This is a really frustrating situation, but you're not alone - many employers are struggling with the updated W-4 system. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. **Don't let them force the "single" selection** - that's incorrect and will cause ongoing problems. As others mentioned, print out the official IRS W-4 form, fill it out correctly as "married filing jointly," and hand-deliver it to HR. 2. **Use the Two Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet** - with your combined income of ~$92k, you're likely in a higher tax bracket than the standard withholding tables account for. This is probably why they're taking $212 now - it might actually be close to correct. 3. **Check your math for the year** - with only $31 withheld federal taxes so far on a $27k income, you're significantly underwitheld. Even if his effective tax rate is just 10%, that's $2,700 in federal taxes for the year, meaning you're already behind by thousands. 4. **Consider making an estimated payment** - don't wait until next April to discover you owe a huge amount plus penalties. Use Form 1040-ES to make a payment directly to the IRS now. The $212 withholding might feel like a shock, but it's likely much closer to what should have been happening all along. Better to fix it now than face a massive tax bill later!

I went through almost the identical situation with my employer last year! The "select single even though you're married" thing is unfortunately common with older payroll systems that haven't properly updated for the 2020 W-4 changes. Here's what worked for me: I printed out the official IRS W-4 form from irs.gov, filled it out correctly as "married filing jointly" and checked the box in Step 2(c) for two earners, then hand-delivered it to HR with a note saying "Please process this official IRS form as submitted." When they pushed back, I politely but firmly told them that forcing employees to select incorrect filing statuses violates IRS guidelines. The $212 withholding actually might be close to correct given your combined income. With you making $65k total and your husband making $27k, you're looking at roughly $92k household income, which puts you in a higher bracket than what standard withholding tables assume for individual jobs. Don't panic about the underwithholding so far, but definitely address it soon. I'd recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to see exactly where you stand for the year, then either increase his withholding even more for the remaining pay periods OR make an estimated tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The next estimated payment deadline is June 15th, but you can pay anytime online through IRS Direct Pay. You've got this - it's frustrating but totally fixable!

Has anyone used Drake Tax software for this situation? I'm preparing several S Corp returns with SEP contributions and Drake seems to automatically put the current year's contribution (made in the following year) on Line 17, but I want to make sure it's handling it correctly.

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing when I started handling my family's S Corp taxes. The key insight that finally clicked for me is that SEP contributions are one of the few exceptions to the normal cash-basis timing rules. Think of it this way: the IRS wants to encourage retirement savings, so they created special timing rules that let you make the contribution after year-end but still deduct it for the previous tax year. This gives you time to see your final numbers before deciding on the contribution amount. Just make sure when your brother makes that 2023 SEP contribution in March 2024, he tells the financial institution it's specifically for tax year 2023. They should give you some kind of documentation confirming this designation. Then that amount goes on Line 17 of the 2023 Form 1120S, even though the cash won't leave the business account until 2024. The deadline for making the contribution is the same as the filing deadline for the return (including extensions), so you have plenty of time to get it sorted out.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Had a 570 code for almost 8 weeks with absolutely zero communication from the IRS. Just that frustrating "additional account action pending" message that tells you nothing. I was checking my transcript multiple times a day and driving myself crazy. Then one random Tuesday morning, I logged in and boom - 846 code was there! Got my refund deposited 3 days later. Never did find out what they were actually reviewing. The whole experience taught me that the 570 code is basically just the IRS saying "we're too busy right now, please wait." I know it's easier said than done, but try to check your transcript only once a week - daily checking will just stress you out more. Based on all the experiences I've read about, most 570 codes resolve to 846 within 6-10 weeks without any action needed from you. Hang in there!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and it's so frustrating! Filed in early April, been stuck with a 570 code for about 3 weeks now with that same unhelpful "additional account action pending" message. No letters, no communication, just silence from the IRS. Reading through all these experiences is actually really comforting though - seems like most people are getting their 846 codes after 6-8 weeks of waiting, even without having to provide any additional documentation. I've been obsessively checking my transcript daily but I think I need to follow the advice here and limit it to weekly checks to preserve my sanity. It's reassuring to know that the 570 code doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with my return, just that they're backed up and taking their time to review things. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - it helps to know this nightmare eventually ends!

Last year I had a similar situation that drove me crazy. My WMR showed completed but my transcript wasn't updated for almost two weeks. I called the IRS and they explained that amended returns go through a separate processing system. The WMR tool gets updated from one database while transcripts pull from another. In my case, the money actually arrived in my account even before the transcript updated! Just keep an eye on your bank account - you might be pleasantly surprised.

I went through something very similar with my amended return last year! The timing discrepancy between WMR and transcripts is actually pretty common, especially with amended returns that include foreign income. From my experience, the WMR system tends to update first because it's pulling from a different processing queue than the transcript system. Since you filed in February and are now seeing the 3 bars in April, you're actually in a pretty normal timeframe. The foreign income component might add a few extra days to the transcript update, but don't panic - the systems will sync up. I'd give it another week or so before getting concerned. Keep checking your bank account too, sometimes the refund arrives before the transcript even updates!

Same thing happened to me last month! Had code 570 with an adjustment and was panicking. Took about 2.5 weeks to resolve - got the 971 notice code after about a week like Madison mentioned, then 571 to release the hold. The adjustment was actually in my favor too (they corrected a calculation error I made). Just keep checking your transcript every few days and try not to stress too much about it. The IRS computer systems are slow but they do work through these holds eventually.

Been through this exact scenario twice now! The first time I panicked and called the IRS hotline (waste of 3 hours on hold lol). Second time I just waited it out and it resolved in about 18 days. The key thing is don't file any amendments or send extra paperwork unless they specifically ask for it - that can actually slow things down more. Your transcript will update usually on Wednesdays or Fridays so those are the best days to check. The 570 hold with adjustment combo is super common this time of year, especially if you have any business income or complex deductions.