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Just a heads up that the mortgage insurance premium deduction is one of those "below-the-line" itemized deductions, so you only benefit if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. For 2025, the standard deduction is projected to be $13,850 for single filers and $27,700 for married filing jointly. For many people with smaller mortgages or who live in lower-cost areas, the standard deduction might still be better even with the PMI deduction added back. Do the math before getting too excited!
This is a really good point! I got excited and then realized that even with my mortgage interest, property taxes, and PMI combined, I'm still better off with the standard deduction. I guess this mostly helps people with larger mortgages or in high-tax states?
This is fantastic news! I've been following the legislative updates closely and was really hoping this would get restored. I'm in a similar situation - bought my first home 18 months ago with 8% down and have been paying about $180/month in PMI. One thing I'd add for anyone reading this - make sure you keep good records of all your PMI payments throughout the year. Your mortgage servicer should send you a Form 1098 that breaks down your mortgage interest and PMI payments, but it's worth double-checking those numbers against your monthly statements. I learned the hard way last year that sometimes the 1098 doesn't capture mid-year changes correctly. Also, if you're close to the income limits that others mentioned, remember that certain pre-tax contributions (like 401k, HSA, etc.) can help lower your AGI and potentially keep you eligible for this deduction. Every little bit helps when you're trying to maximize your tax savings as a new homeowner!
Great advice about keeping detailed records! I'm new to homeownership (closed on my house just 3 months ago) and I'm already learning how important it is to stay organized with all these documents. Quick question - you mentioned that the 1098 sometimes doesn't capture mid-year changes correctly. What kind of changes should I be watching out for? I'm worried I might miss something important since I'm still figuring out all the homeowner tax stuff. Should I be tracking anything beyond just the PMI payments themselves? Also, thanks for the tip about pre-tax contributions affecting AGI - I hadn't thought about how maxing out my 401k contribution could help me stay under those income limits!
I'm going through almost the exact same timeline as you! Filed January 25th, got my CP05 on March 2nd, and just received my second letter yesterday. The stress is so real when you're counting on that refund for essential expenses. After reading through all these experiences, I feel much more prepared for what's likely coming in that second letter (probably a CP05A requesting wage verification docs). The consistent advice here about the 15 calendar day deadline, dual fax/certified mail submission, and including hardship documentation has given me a solid action plan. Your military situation should definitely work in your favor - several people mentioned that deployment orders can help prioritize processing. Make sure to include those with your response along with Form 911 if you're facing financial hardship from the delay. The part that's been most reassuring is seeing how many people eventually got their refunds within 30-45 days after providing the requested documentation. The waiting is brutal when you need that money for urgent repairs, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel. One thing I learned from this thread - definitely call your local Taxpayer Assistance Center if you can. They can confirm exactly which documents are needed and provide the direct fax number for the verification department, which saves a lot of guesswork. Hang in there! This community has been incredible for sharing strategies and support through this frustrating process.
@NebulaNomad I'm so glad to see others sharing such detailed guidance about this process! I'm completely new to dealing with IRS verification and was honestly panicking when I first got my CP05 notice a few weeks ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here has transformed my anxiety into a manageable action plan. Your timeline matches mine almost exactly - filed late January, CP05 in early March, and now waiting for what sounds like will be the CP05A. The tip about calling the local Taxpayer Assistance Center is something I hadn't considered but sounds incredibly valuable for getting concrete guidance instead of just guessing what documents they want. I'm especially grateful for all the specific advice about submission methods (dual fax/certified mail), deadlines (15 calendar days), and additional forms (Form 911 for hardship). As a newcomer to this community, it's amazing how much practical knowledge everyone is sharing to help each other navigate this stressful process. The 30-45 day timeline after document submission gives me something concrete to plan around instead of just endless uncertainty. Thanks for emphasizing the importance of including hardship documentation - I wouldn't have known that could actually expedite processing. This community support is making what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze feel much more manageable!
