Your probably in a higher tax bracket now with both incomes combined. Its like the govt thinks your making less than you are when each W2 gets procesed separately so they take less tax. Then when you combine them its like "surprise you make more than we thought so give us more money now!" I had this same problm last year when I had two jobs. My tax guy said to always check the "withhold at higher single rate" box on your W4 if you have multiple income sources or just put an extra $50 per check in the "additional withholding" line. Saves the surprize bill in April!

This exact thing happened to me last year! The frustrating part is that both payroll systems were technically calculating withholding "correctly" based on what they knew, but they had incomplete information. What helped me understand it was thinking about it like this: if you make $30k total but each payroll system only sees $15k, they each calculate withholding as if you're in the lower tax brackets for the full year. But when the IRS sees your actual $30k income, some of that money should have been taxed at higher rates. For next year, I'd definitely recommend using the IRS withholding calculator mid-year to check if you're on track. You can also ask HR to withhold an extra $20-30 per paycheck on your W-4 form (line 4c) as a buffer. Better to get a small refund than owe money again! The good news is that once you understand why it happened, it's pretty easy to prevent in the future. Just gotta make sure your withholding accounts for your total expected income, not just what each individual employer sees.

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed my MI-1040 and homestead credit on February 6th and it went into manual review status on February 13th. This is my first time dealing with this and I was really stressed thinking I did something wrong on my return. Reading all these comments is actually making me feel so much better - it sounds like this is just standard procedure when you claim the homestead property tax credit. The June timeline is definitely frustrating since I was hoping to use my refund for some home repairs, but at least now I know what to expect. Has anyone tried calling the Treasury department or is it really not worth it like Grace mentioned? I'm tempted to call just to see if there's any additional info they can give, but if it won't speed things up then maybe I should just wait it out 🤷‍♀️

Going through the exact same thing! Filed my MI-1040 and homestead credit on February 3rd and it switched to manual review on February 10th. I've been checking eServices like every other day hoping for updates but nothing yet. This thread is honestly so helpful - I had no idea this was normal for homestead credit claims! The June timeline is definitely a bummer since I was planning to use my refund for some bills, but at least now I know what to expect. It's wild that Michigan's system flags these credits so consistently for manual review. You'd think after all these years they'd have a more streamlined process, but I guess property verification just takes time. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel way less anxious about the whole situation! 😅

I just went through this exact scenario! Filed my missing 2021 return via fax on February 28th after getting the 570/971 codes on my 2024 refund. My transcript updated on March 14th with an 846 code and the refund was deposited 3 days later. The whole process took about 16 days from fax to deposit. A few tips that helped me: - Include a cover letter explaining you're filing to release your 2024 refund hold - Reference your current year case number if you have one - Keep checking your transcript every few days for updates - Don't panic if it takes the full 2-3 weeks they quote The IRS seems to be handling these cases pretty efficiently right now. Good luck with yours!

I'm currently going through this same situation! Got the 570/971 codes on my 2024 transcript about 10 days ago when I realized I never filed my 2021 return (long story involving a move and some personal issues that year). I faxed my 2021 return on March 5th to the Cincinnati processing center with a cover letter explaining the situation. So far no updates on my transcript, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it should resolve within the next week or two. One question for those who've been through this - did you get any kind of notice or letter from the IRS before you noticed the hold codes on your transcript? I'm wondering if I missed something in the mail or if the transcript codes are typically the first indication of the issue. Thanks for starting this thread @Malik Robinson - it's really helpful to hear from others in the same boat!

I had this exact same thing happen to me two years ago and it was so confusing! I was expecting my refund from the IRS and instead got a deposit from some company I'd never heard of. Like others have mentioned, SBTPG is basically the middleman that TurboTax uses when you choose to have your fees taken out of your refund. The thing that really annoyed me was how they make this sound like a simple convenience during filing, but don't clearly explain that you're actually paying an extra fee AND your refund gets delayed while it goes through their system first. I remember checking the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool and seeing that my refund had been sent, but then waiting several more days for SBTPG to actually deposit it in my account. Ever since then, I just pay the TurboTax fees with my debit card when I file. It's so much simpler - you get your full refund amount directly from the IRS without any third party involved. The peace of mind is worth not having to wonder if some random company legitimately has your money!

This whole SBTPG situation is exactly why I switched to FreeTaxUSA a few years ago. I got tired of TurboTax's hidden fees and confusing third-party arrangements. With FreeTaxUSA, federal filing is completely free for simple returns, and even their deluxe version is way cheaper than TurboTax without all these middleman complications. When you file with them, your refund comes directly from the IRS - no SBTPG, no extra processing fees, no delays. I know it's too late for this year, but definitely worth considering for next tax season. I've saved hundreds of dollars over the years by switching away from TurboTax's fee structure. Sometimes the "big name" tax software isn't worth the premium you pay!

I've been through this exact nightmare! The key issue is timing - since your excess contribution removal was processed in early 2026 but for 2025 tax year contributions, there's a coordination gap between your HSA custodian and employer. Here's what worked for me: Contact CompanyFirst's payroll department (not general HR) and specifically request a "Form W-2c for HSA excess contribution adjustment." Use those exact words. Tell them the HSA custodian processed an excess contribution removal that needs to be reflected on your W-2 for accurate tax reporting. If they claim HealthSavings said "nothing needs to be done," ask them to provide written documentation of this communication. Most companies can't actually produce this because the HSA custodian typically doesn't proactively contact employers about reversals. Also, get a written statement from HealthSavings confirming they processed an excess contribution removal for tax year 2025. This document should include the original contribution amount and the corrected amount that should appear on your W-2. If CompanyFirst still refuses, you can absolutely file using the correct amounts on Form 8889 and attach an explanation statement detailing your attempts to get the W-2 corrected. Include copies of all relevant documentation from HealthSavings.

I'm going through this exact situation right now and it's incredibly frustrating! The communication breakdown between HSA custodians and former employers seems to be a common issue. One thing that helped me was escalating within my former company. Instead of dealing with general HR, I asked to speak with their benefits administrator or the person who handles HSA reporting specifically. They understood the issue immediately and explained that they need to coordinate with their payroll provider to issue the W-2c. The key document you need from HealthSavings is called a "Distribution Statement" or "Excess Contribution Removal Notice" that specifically shows the adjustment was for 2025 tax year contributions. This document should have your SSN, the original contribution amount, the excess amount removed, and importantly, the tax year it applies to (2025). Take this document to CompanyFirst and explain that their W-2 overstates your HSA contribution because of the subsequent excess removal. Most payroll departments understand this once they see the official documentation. If they still won't budge, document everything and file with Form 8889 showing the correct amounts. I've heard from multiple people that the IRS rarely questions this as long as you have proper documentation and include an explanation statement with your return.