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I'm dealing with this same issue right now! Just got my refund deposited to Chime yesterday and was shocked when I could only pull out $500 at the ATM. I had no idea about these limits beforehand. A few things I've learned from calling around today: - Some credit unions will do "cash advances" from your debit card for higher amounts than ATM limits (usually $1000-2000) - You can also try going to a Chime partner bank location - they sometimes have different limits for in-person transactions - If you have Zelle or Venmo linked to another account, you can transfer through those apps too The ACH transfer suggestion is probably your best bet for the full amount, but definitely start it ASAP since it takes a few business days. I'm learning all this the hard way because I also have a tuition payment due soon. Good luck!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm actually in a similar boat - just joined this community because I'm dealing with the same Chime withdrawal limits after getting my refund. The credit union cash advance tip is really helpful - I hadn't thought of that option. Do you happen to know if there are any fees associated with doing cash advances through credit unions? I'm trying to weigh all my options since I also have a tuition deadline coming up. The ACH transfer route seems safest but I'm worried about the timing with my payment due date.
@Jake Sinclair I can help with the cash advance fee question! Most credit unions I ve'checked charge around $5-10 for cash advances, which is way better than being stuck with the $500 daily limit. Some don t'charge anything at all if you re'a member. I d'call a few local credit unions and ask about their cash advance policies - many will do it even if you re'not a member, though the fees might be slightly higher. Just make sure to bring your ID and the debit card. Also, if you re'really pressed for time, you could do both - start an ACH transfer as backup and try the cash advance for immediate access. Better to have multiple options working in case one falls through!
Just wanted to add another option that saved me when I was in this exact situation a few months ago - you can also use your Chime debit card to make a large purchase (like paying your tuition directly with the card if your school accepts it) since the daily spending limit is much higher than the ATM withdrawal limit. I was able to pay my $3,200 tuition bill directly with my Chime card even though I could only withdraw $500 in cash. This might be the fastest solution if your school's payment portal accepts debit cards. Just double-check that your school doesn't charge extra fees for card payments - some do, but it might still be worth it to avoid the hassle of multiple transfers and potential delays!
This is such a great point about paying tuition directly with the debit card! I'm actually new to this whole situation and just got my refund deposited to Chime yesterday. I had no idea there were different limits for spending vs. cash withdrawals. My school does accept debit card payments and only charges a small convenience fee, which would definitely be worth it to avoid all the transfer hassles. Thanks for sharing this - it's exactly the kind of practical advice I was hoping to find here. Did you have any issues with the transaction going through for such a large amount, or did it process normally?
Just wanted to add that I made a huge mistake with my OIC by not being completely honest about a small side gig income. The IRS found out and instantly rejected my offer. If you have ANY side income or assets, disclose everything. They will find out and it's an automatic rejection if you're not 100% transparent. Also, check if you qualify for the "Fresh Start" program which has more flexible OIC terms. And sometimes an installment agreement might actually be better than an OIC depending on your specific situation and the amount of time left on the collection statute.
I went through the OIC process successfully about 18 months ago, so I can share some real-world insights. With your $47k debt and $3,100 monthly income, you're actually in a decent position for an OIC if you can demonstrate genuine financial hardship. A few critical tips from my experience: 1. **Documentation is everything** - The IRS will scrutinize every expense you claim. Keep receipts for everything and only claim legitimate necessary expenses. They have specific allowable amounts for things like housing, utilities, food, etc. 2. **Be conservative with your offer** - I initially wanted to lowball them, but my research showed that offers too far below their calculated "reasonable collection potential" get rejected immediately. Aim for something close to their formula. 3. **Timeline expectations** - My OIC took 8 months to get approved. During this time, collection activities stopped, which was a huge relief. 4. **Consider your collection statute expiration date** - If you're close to the 10-year mark, an installment agreement might actually be better than an OIC since the debt could expire naturally. The key is showing that paying the full amount would create genuine financial hardship while still offering something reasonable based on your actual ability to pay. Don't give up hope - it's definitely possible to get approved if you approach it methodically.
