I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Got my IDR forgiveness notification from Nelnet in December for $12,400 that was forgiven on 12/31/2023, but still no 1099-C in sight. I've been refreshing my Nelnet account like it's my job 😅 Called them yesterday and the rep said they're still processing them through January 31st, so we're technically still within the window. She also confirmed that even though it's not federally taxable under the American Rescue Plan, they still have to issue the forms. Trying to stay patient but it's stressful when you want to file early! At least we're all in this together - seems like a lot of December forgiveness recipients are still waiting.

I'm in the exact same situation! Got my IDR forgiveness through Nelnet in December for about $15,600 that was forgiven on 12/31/2023, but still no 1099-C form. I've been checking my Nelnet account religiously and called them three times already - each rep gave me slightly different info but they all said forms are going out through January 31st. The waiting is killing me because I usually file my taxes super early! At least from reading everyone's comments it seems like most December forgiveness recipients are still waiting, so we're definitely not alone. Really hoping they show up online in the next few days so we can all finally get our taxes sorted out! 🤞

I'm currently preparing for the EA exam using Surgent and this entire thread has been a revelation! Like so many others here, I've been consistently scoring in the 90s on Surgent practice tests and feeling confident, but reading about these score discrepancies across different platforms is both eye-opening and somewhat nerve-wracking. What strikes me most is how systematic this issue appears to be - it's clearly not just isolated cases but a fundamental difference in how prep companies approach the material. The hybrid strategy that keeps emerging throughout this discussion makes perfect sense: leveraging Surgent's strengths as a solid foundation while strategically addressing gaps identified through diagnostic testing. I'm planning to take those free Gleim practice questions as a diagnostic tool this week, even though I'm bracing myself for the confidence hit that seems to be a universal experience! But based on everyone's feedback, it sounds like that reality check is exactly what's needed to create a focused, targeted study plan for areas that might otherwise be overlooked. The specific guidance on IRS publications that several people have shared (Publications 17, 334, 542, 535) is incredibly helpful - it takes the guesswork out of where to focus supplemental study time. I'm also intrigued by the suggestion to use a spreadsheet to track which topics have been reviewed versus those that still need work. For anyone else feeling uncertain about their Surgent preparation after reading this thread - the consistent message from those who passed seems to be that Surgent provides excellent foundational knowledge, and targeted gap-filling based on diagnostic results is the key to comprehensive preparation. Thanks to everyone for sharing such honest and detailed experiences!

I'm currently studying for the EA exam using Surgent and this thread has been incredibly enlightening! Like many others here, I've been consistently scoring in the high 80s to low 90s on Surgent practice tests, but reading about the score discrepancies between different platforms is definitely giving me pause. What I find most reassuring is how common this experience seems to be - it's clearly not an indication of poor preparation but rather a systematic difference in how prep companies approach the material. The hybrid strategy that keeps emerging makes perfect sense: use Surgent as your solid foundation while strategically filling gaps identified through diagnostic testing. I'm planning to take some of those free Gleim practice questions this weekend to identify my own weak areas, even though I'm mentally preparing for the ego bruising that seems to be universal! Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like that reality check is exactly what's needed to create a targeted study plan. The specific IRS publication recommendations (17, 334, 542, 535) are incredibly helpful - it takes the guesswork out of where to focus supplemental study time. I'm also planning to implement that spreadsheet tracking system that @Chloe Harris mentioned to stay organized and focused on actual gaps rather than reviewing material I already know well. One question for those who've passed - did you find that your confidence returned as you worked through the targeted supplemental study, or did it remain shaky until you actually took the exam? I'm trying to gauge whether some continued uncertainty is normal even with this comprehensive approach. Thanks everyone for sharing such honest and detailed experiences - it's made me feel much more confident about my overall strategy!

Don't forget that online sports betting might also have state tax implications depending on where you live! Some states treat gambling wins/losses differently than the federal government.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Here's what I learned after doing a ton of research and talking to a tax pro: You definitely need to report ALL gambling winnings as income, even without W2-Gs. The good news is you can combine everything - so add up all your wins from FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, and Fanatics and report that total on Schedule 1 as "Other Income." For losses, you can only deduct them if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, and only up to the amount of your winnings. So if you won $2000 total but lost $3000, you can only deduct $2000 in losses. Most importantly - start keeping detailed records NOW for next year! Date, platform, bet amount, win/loss amount for every single wager. The sportsbooks usually let you download your full betting history, so grab those files while you still can for this tax year. Trust me, you don't want to be scrambling next year trying to reconstruct everything again!

It might be helpful to understand what's actually happening behind the scenes. The TurboTax "5 days early" option is technically a Refund Advance Loan, which is essentially a short-term loan based on your expected refund amount. They're generally offering around $500-$4,000 depending on your estimated refund. The NetSpend early deposit feature, on the other hand, is simply the bank making funds available when they receive the deposit notification rather than waiting for the actual settlement date. There's no loan involved with NetSpend, just a different policy on when they make confirmed funds available to you.

As someone who just started dealing with taxes after graduating, this thread has been super helpful! I had no idea that TurboTax's "early" option was actually a loan - their marketing definitely makes it sound like they just process faster. Based on what everyone's saying, it seems like NetSpend's early deposit is the way to go since it's free and you're already getting your refund 2-3 days earlier than traditional banks anyway. Thanks for breaking down the difference between a refund advance loan vs early deposit - that distinction is really important for newcomers like me to understand!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation, though mine involves a business tax lien from my ex-wife's failed restaurant that's now affecting our former rental property that I was awarded. One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of documenting any improvements or payments you've made to the property since the divorce. The IRS considers these when evaluating your equity position for discharge applications. Keep receipts for mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance, and any capital improvements you've funded solely from your own resources. Also, if your ex-husband has any other significant assets, it might be worth including documentation of those with your Form 14135. The IRS is more likely to discharge a lien from your property if they can see other avenues for collection from the actual debtor. Bank accounts, other real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts - anything that shows he has the means to satisfy the debt without your property being involved. The whole process is incredibly frustrating, but from what I've learned, persistence and thorough documentation are key. I'm about 6 months into my own battle with this, so I completely understand the stress you're going through.

I'm sorry you're going through this nightmare - tax liens from an ex-spouse can be one of the most frustrating post-divorce issues to deal with. You're definitely taking the right approach with the Form 14135 Certificate of Discharge. One thing I'd strongly recommend is also requesting a "lien subordination" if the discharge doesn't work out. This allows you to refinance or sell while keeping the lien in place, but it moves to a subordinate position behind your new mortgage. Sometimes the IRS is more willing to approve subordination than a full discharge, especially if it doesn't reduce their ability to collect. Also, make sure you're calculating interest and penalties correctly when you submit your discharge application. The IRS calculates these daily, so the amount keeps growing. If you can show that your ex's equity share at the time of divorce was sufficient to cover the original debt plus reasonable interest, that strengthens your case significantly. Have you considered having your divorce attorney write a letter to include with your application explaining the circumstances and how the divorce decree specifically assigned tax liability to your ex? Sometimes having that legal perspective documented helps the IRS understand that this isn't just a property dispute but a legitimate separation of marital debts. The whole process typically takes 2-3 months, but don't be surprised if they ask for additional documentation. Keep copies of everything and follow up regularly.