Does anyone know if you could get in trouble with the IRS for not filing if you were actually owed a refund? I'm in a similar situation - didn't file for 3 years but I think I had too much withheld from my paychecks.

Hey Sean, I totally understand the anxiety you're feeling - I went through something similar a few years back! The good news is that with income levels around $8k-$10k per year, you were likely below the filing threshold for some of those years anyway (the standard deduction would have covered most of your income). Here's what I'd recommend: First, don't ignore it any longer - it's better to be proactive. Contact the IRS to get wage transcripts for those years (Form 4506-T) so you can see exactly what was reported. You'll probably find that you had taxes withheld and are actually owed refunds! The IRS generally won't penalize you for late filing if you're owed a refund, but you do lose the right to claim refunds after 3 years from the original due date. So if you had refunds coming for 2021, you need to file by April 15, 2025 to claim them. Don't let this stress consume you - tackle it step by step and you'll get through it. The IRS deals with situations like this all the time, and they're generally reasonable when you're making an effort to get compliant.

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who just got married last year and is about to file MFJ for the first time, this has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. The technical explanations about the Master File system and batch processing cycles really help explain why the delays happen rather than it just being random IRS inefficiency. One thing I'm curious about: for those who experienced the typical 1-2 week delay as secondary taxpayers, did you notice any difference in how quickly other IRS tools updated? For example, did the "Where's My Refund" tool show information for both spouses at the same time, or did that also have a delay for secondary taxpayers? Just trying to understand if this processing delay affects all IRS online tools or just the transcript access specifically. Also, I really appreciate everyone mentioning the importance of having verified accounts set up beforehand. We're planning to file in a few weeks, so I'm going to make sure we both get our accounts fully verified now rather than scrambling later. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for taking the time to share your real experiences!

As a tax professional who's helped hundreds of couples navigate their first joint filing, I can confirm everything shared here is accurate! Both spouses absolutely will have access to joint return transcripts in their individual IRS accounts, but the timing difference for secondary taxpayers is completely normal and expected. What I tell my clients is to think of it like a two-stage rocket launch - the IRS processes primary taxpayer access first through their Master File system, then runs a secondary batch process for spouse records typically within 5-14 business days. This isn't a glitch or problem, it's literally how their system architecture is designed. A few additional tips from my experience: • Set up your verified IRS accounts NOW, not when you need transcripts • Make sure your SSN appears correctly on Line 6b of Form 1040 • The transcripts will be identical regardless of which spouse views them • Don't call the IRS about this delay - it's standard processing Since you mentioned being between gigs, having your own transcript access will be valuable for employment verification, loan applications, or any situation where you need to prove income independently. The wait can feel frustrating, but it's worth having that direct access to your tax information!

Quick question about e-filing in this situation - has anyone successfully e-filed with no full-year state residency? When I tried last year, TurboTax kept giving me errors and forcing me to choose a "home state" even though I didn't have one.

This is actually a pretty common situation for people with mobile lifestyles! You're correct that you can be a non-resident or part-year resident in all states you lived in without being a full-year resident anywhere. One thing to double-check though - make sure you understand Colorado's rules about "domicile" vs "residency." Even if you weren't there 183+ days, if Colorado considers itself your domicile (basically your permanent home base where you intend to return), they might still try to claim you as a full-year resident for tax purposes. Since your mail goes to your friend's place there and you're returning there, you might want to clarify this with Colorado's tax department. Also, since you've been in South America since September, depending on how your income was structured and how long you stay abroad, you might qualify for some foreign income exclusions on your federal return. Worth looking into if you're doing any work while traveling. Keep all your documentation (lease agreements, employment contracts, travel records) - the IRS and state agencies love clear timelines when dealing with multi-state situations like yours.

Let me share a specific example from today: My brother and I both have Capital One accounts. We both had DDDs of 2/22. His refund ($1,850) hit his account at 11:42am today. Mine ($3,275) didn't deposit until 3:18pm. Same bank, same DDD, different processing times. It's like waiting for a train that runs on its own mysterious schedule - it'll get there when it gets there, but it's definitely coming.

Just wanted to update everyone - my Capital One deposit hit at 6:47am this morning! DDD was 2/24 so it came exactly one day early. For those still waiting, don't panic if yours doesn't show up today. Capital One definitely processes in waves and I've noticed they seem to prioritize accounts with longer banking history first. My account has been open for 4 years and I've had direct deposit set up the whole time. Also, make sure you're checking both your available balance AND pending transactions - mine showed as pending for about 2 hours before fully posting to my account.

Code 846 is definitely a good sign! That March 9th date is when the IRS officially releases your refund for direct deposit. In my experience, most people get their money on that exact date or sometimes even a day early if their bank processes it quickly. Since March 9th is a Saturday this year, some banks might actually deposit it on Friday the 8th, while others could delay until Monday the 11th. I'd suggest checking with your bank about their weekend deposit policy just to be safe. The stress with kids and bills is totally understandable - once you see that 846 code though, you're basically in the clear! The IRS has approved everything and sent it to Treasury for payment.

Code 846 is great news! That means your refund has been approved and is scheduled to be released on March 9th. Since you mentioned you're planning everything down to the day with bills and daycare, just keep in mind that March 9th is a Saturday this year. Some banks will process it on Friday March 8th, while others might hold it until Monday March 11th depending on their weekend policies. I'd recommend calling your bank to ask about their government deposit processing on weekends - that way you can plan your bill payments accordingly. The stress with multiple kids and expenses piling up is so real, but seeing that 846 code means you're basically home free! The IRS has done their part and sent it to Treasury for payment.