I actually did exactly this last year - cashed out at about a 20% loss to pay down debt. The mental relief of getting rid of the credit card debt was honestly worth way more than waiting for my investments to maybe recover someday. Plus the guaranteed "return" of not paying 22% credit card interest beats whatever I might have made in the market. Just my two cents!

Just wanted to add that you should also consider the timing of when you sell within the tax year. Since you're already at a loss, selling before December 31st means you can claim that loss deduction on this year's tax return, which could help offset any other income and potentially get you a bigger refund or lower tax bill. Also, once you pay off that credit card debt, try to resist the urge to rack it up again! The guaranteed savings from eliminating 20%+ interest rates is way better than any potential market gains. You're making a smart financial decision here - sometimes cutting losses and focusing on guaranteed debt reduction is the right move.

It seems, perhaps, that there might be a possible workaround worth exploring. In some cases, the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers can potentially accept alternative documentation for children in lieu of the actual Social Security card. This might include a birth certificate along with medical records showing your child's SSN, or possibly school records with the SSN listed. I was, quite frankly, surprised to learn this when I faced a somewhat similar situation. You would likely need to call ahead to the specific TAC office where you plan to verify and ask if they can accommodate this exception given your circumstances. The flexibility varies significantly by location and individual IRS employee discretion.

I'm going through something very similar right now - filed in late January and have been stuck in verification limbo for weeks. What's been most helpful for me is keeping detailed records of every call, including the representative's ID number and exactly what they told me. The inconsistent information is maddening, but having those records helped when I finally reached someone who could actually see my full account status. One thing that might help while you're waiting for the Social Security card - call your local SSA office directly and ask about expedited processing due to IRS verification needs. Some offices can flag your request as urgent for tax purposes. Also, if you have any other documents with your child's SSN on them (like tax documents from previous years, insurance cards, or medical records), bring those as backup even though they might not accept them. I've heard some TAC offices are more flexible than others depending on your specific situation. The financial strain is real - I totally get it. Have you looked into whether your state has any emergency assistance programs while you're waiting? Some states offer short-term help specifically for tax refund delays.

ur good fam just gotta wait it out. banks be moving slow af with these deposits sometimes

I work in tax prep and can confirm that California FTB is usually very transparent about offsets on their status page. Since you're not seeing any offset language and the TOP hotline cleared you, you should be good to go! The 10 business day window starts from the authorization date (Feb 4), so you're still within normal timeframes. Some banks can take an extra day or two to process government deposits, especially if they do additional verification. Hang tight - your refund should hit soon!

Has anyone else noticed that the IRS sometimes flags returns with newly issued SSNs for review? This happened to my sister. It didn't mean anything was wrong, but her refund was delayed by like 8 weeks. Might want to file early if you can!

I had a very similar situation when I got my SSN in late 2023! Just wanted to confirm what others have said and add a few practical tips: You're absolutely eligible for both credits. The Child Tax Credit has no timing requirements for when YOU got your SSN - only that your daughter has a valid SSN (which she does). For EIC, as long as you have your SSN by the filing deadline, you're good. A few things that helped me: 1. Keep all documentation showing when you received your SSN - sometimes they ask for verification 2. If you're using tax software, it might flag your return as "unusual" but don't worry, that's normal for first-time filers 3. Consider filing a paper return if the software gives you trouble - I had issues with TurboTax not recognizing my situation properly Also, make sure you understand the income limits for both credits. EIC has pretty generous limits especially with a qualifying child, but CTC starts phasing out at higher incomes. Good luck with your filing!

Just wondering - does being in CNC status stop penalties and interest from accruing on the tax debt? I'm considering applying for it myself.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Got the 433-F request after being in CNC for about 20 months. I was terrified they were going to kick me out because my freelance income had gone up slightly. Here's what I learned: The key is being thorough and honest about ALL your expenses, not just focusing on income changes. Document everything - rent, utilities, groceries, car payments, insurance, medical costs, childcare, etc. The IRS uses standard allowable living expense amounts, but they'll consider documented expenses above those standards if you can prove they're necessary. In my case, even though my income increased by about $6k annually, my rent had gone up significantly and I had new prescription costs that weren't there before. I made sure to include every receipt and explanation. They kept me in CNC status because my actual ability to pay hadn't really improved. The review process took about 6 weeks total from when I submitted the form. Don't ignore it - that's the one thing that will definitely get you kicked out of CNC. But don't panic either. If your financial situation is still legitimately tight, you'll likely be fine.