One warning about amending for the COVID distribution - make sure you check how this might impact any credits or deductions you claimed in 2020. When my spouse and I amended to include our 401k distribution (even with the 3-year spread), it pushed our income high enough that we lost part of our child tax credit. Still better than paying the 10% penalty, but something to be prepared for.
This is such an important point! Same thing happened to me - the additional income from my COVID distribution reduced my earned income credit significantly. Still saved money overall by avoiding the penalty, but it was a surprise on my amended return.
I hadn't thought about that at all. I had claimed the child tax credit that year since my daughter was born. I'll definitely need to check how this might impact that. Thanks for the heads up!
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I took a COVID withdrawal in 2020 and completely missed filing Form 8915-E. Just got hit with a penalty notice last month. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you should also gather any documentation showing how COVID impacted you financially - like reduced work hours, job loss, or even increased expenses due to the pandemic. The IRS may ask for this when you file your amended return to prove the distribution was legitimately COVID-related. Also, regarding your HSA - if those expenses were truly for qualified medical costs related to your daughter's birth, you should be fine. Just make sure you have all the receipts and documentation ready. Hospital bills, doctor visits, even things like lactation consultant fees if you used HSA funds for those - it all counts as qualified medical expenses. The good news is that even though this is stressful now, the amended return process should resolve both issues. Just don't wait too long to file it since you're already a few years out from the original return date.
Has anyone actually had penalties waived for this exact scenario? I made almost the same mistake - took $15,000 from my 401k in 2020 due to COVID but didn't report it properly. The IRS wants like $4,200 in penalties and interest now.
Yes! I got all penalties (about $2,300) waived by filing Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement) along with my corrected forms. The key was documenting that I qualified for COVID relief and that my mistake was due to receiving incorrect guidance from my plan administrator who never sent proper documentation. Took about 3 months to process but they approved it.
I went through almost this exact situation! Took a COVID distribution in 2020, didn't get proper documentation from my plan administrator, and completely botched the tax reporting. The IRS sent me a CP2000 notice that had me panicking about tax court too. Here's what actually worked: I responded directly to the notice with a detailed explanation letter stating it was a qualified COVID-related distribution under the CARES Act. I included Form 8915-E (even though it was late) and documentation of my COVID-related job loss. I also filed amended returns for 2021 and 2022 to properly spread the income over three years. The whole process took about 4 months, but the IRS accepted my explanation and adjusted my account accordingly. I even got some refund money back from overpayment in 2020. No tax court needed - that's really only for when you've exhausted all administrative remedies with the IRS first. Make sure you respond to whatever notice you received within the timeframe they give you (usually 30 days). The key is documenting that your distribution truly qualified under COVID hardship rules and explaining the reporting error was unintentional.
Kaiya Rivera
Just wondering if anyone here has experience with amended 720 forms? I messed up my first filing by using the wrong tax rate and am nervous about filing a correction.
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Katherine Ziminski
ā¢I had to amend my 720 last year. You'll need to file another complete Form 720 and check the "amended return" box at the top. Make sure you include a detailed explanation of what you're changing and why. E-filing the amendment is usually faster than paper.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
Great question about Form 720 timing! I've been filing these for my small manufacturing business for about 3 years now. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - if this is your first time filing Form 720, I'd strongly recommend doing a "dry run" of the form about 2-3 weeks before the deadline. Fill it out completely with your actual numbers, but don't submit it yet. This helps you identify any questions or issues while you still have time to get help. Also, since you mentioned handmade jewelry, double-check which specific excise taxes actually apply to your products. Not all jewelry items are subject to excise tax - it depends on factors like materials used and sale price thresholds. The IRS has specific guidelines for luxury goods that might not apply to all handmade items. For your first filing, I'd aim for mid-July submission (around July 15-20) to give yourself a buffer but avoid the last-minute rush. And definitely go electronic if possible - the confirmation receipt alone is worth it for peace of mind!
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Miguel Harvey
ā¢This is really helpful advice about doing a dry run! I'm also curious about the luxury goods thresholds you mentioned. Do you know what the specific price point is where handmade jewelry would trigger excise taxes? I've been trying to find clear guidance on this but the IRS documentation seems pretty dense for someone new to this.
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