As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the detailed advice everyone's sharing! Sean, it definitely sounds like you qualify for Head of Household status based on your situation. One thing I'd add that I learned from my own divorce process - make sure to keep a calendar or journal documenting which days the kids were with you versus your ex. The IRS uses the "more than half the year" test (183 days), and having clear records can be crucial if there's ever a dispute. Also, since you mentioned your ex wants to file jointly "one last time," remember that you both have to agree to file jointly - you can't be forced into it just because you're still legally married. The tax savings from HOH status are usually substantial, especially with two kids. Don't let the complexity intimidate you - it sounds like you have a straightforward case that meets all the requirements!

Welcome to the community Sean! As a newcomer here, I've been following this discussion and wanted to add something that might be helpful. Beyond just qualifying for Head of Household status, you should also look into whether you're eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as an HOH filer with two kids. The income limits and credit amounts are much more favorable for HOH than for married filing separately. Also, since you mentioned paying the mortgage, make sure you're claiming any mortgage interest deduction if you're itemizing. With HOH status, you might find that itemizing gives you a better outcome than the standard deduction, especially if you have significant mortgage interest, state taxes, and other deductible expenses from maintaining the household. One last thing - if your separation agreement or any court orders specify who claims the kids as dependents, make sure your tax filing aligns with those legal documents. Sometimes there are specific requirements about alternating years or splitting the children between parents. Good luck with your filing!

Has anybody used the routine maintenance safe harbor for something like this? It states that if you expect to perform the activity more than once during the property's ADS class life, you can expense it. If this coating needs to be reapplied every 10-15 years, and the ADS class life for residential rental is 40 years, seems like it could qualify?

Based on the discussion here, I think you're definitely on the right track with capitalization. The $130k cost and life-extending nature clearly makes this a betterment under Reg. 1.263(a)-3. For the depreciation period, I'd strongly recommend getting documentation from the coating manufacturer about the expected useful life. If they provide specs showing the coating itself lasts 10-15 years (separate from the underlying roof structure), you may be able to treat it as a building component with its own recovery period rather than defaulting to the full 27.5 years for residential rental property. The key is establishing that the coating has a determinable useful life that's shorter than the building itself. Save any manufacturer warranties, technical specifications, or contractor documentation that speaks to the coating's expected lifespan - that could be your justification for a shorter depreciation period if you get questioned later. Just make sure whatever position you take is well-documented in case of audit. The IRS tends to scrutinize these building component arguments pretty closely.

I'm seeing a pattern with Credit Karma refunds this year: • SBTPG funding before 2pm ET: Money typically arrives next morning • SBTPG funding after 2pm ET: Money typically arrives morning of day after next • Weekend SBTPG updates: Almost always delay until Tuesday • Bank holidays: Add 24 hours to expected timeline The Credit Karma subreddit has a megathread tracking this with hundreds of data points. The pattern is pretty consistent.

I had almost the exact same situation! Filed with Credit Karma on March 27th, got my DDD of 4/23, and SBTPG showed funded yesterday around 2:45pm. Still waiting for it to hit my account, but based on what everyone else is saying here, it sounds like we should both see our money tomorrow morning since our funding updates happened in that afternoon window. The consistent 24-48 hour timeline that people are reporting is actually pretty reassuring - at least there's a predictable pattern to this whole process. I'll update tomorrow if mine comes through!

Has anyone received their trace number faster by calling them directly instead of waiting? I've heard some people say calling makes no difference while others claim it speeds things up.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like Santa Barbara TPG is definitely running behind their normal processing times. I'm in a similar situation - got funded last Tuesday with a 02/27 DDD and still waiting for my trace number. What's frustrating is the lack of transparency from TPG about these delays. They should be proactively communicating with customers about extended processing times instead of leaving everyone in the dark. I've been checking my bank account obsessively, which isn't helping my stress levels. For those mentioning calling - I tried their customer service line yesterday and after a 2-hour wait, they basically just confirmed what we already know: they're backed up and processing in batches. The rep couldn't give me a specific timeframe for my trace number. At this point, I'm just planning for the worst-case scenario timeline mentioned here (3-5 business days) and hoping for the best. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a widespread issue and not something specific to my return.

If its any consolation. I'm in the same boat. 2/19 DDD and SBTPG still says awaiting. Tax preparer said it could take a few more days because of high volume this year. They're processing millions of returns at once. Try to be patient even tho I know it sucks when your waiting on ur money.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Had a 2/19 DDD and SBTPG has been stuck on "awaiting transfer" for a week now. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money. I've been checking my bank account obsessively but nothing yet. Reading through these comments though, it sounds like their system is just really behind this year and the website doesn't update in real time. Definitely going to pay upfront next year to avoid this middleman nightmare. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this!