I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now - client with 10+ years unfiled and we're stuck on getting 2011-2012 transcripts. Reading through this thread has been incredibly eye-opening, especially learning about the Master File approach through Account Management Services. What strikes me most is how the IRS essentially has these parallel database systems that don't communicate with each other. The "legacy IDRS system" for pre-2013 records explains why I've been hitting brick walls with standard transcript requests - I was literally asking the wrong department to look in the wrong database! I'm definitely going to try calling the Practitioner Priority Service using the exact phrase "Master File archived wage data" that multiple people have confirmed works. Having the specific reference number format (AMS-2025-xxxxx) gives me confidence I'll know when I'm talking to the right department. One additional strategy I'm considering - my client mentioned they received unemployment benefits during part of 2012, so I'm also going to contact the state unemployment office for those payment records. As others have noted, government benefit records are often easier to obtain than IRS archives and can help fill in gaps while waiting for the federal transcripts. This community knowledge-sharing is invaluable - these procedures aren't documented anywhere in official IRS publications, yet they seem to be the only reliable way to actually get results for older transcript requests. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences instead of just repeating the standard (ineffective) guidance!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread - this has been absolutely invaluable! I'm in a very similar boat with a client who hasn't filed for 9 years, and we were completely stuck trying to get 2013-2014 wage transcripts through the normal channels. The Master File approach through Account Management Services sounds like exactly what we need. I had no idea there were separate database systems for different time periods - that explains why we kept getting told the records were "unavailable" when they were probably just looking in the wrong system the whole time. I'm planning to call the Practitioner Priority Service first thing tomorrow morning using the "Master File archived wage data" language that everyone has confirmed works. Having all these specific details about reference number formats and which department to ask for gives me so much more confidence than just hoping the standard 4506-T will eventually work. Also really appreciate the backup strategies mentioned here - contacting former employers directly, checking state records, and looking into any government benefits from those years. It's smart to have multiple approaches since every client's situation is unique. This is exactly why I love this community - real practitioners sharing what actually works instead of just repeating the official guidance that doesn't seem to help with these complex older cases. I'll definitely report back on how the Master File approach works out!

This is such a common issue this year! I had almost the exact same experience with TurboTax - their system showed my return as "transmitted" but the IRS had actually rejected it due to my IP PIN. The communication between tax software companies and the IRS seems to have some serious lag issues this filing season. What really helped me was calling the IRS early in the morning (around 7 AM) when they first open. The hold times are much shorter then. You can also check your actual filing status directly on the IRS website using their "Where's My Refund" tool - it'll show you the real status from their end, not what H&R Block thinks. Once you get your IP PIN sorted out and refile, the process should go smoothly. It's frustrating that H&R Block's system doesn't handle this better, especially since IP PINs are becoming so much more common. Good luck getting it resolved!

I went through something very similar with H&R Block last month! The discrepancy between what their software shows and what's actually happening on the IRS side is incredibly frustrating. In my case, H&R Block kept insisting my return was "still processing" while the IRS had actually rejected it days earlier due to an AGI mismatch from last year's return. What I learned is that H&R Block's system doesn't always get real-time updates from the IRS, especially when there are rejection issues. There can be a several-day lag between when the IRS actually processes (or rejects) your return and when that status shows up correctly in H&R Block's system. The IP PIN issue is definitely a likely culprit here. The IRS has been issuing way more of these this year, and many people don't even realize they have one until they try to file. You should be able to retrieve your IP PIN from the IRS website if you have your previous year's AGI and can verify your identity online. One thing that helped me was documenting all the different responses I got from H&R Block support - take screenshots of what their system shows versus what they tell you over the phone. It helped when I eventually had to escalate to get the issue properly resolved. Definitely call the IRS directly as you planned - they're the only ones who can give you the definitive status of your return.

Hey Fatima! Don't worry about asking this - it's actually one of the most confusing aspects of tax paperwork for a lot of people! As a newcomer to this community, I can see from all the great responses that you've gotten the main answer: for most US citizens and permanent residents, your TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is just your Social Security Number (SSN). They're the same thing! I went through this exact same confusion when I first started doing my own taxes. The government uses "TIN" as this umbrella term that covers different types of tax ID numbers, but for regular individual taxpayers like us, it's simply our 9-digit SSN in the XXX-XX-XXXX format. You can find your SSN on your Social Security card, any previous tax documents like W-2s or 1040 forms, or even some bank statements (though they might only show the last 4 digits for security). So for your financial paperwork, just use your SSN wherever it asks for a TIN. You don't need to apply for anything new - you already have what you need! The only time you'd need a different type of TIN is if you were running a business (EIN) or weren't eligible for an SSN but needed to file US taxes (ITIN). Hope this helps, and welcome to the community!

