Public service post

[bill_schubert]

I had a question about a comment I put on susandennis and as I was answering checked the box to make a separate posting of the info.  So here is the expansion of that comment.

I've had a few delays with the IRS having owned several businesses and some commercial real estate.  One of the tools the IRS has developed and continues to is their web site. 

IRS.GOV

If you've never established a user name and pw on it I HIGHLY recommend doing it. Keeps the scammers away and gives you a place to see if you owe any money and a way to pay it securely online. Plus it give you status of your current return.

And, yeah, still waiting for the company to send my a K-1 so I can finish my 2020 taxes

It can be a PIA to get it set up so be patient.  They have to send you a piece of mail with a verification number on it before you can get in so it takes some time.  Plan accordingly.  

The IRS is slowly but surely expanding this site to be increasingly useful.  It has the last four years of returns available to download (a scan of what you sent them) and the status of the current year.

 

Comments

[gracegiver]

Thanks.
I do have an account with them, but needed to "recertify." Setup was swimming along fine until I entered my CC #, My Experian account is locked. So ... I got to Experian and unlock it (I had the "key" thank goodness) and then I returned to IRS page but they required I shut my browser down and reload. And enter all that information once again.
THEN when I finally get to the page to enter my CC# once again, they tell me my IRS page is locked and to come back in 24 hours and try again.

You're not kidding about setup being brutal.

[sleepybadger.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is surprisingly good! Do you think maybe it might be a step toward not having to use tax preparers? Thanks so much for passing this on!

[zestfive.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this tip, I tried to set up my account but it didn't like the credit cards I entered and I don't have a mortgage or car loan or student loan. And I felt like it kept me in a endless loop trying to figure out how to do it without. I guess I need to go to the experian website for my credit report.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Yup. Been there too.

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

I had to think about this for a bit to let it get through. Scan? Does that mean returns are still done on paper? I knew US returns were complex, but it never occurred to me that they weren't returned electronically by the tax preparers.