Just wanted to add something important that might affect your decision between superseded vs amended - if you're doing the backdoor Roth conversion, you'll need to report both the recharacterization AND the conversion on your return using Forms 8606 and possibly 1099-R reporting. A superseded return might be cleaner here because you can report everything as one cohesive filing rather than having the original return show incorrect Roth contributions and then an amendment trying to explain the backdoor process. The IRS matching systems sometimes flag discrepancies between what custodians report (via 1099-R forms) and what's on your return, so having everything properly aligned from the start could save you from getting automated notices later. Also, since you mentioned you already got your refund - if the backdoor Roth process changes your tax liability, you might owe additional taxes or be entitled to a larger refund. With a superseded return, this gets calculated fresh. With an amended return, you're working off the original calculation which can sometimes make the forms more complicated to fill out correctly. Whatever route you choose, make sure your tax pro has experience with backdoor Roth reporting - it's one of those areas where small mistakes can create big headaches with the IRS later!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! One thing that really helped me decide was understanding that if you've already received your refund and are still before the filing deadline, you CAN file a superseded return, but you'll need to include payment for any refund amount that needs to be returned based on your corrected calculations. In my case, the backdoor Roth conversion actually increased my tax liability slightly (due to some Traditional IRA balances I had forgotten about triggering the pro-rata rule), so I had to send in additional payment with my superseded return. My tax preparer said this is pretty common and the IRS handles it routinely. The key advantage I found with the superseded approach was exactly what Carmen mentioned - cleaner reporting of the recharacterization and conversion transactions. When everything is reported correctly from the start, there's less chance of getting those automated CP2000 notices later when the IRS computers try to match up your 1099-R forms from your IRA custodian. One tip: make sure to keep detailed records of all the dates when your recharacterization and conversion transactions actually settled. The IRS wants to see that everything happened in the correct order and timeframe, especially if you're doing this process after initially filing your return.

jst wait til u start checking transcripts... welcome to the obsession fam 💀

Don't stress! It's totally normal for WMR to lag behind after acceptance - I've seen it take anywhere from 24 hours to a full week sometimes. The system gets overloaded during peak season. If you want more detailed tracking than what WMR provides, you could always check your tax transcripts directly through the IRS website or try one of those transcript analysis tools people mentioned above. But honestly, if you got the acceptance email, you're good to go - just gotta wait for the system to catch up!

Has anyone here used a CPA for their first year filing jointly? Worth the money or overkill? My wife and I are debating whether to DIY or hire someone for our 2024 taxes.

Welcome to married filing! As someone who went through this transition a few years ago, I can add a couple practical tips to the great advice already shared: Since you got married in December, make sure you update your emergency contact and beneficiary information at work too - not just your W-4s. Also, consider opening a joint savings account specifically for tax purposes if you don't have one already. We found it helpful to have both our tax refunds/payments go to the same account so we could track our joint tax situation more easily. One thing about the mortgage interest deduction - don't forget you can also deduct property taxes paid in 2024, even if they were escrowed. Since you bought in August, you probably have 4-5 months worth. Combined with your mortgage interest, you might be closer to making itemizing worthwhile than you think. The IRS also has a really helpful online tool called the "Interactive Tax Assistant" that can walk you through scenarios specific to newly married couples. It's free and gives you personalized guidance based on your exact situation.

Wait till you start seeing all the freeze codes and holds... then you'll really need a decoder ring 🤡

The IRS really needs to make these things easier to understand for regular people. Like why do we need a PhD in transcript reading just to know when they got our paperwork? 🤔

Just want to add some clarity here since I see some conflicting info in the thread. The IRS uses these transaction codes consistently: - Code 01 = Single - Code 02 = Married Filing Jointly - Code 03 = Married Filing Separately - Code 04 = Head of Household - Code 05 = Qualifying Widow(er) @Ava Martinez - If your 2022 and 2021 returns show code 05, you were filing as Qualifying Widow(er), not Head of Household. This status is available for up to 2 years after your spouse's death (if you have a qualifying dependent). If you got divorced rather than widowed, you may have filed incorrectly in those years. I'd recommend reviewing your actual tax returns to confirm what filing status you used, as this could impact your tax liability for those years. The change to code 01 (Single) for 2023 makes sense post-divorce, but definitely double-check those earlier returns to make sure you used the right status.

This thread has great info! Just wanted to add that if you're unsure about your previous filing status, you can request copies of your actual tax returns (not just transcripts) using Form 4506. The transcripts show the codes the IRS processed, but your original returns will show exactly what filing status you selected when you filed. This is especially important given the questions about whether you filed as Qualifying Widow(er) vs Head of Household in those earlier years. The return copies cost $43 each but might be worth it for peace of mind, especially if you're concerned about potential filing errors that could trigger penalties or interest.