My brother did this exact thing last year. His return was accepted with the wrong status. He had to file an amended return and wait 16 weeks for processing. The difference was about $3,200 in additional refund by switching from Single to Head of Household. Worth the hassle for that amount. Don't wait for the IRS to catch it - they might not. Just file the amendment as soon as your original return is processed.

I've been dealing with IRS filing status corrections for years as a tax preparer, and Diego's advice is spot-on. Your return will almost certainly be accepted with the Single status - the IRS doesn't cross-reference filing status changes in real-time during initial processing. Here's what I recommend based on your situation: 1. **Don't panic** - this is more common than you think 2. **Monitor your return status** - once it's accepted (usually within 24-48 hours), start preparing your 1040X 3. **Calculate the difference** - HoH typically saves $1,500-$4,000 depending on income and dependents 4. **File the amendment promptly** - current processing times are 16-20 weeks for paper 1040X forms The key thing to remember is that you're likely overpaying taxes with the Single status, so this correction will work in your favor. Just be patient with the amendment process - it's slow but straightforward. Keep all your documentation and don't hesitate to follow up if it takes longer than 20 weeks.

Don't panic - this is such a common situation for new homeowners! I went through something very similar when I first bought my house and got completely overwhelmed by all the different payment systems. Since you just mailed the check yesterday, your first move should be calling your bank to see if you can stop payment before it gets processed. Most banks charge around $25-35 for this service, but it's much faster than waiting weeks for a county refund. If the check has already cleared, call your county tax assessor's office and explain the situation. They handle duplicate escrow payments regularly and have standard procedures for refunds. Make sure you have your property tax bill number, property address, and documentation of both payments ready when you call. A few quick tips that helped me: - Call the county office early in the morning when phone lines are less busy - Ask specifically about their refund timeline and whether you're entitled to interest on overpayments - Many counties have online portals where you can track your property's payment history in real-time For next year, check your mortgage account before tax season - most lenders show scheduled escrow disbursements in their online portals. You can also request your annual escrow analysis statement which breaks down exactly what payments your lender will make. You're not an idiot at all - this shows you're being proactive about your tax obligations! The county will sort this out and you'll get your money back.

I'm so glad I found this thread! As someone who just closed on my first home last month, I've been terrified of making exactly this kind of mistake. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational and reassuring. What strikes me most is how this seems to be such a universal new homeowner experience - it really highlights how much we don't know about escrow accounts and property tax coordination when we first buy a house. The real estate classes and mortgage paperwork don't really prepare you for these practical day-to-day situations. I'm taking notes on all the preventive measures people have shared - setting up escrow alerts, checking the annual escrow analysis statement, using online property tax portals to track payments, and creating calendar reminders before tax season. These are exactly the kinds of practical tips that should be included in first-time homebuyer education! For anyone else reading this who's in the same boat as the original poster - the consistent message seems to be: don't panic, call the county office early in the morning with all your documentation ready, ask about interest on overpayments, and know that this is incredibly common and completely fixable. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these homeownership learning curves!

I actually work at a bank and can give you some insight on this. Most banks have strict policies against accepting third-party endorsed government checks, especially tax refunds, due to federal anti-fraud regulations. Even if your mom signs "pay to the order of" and endorses it to you, the vast majority of banks will reject the deposit - both in-person and through mobile deposit. Your best options are: 1) Have your mom cash it at Walmart for about $8 (much cheaper than check cashing stores), 2) Both of you go to your bank together where she can endorse it in front of a teller - some banks allow supervised third-party deposits but will likely hold the funds, or 3) Help her open a basic checking account or get a prepaid card with direct deposit capability. Whatever you do, don't try to deposit an endorsed government check without her being present - that could trigger fraud alerts and cause problems for both your accounts. The IRS takes tax refund fraud very seriously, so it's better to use one of the legitimate alternatives even if it costs a small fee.

