Don't forget to check with your state department of revenue too! IRS offsets are federal, but states can also take your state refund for debts like unpaid tickets, toll violations, etc. I found out the hard way when my state refund vanished last year for a parking ticket from 3 years ago that had doubled with penalties.

I appreciate all the helpful advice here! Just wanted to share my experience from last year when I was in a similar situation. I was worried about a potential offset and called the Treasury Offset Program number (1-800-304-3107) that Emma mentioned. The automated system was really straightforward - it just asked for my SSN and immediately told me I had an offset for an old student loan debt. What I learned is that even if you think you've paid everything off, sometimes there can be administrative delays or errors in the system. In my case, I had made payments but they weren't properly applied to my account. I was able to contact the Department of Education directly and get it sorted out before my refund was taken. One tip: if you do find out there's an offset, don't panic! Many agencies will work with you on payment plans or may even remove the offset if you can prove the debt was paid or there was an error. Just make sure to act quickly once you know about it.

Just a heads up that your state might have different rules about deductions for children and families. I live in California and learned that some states have additional credits or deductions for new parents that aren't available federally. Might be worth checking your state's tax department website to see if there's anything specific you should be documenting.

Speaking as someone who just went through this first last year - one thing nobody mentioned is that if you had a FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account) through your work for healthcare, you DEFINITELY want to keep all those medical receipts for the birth and prenatal care! You can use those accounts to pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free. The midwife, ultrasounds, and birth costs would all qualify for FSA/HSA reimbursement. The baby shower and registry items wouldn't, though.

Think of the injured spouse process like trying to untangle Christmas lights - it takes time and patience. Using Claimyr is like having someone hold the other end of the lights while you work - it doesn't make the process inherently faster, but it can prevent additional frustration. I've used it twice this year when I absolutely needed to speak with an agent about complex issues. It's like paying for a fast pass at an amusement park - the ride is the same length, but you skip the line to get on it.

I went through this exact process last year and can share some helpful insights. Filed my return in February 2023, mailed Form 8379 the same day. The IRS received my paper form about 10 days after mailing (I confirmed by calling), but the actual processing took 13 weeks from the date they received it. Here's what I learned: 1) The WMR tool is basically useless for injured spouse cases - it stayed on "processing" the entire time, 2) Account transcripts are much more informative (look for transaction codes TC 971 and TC 570), and 3) The paper form really does slow things down significantly. Pro tip: if you need to call the IRS, do it on Tuesdays or Wednesdays around 7:30 AM - much shorter wait times. The good news is once they start processing, the refund comes pretty quickly. Hang in there!

Word of advice dont count on early deposit dates. Banks be playin games and IRS moves slower than a snail climbing mount everest 🐌

Been using Chime for 3 years now and can confirm it's usually 2-5 days early like others mentioned. But this year has been weird - some people getting theirs super early, others waiting forever. The key thing is waiting for that 846 code on your transcript with your actual DDD. Once you see that, then you can start counting down for when Chime might release it early. Good luck! 🤞

One thing nobody mentioned yet is that Coverdell accounts give you WAY more investment options than 529 plans. With a 529, you're usually stuck with whatever investment options your state's plan offers (typically target-date funds and some index funds). With a Coverdell, you can invest in pretty much anything - individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, etc. This was a huge factor for me since I wanted more control.

Another consideration is that 529 plans can now be rolled over into Roth IRAs (as of 2024) - up to $35,000 lifetime limit. This is HUGE for flexibility if your kid doesn't use all the 529 funds for education. Coverdells don't have this option.