Double check ur filing status too. HOH vs single makes a huge difference with kids

The tax system is such a joke fr fr 🤡

Have you considered just sending a certified letter to her address stating you need her tax info for your filing? That way you have proof you tried to contact her if the IRS ever asks. I did this last year when my son's after-school program administrator wouldn't respond to emails.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and wanted to share what actually happened with my refund timing. I filed with the "provider refuses to provide information" option checked, claiming about $4,800 in childcare expenses. My refund was processed normally and came through in the expected timeframe (about 3 weeks for direct deposit). The IRS didn't hold it up at all. About 6 months later, I did receive a letter asking me to verify the childcare expenses, but by then I already had my refund. For the verification, I provided copies of my payment records (bank statements showing the payments, text messages arranging payment, etc.) and a brief explanation of my attempts to get the provider's tax info. The IRS accepted my documentation and that was the end of it. The key thing is to keep really good records of all your payments and any attempts you made to contact the provider. Take screenshots of unanswered texts, keep copies of emails, etc. This will protect you if questions come up later. Don't let the missing tax ID stop you from claiming a legitimate credit you're entitled to!

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.6.4.35, the 570 code specifically indicates an additional account action is pending, and per IRM 5.19.1.5.21, the 971 notice is typically generated to inform the taxpayer of this action. In 76% of cases for tax year 2023 returns, these codes resolve automatically within 14-21 days. The most frequent cause (42% of cases) is verification of income reporting or credits claimed, followed by math error corrections (31%). Only 8% of cases require taxpayer action. Based on your timeline of 28 days from filing to DDD, your case followed typical processing parameters for this filing season.

Thank you for sharing your detailed timeline! This is incredibly helpful for those of us going through the same process. I'm currently on day 19 since filing with both 570 and 971 codes that appeared last week, so your 28-day timeline gives me hope that I'm getting close. It's reassuring to hear that these codes are more common than I thought. Did you notice any pattern in when your transcript updates? I've been checking daily but wondering if there's a specific day of the week when they typically process these releases.

Don't forget about the stimulus payments from 2024 that were tied to dependents! If he incorrectly claims your daughter, it could affect any remaining credits you're entitled to receive. Make sure you correctly report any advance payments you received for her during the year on your tax return. Also, as the custodial parent, you qualify for Head of Household filing status which gives you a higher standard deduction than filing Single. Make sure you're claiming that benefit too!

I'm going through something very similar right now with my ex-husband. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you should also keep records of any expenses you paid for your daughter throughout the year - things like clothing, school supplies, extracurricular activities, medical copays, etc. The IRS looks at who provided more than half of the child's support, not just where she lived. Since you mentioned you're the one handling all her paperwork and she lives with you 280+ days, you're clearly the custodial parent. But having those expense records helps prove the support test too, especially if your ex tries to argue that his child support payments mean he provided more support. I'd also suggest taking screenshots of any text messages where he acknowledges that she lives with you most of the time, or where he's inconsistent about paying support. That kind of documentation can be really helpful if the IRS needs to investigate. Good luck with your filing!

What's everyone using for tracking client communication? I'm tired of searching through endless email chains trying to find that one piece of information a client sent months ago.

One tool that's been incredibly helpful for my practice is SmartVault for document management and client portals. The security is top-notch with bank-level encryption, and clients love being able to upload documents directly through their secure portal. The integration with QuickBooks and most tax software is seamless. For research and staying current, I rely heavily on the BNA Tax & Accounting portfolio. Their explanations and examples are much clearer than wading through raw IRS publications, especially for complex situations. A free gem that many overlook is the IRS Practitioner Priority Service (PPS) line. Once you're enrolled, you get a dedicated phone line that's much faster than the general taxpayer assistance line. It's saved me countless hours when I need quick clarification on tax law questions or account issues. For time tracking and billing, I switched to TSheets (now QuickBooks Time) last year and it's helped me realize how much unbilled time I was losing track of during client calls and research.