Put a mail hold immediately. Don't wait. Government checks often have "do not forward" printed on them. Many people lose checks this way. USPS forwarding isn't reliable for IRS mail. Seen it happen too many times.

Anyone know if Treasury checks expire if they're not cashed? My buddy had one lost in USPS limbo for months... turned his tax season into a horror movie sequel: "Return of the Missing Refund." 😂

Has anyone checked if the payment might have been offset to pay a federal or state debt? Sometimes these payments can be intercepted for things like back taxes, student loans, or child support arrears. The transcript would still show it as "issued" even though it was applied to another debt. Worth looking into the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) as a possibility here. Have you received any notices about offsets or do you have any outstanding federal/state debts that could have claimed this payment?

I should perhaps mention that there's a specific timeframe for requesting a payment trace, which might be relevant to your situation. For direct deposits, you need to wait at least 5 days from the scheduled deposit date before initiating a trace. For mailed checks, you should wait 4 weeks. However, since this payment was from 2023, you're well beyond those waiting periods. One other detail worth noting is that the IRS may have issued your payment as a debit card rather than a check or direct deposit for some of these credits. These cards came in plain envelopes that many people unfortunately discarded thinking they were junk mail. If that's what happened, you can still request a replacement card if you can verify your identity with the issuing bank.

Just want to point out some additional considerations for the MFS vs MFJ decision: • State tax implications can differ from federal - some states have different rules • MFS can protect one spouse from tax liability issues of the other • If you're separated but not divorced, MFS might be your only option • Some means-tested benefits look at tax filing status • MFJ requires both spouses to agree and sign Have you already determined which would save you more in your situation?

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent: run the numbers both ways before deciding. Most tax software allows you to calculate both scenarios before finalizing. In my experience, MFJ is better for about 95% of couples, but those 5% where MFS works better usually see SIGNIFICANT benefits that make it worthwhile. What's your specific concern about filing jointly vs separately?

Compared to filing during tax season, August filing actually has some advantages. The IRS is less overwhelmed now than in February-April when everyone's filing at once. My partner filed in March and waited 6 weeks, while I filed in July and got my refund in 4 weeks. The key difference is checking your transcript rather than WMR - the transcript updates more frequently and shows actual processing stages. If you don't see any updates by September 20th, then you might want to take additional steps.

You need to act quickly! According to the IRS.gov processing timeline page (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), even late-season returns should show some processing activity within 3 weeks. Since you're approaching that window, I'd recommend checking your transcript online immediately at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. If your transcript shows code 570, you may have an issue that needs addressing before processing can continue. Don't wait for a letter - sometimes they get lost or delayed.

Got split payments too. First check came April 2. Second one April 18. Both legit. Add up to full amount. Normal for amended returns. Don't worry.

I think I might have some insight here... When I amended my 2023 return in February, I received two separate payments about 3 weeks apart. The first payment was for the basic tax adjustment, and the second was specifically for the Child Tax Credit portion. The letter should indicate which specific credits or adjustments the second payment covers. It's probably not a typo, but rather the IRS processing different parts of your amendment separately.

Have you considered what happens if you don't sign it? The IRS is essentially asking you to agree to receive less money than you initially claimed. Did they provide a clear explanation for the adjustment? Sometimes these adjustments are legitimate corrections, but other times they can be challenged with proper documentation. If you agree with their assessment, then by all means sign it, but remember that signing means you're giving up your right to appeal this specific issue.

This appears to be a CP2000 Proposed Adjustment Notice or similar correspondence. These notices typically involve a discrepancy between income reported on your return versus information the IRS received from third parties. The processing timeframe after acceptance varies based on current IRS backlog status and submission method. Electronic submission via the IRS portal generally results in faster processing (6-12 weeks) compared to mail submission (12-16 weeks).

Amended returns are currently experiencing significant processing delays due to IRS resource allocation priorities. The standard 16-week timeframe is technically accurate only for non-complex amendments with no verification requirements. Based on current processing patterns, amended returns filed in June 2023 are typically finalizing between January-March 2024. I recommend requesting a transcript analysis which will show the actual internal status codes, even if WMAR isn't updating.

The WMAR tool is notoriously unreliable for 2023 amended returns. Many taxpayers (myself included) received their refunds while the tool still showed "received" status. If you filed Form 1040-X electronically on June 18, 2023, you should be approaching completion based on current processing timelines. Have you checked if your account transcript shows any TC 971/977 codes? Those indicate amendment processing activity even when WMAR doesn't update.

Word of caution: my neighbor had a similar situation last year and waited patiently for the replacement check. After about 8 weeks, she called to check on status and discovered they had canceled the trace because she supposedly hadn't responded to some letter they sent requesting verification (which she never received). She had to start the whole process over again. Might be worth calling every 2 weeks just to make sure your case is still active in their system?

Based on what I've seen in this community, here's what you can expect with a check trace: • Week 1-2: Trace is entered into system (status will show "received" or "initiated") • Week 3-4: Investigation phase (they verify the check wasn't cashed) • Week 5-6: Approval for replacement (if check wasn't cashed) • Week 6-8: Replacement check issued BUT - if there's any indication the check was cashed (even mistakenly), they'll send you a claim form (FMS 1133) and the timeline extends significantly. If you have urgent medical needs, make sure to mention "hardship" specifically when you call - this can sometimes get your case flagged for expedited processing.

Okay so I've been through this whole ordeal and can tell you exactly what's happening (with a little tax humor to keep us sane 😅). The CP05A is basically the IRS saying "we need to verify some info before we send your money." The 570 code freezes your refund, and each 971 represents a notice they've sent you. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EXACT number on your CP05A letter 2. Ask specifically what information they still need 3. Send EVERYTHING via certified mail with a detailed cover letter 4. Keep copies of EVERYTHING 5. Follow up every 2 weeks The good news is that once they clear this, they'll usually pay interest on your delayed refund. So you'll get a little bonus for your trouble! I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - made me feel less alone during my 4-month wait last year.

Got the same letter in February. Still waiting. Been 87 days now. Called multiple times. Different answers each time. One agent said income verification. Another said random audit. Third said identity verification again. It's maddening. Sent in all documents twice. No resolution yet. Keep following up weekly.

I would be somewhat cautious about assuming this will resolve automatically. In my experience, which may differ from others, the IRS systems don't always communicate perfectly between departments. There's a possibility, though not a certainty, that your case might need additional verification before a new check is issued. The most concerning issue I've seen is when people move during this process - the IRS might try to send the replacement check to your old address if that's what's on file. It might be worth updating your address formally with Form 8822 if you've moved recently, just to be safe. The reissuance process typically takes about 6-8 weeks, but I've seen it take as long as 12 weeks in some cases.

Been thru this b4. Here's the lowdown: BFS (Bureau of Fiscal Service) returns $ to IRS. IRS then has to reprocess. Usually takes 4-6 wks from when BFS confirms recovery. U might see codes on ur transcript: TC 841/846 (new refund issued) after a TC 740 (check cancellation). Pro tip: If u don't see movement after 4 wks, call IRS but use extension 623 when prompted - gets u to the check reissue dept faster. Also, for future ref, consider direct deposit or getting ur refund loaded onto a debit card to avoid mail theft. GL!