Thank you everyone for the detailed explanations! As someone new to this community, I really appreciate how thorough and helpful these responses have been. I had the exact same concern when I saw a 960 code on my transcript after using TaxSlayer and choosing the refund transfer option. What struck me most was how this authorization process isn't clearly explained during the filing process - you really have to dig into the fine print to understand what's happening. For anyone else encountering this, I'd recommend keeping screenshots of your filing confirmation emails and checking your transcript periodically to see when the code gets removed. It's also worth noting that some tax prep companies are more transparent about this process than others - might be something to consider when choosing software for next year's filing season.

Great question about opting out! Unfortunately, once you've submitted your return with the refund transfer option selected, you're pretty much locked into that process. The IRS has already received your return with the third-party authorization (hence the 960 code), and they'll send the refund to the designated bank account that FreeTaxUSA set up. However, if you haven't received your refund yet and are really concerned, you could try calling FreeTaxUSA customer service to see if there are any options - though I doubt they can change the routing at this point. For next year, just remember to pay the prep fees upfront if you want to avoid the whole third-party authorization situation altogether. The direct deposit route is cleaner and often faster anyway, especially if you file early in the season. Lesson learned for both of us! 😅

Something nobody has mentioned yet - you should run the numbers BOTH ways before deciding to file MFS for student loan purposes. I did this last year and while my wife's student loan payments were lower with MFS, we ended up paying about $3,800 more in taxes compared to filing jointly. The tax hit came from: 1. Lower tax brackets for MFS filers 2. Loss of certain credits and deductions 3. Both having to itemize when only one of us had enough deductions to make it worthwhile Make sure the student loan payment reduction actually outweighs the increased tax burden!

One thing to double-check - make sure you're both actually liable on the mortgage debt, not just on the deed. The IRS requires that you be legally obligated to pay the debt to claim the interest deduction. If only your husband signed the promissory note, you might not be able to claim your portion even if you're on the deed and contributing to payments. You can check this by looking at your original loan documents. If both of your names are on the promissory note (not just the deed), then you're both legally liable and can split the deduction as others have described. If only one name is on the note, the situation gets more complex and you might need to consult a tax professional. Also, keep in mind that the $375k limit applies to acquisition debt - debt used to buy, build, or substantially improve your home. If you've done any cash-out refinancing, the rules for that portion might be different under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes.

Is anyone else annoyed that TurboTax has gotten worse over the years despite charging more? Like, for a premium tax product, it should be able to handle something as common as Medicaid without throwing confusing reject codes. I'm switching to FreeTaxUSA next year.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work in tax prep and see this F8962-070 reject code fairly often. The main thing to understand is that this error happens when the IRS systems detect that your return is claiming or should be claiming the Premium Tax Credit (Form 8962), but there's missing or conflicting information. Since you had Medicaid all year, you're absolutely right that you shouldn't need Form 8962 or have a 1095-A. The problem is usually that somewhere in your tax software, you've accidentally indicated you had marketplace coverage or received advance premium tax credits. Here's what I tell my clients to check: Go to the healthcare section and look for ANY question about "advance payments of premium tax credits" or "monthly advance credit amounts" - if you answered yes to any of these, that's likely triggering the error. Also double-check that you didn't accidentally enter any dollar amounts in marketplace premium fields. The good news is this is totally fixable once you find where the conflicting information is entered!

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed on 1/29, got the 570 code about 10 days ago, and WMR is showing PATH messaging. I've been checking my transcript obsessively and noticed something interesting - my 2023 return had way more gig income than 2022 (almost double), so I'm wondering if that's triggering the verification hold. One thing I learned from calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service is that 570 codes for gig workers often relate to income verification, especially if you had a significant increase from the prior year or if your reported income doesn't exactly match your 1099s. They told me the average resolution time this year has been 2-3 weeks for these types of holds. Has anyone else noticed if the amount of gig income affects how likely you are to get the 570 code? I'm curious if there's a threshold that triggers additional review.

I'm experiencing something very similar and wanted to share what I've learned from researching this extensively. The combination of a 570 code and PATH messaging is actually more common than you'd think, especially for gig workers in 2024. From what I've gathered, the 570 code without a corresponding 971 notice typically means the IRS is conducting an automated income verification - they're essentially cross-checking your reported gig income against the 1099s they have on file from your clients/platforms. This process has been significantly expanded for Tax Year 2023 returns due to new reporting requirements. The key thing to watch for is whether your transcript shows any movement over the next 1-2 weeks. Most people I've talked to who had this exact scenario saw their 570 code convert to a 571 (hold released) within 14-21 days without any action needed on their part. The fact that you don't have a 971 code is actually encouraging - it suggests they don't need additional documentation from you. Since you filed on 1/27 and it's been a few weeks, you're probably getting close to the resolution timeframe. Keep checking your transcript every few days, and if you don't see movement by mid-March, that would be the time to consider calling the IRS directly.

Filed mine through TurboTax on a Sunday around midnight last year and got the acceptance email by 6 AM! The electronic system definitely works around the clock. But yeah, don't expect any movement on WMR or transcript updates until business days. I remember checking obsessively over the weekend and nothing changed until Wednesday when everything suddenly updated at once. The waiting is the worst part but at least you know it's in the system!

Same boat here! Filed through TurboTax Saturday evening and was curious about this too. Based on what everyone's sharing, sounds like I should expect the acceptance pretty quickly but then just be patient for the actual processing updates during the week. It's my first time filing so early in the season so wasn't sure how the weekend timing worked. Thanks for asking this question - super helpful responses from everyone!