Quick question - my situation is different but related. My wife is not a US citizen yet (green card pending) but has an ITIN. Could I claim her as a dependent in this case? She made about $8k last year from a small business she runs.

I went through this exact same confusion when I first got married! The short answer everyone's given you is absolutely correct - you cannot claim your spouse as a dependent under any circumstances, regardless of income levels or who pays the bills. But here's what I wish someone had told me: before you commit to filing separately, make sure you're actually running real numbers. My husband and I were convinced filing separately would save us money our first year because he had student loans and I made significantly more. Turns out we were completely wrong! When filing separately, you lose access to so many tax benefits: - American Opportunity Tax Credit for education expenses - Lifetime Learning Credit - Child and Dependent Care Credit (if you have kids later) - Earned Income Credit - Student loan interest deduction (which sounds like it might apply to you) Plus the standard deduction rules can work against you. I'd strongly recommend using TurboTax to actually calculate both scenarios with your real numbers before deciding. The "common wisdom" about filing separately saving money for couples with different income levels is often wrong once you factor in all the lost credits and deductions. The tax code is designed to generally favor joint filing for married couples, which is why the spouse-as-dependent option doesn't exist - they assume you'll get better benefits filing together anyway.

I went through this exact scenario last year! Got the notification from my tax software, never received a letter, but got my refund anyway. Step by step, here's what happened: 1. Filed in February 2023 2. Got software notification about identity verification needed 3. Never received a letter 4. Refund appeared in my account anyway in March 5. Called IRS in April just to be sure 6. They confirmed everything was fine - my identity had been verified through their automated system Fast forward to this year - filed my taxes with no issues at all! Sometimes the system works in our favor!

I've been through this exact situation twice now, and both times everything worked out fine! The IRS identity verification system has gotten much more sophisticated over the past few years. What likely happened is that their automated systems were able to verify your identity using data they already have on file - things like your previous tax returns, W-2 information, and other government records. The fact that your refund was deposited is actually the best indicator that everything is legitimate. The IRS is very cautious about releasing funds, so if they processed your refund, it means they're satisfied with the verification process. That said, I'd still recommend checking your IRS account transcript online at irs.gov just for peace of mind. It will show you the processing codes and confirm that your return went through normally. Given your health situation, I totally understand wanting that financial security - but you should be able to use that refund without worry!

In my experience working with clients in similar situations, the offset visibility issue is fairly common, particularly during peak tax season. The Treasury Department generally processes offsets in batches, and there's often, though not always, a lag between when an offset is applied and when it appears in the portal. If you're concerned, you might want to contact any creditors you're aware of to check your current status. For those going through divorce proceedings, it's particularly important to understand that joint debts from your marriage could potentially affect your refund, even if the divorce decree assigns those debts to your ex-spouse.

Going through a divorce myself, so I totally feel you on wanting to avoid financial surprises! One thing that helped me was requesting my account transcripts directly from the IRS (you can get them online instantly at irs.gov). The transcripts will show transaction codes that might indicate pending offsets even when the TOP portal doesn't reflect them yet. Look specifically for TC codes in the 700-800 range - those often show offset activity before it hits the main systems. Also, since you mentioned divorce, make sure to check if there are any joint debts (student loans, back taxes, etc.) that could still affect your refund even if they're assigned to your ex in the divorce decree. The IRS doesn't care about divorce agreements when it comes to joint tax liabilities. Hang in there - the uncertainty is the worst part! 🤞

Grant's advice on business structures saved me about $22k in taxes last year. But you need to understand he's not giving advice for regular people. His strategies work when you: 1) Have multiple income streams 2) Own significant real estate 3) Have a legitimate business 4) Can afford good tax professionals I implemented his advice about S-Corps and pass-through entities after making about $380k/year, and it was worth it. Below that? Probably not worth the complexity and annual costs.

I've been following this conversation and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's implemented some of Cardone's strategies. The key thing people miss is that his advice isn't meant to be copied exactly - it's meant to show you what's possible at different income levels. I started with basic strategies when I was making $150k (maxing retirement accounts, proper business expense tracking) and gradually added more sophisticated approaches as my income grew. Now at $450k annually, I use some of his entity structuring advice, but I had to modify it significantly for my situation. The biggest mistake I see people make is jumping straight to the complex stuff without building the foundation first. Start with legitimate basics: proper bookkeeping, maxing tax-advantaged accounts, and understanding what actually qualifies as business expenses. Then layer on more advanced strategies as your income and business complexity justify it. Also, never implement tax strategies without running them by a qualified CPA who knows your specific situation. Cardone's advice is educational, but it's not personalized tax advice.

Have you tried contacting your congressional representative? I know it sounds weird but my sister was waiting FOREVER for her refund last year (like 5 months) and nothing worked. She finally reached out to her congressional rep's office and they have staff specifically for helping constituents with federal agency issues. She emailed her congressman's office with details about her situation, and they reached out to their IRS liaison. She got a call from the IRS within a week and her refund was processed shortly after. Worth a try if everything else fails!

I went through this exact nightmare last year! After trying all the traditional routes (calling 800-829-1040 at 7am, using the "form questions" trick, etc.) with no success, I finally got through using a combination of strategies. What ended up working for me was calling the Practitioner Priority Service line at 866-860-4259. This is technically for tax professionals, but if you explain that you're calling on behalf of yourself and have been unable to reach anyone through normal channels, they'll sometimes help individual taxpayers. I got through in about 45 minutes compared to never getting through on the main line. Also, make sure you have your Account Transcript from the IRS website before calling - it has codes that can tell you exactly why your refund is delayed. Go to irs.gov, create an account, and request your Account Transcript. Look for codes like 570 (additional review needed) or 971 (notice issued). Having these codes ready when you finally talk to someone will save a lot of time. The medical bills situation definitely qualifies you for Taxpayer Advocate Service help too - definitely try that route as others have suggested. They're much more responsive to hardship cases.