Has anyone had success with the emergency lien release process? I've heard rumors that there's a way to get a certificate of non-attachment under section 6325e processed within 72 hours if you're facing imminent financial harm like a sale falling through or loan denial.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! The IRS had placed a lien on my property due to their processing error, and even after they acknowledged the mistake, I still had to go through the formal certificate of non-attachment process under section 6325e. Here's what I learned: The timeline really varies by service center and time of year. Mine took exactly 6 weeks from submission to removal, which was right in the middle of the typical 30-90 day range others have mentioned. Since you have a pending sale, I'd strongly recommend doing a few things simultaneously: 1) File your 6325e request with ALL supporting documentation showing the IRS error 2) Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service immediately - they can often expedite cases with pending financial transactions 3) Get a letter from your title company or realtor explaining how the lien is impacting your sale timeline 4) Call weekly for status updates (be polite but persistent) The silver lining is that when the IRS has already admitted their error, the approval is usually straightforward - it's just the processing time that's frustrating. In my case, once they actually reviewed my file, the approval came through within days. Hang in there - it will get resolved!

You mentioned you owed $5,300 and now you're withholding $7,200 more - that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a huge refund. Remember that tax situations change year to year! Did you get raises? Any new investments or income sources? Will your deductions be different this year? The best approach is to do a mid-year "checkup" in June or July using the withholding calculator. Adjust your W4s then based on actual year-to-date withholding plus projected earnings for the rest of the year.

The overwithholding you're experiencing is super common when both spouses check the "multiple jobs" box - it's essentially double-penalizing your withholding. Here's what I'd recommend: First, try having only ONE of you check that box (typically the higher earner), and the other spouse should leave it unchecked. This alone might solve most of your overwithholding issue. If that's still not quite right, consider using the dollar amount method instead of the checkboxes. You can put a specific additional withholding amount on line 4(c) or even a negative amount on line 4(b) if you need less withheld. The key is that you can adjust your W4s multiple times during the year - you're not locked into your current settings! I'd suggest making a change now, then checking your year-to-date withholding around mid-year to see if you're on track. Also, keep in mind that owing $5,300 last year might not mean you'll owe the same this year, especially if you got raises or your tax situation changed. The goal is to get as close to zero as possible - either a small refund or small amount owed is ideal.

Has anyone else noticed that these tax relief commercials are ALWAYS on during daytime TV? They specifically target people who are home during work hours (often because of unemployment or disability) and who might be financially vulnerable. It's predatory marketing at its finest.

I'm sorry you're going through this with Optima Tax Relief. What you're describing sounds exactly like what happened to my neighbor last year. She paid them over $4,000 and after 8 months of runaround, she ended up resolving her tax issues herself in about 3 weeks by calling the IRS directly. For getting your refund, document everything - save all emails, call logs, and your original contract. Send them a certified letter demanding a refund based on failure to provide services. If they ignore it, file complaints with your state attorney general, BBB, and FTC. Also check if you can do a chargeback with your bank or credit card company. The harsh truth is that most of what these companies promise to do, you can do yourself for free. The IRS actually has taxpayer advocates who will help you navigate their system at no cost. Don't let them take advantage of you any longer - you have options and you're not powerless in this situation.

verified in March, got my refund exactly 6 weeks later. just keep checking your transcript for updates

I'm going through the same thing right now! Just verified through ID.me about 10 days ago and the waiting is killing me. From what I've read on here and other forums, it seems like most people are getting their refunds between 4-9 weeks after verification. The IRS website says up to 9 weeks but some folks are getting lucky with faster processing. I've been checking my transcript obsessively but no updates yet. Hang in there - we're almost at the finish line! 🤞

Call the tax advocate service! They helped speed up my process after verification

Pro tip: check your transcript every Tuesday and Friday morning. Thats when they usually update the system.