I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my CA return on March 10th and it's been 6.5 weeks now with just the generic "processing" status. My federal refund was deposited within 10 days, so it's definitely a California-specific issue. What's really frustrating is how their website gives zero useful information - just "processing" with no timeline or indication of what's actually happening. After reading through all these comments, it sounds like 6-10 weeks is unfortunately becoming the new normal for CA this year due to their enhanced fraud prevention measures. I'm planning to wait until the 8-week mark before attempting to call, since everyone seems to be having terrible experiences with their phone system. At least it's somewhat comforting to know we're all in the same boat - misery loves company I guess! Definitely going to start checking my mailbox more carefully too after seeing how many people got important notices that never showed up in their online status.

I'm experiencing the exact same issue - filed my CA return on March 5th and it's been over 7 weeks now with nothing but that unhelpful "processing" status. My federal refund came through in 12 days, so this is definitely a California-specific problem. After reading through all these comments, it's clear that CA has major systemic issues this year. The 6-10 week delays seem to be the unfortunate new reality due to their enhanced fraud prevention measures. What's particularly frustrating is how their online system provides zero transparency - just that generic "processing" message with no timeline or explanation. I've been checking my mail religiously after seeing how many people here received important notices that never showed up in their online status. It's concerning that their systems are so disconnected in 2025. Planning to wait until the 8-week mark before attempting to call, though based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like their customer service is pretty much useless anyway. At least we're all suffering together! Hang in there everyone - hopefully our refunds start showing up soon.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat as the original poster - family of four with two kids under 17. I've been dreading tax season because I kept hearing about "losing exemptions" but didn't understand the full picture. After reading through everyone's explanations and doing some calculations, I think I finally get it. The key insight for me was understanding that deductions and exemptions both reduce taxable income, but tax credits (like the Child Tax Credit) directly reduce what you owe dollar-for-dollar. So even if we have slightly more taxable income due to losing personal exemptions, the doubled Child Tax Credit more than makes up for it. I used the IRS withholding estimator that @Kaitlyn Otto mentioned, and it looks like we'll save about $1,200 compared to the old system. The combination of higher standard deduction, lower tax rates, and increased Child Tax Credit really does seem to work in favor of families with young children. Thanks everyone for breaking this down in such clear terms - definitely feeling much less anxious about our tax situation now!

This has been such an educational thread! As someone who just started trying to understand these tax changes, I was getting overwhelmed by all the different pieces - standard deduction changes, personal exemption elimination, tax rate adjustments, Child Tax Credit modifications. It felt impossible to figure out the actual bottom line impact. What really helped me was seeing everyone's real-world examples and calculations. The key insight I'm taking away is that you really can't look at any one change in isolation. Yes, losing personal exemptions sounds terrible, but when you factor in the higher standard deduction, lower tax rates, and enhanced Child Tax Credit, the overall picture can be quite different. For my situation (married filing jointly, two kids ages 8 and 12, household income around $95k), it looks like we'll actually come out ahead by roughly $1,800 annually. The doubled Child Tax Credit alone gives us an extra $2,000, which more than offsets the impact of losing our personal exemptions. I really appreciate how this community breaks down complex tax topics into understandable terms. It's made me feel much more confident about navigating these changes instead of just worrying about them!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with a similar CP23 situation, and I wanted to share something that might help others avoid this mess in the future. After going through payment processing delays twice now, I've learned that the method you use to make estimated payments can significantly impact processing time. Electronic payments made through EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) seem to process more reliably than payments made through third-party processors or even the IRS Direct Pay system. For anyone making future estimated payments, I'd strongly recommend using EFTPS directly and keeping screenshot records of the confirmation page, not just the confirmation number. The screenshot shows the full transaction details that can be incredibly helpful if you need to dispute processing delays later. Also, for those currently dealing with this issue - when you call the IRS, ask specifically if your payment is in their "unpostable" queue. Sometimes payments get stuck there due to mismatched information (like slightly different name formatting or SSN entry errors) and require manual intervention to process. This is different from just being "slow to process" and needs a different type of resolution. The whole system is frustrating, but understanding these technical details can help you ask better questions and get more targeted help from IRS representatives.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's one of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with the IRS! Your situation is unfortunately very common, especially with estimated tax payments during busy seasons. Here are the key steps I'd recommend based on what others have shared and my own experience: 1. **Respond in writing immediately** - Don't rely solely on phone calls. Send a certified letter to the address on your CP23 notice explaining you made a timely payment. Include copies (not originals) of your payment confirmation, bank statement showing the deduction, and reference any previous calls with dates/rep IDs. 2. **Request a collection hold** - In both your letter and any phone calls, specifically ask for a "collection hold due to unprocessed payment" while they locate your payment. This prevents further penalties or collection actions. 3. **Ask for a payment tracer** - This is more formal than a basic lookup and creates an official process to track down stuck payments. Get a reference number for the tracer. 4. **Document everything** - Keep records of all calls, letters sent, confirmation numbers, and any case numbers they give you. This paper trail is crucial if you need to escalate. The 12-week timeframe they quoted is unfortunately standard, but as you've experienced, it can take much longer. Your refund is likely being held until this resolves, but once they process your payment, everything should move forward quickly. Stay persistent but don't panic - you have proof of payment and that's what matters most!

With 2 kids under 16 you should qualify for Child Tax Credit ($2000 per kid) plus Additional Child Tax Credit if its not all used up. The EITC could be substantial too at your income level. But yeah the SE tax gonna take a bite 🤡

Based on your income and situation, you're likely looking at a decent refund! With $20,800 income, HOH status, and 2 kids under 16, you should qualify for: - Child Tax Credit: $4,000 ($2k per kid) - Earned Income Credit: Around $5,500-6,000 for your income level with 2 kids - Self-employment tax: ~$2,940 (ouch, but expected) So even after SE tax, you could be looking at a refund in the $6,000-8,000 range. Definitely recommend using tax software or seeing a pro to make sure you're getting every credit you qualify for. Good luck!

use a free filing service like cash app taxes if ur income under 73k

Just a heads up - with no federal withholding, you'll still get the full EIC and CTC as refundable credits! The IRS will cut you a check for the difference. Make sure you have all your docs ready (W2, SSNs for kids, etc) and double check those qualifying child requirements. Good luck! 💰