Has anyone tried just using both names? When I got married, I filed as "Jane Maiden-Married" since my paperwork was still processing. It went through without issues.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The key thing to understand is that there's often a delay between when you submit your name change application and when it actually updates in the IRS verification system. Here's what worked for me: I called the Social Security Administration directly (yes, the wait times are brutal) and asked them to confirm what name is currently showing in their records for my SSN. They told me that even though I had submitted my paperwork, my maiden name was still the "active" name in their system until the processing was complete. I ended up filing my taxes using my maiden name, and it went through without any issues. You can still file as "married filing jointly" even while using your maiden name - the filing status is separate from the name issue. One tip: if you do need to call SSA, try calling right when they open (usually 7 AM local time) to avoid the worst of the hold times. Good luck, and don't stress too much - this is a super common issue that lots of newly married people deal with!

idk if this helps but when I had this problem it was bc my birth certificate had my middle name spelled different than my ss card

Another thing to check - make sure you're using the exact same name format that appears on your W-2 forms. Sometimes employers use your old name on tax documents even after you've updated your info with them. If your W-2 shows your maiden name but you filed with your married name, that could cause the mismatch. You might need to file with your maiden name this year and update everything for next year's filing.

Has anyone here actually been audited for their IRA conversions? I've been doing backdoor Roth for years but always worry I'm doing something wrong with the Form 8606.

Your tax reporting breakdown looks correct! Just to reinforce what others have said - the key is maintaining accurate Form 8606 documentation for all your non-deductible contributions. One thing to double-check: make sure your brokerage statements clearly show the dates and amounts for each transaction. For your 2025 taxes, you'll want to verify that your 1099-R reflects the full $13,000 conversion amount. Sometimes brokerages split these into separate 1099-Rs if the conversions happened on different dates. Also, since you're doing this strategy regularly, consider setting up a simple spreadsheet to track your non-deductible basis year over year. It makes the Form 8606 preparation much easier and gives you a clear audit trail. The IRS wants to see consistent reporting, so having your own records beyond what the forms show can be really helpful if questions ever come up. Good luck with your tax filing!

TaxSlayer might be part of the problem tbh. Used them for years but switched to FreeTaxUSA this year after TaxSlayer messed up my state return last time. Their system sometimes submits things in weird formats that trigger manual review flags at the IRS.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed in early February and still waiting. From what I've learned lurking in tax forums, divorce situations with kids are basically guaranteed to get extra scrutiny. The IRS has to verify that both parents aren't claiming the same children, which can take weeks or even months. One thing that helped me was setting up informed delivery with USPS so I could see if any IRS letters were coming before they actually arrived. Sometimes those verification letters get delayed or lost, and you don't want to miss the deadline to respond. Also, if you're really strapped for cash while waiting, some tax prep places offer refund advance loans, though the interest rates are pretty brutal. Might be worth looking into if you're facing late fees on bills.

Be cautious about relying on the NETSEND timestamps. The Treasury Financial Management Service (FMS) processes these payments in batches, but they don't always transmit on the exact date shown in your transcript. If your financial institution uses an intermediary processing center, this adds another 24-48 hours. Additionally, if the ACH information had even minor discrepancies, it can trigger a manual review process. I've seen cases where a deposit date passed and the refund was actually converted to a paper check without notification, which adds 2-3 weeks to delivery time.

I'm dealing with the same frustrating situation! My deposit date was 3/5 and still nothing. What's really confusing is that the IRS website makes it sound like these dates are set in stone, but clearly there's a lot more complexity behind the scenes. I've been checking my account obsessively every few hours, which probably isn't helping my stress levels. It's reassuring to see I'm not alone in this - seems like March deposits are hitting some kind of bottleneck this year. Has anyone noticed if certain banks are more reliable than others for getting these deposits on time?