Has anyone mentioned the premium tax credit? If either of you gets health insurance through the marketplace, that could be another factor in deciding who claims the kid. It can drastically affect subsidy amounts.

This is such a complex situation with so many moving pieces! As someone who works in tax prep, I see this exact scenario all the time with unmarried couples. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing consideration - make sure you're both on the same page about who's claiming your son BEFORE either of you files. The IRS will reject the second return that tries to claim the same dependent, and then you'll have to file an amended return to fix it, which delays everything. Also, since you mentioned daycare costs, don't forget about Dependent Care FSAs if either of your employers offers them. You can set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax for childcare expenses, which is separate from the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The person whose employer offers the FSA can use it regardless of who claims the child as a dependent on their tax return. With your income levels ($110k vs $16k), my gut says the lower earner claiming the child will probably result in better overall household savings due to EIC, but definitely run the numbers both ways. The difference could be significant - I've seen it swing $2,000-4,000 either direction depending on the specific circumstances.

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.

Has anyone dealt with selling a jointly owned house after divorce? We're in a similar situation where we need to sell, and I'm wondering about tax implications. Do we still get the full $500k capital gains exclusion if we sell after the divorce is final or does it drop to $250k each?

I went through a very similar situation last year when my divorce was finalized in October. The December 31st rule is unfortunately ironclad - once you're divorced, you cannot file jointly for that tax year, period. Even though it feels unfair since you were married most of the year, the IRS only looks at your status on the last day. For the dependency claim on your daughter, this will likely follow your divorce decree and actual custody arrangement. Since your ex is getting primary custody, they'll probably have the right to claim her unless you negotiate otherwise in your agreement. Some couples alternate years or the non-custodial parent gets other tax benefits in exchange. Regarding Head of Household status - this could be possible if you end up with your daughter for more than 183 nights AND pay more than half the household expenses. But with a 60/40 split favoring your ex, you'd need to carefully count the nights to see if you qualify. One piece of advice: document everything now while you're still working through the divorce. Keep records of who pays what household expenses, track overnight stays, and make sure your divorce agreement is very specific about tax-related issues. This will save you headaches later and prevent disputes with your ex about who claims what.

Last year I was in the same boat trying to reach them for 2 weeks straight! What finally worked was calling on a Wednesday at exactly 7:01am Eastern. I got through after only a 20-minute wait. The agent told me Wednesdays are typically their lowest volume day. Also, have a copy of your previous year's return handy - they asked me random questions like line 11 from my 2022 return and the exact amount of my state tax refund from 2021. Good luck!

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same situation last month. After 12 days of failed attempts, I finally got through using a combination of strategies from this thread. Here's what worked for me: Called on a Tuesday at 7:02am Eastern (not exactly 7am - seems like everyone calls right at 7). Used the direct TPP line 1-800-830-5084 and when the automated system answered, I waited about 8 seconds before selecting any options. Got through after a 52-minute hold. Pro tip: Before calling, gather EVERYTHING - your current return, last 2-3 years of returns, W2s, 1099s, and any IRS letters. They asked me about my 2021 AGI, my spouse's SSN, and the exact amount on line 25 of my 2022 return. Having it all ready made the verification process smooth. The agent also mentioned that if you've moved recently or had any major life changes (marriage, divorce, job change), that often triggers the identity verification. Hope this helps and you get through soon!

I went through something very similar a few years back - missing W2s from 2016 and feeling completely overwhelmed about where to start. Here's what I learned from my experience: The IRS wage and income transcript really is your best bet, and it's easier than it sounds. I was able to get mine online within minutes once I created an account on irs.gov. The transcript shows all the income that was reported to the IRS for that year, which is essentially what your W2s would have shown. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - don't stress too much about getting the exact W2 format. The transcript has all the numbers you need to file your return. The boxes might be labeled slightly differently, but the information is all there. Also, I'd strongly recommend tackling this sooner rather than later. I kept putting it off because it felt so daunting, but once I actually started the process, it was much more straightforward than I expected. The penalties do keep adding up, but the IRS is generally pretty reasonable to work with once you're making an effort to get compliant. If you get stuck at any point, don't hesitate to call the IRS directly. I know their wait times can be brutal, but the agents I spoke with were actually quite helpful in walking me through what I needed to do.

I'm just jumping in as someone who's dealt with similar tax issues - wanted to mention that if you're planning to use any of the online services people have recommended (like taxr.ai or Claimyr), make sure to read their privacy policies carefully before uploading any personal tax information. While these services might be legitimate and helpful, you want to understand how they handle your sensitive financial data. Also, a free alternative that might work for your situation is contacting a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. These are IRS-certified volunteers who help people with tax issues for free, and they're usually very knowledgeable about dealing with missing documents and back taxes. You can find locations near you on the IRS website. They might be able to help you navigate the whole process without any fees, and they're trained specifically on IRS procedures. One last thing - when you do get your wage transcript and start filing that 2017 return, consider using tax software that can handle prior year returns. TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, and others have versions specifically for past years that will calculate the penalties correctly and make sure you're filing everything properly. Good luck getting this sorted out!