I waited 3 months after getting this code last year. Finally called and turns out they needed more documents smh. Would've been nice to know earlier

Got the same code 1121 on mine too! Called the IRS yesterday and they said it's just an automated flag for identity verification. The rep told me to watch for a letter in the mail (CP05A) within 2-3 weeks with instructions on how to verify. Don't panic - it's not necessarily a problem with your return, just extra security measures they're doing now.

I'm currently going through this process myself - received my CP74 notice two weeks ago. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I should prepare for a 10-14 week wait overall. One thing I'm wondering about is whether anyone has had success with expedited processing due to financial hardship? My refund is significant and I was counting on it for some urgent expenses. Also, for those who used certified mail, did you get confirmation that the IRS actually received and logged your documents into their system? I'm planning to send mine this week but want to make sure I can track that they actually made it into the right hands.

I went through the CP74 process about 8 months ago and wanted to share some practical tips that helped me navigate it smoothly: **Documentation Strategy:** - Send exactly what they ask for, nothing more, nothing less - Make clear copies (not originals) unless specifically requested - Include a simple cover letter listing each document you're sending - Number your pages and reference the CP74 notice number **Tracking & Follow-up:** - Use certified mail with return receipt (around $7 but worth the peace of mind) - Keep copies of everything you send - Mark your calendar for 30 days out to follow up if you haven't heard anything **Timeline Reality Check:** My actual timeline was: Sent docs March 15 → IRS acknowledged receipt April 8 → Verification complete May 22 → Refund issued June 3 → Money in account June 8. Total: 12 weeks from sending documents to receiving refund. The key is patience and not over-communicating with the IRS during the process. Let them work through their system unless you hit the 90-day mark without any communication. Good luck with your case!

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing last year. The key thing to remember is that the IRS often sends identical Letter 6475 forms to both spouses on a joint return, but this doesn't mean you received double payments. Here's what I did to figure it out: I pulled up my bank statements from March-April 2021 (when the third stimulus payments were issued) and searched for deposits from the IRS or U.S. Treasury. I found exactly ONE deposit that matched the amount on both our letters - not two separate deposits. So even though we both got letters showing the same $2,800, we only received one household payment of $2,800. When I entered the Recovery Rebate Credit info on our tax return, I only used that amount once. The letters are basically just the IRS's way of documenting what they sent to your household, but they send copies to both spouses for record-keeping purposes. If you're still unsure, definitely check your bank records first - that will give you the definitive answer about how much you actually received.

I went through this exact same confusion with my spouse last year! We both received Letter 6475 with identical amounts ($1,400 each), and I initially thought we should add them together for $2,800 total. But after checking our bank statements from March 2021, I found only ONE deposit from the IRS for $1,400 - not two separate payments. The IRS basically sends duplicate letters to both spouses on joint returns as a record-keeping measure, but the payment itself is made once to the household. So definitely don't double-count it on your tax return! Pro tip: Look for deposits labeled "IRS TREAS" or similar on your bank statements from the stimulus payment dates. That will give you the clearest picture of what you actually received versus what the letters show. In our case, the letter amount matched our single deposit perfectly, confirming we should only report it once.

I'm going through the EXACT same situation right now! My transcript shows a 971 notice issued on August 15th but it's been over 6 weeks and nothing has arrived. My refund of $3,180 has been stuck in processing since April and I'm getting really anxious about what this notice could be about. I've tried calling the IRS multiple times but can never get past the automated system - it's incredibly frustrating! Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually giving me some hope that it's probably just routine verification stuff. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing Monday morning at 7am like some people suggested, and if that doesn't work I might look into that claimyr service that several people have had success with. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with IRS mail delivery issues. The not knowing is honestly driving me crazy - I just want to find out what they need so I can get this resolved and finally get my refund!

I've been through this nightmare too! Had a 971 notice code show up in July but never received the actual notice. After 2 months of frustration and countless failed phone attempts, I finally broke down and used one of those callback services (claimyr) that people keep mentioning here. Best decision I made - got connected to an actual IRS agent within 45 minutes who told me it was just a routine income verification request. She was able to verify everything over the phone and my $2,800 refund was released 12 days later. The whole experience taught me that the IRS mail system is basically broken right now. Don't waste months like I did trying to guess what the notice is about. Pay for a callback service or keep trying the early morning calls until you reach someone. Your sanity is worth more than the stress of not knowing!

Do high income celebrities ever leave California to move to states with no income tax? If I was paying millions in state taxes alone, I'd seriously consider moving to Texas or Florida.

This is a fascinating discussion! As someone who works in tax preparation, I can confirm that celebrities like Tom Hanks face incredibly complex tax situations. One aspect that hasn't been mentioned yet is the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), which often kicks in for high earners and can actually increase their effective tax rate even further. Also, don't forget about self-employment taxes! If Tom Hanks is operating through a loan-out corporation as mentioned earlier, he might avoid some SE taxes, but if he's treated as self-employed, that's an additional 15.3% on the first $160,200 of income (for 2023). The timing of income recognition is huge too - many actors negotiate to defer portions of their compensation to future years when they might be in lower tax brackets or have moved to more tax-friendly states. It's really a chess game between their financial advisors and the tax code!