Something nobody's mentioned - check with the nonprofit you foster for! My rescue actually provides foster parents with letters documenting all expenses including estimates for home space used, which helps with tax deductions. Some rescues have accountants who help their fosters maximize legitimate deductions.

Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's been fostering through various rescues for over 5 years, I wanted to add a few practical points: First, definitely keep meticulous records of ALL your foster-related expenses - even small ones add up. I use a dedicated credit card just for fostering expenses to make tracking easier. Second, don't forget about some of the less obvious deductible expenses: laundry costs for washing bedding/towels, additional pet-proofing supplies, emergency vet visits if you have to cover them upfront, and even things like extra vacuum bags or carpet cleaning if you're dealing with shedding or accidents. Third, if you're fostering special needs animals or doing medical fostering, there can be additional deductible expenses for specialized equipment or supplies that the rescue might not cover. The key is documentation - save every receipt, get written acknowledgments from your rescue organization, and take photos of your setup if relevant. Even though the extra bedroom rent isn't deductible, you'd be surprised how much your other legitimate expenses can add up throughout the year!

That extension code (460) shows you filed late - did you request more time?

Code 826 transfers are actually pretty common when you have prior year balances. The IRS automatically applies your current refund to any outstanding debt from previous years before sending you anything. In your case, that $6,408 went straight to your 2019 tax year ("201912" means December 2019 processing). The good news is your current account shows $0 balance with no penalties or interest, so that 2019 debt is now fully resolved. You should receive those notices (code 971) in the mail soon explaining exactly what happened.

lmao good luck understanding that mess. I stared at mine for hours and gave up 🤮

Look for these key codes on your transcript: 150 means they received your return, 570 is a hold (could be for review or missing info), and 846 is the golden one - that's your DDD! The date next to 846 is when your refund gets deposited. If you only see 570 with no 971 notice code, it might just be a routine review. Check back in a few days - transcripts usually update overnight between Tuesday-Friday.

Pro tip: call early in the morning right when they open. You'll have a better chance of getting through quickly.

Dylan, I've been through this exact same situation! Here's what worked for me: First, make sure you're calling from a strong signal area - I actually drove to a different location after my first dropped call. Second, have everything organized in front of you before dialing: your Social Security card, driver's license, last year's tax return, and any IRS correspondence. Third, when you do get through, immediately ask the agent for a direct callback number in case you get disconnected - they can usually provide one. The whole process took about 45 minutes for me, but it was worth it to finally get everything sorted. The agents are actually pretty helpful once you reach them. Good luck! 🤞

I just went through this process a few weeks ago! The key is to call early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when they first open - the wait times are much shorter. Make sure you have your Social Security card, photo ID, and the exact tax return they're asking about. They'll ask you to verify basic info like your address, filing status, and some line items from your return. The whole call took about 20 minutes once I got through to someone. Don't worry, the agents are actually pretty helpful and patient!

I've been through this too! One thing that really helped me was making a simple checklist beforehand with all my key info written down - SSN, address history for the past few years, employer info, and the main numbers from my tax return (AGI, total tax, refund amount, etc.). When you're nervous on the phone, it's easy to blank out on stuff you normally know by heart. The agents are actually pretty understanding - they deal with anxious people all day. Just breathe, take your time, and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat a question if you didn't catch it the first time!