My sister went through this exact scenario last tax season. Her ex claimed their two kids despite them living with her full-time. You know what happened? The IRS froze both refunds and sent both parents a letter requesting documentation. She sent in school records showing her address, medical bills she paid, and their custody agreement. Guess what? Her ex's tax return was adjusted, the kids were removed from his return, and he had to pay back the refundable credits he'd incorrectly received. The IRS actually handles these situations pretty effectively, don't you think? The key is responding quickly to any IRS notices and having your documentation ready.

I went through something very similar with my ex last year, and I can tell you that the IRS definitely has systems in place to prevent duplicate payments. When there are conflicting dependent claims, they'll typically send CP87A notices to both parties requesting documentation to prove eligibility. The key thing is that since you already received the advance CTC payments and stimulus for the children, the IRS has a record of this and won't automatically issue duplicate credits to your ex-husband. However, your refund processing might be delayed while they sort it out. Make sure you keep all your documentation ready - custody agreements, school enrollment records showing the kids' address, medical records, etc. Also, regarding him claiming you as a dependent - that's clearly incorrect unless you lived with him the entire year and had gross income under $4,700, which doesn't sound like your situation at all. File your return as soon as possible if you haven't already!

I work at a tax firm and here's what you need to know about verification: - ID.me is fastest but can be glitchy - In-person at IRS office is guaranteed but long wait - Phone verification works if you can get through (try calling right when they open) - Mail verification takes 4-6 weeks minimum Honestly tho, upload your transcript to taxr.ai first. It'll tell you if you actually need verification or if there's another hold up. Seen lots of cases where people think they need verification but actually have a different issue blocking their refund.

Another option that worked for me was using the IRS's video call service if you can schedule it. It's like ID.me but through the IRS directly. You still need good lighting and a clear camera, but I found their system was less glitchy than ID.me. Also make sure you have all your documents ready - they'll want to see your ID, Social Security card, and last year's tax return. The whole process took about 20 minutes once I got connected.

Does anyone know if the Schedule C requirements are different if you're selling primarily vintage or antique items on eBay? I'm selling my grandmother's old collection and not sure if this counts as a business or just personal sales. My total is around $5,200 for the year.

Super late to this thread but just wanted to add that if you're filing Schedule C for the first time, don't forget about self-employment tax! I got a nasty surprise my first year selling on eBay when I had to pay an extra 15.3% on my net profit. Set aside more than you think you need for taxes.

This is super frustrating but unfortunately pretty common with SBTPG. The same thing happened to me during tax season 2023 - went from "Funded" to "Unfunded" overnight and I thought I was going crazy! What's likely happening is that SBTPG has already processed your refund and sent it to your bank, but their system shows "Unfunded" during the ACH transfer period. Since your DDD was 3/16 (Friday) and banks don't process over weekends, you're probably looking at Tuesday or Wednesday for it to show up in your account. The "Unknown" status is just their system being glitchy - it doesn't mean your refund info disappeared, it's just not displaying properly during the transfer phase. As long as your WMR still shows approved and your transcript has the 846 code (which you confirmed), your money is on its way. I know it's nerve-wracking when you're expecting $5,678 and the status changes like that, but try to hang in there for a few more business days before worrying too much.

I went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago! My SBTPG status flipped from "Funded" to "Unfunded" with all "Unknown" details and I was convinced something terrible had happened to my refund. Turns out it's just how their system behaves during the handoff process when your money is being transferred from SBTPG to your actual bank. Since your transcript shows the 846 code and WMR still has your 3/16 DDD, the IRS has definitely released your refund. The weekend timing explains why you haven't seen it yet - ACH transfers don't process Saturday/Sunday. I'd expect to see movement by Tuesday or Wednesday. In my case, the money showed up in my account even though SBTPG still showed "Unfunded" for another day after that! Their portal just doesn't update in real-time during transfers. Try to resist checking it obsessively (easier said than done, I know) and give it until Wednesday before getting concerned.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently completed this process! I received a Code 420 letter in December and just got my refund released last week. The whole thing took about 8.5 weeks from submission to resolution. What really helped me was reading threads like this one beforehand - it saved me so much stress knowing what to expect! I ended up following the advice I saw here about organizing everything clearly. I put together birth certificates, school records showing my address, pediatrician records, and a mix of support documentation (daycare receipts, grocery receipts, clothing purchases, etc.). One thing I learned that might help others: when gathering "support" documentation, focus on the big-ticket items first - daycare, medical expenses, school fees. Those clearly show you're providing major financial support. Then supplement with some everyday expenses like groceries or clothing to round out the picture. The IRS reviewer who handled my case actually called me to clarify one small detail about my daughter's school enrollment dates, which was surprisingly helpful and professional. The whole experience was much less intimidating than I expected. For anyone going through this now - you're not alone, it's totally routine, and if you respond promptly with organized documentation, you'll get through it just fine. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but stay patient and trust the process!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now with Code 420! Got the letter about 3 weeks ago and initially panicked thinking I was being audited. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear this is just routine dependent verification, not a full audit like I feared. I've been gathering all the same documents everyone mentioned - birth certificates, school records, medical records, and support documentation. One question I have: for those who included grocery receipts as support proof, did you highlight specific items that were clearly for your kids (like baby formula, children's medicine, etc.) or just include the full receipts? I do all the household shopping so most of my grocery receipts include items for the whole family. Also, has anyone had experience with this process when you have a dependent with special needs? My son has some medical equipment and therapy expenses that are pretty significant - I'm wondering if those would be particularly helpful in demonstrating support since they're clearly child-specific expenses. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - especially about certified mail and organizing everything with a cover letter. This community has made what seemed like a scary situation feel much more manageable!