Listen to what most people here are saying. Trust the human IRS representative over the automated system. Mark your calendar for March 27th. If nothing arrives by March 30th, then take further action. Most verification issues this year are resolving without taxpayer intervention. The system is overwhelmed but functioning. Your money is coming.

I went through this exact same thing in February! The ID.me verification flag stayed up for almost 3 weeks after my IRS rep told me my return was already approved. It's like their systems are running on different timelines - the verification system doesn't get updated when the processing system clears your return. What really helped me was checking my account transcript on irs.gov instead of relying on Where's My Refund or ID.me. The transcript showed my actual processing codes and deposit date, which was way more accurate than the other systems. If your rep said March 27th, I'd bet money it'll be there within a day or two of that date. The joint filing thing might have triggered extra scrutiny initially, but once a human reviewed it, you're golden. Don't stress about the lingering verification message - it's just a ghost in their system at this point.

One important thing nobody's mentioned: if you're getting a state refund too, those timelines vary WILDLY depending on which state! My federal came in 9 days but my California refund took almost 6 weeks. Meanwhile my sister in Colorado got her state refund before her federal. Just something to keep in mind if you're waiting on both.

I filed my NY state return on March 15th and got my state refund on April 2nd, so about 18 days. Not terrible but definitely slower than my federal which came in 10 days. NY has been pretty consistent with that 2-3 week timeline from what I've seen with friends and family. Their online tracking system is actually pretty good though - you can check status at tax.ny.gov and it gives you real updates unlike some other states that barely tell you anything.

Everyone's giving great technical advice but I just want to add - don't beat yourself up about this! My spouse and I made the EXACT same mistake last year. The HSA family contribution limits are super confusing when you both have separate plans and accounts. Just call your HSA provider ASAP, they deal with this all the time. Our provider (HSA Bank) had a simple form for "removal of excess contributions" and handled calculating the earnings. The whole process took about 10 days, and we got a 1099-SA that made tax filing straightforward.

Harold, you're absolutely right that the family limit applies to both of you combined - this is one of the most confusing aspects of HSA rules! The good news is you caught this before filing your taxes, which saves you from ongoing penalty headaches. Here's the step-by-step process: Contact your HSA administrator immediately and request an "excess contribution removal" for the full $3,450 plus any net income attributable to that excess. They're required to calculate the earnings using a specific formula based on your account's performance during the time those contributions were in the account. You'll need to do this before your tax filing deadline (including extensions) to avoid the 6% excise tax that applies to excess contributions left in the account. Once processed, you'll receive a corrected Form 5498-SA and a Form 1099-SA showing the distribution. The earnings portion will be taxable income for this tax year, but there's no additional penalty if you remove it timely. Make sure to keep all documentation - the calculation method and timing are important if there are ever questions later. Don't stress too much about this - it's a very common mistake that HSA administrators deal with regularly!

Another thing to consider - if your mom owns her home, she might be eligible for property tax relief or homestead credits in many states. These often require filing a state tax return even when federal filing isn't required. Also, has she been paying estimated taxes during these unfiled years? If not, and she does end up owing, you might want to look into the IRS Fresh Start program which can help with penalties.

I'm going through something very similar with my grandmother right now, so I completely understand the stress and worry you're feeling! One thing that really helped us was getting organized first before diving into the actual filing process. Here's what we did: First, we gathered all her income documents for each year (SSA-1099s, 1099-Rs, 1099-INTs, etc.) and made separate folders for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Then we collected all those IRS notices and sorted them by date to see what they were actually asking for. The biggest relief was discovering that many of the "scary" notices were just automated reminders, not actual threats. Some were even for years she didn't need to file at all! Since your mom's income situation sounds relatively straightforward (Social Security + pension + small interest), this might be manageable to tackle together. But honestly, given that she's been getting IRS correspondence for a while, it might be worth the peace of mind to consult with a tax professional who specializes in unfiled returns. They can quickly determine which years actually require filing and help navigate any correspondence with the IRS. The most important thing is that you're helping her address this now - ignoring it only makes things more complicated. You're being a great child by stepping in to help sort this out!

Mississippi Department of Revenue implemented new fraud detection protocols for TY2023 returns. This has extended standard processing times by approximately 14-21 days beyond previous years. Returns with Schedule C income or claiming MS-specific credits undergo heightened scrutiny. Their internal processing matrix prioritizes returns based on filing method, complexity factors, and submission date. Current estimated timeline for non-complex February e-filed returns is mid-April completion.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation here in Mississippi! Filed on February 12th and got my federal refund in 8 days, but still crickets from the state. It's so frustrating because I've been counting on that refund to cover some car repairs. Reading through these comments is actually really reassuring though - sounds like it's just a system overhaul causing delays rather than anything being wrong with our returns. I guess I'll try to be patient for another few weeks, but man, this waiting game is brutal when you need the money!