I'm going through this exact situation right now! Filed both federal and state on March 10th, got my federal refund last week, but my state return has been "under review" for over 3 weeks now. It's really reassuring to see I'm not alone - sounds like this is just the new normal with states being more cautious this year. I'm in California and their FTB website is pretty vague about timelines too. Guess I'll try calling early morning like Owen suggested, but honestly might just wait it out since everyone seems to say it eventually comes through. Thanks for posting this - was starting to worry something was wrong with my return!

I've been dealing with this exact issue for the past month! Filed both returns on March 12th, got my federal refund in 20 days, but my state return is still showing "under review" with no additional details. After reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is way more common than I realized. I tried calling my state tax department twice but gave up after being on hold for over 2 hours each time. Going to try Owen's strategy of calling right when they open tomorrow morning - that timing tip makes so much sense! It's frustrating not knowing if it's a simple verification hold or something more complex, but at least now I know I'm not the only one experiencing this delay. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - definitely helps to know this is just the new reality with enhanced fraud detection systems.

Just wanted to chime in as another data point - my partner and I made this exact same "mistake" when we got married in 2022! We were both withholding as single the entire year and were absolutely panicking when tax season rolled around. Ended up getting a refund of over $3,500 when we filed married filing jointly. Our CPA laughed and said this is probably the most common "happy accident" she sees with newlyweds. The single withholding tables are designed to take out more tax because single filers don't get the benefit of the wider married tax brackets. With your combined income around $145k, you're in the perfect sweet spot where married filing jointly will give you significant advantages over what you would have paid as two single filers. Plus you've been overpaying all year through your withholding! The only downside is you've essentially given the government an interest-free loan, but hey - at least it's better than owing! Definitely update those W-4s for 2025 though so you can keep more of your money in your own pockets throughout the year rather than waiting for a big refund.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm actually in a very similar situation - my spouse and I got married last year and completely forgot to update our W-4s from single to married. I've been terrified that we'd owe thousands in taxes. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. It's amazing to learn that what felt like a major oversight actually worked in our favor due to the more conservative single withholding rates. The explanations about how W-4 withholding is just an estimate versus the actual tax calculation when filing really cleared up my confusion. I'm definitely going to check out some of the tools mentioned here like the IRS withholding calculator to get our 2025 W-4s set up properly. It's also reassuring to know that this is such a common situation among newlyweds - I thought we were the only ones who made this "mistake"! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This community is incredibly valuable for people navigating these tax situations for the first time.

Did you file with any refundable credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit? If so, have you verified that your return shows the correct amounts for these? I'm asking because returns with these credits sometimes go through additional verification steps that can delay the deposit date assignment.

I went through this exact same thing in 2023! Filed early February, got "approved" status but no date for almost 2 weeks. I was stressed because I needed the money for my daughter's daycare payments. What helped me was checking my account transcript on the IRS website - it showed a cycle code 20231305 which meant my refund was actually scheduled for release the following Friday, even though WMR still showed no date. The money hit my account exactly when the transcript indicated it would. Since you filed Feb 10th and it's now approved, I'd expect you'll see a date within the next few days. The IRS is just really backed up this time of year.

This is actually more common than you'd think! The IRS computer system will automatically detect when the same dependent is claimed on multiple returns. Don't panic - your return being accepted first doesn't guarantee anything, but having custody documentation definitely works in your favor. The IRS will send both of you a CP87A notice asking you to prove your right to claim the dependents. Make sure you respond within the 30-day deadline with solid proof like school records showing your address, medical records, and anything showing the kids lived with you for more than half the year. If your ex can't prove their case, they'll have to file an amended return and potentially pay back any refund they received. Stay organized and don't stress too much - the truth will come out! 📋

Don't stress too much! This happens more often than people realize. Since your return was already accepted and processed, you're in a decent spot. The IRS system will flag the duplicate claims automatically and send both of you letters (usually CP87A notices) asking for documentation to prove who has the right to claim the kids. You'll need to respond within 30 days with proof like school enrollment records, medical records, custody agreements, and anything showing they lived with you more than half the year. Since you filed first and presumably have custody, you should be fine as long as you have the paperwork to back it up. Your refund might get delayed during the review process, but if you win the dispute (which sounds likely), you'll get it released. Your ex will have to amend their return and pay back any credits they received. Keep all your documentation organized and respond promptly to any IRS notices! 📄

2 Anyone know if the income thresholds for child tax credit phaseout are different for married filing separately vs jointly? With 5 kids that could make a huge difference in the calculation.

Just want to add another important consideration - state taxes! Some states don't allow married filing separately even if you do it federally, which can complicate things. Also, with 5 kids, don't forget about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - you lose eligibility for this completely when filing separately, and with that many qualifying children, the EITC could be worth several thousand dollars. I'd also suggest looking into whether any of your kids qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit, which is partially refundable. The interaction between all these credits gets really complex with multiple children, so definitely run both scenarios through tax software or consult a professional before deciding.