just make sure u keep checking ur mail. i verified my identity online in May and thought i was good to go, but then they mailed me ANOTHER form to fill out two weeks later. the IRS is notorious for not communicating between departments.

I went through identity verification last month and it took exactly 6 weeks to get my refund, so definitely faster than the 9 weeks they quoted. The Where's My Refund tool updated after about 3 weeks showing "still processing" and then suddenly switched to "refund approved" one day. Definitely get that IP PIN - it's super easy to set up and gives you peace of mind. I wish I had done it years ago. The whole verification process is stressful enough without worrying about someone else filing under your SSN. One thing I learned is that the 9 weeks is their worst-case scenario timeframe. Most people seem to get their refunds within 4-6 weeks if there are no other issues with their return. Just be patient and don't stress too much about calling - the confirmation screen you got means everything went through properly.

Columbus TAC has limited walk-ins. Tuesdays best. Arrive by 8AM. Bring two forms of ID. Have all documents organized. Expect 3+ hour wait even if accepted. No guarantee you'll be seen. Better to call for appointment. No cell phones allowed inside. No food or drinks. Parking is $10 nearby. Security is strict about what you can bring in.

I had a very similar dependent verification issue last month and ended up going to the Columbus TAC as a walk-in. Here's what worked for me: I arrived at 7:45 AM on a Wednesday (before they officially opened) and was about 8th in line. They have a paper sign-in system now that starts around 8:15 AM. The triage staff member was actually quite helpful - she reviewed my documentation and determined my case could be handled that day. Total time was about 4 hours from arrival to resolution, but they completely sorted out my dependent verification and even helped me understand why the online system had rejected my documentation. Pro tip: bring snacks and a phone charger if you go this route, and make sure you have certified copies of birth certificates, not just regular photocopies. The staff really know their stuff once you get past the access barriers.

Don't forget about state penalties too! The federal underpayment penalty is one thing, but many states also charge their own penalties for missed estimated payments. Check your state tax requirements as soon as possible. In my experience, state penalties can sometimes be easier to get waived if you have a reasonable explanation. Many states have their own first-time abatement policies similar to the IRS.

Something nobody mentioned yet - if you make a payment now before filing your return, it can reduce the penalty period! The underpayment penalty is calculated based on how long the money was late, so paying now stops the clock on additional penalties.

When I started my first "real" job after college, I accidentally marked exempt on my W4 too. It's an easy mistake to make! The way I handled it was to immediately fix my W4 with HR and then have extra withholding taken out for the rest of the year to try to catch up. If you can afford it, you could increase your withholding for the remainder of 2025 to offset some of what you'll owe. On your W4, there's a line that lets you specify additional withholding from each paycheck. This won't solve the whole problem, but it might reduce the amount you need to pay when you file.

Is anyone going to mention that the employer is partially at fault here? I work in HR and we're supposed to verify that people claiming exempt actually qualified for exempt status the previous year. Like if you had a tax liability last year, you technically can't claim exempt this year. There are specific requirements for claiming exempt status.

The IRS does not require individuals to file a zero return if your income is under the standard deduction. But as a tax preparer I often recommend filing anyway for 3 key reasons: 1) statute of limitations starts running when you file (protecting you from future audits), 2) establishes income history for loans/benefits, and 3) prevents the IRS from creating a substitute return for you (which never works in your favor).

Based on what you've described about your mom's situation, she's likely not legally required to file a federal return since she had no income and the art business resulted in a net loss rather than profit. However, I'd strongly recommend she file anyway for several important reasons. First, that $2,400 business loss could be valuable for future tax years. Business losses can be carried forward to offset income when she does start earning again, potentially saving her money down the road. But she needs to file this year to establish and document those losses. Second, filing creates a paper trail that can be helpful later for things like loan applications, benefit eligibility, or even just proving her income status for various programs. Many people don't realize how often you need to show tax returns as proof of income (or lack thereof). At 58 and single, she's definitely not required to file with zero income, but the potential benefits of filing likely outweigh the minimal effort involved. You might also want to check if she qualifies for any refundable credits - sometimes people with little to no income can still get credits that result in refunds. The good news is that a zero-income return is typically very straightforward to file, and many free filing options are available for her income level.