Has anyone here actually received their sales tax permit deposit back? My state (Florida) promised a refund after 3 years too, but when the time came they claimed I had filed one of my monthly returns 2 days late in year 2, so they kept the entire $500 deposit. Wondering if this is common practice.

Great question! I went through this exact same situation with my LLC last year. The advice about treating it as an asset is spot on - don't expense it initially since you're expecting to get it back. I set up a "Deposits - Refundable" asset account in my accounting software and recorded the $500 there. One thing I'd add is to keep really good documentation about the deposit terms and your compliance with the requirements. Take screenshots of your filing confirmations, payment receipts, etc. Some states are pretty strict about the "good standing" requirements and will keep your deposit for minor issues. Also, if you're using QuickBooks, you can set up a reminder for when the 3-year period is almost up so you can proactively follow up on getting your refund rather than waiting for them to process it automatically.

Quick question - does anyone know if leasing avoids this whole tax credit problem? I've heard that with leases, the leasing company can take the tax credit and pass the savings on to you in the form of a lower monthly payment, regardless of your tax situation. Is that true for 2024?

I was in exactly your situation a few weeks ago - AGI around $60k and stressed about whether to wait for Tesla's point-of-sale option or just buy now. Here's what I learned after doing a ton of research: With your $65k AGI, you'll almost certainly have enough tax liability to use the full $7,500 credit when you file your 2024 taxes. The standard deduction for 2024 is $14,600 (assuming you're single), so your taxable income would be around $50,400. The tax on that income will definitely exceed $7,500, so you won't lose any of the credit by taking it on your return instead of at point of sale. The real question is cash flow - can you afford the extra $7,500 upfront and wait until next tax season to get it back? If so, I'd say go ahead and buy now. Tesla's pricing has been pretty stable lately, but there's always the risk of price increases if you wait. I ended up purchasing my Model Y in March and claiming the credit on my taxes. No regrets - the peace of mind was worth more than potentially saving a few months of waiting for a point-of-sale option that may or may not come soon.

Just a quick tip - when I had to do identity verification last year, I found that the IRS phone lines were much less busy if you call on Tuesday or Wednesday during the 2nd week of the month. For some reason the first week of the month and Mondays/Fridays are absolute nightmares. Also, have you checked if you can verify your identity online through ID.me? Some IRS services now use this instead of requiring a phone call.

I completely understand your frustration - I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago with a 6330C notice. After reading through all the suggestions here, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches simultaneously since you're running short on time. First, definitely try the early morning call strategy (7am sharp) for the next 2-3 days. Set multiple alarms and be ready to dial the second they open. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to have slightly better odds. Second, call 844-545-5640 TODAY to schedule an in-person appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. Even if you get through on the phone first, having a backup appointment scheduled will give you peace of mind. These appointments can often be scheduled 1-2 weeks out, which should still be within your 30-day window. Third, if you're approaching your deadline and nothing else works, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. Mention that you're facing financial hardship due to the delayed refund (medical bills) and that you've been unable to reach the verification line despite multiple attempts. They can escalate your case. Don't panic about the 30-day deadline - while it's important to try to meet it, the IRS does have some flexibility, especially if you can document your attempts to reach them. Keep a log of when you've called and any reference numbers you receive. You'll get through this! The identity verification process itself is usually quick once you actually connect with someone.

I was in the exact same boat last month! Filed Jan 30th and stuck on pending for 5 weeks. I called my tax preparer who said not to worry. Then suddenly on March 7th, it went from pending straight to approved and I had my refund on March 10th. No explanation for the delay, but everything worked out fine. Did you claim any credits or deductions that might trigger extra review?

I'm experiencing something very similar - filed on February 2nd and still showing pending status after 5 weeks. Like you, I've never had delays this long in previous years. I've been checking Where's My Refund daily and it just keeps saying "Your return is being processed." I called the IRS hotline twice but couldn't get through after waiting over an hour each time. My return is fairly straightforward - just W-2 income and standard deduction - so I'm not sure what could be causing the holdup. It's reassuring to know others are facing the same issue, though I wish we had more clarity on when this will resolve.

turbotax is such a scam with there fees fr fr 🤮

Make sure u keep checking ur transcript every week. amendments can take forever but sometimes they randomly process faster then expected