I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned that might help with your timeline anxiety. Filed in late January, received my CP05 in early March, and just got my second letter (CP05A) yesterday - the pattern matches exactly what you're describing. The good news is that your military spouse deployment situation should definitely qualify you for expedited processing once you respond. When I called the Taxpayer Assistance Center (highly recommend this step!), they confirmed that military families with deployed spouses get priority handling under IRM 21.5.6.4.7. Here's my action plan based on everyone's advice here: ⢠Respond within 15 calendar days with all requested wage verification documents ⢠Include deployment orders and Form 911 for financial hardship due to urgent home repairs ⢠Use both fax (for speed) and certified mail (for proof) - get the direct verification dept fax number from your local TAC ⢠Write a brief cover letter explaining deployment timeline and repair urgency The 30-45 day processing window after document submission that others have mentioned gives me hope we'll both have our refunds in time for those essential repairs. The static transcript dates are frustrating but apparently normal due to backlogs - once they assign a reviewer, things move much faster. Hang in there! This community has been invaluable for turning what felt like bureaucratic chaos into a manageable step-by-step process.
As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how thoroughly this thread has addressed what seems to be a really common issue in partnership taxation! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational. What really stands out to me is the disconnect between what's actually legal (dual W-2/K-1 compensation) and what some tax preparers believe to be true. The fact that so many experienced professionals have encountered identical resistance from preparers suggests there's a real knowledge gap in the industry when it comes to partnership structures. The resources everyone has shared here are invaluable - Revenue Ruling 69-184, Publication 541, Form 1065 Instructions, and Treasury Regulation 1.707-1(c). Having all these IRS citations compiled in one place is going to be incredibly helpful for anyone facing similar preparer pushback. What I find most encouraging is how many different approaches people have used successfully: showing IRS publications, having preparers call other CPAs for peer confirmation, getting attorney letters, and even recording calls with IRS agents. It's clear that with the right documentation and persistence, this issue is very resolvable. For Mateo's original question - your arrangement is absolutely legitimate and your preparer needs better education on partnership taxation. The fact that your partnership agreement clearly separates employment duties from ownership interests puts you in a strong position. Don't let uninformed resistance force you into a suboptimal tax structure when you have a perfectly legal and advantageous arrangement!
As someone completely new to both this community and partnership taxation, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly thorough discussion! Sebastian, your summary really captures how educational this entire thread has been. What strikes me most as a newcomer is how this situation perfectly illustrates why it's so important to work with tax professionals who stay current on complex areas like partnership law. The fact that multiple experienced CPAs and partners have encountered the exact same resistance from preparers suggests this isn't just an isolated knowledge gap - it seems to be a broader industry issue. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific IRS citations everyone has shared. As someone who would have been completely lost trying to research this on my own, having Revenue Ruling 69-184, Publication 541, and the other resources all compiled here is invaluable. The "preparer education packet" approach mentioned earlier seems like such a smart way to handle these situations proactively. For anyone else new to partnership structures who might be reading this, it's really reassuring to see that this dual W-2/K-1 arrangement isn't some exotic tax structure - it's actually quite common and well-established in tax law. The key seems to be proper documentation and working with preparers who are willing to research unfamiliar situations rather than relying on assumptions. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences. This thread is going to be an incredibly valuable reference!
As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such an incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! Reading through all the responses has been like getting a masterclass in partnership taxation. What really resonates with me is how many experienced professionals have faced the exact same pushback from tax preparers who seem to be operating on outdated information. The consistency of everyone's advice - particularly around Revenue Ruling 69-184 and Publication 541 - gives me confidence that this dual W-2/K-1 structure is not only legitimate but actually quite standard in the partnership world. I'm especially impressed by the variety of approaches people have used to educate resistant preparers: IRS publications, peer consultations, attorney letters, and even direct IRS confirmation. The "preparer education packet" idea mentioned earlier seems like such a proactive way to handle these situations. For anyone else new to partnership structures, this thread demonstrates the importance of having clear documentation in your partnership agreement that separates employee duties from ownership interests. It also highlights why working with tax professionals who stay current on complex areas like partnership law is so crucial. Mateo, your arrangement sounds completely legitimate and well-structured. If your current preparer continues to resist after being shown the actual IRS guidance, it might indeed be time to find someone with more partnership taxation experience. You shouldn't have to compromise on a perfectly legal and advantageous tax structure because of uninformed resistance. Thanks again to everyone who shared their expertise - this community's knowledge base is truly impressive!
Great point about the W-4 form! I think I might still be using the old terminology. I filled out my W-4 when I started this job in 2023 and checked the box for "Single or Married filing separately" with no additional amounts entered anywhere else. Should I be filling out a new W-4 with the current form to make sure my withholdings are calculated correctly? And would that help with the commission withholding issue, or is the 22% supplemental wage rate going to apply regardless of how I fill out the form?
