Sure wish the IRS's website was even marginally usable.
Still can't access last year's tax return and I kinda need it to file this year. D:
My Saga, in summary:
Day 1: IRS asked for my credit card account #, I accidentally entered the card number, they froze my acct for 24 hours
Days 2 and 3: IRS website experiencing "technical difficulties"
Day 4: Enter my credit card ACCOUNT #, told it didn't match records, account frozen for another 24 hours
WTFFFFF
@Sparrow The IRS websites are all terrible. The only way I've ever gotten anything cleared up with the IRS was to call their phone support number and wait for hours on hold to talk to a person who understood the system well enough to wade through it.
Our tax system is all kinds of screwed up >..<
@Sparrow 2 hours in queue got me to a friendly person who cleared things up in like 5 minutes and pulled some strings to stuff fixed faster.
I remember being very surprised at how much more smoothly the process went once the person on the phone understood the problem. They really helped me out and I was super thankful to have someone I could use as a resource to navigate that labyrinth of tax hell we call the IRS.
@mawr What number did you call to get there, do you remember? I tried calling their main line, but the only option that was remotely close to my question ("what do I do when I want to view my 2016 tax return online, but keep having errors?") was to have them send my tax return by mail. Which I have done, just in case, but I'm afraid it won't come in time.
@Sparrow This number looks familiar:
1-800-829-1040
@mawr Yup, that's what I called, and it sent me to an automated line.
According to one website, this is what I need to do:
(see pic)
Gonna give it a try, lol.
@Sparrow omg, that's terrible o.=.o;;;
I wish you luck!!
@mawr IT'S WORKING.
TL;DR: The IRS does *not* want you to be able to talk to a real person. It's going to make it as difficult to do so as possible.
@Sparrow YAY! I'm glad to hear that it's working at least!!
And yeah. The last time I called in, they directed you to a people without many steps... but that was also like 8 years ago ^^;;;;;;;
@mawr Yeeeeah... So, good news: I was able to talk to someone pretty much immediately. Bad news: It took that weird work-around to get there.
Also bad news: I'm not going to be able to use the online tax return viewing service because it's jacked up. Not her exact words, but it apparently doesn't take some credit cards, and I don't have any other ways to confirm my identity because I'm poor. Lol!!
(cont for good news, ish)
Good(ish) news: I have a couple of options. I can file manually (which involves sending my check and W2's by mail... ugh) and/or wait a few more days to see if my mailed 2016 return comes in. Also, turbotax (the efiling software I used) does have an option for ppl who don't have their previous year's tax returns, so I'll probably do that.
TL;DR: Back to waiting for last year's tax return in the mail, I guess.
@Sparrow Augh!! Well, at least now you have a clearer understanding of the situation and your options-- and it's always nice to hear that the technical issues you're having aren't yours alone, at least. ^^;
@mawr@plush.cityYeah, definitely!!
Yeah, so the plan:
1. Wait until 4/10/18 to see if my tax return comes
2. If it doesn't, mail the shit in
Looks like TurboTax can help with the mailing part, too. So hopefully I can file online, but if I can't at least I can figure it out.
Oof, though. I already owe 2k. I just want to be done with this and move on!!
@Sparrow Given how close we're getting to the deadline, I'd recommend biting the bullet and wading through the phone queue, as much as it sucks. >..<
The last time I had to call the IRS was when I'd changed my name. There wasn't any clear documentation anywhere that I could find on how to file after a name change, I just got a scary letter in the mail from the IRS saying my return had been flagged for further processing due to suspected fraud or something. D: