyone's responses is that there's a big difference between legitimate tax planning (like bunching donations or using donor-advised funds properly) and the more questionable schemes like inflated art appraisals or syndicated conservation easements. For those of us with more modest incomes, it sounds like the key takeaway is focusing on the timing strategies - like bunching charitable donations in alternating years to maximize when you can itemize vs. take the standard deduction. That seems like a much safer approach than getting involved in any of these complex schemes that might trigger audits. Thanks everyone for explaining this so clearly! It's frustrating that the tax code allows for such manipulation, but at least now I understand how it actually works.

This has been such an enlightening discussion! As someone who's always been confused about how charitable deductions could possibly be used as money-making strategies, this thread finally made it click for me. The distinction everyone's drawn between legitimate tax planning and aggressive schemes is really important. It sounds like the "making money" aspect comes from avoiding taxes you would have otherwise paid, plus strategies like donating appreciated assets to avoid capital gains taxes entirely. What I find most concerning is how these strategies seem to primarily benefit wealthy individuals who have appreciated assets, can afford to set up private foundations, or can participate in complex schemes like conservation easements. Meanwhile, regular taxpayers are left with basic strategies like bunching donations. I'm definitely going to look into the bunching strategy mentioned by several people here - timing my charitable giving to alternate between itemizing and taking the standard deduction seems like something I could actually implement. It's frustrating that the tax code is so complex that these opportunities aren't more widely known or accessible. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and real experiences. This has been far more educational than anything I've found through official IRS resources!