Hey Fatima! As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say don't feel embarrassed about asking this question at all - I literally had the exact same confusion when I first started dealing with tax paperwork! From reading through all these helpful responses, it's clear that for most US citizens and permanent residents like yourself, your TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is simply your Social Security Number (SSN). They're the same thing! The IRS just uses "TIN" as their fancy umbrella term for different types of tax identification numbers. You can find your SSN on your Social Security card, any old W-2 forms from jobs, previous tax returns, or bank statements. When your financial paperwork asks for your TIN, just enter your 9-digit SSN in the XXX-XX-XXXX format. I love how welcoming and patient everyone in this community has been with explaining this. It really shows that no question is too basic when it comes to navigating our confusing tax system! You definitely don't need to apply for anything new - you already have everything you need with your SSN.

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a permanent resident looking to start doing tax prep and I was completely misinformed about the EFIN requirements. I actually called the IRS twice last month and both times was told I needed to be a citizen - so frustrating that their own customer service reps don't know the actual rules! @DeShawn Washington and @Oliver Schmidt - thank you for sharing your real experiences with the application process. Your specific tips about selecting "Legal Resident Alien" and uploading both sides of the green card are exactly what I needed to know. One quick follow-up question: did either of you have any issues with the background check portion of the EFIN application? I'm worried that might be more complicated for permanent residents, or does it work the same way as for citizens? @LunarEclipse - definitely try applying yourself first! Sounds like you can avoid all the family business complications everyone was discussing.

This has been such a valuable thread! As someone who works with a lot of immigrant entrepreneurs, I see this EFIN confusion come up constantly. The misinformation from IRS phone reps is really frustrating - I've had multiple clients tell me they were told they needed citizenship when they absolutely didn't. @LunarEclipse - definitely follow the advice from @DeShawn Washington, @Oliver Schmidt, and @Ravi Patel about applying as a permanent resident. The key documents you'll need are crystal clear now thanks to everyone's input. One additional tip: when you do apply, consider calling the IRS E-file Help Desk (not the general practitioner line) if you have questions. The specialists there tend to be much better informed about EFIN requirements than general customer service. The number is 866-255-0654 and they're usually more helpful for technical e-file questions. Also, start the application process ASAP since it can take 6-8 weeks. Even if you get approved mid-season, you'll be all set for next year and can use one of the backup strategies others mentioned (like paper filing) for any immediate clients. Good luck with your business launch!

Based on everyone's advice here, I think I'm going to try a combination approach. First, I'll call tomorrow morning to request an extension using that Claimyr service since several people had success with it - even Nia who was initially skeptical came back to say it worked. If I can get the extension, perfect - that buys me time to properly dispute everything. But if not, I'm going to send a partial agreement letter with an IRC 6603 deposit for the portion I know is definitely correct (probably around $3,000-4,000 of the $7,000). This way I stop penalties and interest on most of it while preserving maximum flexibility to recover anything I shouldn't owe. I really appreciate the specific advice about being line-by-line in the dispute and using certified mail. The memo line tip about writing "PARTIAL PAYMENT - SEE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE" is exactly the kind of detail I needed to know. One last question - has anyone here actually used the IRC 6603 deposit option successfully? I want to make sure I get the language exactly right in my letter since this seems like the safest approach given my tight timeline.

I'm dealing with a similar CP2000 situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more perspective based on my experience with IRS correspondence audits. The most important thing is documentation timing. Even if you pay now to stop the clock, make absolutely sure you keep detailed records of WHEN you sent your dispute documentation and what specific items you're challenging. I made the mistake of being too general in my first response and they basically ignored half my supporting documents. Also, if you do go the partial payment route, consider sending two separate mailings - one with your dispute letter and documentation via certified mail, then the payment a day or two later (also certified). This creates a clear paper trail showing your dispute was filed before any payment, which can be important if there are questions later about whether you agreed to their assessment. The IRS internal processing can be really inconsistent. I've had them cash checks within days but take months to actually review the accompanying documentation. Having separate tracking numbers for your dispute vs payment gives you better evidence of exactly when each piece was received. One more tip: if you're close to your deadline and worried about mail delivery time, you can also fax your dispute letter to the number on your CP2000 notice, then send the original via certified mail. The fax creates an immediate timestamp that you submitted your response on time.