I've been helping people with tax issues for years, and this is definitely a tricky situation. The bottom line is that IRS refund checks are Treasury checks with special restrictions - you can't just endorse them over to someone else like a regular check. Your mom's safest and cheapest option is probably Walmart. They'll cash government checks up to $5,000 for just $8, and she can even have them load it directly onto a prepaid MoneyCard if she doesn't want to carry cash. Just make sure she brings two forms of ID. If she absolutely needs your help with banking, both of you would need to go to your bank together so she can endorse it in front of a teller. Even then, many banks will put a hold on the funds and some might still refuse government checks that have been third-party endorsed. For next year, I'd strongly recommend helping her set up direct deposit with a prepaid card that has routing/account numbers. Cards like Chime, NetSpend, or even the Walmart MoneyCard work great for tax refunds and will save her this hassle in the future. Don't risk the "pay to the order of" route - it violates Treasury check rules and could cause problems for both of you with your bank and potentially the IRS.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to chime in on your situation since I recently went through a very similar transition. You're absolutely on the right track with how you're handling everything! One aspect I don't see mentioned yet is making sure you understand how the mortgage interest deduction timing works with your new home. Since you bought during 2024, you can only deduct the mortgage interest that actually accrued during the months you owned the property in 2024. Your 1098 should reflect this correctly, but it's worth double-checking that the dates align with your actual ownership period. Also, regarding your old house that you owned outright - you're correct that you can't claim mortgage interest since there's no mortgage, but you absolutely can deduct the property taxes paid on both properties (subject to the $10,000 SALT cap that others mentioned). One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking which expenses belonged to which property and during what time periods. This made it much easier when I was entering everything into my tax software and gave me confidence I wasn't missing anything or double-counting. Your gradual approach to the transition is actually perfect from a tax perspective - it creates a clear intent to establish the new home as your primary residence while giving you time to properly handle the sale of your old home. You're doing everything right!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some insights from having navigated a very similar situation recently. You're handling this transition exactly right, and I can tell you're being appropriately thorough with your documentation. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already shared is to pay special attention to your homeowners insurance policies during this overlap period. While not directly tax-related, make sure you're properly covered on both properties and that your insurance companies understand which is your primary residence. Some insurers offer different rates or coverage options for primary vs. secondary homes. Also, since you mentioned it's taking longer than expected to prepare your old house for sale, consider keeping a detailed log of any market-ready improvements you're making. While these won't add to your cost basis like major historical improvements, they do count as selling expenses that can reduce your capital gain when you do sell. Your methodical approach with TurboTax and careful expense tracking shows you understand the importance of good documentation. The temporary two-home situation is completely normal during moves, and you're demonstrating clear intent to establish your new house as your primary residence. Keep doing exactly what you're doing - you're well-prepared for a smooth tax filing and eventual sale of your old property!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is to make sure you check if your address on file with the IRS is current. Since you filed that 2011 return so late (last year), if they've been trying to send you notices or even a refund check to an old address, that could explain why you haven't heard anything about that $675 credit. You can update your address through your IRS online account or by filing Form 8822. This is especially important because if they do issue a refund check and it gets returned as undeliverable, the IRS will typically hold the funds but won't automatically reissue the check - you'd have to contact them to get it resent to your current address. Also, double-check that the bank account information they have on file is still valid if you originally requested direct deposit on that 2011 return. Banks sometimes close old accounts, and if the direct deposit fails, the IRS will mail a paper check instead.

Something else worth mentioning - if you do end up calling the IRS about that $675 credit, try calling first thing in the morning (around 7-8 AM local time) on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Monday and Friday tend to have the highest call volumes, and afternoons are generally busier too. Also, when you do get through to an agent, ask them to put a "case note" on your account documenting the conversation and what actions they're taking. This creates a paper trail in their system, so if you need to call back later, the next agent can see exactly what was discussed and what steps were already initiated. I learned this the hard way after having to explain my situation from scratch multiple times to different agents. Having those case notes saved me so much frustration on follow-up calls.