I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same "Your information is not available at this time" message for about 5 weeks now and was starting to think I was the only one. Filed in late January and set up my payment plan right away, but the IRS website has been completely useless for checking my account status. After reading everyone's experiences here, I immediately checked my bank statements and you're all absolutely right - my payments have been going through perfectly on schedule despite the error message. It's such a relief to learn that the payment processing system works independently from their website display! I just tried the "Get Transcript" method that several people recommended and it actually shows my payment plan details clearly, even though the regular payment portal still gives me that frustrating error. That automated phone line at 1-888-353-4537 was also super helpful - got my account information in just a few minutes without having to wait on hold forever. It's honestly outrageous that the IRS website is this broken when so many of us are genuinely trying to stay compliant and pay what we owe. But knowing this is a widespread technical issue and not something we did wrong makes all the difference. Thanks to everyone for sharing their workarounds and experiences - this community support is invaluable when dealing with government system failures!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue and it's been driving me absolutely crazy! Filed my taxes in mid-February and set up my payment plan about a week later, but I've been getting that same "Your information is not available at this time" message for over a month now. Reading through everyone's responses here has been such a huge relief though - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem with the IRS website! I was starting to worry that I'd somehow messed up during the setup process or that my payment plan wasn't actually active. Like others have mentioned, I checked my bank account and my scheduled payments are definitely going through on time, which gives me a lot more confidence after seeing everyone's advice about the payment processing and website display being separate systems. I'm going to try that "Get Transcript" method that so many people recommended, and definitely calling that automated line at 1-888-353-4537. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to check our own tax information, but I'm grateful this community has figured out all the workarounds! The stress of not being able to confirm my payment plan status has been keeping me up at night, but knowing this is just a technical glitch on the IRS side and not an actual problem with our accounts is incredibly reassuring. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're all dealing with the same broken system!

For anyone else with this issue - check your previous years' W2s if you've been with the same employer. If boxes 3 and 5 had amounts in previous years but are suddenly empty this year, that's a red flag that something changed or there's an error.

Just want to add another perspective here - I'm a CPA and see this situation fairly regularly. Before you panic, definitely check if you're in any of these categories that Mason mentioned. But also look at your pay stub from your last paycheck of the year. Sometimes there are timing differences where the final payroll processing might not have been completed when the W2 was generated. Also, if you're dealing with multiple employers during the year, sometimes one might be exempt while another isn't, which can create confusion when you're comparing different W2s. One more thing to check - if you had any pre-tax deductions like a 401k, health insurance, or flexible spending account, those reduce your social security wages but not necessarily your regular wages in box 1. So boxes 1 and 3 might legitimately be different amounts, but box 3 should never be completely empty unless you're in one of those exempt categories. If none of these situations apply to you, definitely get that corrected W2 before filing!

Has anyone tried running this scenario through different tax software? I know inheriting an IRA is complicated but most tax programs should be able to calculate your RMD correctly. I'm dealing with an inherited Roth IRA which apparently has different rules.

I went through this exact same situation when my grandmother passed in 2021 at age 78. The confusion you're experiencing is totally understandable because the SECURE Act created these hybrid rules that many financial advisors are still getting wrong. Here's what I learned after consulting with a CPA who specializes in retirement accounts: Since your uncle died in 2021 (post-SECURE Act) and was already taking RMDs, you're subject to BOTH rules simultaneously - you must take annual RMDs based on your life expectancy AND completely empty the account by December 31, 2031 (10 years after the year of death). The key thing your tax preparer got wrong is that you don't have to take exactly 1/10 each year. You take the higher of: (1) the annual RMD calculated using the Single Life Expectancy Table, or (2) whatever amount ensures the account will be fully distributed by the 10-year deadline. I'd recommend getting a second opinion from a CPA or Enrolled Agent who specifically deals with inherited retirement accounts. The penalty for getting this wrong is 50% of the amount you should have distributed, so it's worth paying for expert advice to get it right.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I was able to find the Payments section in FreeTaxUSA and enter all four of my quarterly payments. I used the standard due dates since I made my payments around those times, and the total amount matched what I actually paid throughout 2024. One thing I learned from this thread is that I should definitely switch to EFTPS for next year to have better record keeping. The IRS Direct Pay system works but doesn't give you the same detailed payment history that would make tax prep easier. I also double-checked in the Summary section like Sean suggested and confirmed that all my payments are showing up correctly in the final calculation. My refund amount looks right now that the estimated payments are properly credited. Really appreciate this community for helping me figure this out!

As someone who's been through this exact scenario with FreeTaxUSA, I can confirm that the process everyone described works perfectly. One additional tip I'd add is to keep a simple spreadsheet next year tracking your quarterly payment dates and amounts as you make them. I learned this the hard way after spending way too much time trying to reconstruct my payment history from bank statements and IRS confirmations. Now I just log each payment immediately after making it - takes 30 seconds but saves hours during tax prep. Also, if you're using Schedule C for your photography business, make sure you're taking advantage of all the business deductions available to you. Equipment purchases, home office expenses, travel for shoots, etc. can really add up and reduce that tax burden that's driving those quarterly payments in the first place.

I've been running a small event planning business for about three years and went through a very similar situation with generator purchases last year. The Section 179 deduction worked perfectly for us - we were able to write off the full cost of our $12,000 generator system in the year we purchased it. One thing I'd strongly recommend is getting a written assessment from an electrician or power systems professional about your specific business power requirements. This creates an independent third-party document that justifies not just the purchase, but the specific size and type of generator you're buying. We had our electrician calculate the minimum generator capacity needed for our essential event equipment, which gave us bulletproof documentation for business necessity. Also, consider how this investment might open up new revenue opportunities. Since installing our backup power system, we've been able to book outdoor events and venues that previously weren't viable due to unreliable power infrastructure. We actually increased our rates by 15% for events where we guarantee uninterrupted power service. The generator has more than paid for itself through both tax savings and increased business opportunities. Make sure to keep detailed logs of every power outage that affects your business - dates, duration, financial impact, and client relationships affected. This ongoing documentation strengthens your business case and shows the IRS this wasn't just a precautionary purchase but a response to real, documented business problems.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my mobile DJ business - we've had three power failures during events this year that really hurt our reputation with clients. One thing I wanted to add based on my research: if you're financing the generator, make sure the financing is structured properly for tax purposes. Some dealers offer "rent-to-own" agreements that might be treated differently than traditional equipment financing. I learned that with true equipment financing, you can still take the Section 179 deduction in the year you put it in service, even if you haven't paid it off yet. Also, since you mentioned you're in event production, consider whether you might want to get a portable generator versus a permanently installed one. Portable units can sometimes be moved between job sites, which could open up additional business opportunities while still qualifying for the full business deduction. Just make sure to document business use carefully if you ever transport it to different locations. The key seems to be treating this as a comprehensive business investment rather than just an emergency backup. All the advice about documentation, professional assessments, and tracking power outages really resonates with what I've learned from my accountant. Good luck with your purchase!