Yes! This happened to me with a retirement distribution. Had to submit the same explanation and documents twice. Second time I included copies of their own acceptance letter from the first time. Ridiculous waste of everyone's time.

That's so frustrating! I think I'll do what you did and include their previous acceptance letter. I saved everything from last time thankfully. Wonder if this is happening a lot because of their backlog - like the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. At least I know what documents to send now.

This is really encouraging, thank you! I did include copies of both W-2s and the corrected one with my response. I didn't think to get a letter from my employer though - that's a great idea. I'll reach out to our HR department tomorrow and see if they can provide something on company letterhead explaining the payroll switch. I've been checking my online account but so far no updates. Sounds like I just need to be patient and wait out the 4+ months. Stressful, but at least I know I've done everything right.

Do you need to track every single trip? Like what if I sometimes stop at the office supply store on my way home from something else? That seems like a lot of record keeping.

You should track every business trip to maximize your deduction and protect yourself in case of an audit. For mixed-purpose trips like stopping at an office supply store on your way home, you can deduct the extra mileage if the stop was necessary for business. Apps like MileIQ or Everlance make tracking much easier - they run in the background on your phone and let you swipe trips as business or personal. The few seconds it takes to log each trip can save you hundreds or thousands in deductions. I learned this the hard way after missing out on substantial deductions my first year because my records weren't detailed enough.

I've used it for about 2 years for my consulting business. The automatic transaction categorization and receipt scanning saves me tons of time. The mileage tracker alone is worth it. And it makes tax time way less stressful - it generates reports for Schedule C that you can just hand to your accountant or transfer to TurboTax. Definitely worth the cost for the headaches it prevents.

Thanks for this tip! I'm going to go through my notice with a fine-tooth comb tonight. Did you just write your explanation in a letter or did you use any specific forms to point out their error?

I wrote a detailed letter explaining the error and referenced specific line numbers from both my return and their notice. I also filled out the response form that came with the CP2000 and checked the box that I disagreed with the notice. The most important thing is to be super specific and include copies (never originals!) of any supporting documents. I highlighted the relevant numbers on each document and created a simple spreadsheet showing how their calculation was incorrect. Making it easy for them to see your point increases your chances of success.

I used TurboTax's CP2000 help last year and thought it was overpriced for what you get. They basically just gave me generic advice I could have found online. For crypto specifically, you might want something more specialized since that's a complicated area.

Do they keep returns forever? I used TurboTax back in 2021 but I can't remember my login info. Is there another way to get copies of old returns?

Most tax software companies keep your returns accessible for about 7 years, though policies vary. If you can't remember your login info, you can usually recover your account through email verification or by contacting customer support. If that doesn't work, you can always request a transcript directly from the IRS through their website. Go to IRS.gov and search for "Get Transcript Online" - this will show you the information from your filed returns, though the format is different from the actual 1040 form.

This is super helpful! Do you know what line number shows total income before adjustments? My scholarship application is asking for that specifically.

That's really helpful to know! So basically their guarantee only covers like math errors in their software, not if I make a mistake or misunderstand something? Is there any way to tell if the current calculation is actually coming from their software vs something I might have entered?

Exactly right. Their guarantee only covers errors in their mathematical calculations, not user input errors or misinterpretation of tax situations. To determine if the calculation is coming from their software versus your inputs, look for the "Tax Tools" or "Tools" section in TurboTax and find the tax summary or forms view. Compare the numbers on your actual forms with what you believe should be reported. If you see the full unemployment amount on your 1040, that's correct for 2022. The difference in refund is likely coming from somewhere else - potentially credits or deductions that changed between your draft and final version.

I've actually had them honor it once! Back in 2019 their software didn't properly apply a state credit that I was eligible for. When I got the correction notice, I submitted everything to TurboTax with their guarantee form and they paid the difference plus the interest (about $175 total). But I had to be really persistent and provide clear documentation that it was their calculation error, not my input.