Yes, definitely fill out a new W-4 with the current form! The 22% supplemental wage rate will likely still apply to your commission checks regardless of your W-4 settings - that's a separate calculation your payroll system does. However, updating your W-4 can help you adjust the withholding on your regular salary checks to better account for the overwithholding on commissions. The new W-4 form is much more precise and asks about your complete tax situation rather than just allowances. You can use it to reduce withholding on your regular paychecks to offset the higher commission withholding, or add extra withholding if needed. Since you're getting both salary and commissions, the new form will give you much better control over your overall tax situation throughout the year.
This is exactly what happened to me when I switched to a commission-based role! The key thing to understand is that your employer's payroll system is required to withhold at the supplemental wage rate for commissions, which is currently 22% for amounts up to $1 million. This happens regardless of your W-4 settings. However, you can definitely optimize your overall withholding strategy. I'd recommend using the IRS withholding calculator (or one of the tools others mentioned) to figure out your total expected tax liability for the year, then adjust your regular salary W-4 to account for the overwithholding on commissions. You might be able to reduce withholding on your twice-monthly salary checks to balance things out. Also, make sure you're using the current W-4 form from 2020 or later - the old allowances system doesn't exist anymore. The good news is that any overwithholding will come back to you as a refund, but I understand wanting to keep more of your money throughout the year instead of giving the government an interest-free loan!
This is really helpful - thank you for breaking down the supplemental wage rate so clearly! I'm definitely going to update my W-4 to the current form since it sounds like I might still be using the old system. Quick question: when you reduced withholding on your regular salary checks to offset the commission overwithholding, did you have to recalculate this each time your commission amounts changed, or were you able to find a stable setting that worked throughout the year? I'm worried about accidentally underwitholding if my commission income varies significantly month to month.
Khalil Urso
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed in early February, got accepted immediately, and then these 570/971 codes showed up in mid-March. It's so frustrating because the IRS website basically tells you nothing useful. From what I've learned lurking in these forums, the 570 code means they've put a temporary hold on your refund while they review something. The 971 code means they've supposedly sent you a notice explaining what they need, but like you, I haven't received anything in the mail yet either. Since you mentioned this is your first time claiming EIC and your income went up significantly, that's almost certainly what triggered the review. The IRS computer system flags any "unusual" patterns, and unfortunately first-time EIC claims + income changes = automatic red flag. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're counting on that money. I've been tempted to try those phone services people keep mentioning just to get some actual answers from a human being. The "keep waiting" advice gets old fast when you have bills to pay! Keep us posted if you hear anything or if your codes change. Misery loves company and all that! š
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Taylor To
ā¢Thanks for sharing your experience! It's weirdly comforting to know I'm not alone in this mess. The lack of communication from the IRS is what really gets me - like, just tell us what you need instead of making us guess! I'm definitely leaning toward calling them soon if nothing changes. All these horror stories about waiting months have me stressed. Did you end up trying any of those phone services people mentioned? I'm curious if they actually work or if it's just throwing money at the problem. Really hoping we both get some movement soon! š¤
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Nia Watson
I went through this exact nightmare last year! Those codes basically mean the IRS hit the pause button on your refund while they double-check something. The 971 code is supposed to mean they sent you a letter explaining what they need, but honestly their mail system is trash - I never got mine either. Since you mentioned switching jobs and claiming EIC for the first time, that's 100% what triggered this. Their computer system sees "income change + new credit claim" and automatically flags it for human review. It's super common but incredibly frustrating when you're waiting for your money. Here's what I learned the hard way: don't just sit and wait for that mysterious letter. After 3 weeks of nothing, I called the IRS directly (used one of those callback services to avoid the hold time hell) and the agent told me exactly what they needed - just income verification from my employers. Once I provided that, my refund was released within a week. The key is getting a real person on the phone who can actually see what's holding up your return. The transcript codes tell you there's a problem but not what KIND of problem. Save yourself weeks of anxiety and just call them!
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AstroExplorer
ā¢This is super helpful, thank you! It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually got through this process. I think I'm going to wait maybe one more week to see if anything changes on my transcript or if that mysterious notice finally shows up, but if not I'm definitely calling. The income verification thing makes total sense - I switched from a small company to a much larger one mid-year, so my W-2 probably looks completely different from what they'd expect based on my previous returns. Did you have to provide anything specific for the income verification, or was it just confirming what was already on your W-2s? And which callback service did you use? I keep seeing people mention different ones and I want to make sure I'm not getting scammed! Really appreciate you sharing your experience - gives me hope this will actually get resolved eventually! š
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