This is an incredibly frustrating situation that unfortunately affects more ERC recipients than most people realize. Based on your description, it sounds like there was likely a processing error where your EIN or business information got cross-referenced with another company's details in the Treasury payment system. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. File a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov. They handle cases involving potential fraud or systemic errors in tax processing. Your situation - where checks with your payment amounts were cashed by a completely different business - suggests either a processing error or potential fraud that TIGTA needs to investigate. 2. Document everything meticulously. Create a timeline showing when you filed for ERC, when payments should have been issued, when you filed Form 3911, and when you received the Bureau's response. Include copies of all correspondence and the fraudulent checks they sent you. 3. Consider filing a police report for check fraud. Even though these are government checks, someone cashing checks that weren't meant for them could constitute fraud, and having a police report number can help when dealing with government agencies. 4. Contact your congressional representative's office. They have direct lines to both the IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service that can often resolve cases that get stuck in normal channels. Bring all your documentation and explain that you're caught between two agencies that won't take responsibility. Don't give up - this kind of error is resolvable, but it requires persistence and the right approach. The fact that the amounts match your expected ERC payments but the business details are completely wrong strongly suggests a systematic processing error rather than a simple mix-up.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that worked for me after months of getting nowhere. I ended up filing a complaint through the Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS) - now called the Bureau of the Fiscal Service - using their online complaint portal. What's different about this approach is that it goes directly to their Check Claims Division rather than through general customer service. The portal is at fiscal.treasury.gov and you can file under "Payment Inquiry" then select "Treasury Check Issues." The key is being very specific in your complaint description. I wrote something like: "ERC check traced as cashed but endorsement shows different business name and signature. Requesting investigation of check endorsement fraud and reissuance of proper payment." Within 2 weeks, I received a call from an actual Check Claims specialist (not just a general rep) who could see the full chain of what happened with my payment. They immediately recognized it as a known processing error and initiated a formal investigation. The specialist explained that when these errors happen, they need to verify that the business who cashed the checks wasn't legitimately entitled to them before issuing replacements. But once they confirmed the endorsement was completely wrong for my account, replacement checks were processed within 3 weeks. Sometimes going directly to the source - the actual department that processes these payments - can bypass all the finger-pointing between different agencies. Worth trying alongside the other excellent suggestions in this thread!

Not sure if anyone already mentioned this but if your boyfriend claims your daughter, he might qualify for Head of Household filing status instead of Single which could save him a lot more on taxes. But he has to pay more than half the cost of keeping up the home (rent, utilities, food, etc) where both of you and daughter lived for more than half the year.

One thing nobody's mentioned - if your income is only $13,500, you might actually benefit MORE from claiming your daughter yourself because of the Earned Income Credit. Depending on your situation, this could potentially be worth more than your boyfriend's tax savings from the dependent deduction.

The 570 and 971 codes can definitely be nerve-wracking when you first see them! I had these exact same codes last year and went through the whole process. The 570 code means your refund is temporarily on hold while the IRS reviews something in your return - it's not necessarily bad news, just means they need to verify something before releasing your money. The 971 code with the October date means they issued (or will issue) a notice explaining what they need. Since it's dated 10-22-2024, you should be getting a letter soon if you haven't already. This could be anything from identity verification (very common) to them needing additional documentation about your income or deductions. Your refund calculation looks correct based on what you've shared - $7,037 in withholdings minus your tax liability should give you a substantial refund. The key is responding quickly to whatever letter they send you. In my case, it was just identity verification through their online portal, and once I completed that, my refund processed within about 6 weeks. Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates and watch your mail closely. Most people with 570/971 codes do get their refunds - it's just a matter of patience and responding promptly to their requests. You've got this!

Hey, I just wanted to chime in since I literally went through this exact scenario about 6 months ago - same codes, similar amounts, and the same panic! The 570/971 combo is super common and usually resolves fine, though I know it doesn't feel that way when you're staring at your transcript. From your numbers, it looks like you should be getting a refund of $6,279 ($7,037 withholdings - $1,658 tax liability), not the full $7,037. The 570 code from May means they put a hold on processing your refund right away, and the 971 from October means they're sending you a notice explaining why. In my case, the letter took about 10 days to arrive after the 971 date, and it was requesting identity verification through their ID.me portal. Once I completed that (took maybe 15 minutes online), my transcript updated with a 571 code (reversal of the 570) within about 4 weeks, and I got my refund deposit 2 weeks after that. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but try not to stress too much - the vast majority of these reviews resolve in the taxpayer's favor. Just keep checking your mail and respond immediately when that letter comes. You've got this! 💪

One thing to consider is the software each uses. I've worked with Drake (which Liberty often uses) and H&R Block's proprietary software. Block's system is more user-friendly but also more restrictive in some ways. Liberty offices can sometimes use different software depending on the franchise owner, which can be confusing if you transfer between locations.

As someone who's been preparing taxes for over 8 years, I'd strongly recommend going with H&R Block if you're serious about this as a career path. The software-based training will serve you much better in the real world. When I started at Liberty years ago, all that manual preparation felt thorough but was honestly pretty useless once I got on the job and had to use actual tax software with clients. H&R Block also has much better support during tax season. At Liberty, you're often on your own if you run into complex situations, but Block has experienced preparers and managers available to help walk you through tricky returns. One more thing - Block's brand recognition brings in more clients, which means more experience for you and potentially more hours/income. Liberty locations can really struggle to get foot traffic depending on the area. If advancement is important to you, Block is definitely the way to go. I've seen people go from seasonal preparer to year-round tax professional to office manager within a few years. That path is much less clear at Liberty. Good luck with whatever you choose!

y'all should just get married tbh makes taxes way easier js 💅

Another thing to consider - make sure you understand the difference between a "qualifying child" and "qualifying relative" for tax purposes. Since your daughter is 6 and lived with you both all year, she'd likely be considered a qualifying child if your boyfriend provided more than half her support. But as others mentioned, you as the biological parent have the first right to claim her. The Form 8332 is definitely the way to go if you want to release that claim. Also worth noting that whoever claims her can potentially get the Child Tax Credit too, which could be significant depending on income levels.