Just to add another perspective - if you can't get the ITIN situation figured out, there are still ways to minimize the tax hit from filing MFS. Make sure you're maximizing all available deductions and credits that you're eligible for under MFS status. Look into whether you qualify for the Saver's Credit, education credits if applicable, or if you have any business expenses that could be deducted. Sometimes the difference between MFJ and MFS can be reduced significantly through careful planning.

I'm really sorry you're going through this difficult situation. Based on what I've read in this thread, it sounds like your best bet might be to dig through those old immigration papers as Sofia suggested. Even if your spouse took most documents when they left, the USCIS copies from your green card application process should have certified copies of their passport, birth certificate, and other identifying documents that could work for the ITIN application. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to document the abandonment for your records. Keep any evidence you have of attempts to contact your spouse, the divorce filing paperwork, and any proof that they left the country. While this won't help with your immediate tax situation, it could be useful if the IRS ever questions your filing status or the circumstances around your ITIN application. Also, if you do find the documentation you need for the ITIN, remember that you can file Form W-7 together with your 1040 and don't need to wait for the ITIN to be processed first. The IRS will process both together, though it does take longer than a typical return. Have you considered reaching out to a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program? They often have experience with complex situations involving non-resident alien spouses and might be able to help you navigate this at no cost.

Depends on if you got any 'special' codes. Mine got the infamous 570 and now im stuck in verification hell

Been in the same boat! Filed 2 weeks ago and just got my first transcript update yesterday. Like others said, Friday mornings seem to be when most updates happen. Don't stress too much about checking daily - the IRS moves at their own pace regardless of how often we refresh that page 😅

Do you know the total amount of gifts your aunt gave throughout her lifetime? The lifetime exemption is pretty high (over $12 million), but if she was very wealthy and had already used up a lot of her exemption, it could affect the tax situation for her estate.

Since you mentioned your aunt was a retired teacher who was good with saving and investing, it's very unlikely she exceeded the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. Even if she made occasional large gifts over the years, the current exemption is $13.61 million per person for 2024 (and will be even higher for 2025), so most people never come close to owing actual gift tax. As the executor, you'll want to look through her financial records to see if she ever filed Form 709 in previous years - that would tell you if she made other large gifts that used up part of her exemption. But honestly, with a $22,000 gift being notable enough for you to worry about, it sounds like she probably stayed well within the exemption limits. The main thing is just making sure you file that Form 709 for the year she made the gift to you, even if no tax is actually owed. It's more about proper documentation than owing money to the IRS.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my uncle's property right now, and I wanted to share something that might be helpful. We discovered that the IRS has a specific form (Form 12277, Application for Withdrawal of Filed Notice of Federal Tax Lien) that can be used when liens were filed in error or have expired but haven't been properly removed from public records. What's particularly relevant to your situation is that we found out the IRS sometimes continues to show liens in their systems even after the 10-year collection period has expired, especially if there were any actions that legally extended the collection period (like offers in compromise, collection due process hearings, or bankruptcy filings). These extensions aren't always obvious from the original lien documents. Here's what I'd suggest based on our experience: First, request a complete Account Transcript from the IRS for your father's tax years in question (Form 4506-T). This will show the actual assessment dates, any payments made, and importantly, any actions that might have extended the collection statute of limitations. You'll need your father's authorization for this, but it's crucial information. Second, if you do find that the liens have truly expired, the Form 12277 process can be much faster than a quiet title action and costs nothing beyond the time to prepare the paperwork properly. Regarding timing of the transfer, one consideration I haven't seen mentioned is that if your father is elderly or in poor health, Medicare/Medicaid lookback periods might come into play. Transferring a valuable asset within 5 years of potentially needing long-term care could create eligibility issues. The mortgage situation definitely needs immediate attention regardless of the lien issues. Many servicers have forbearance programs that can pause payments for 3-6 months while you sort out the ownership and lien questions, which might give you the breathing room you need to make informed decisions rather than rushed ones.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm seeing so many practical steps we hadn't considered! As someone new to dealing with tax liens, I want to emphasize how important it seems to be to get that complete picture from the IRS Account Transcript that several people mentioned. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed: Are there any specific timelines or deadlines we should be aware of when dealing with expired liens? I'm wondering if there's a statute of limitations on requesting lien withdrawals for expired liens, or if the IRS becomes less cooperative the longer these things sit in their system. Also, for anyone who's been through the Form 12277 process - roughly how long did it take from submission to getting the lien actually removed from county records? I'm trying to understand if this is something that could realistically be resolved in weeks or if we're looking at months. The mortgage forbearance advice is definitely something we're going to pursue immediately. It sounds like that could give us the breathing room to properly investigate all these lien issues without the pressure of losing the house to foreclosure while we're still figuring things out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's given us a much clearer path forward than we had before!

Just a warning - I filed on February 1st and still haven't received my refund (it's been almost 10 weeks now)! The Where's My Refund tool just says "Your return is still being processed." I've tried calling but can't get through. I'm wondering if it's because I claimed the recovery rebate credit for a missing stimulus payment? Has anyone else experienced long delays this year? Really regretting not paying the extra $40 for audit protection through my tax software now. 😫

Hey Amaya! Don't stress too much - your brother is probably being overly cautious. The 21-day timeline from TurboTax is actually pretty accurate for most straightforward returns, especially with direct deposit and electronic filing like you did. The 2-3 months your brother mentioned might be from horror stories he's heard or maybe he had complications with his own returns. The 120 days you saw online is usually the absolute worst-case scenario for paper returns or returns with major issues. Since you're 22 and this is your first return, it's probably pretty simple - just W-2 income, standard deduction, maybe student loan interest? Those typically process right on schedule. I'd expect your refund within 2-3 weeks if everything's clean. One tip: download the IRS2Go app and check "Where's My Refund" in about a week. It'll give you a much better idea of your actual timeline than generic estimates. And being in Denver won't affect processing time - it's all done electronically at IRS service centers. You've got this! First-time filing is always nerve-wracking but you did everything right by e-filing with direct deposit.