Does FreeTaxUSA support multiple state filings? I lived in Ohio for half the year and then moved to Pennsylvania, so I need to file in both states. TurboTax charges extra for each state and it's getting ridiculous.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for the past 3 years after switching from TurboTax and can confirm the accuracy is identical. What really sold me was when I ran both in parallel one year and got the exact same refund down to the penny. The main thing I miss from TurboTax is their more polished interface and better explanations of why certain deductions apply, but honestly once you get used to FreeTaxUSA's layout it's perfectly fine. The $120+ I save each year more than makes up for the slightly less flashy user experience. For anyone on the fence, I'd definitely recommend trying FreeTaxUSA first - you can always go back to TurboTax if you run into issues, but chances are you won't need to.

This is incredibly frustrating but unfortunately very common right now! I went through the exact same thing last month - filed my taxes on time, got my acceptance confirmation, then hit this "non-filer" wall when trying to access my transcript for a credit application. What finally worked for me was a two-pronged approach: I submitted a transcript request by mail (which took about 9 days to arrive) AND kept an eye on the "Where's My Refund" tool to track my return's processing status. Interestingly, once "Where's My Refund" showed my return as fully processed, the online transcript system updated within 48 hours. The mail request is definitely your best bet for getting it quickly - just go to IRS.gov, select "Get Transcript by Mail," and request your 2023 Return Transcript. It uses a different system that seems more reliable than the online portal during these processing delays. Also, for your mortgage refinance, definitely reach out to your loan officer now and explain the situation. Most are familiar with this IRS glitch and can often work with previous year transcripts or other documentation temporarily. Better to be proactive than have it hold up your closing! Hang in there - it's definitely just their systems being slow, not anything wrong with your filing!

I'm experiencing this exact same frustrating issue right now! Filed my 2023 return about 3 weeks ago, got the acceptance confirmation from my tax software, but when I try to access my transcript online I keep getting that "non-filer" message. It's so stressful when you know you've filed correctly but the system is telling you otherwise. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear this is just a widespread processing delay with the IRS systems not syncing properly. The fact that even tax preparers are experiencing this tells you it's definitely a system issue, not something we're doing wrong. I'm going to try the mail request option that multiple people have recommended. It sounds like that system is more reliable than the online portal during these processing delays. For anyone else dealing with this for time-sensitive applications (mortgages, loans, etc.), the advice about being proactive with your lender and asking if previous year transcripts can work temporarily seems really smart. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and workarounds - it's such a relief to know this typically resolves itself within a few weeks and there are reliable alternatives while we wait for their systems to catch up!

16 Just curious - has anyone successfully gotten their employer to issue a corrected W-2 for this situation instead of waiting to claim it on taxes? My payroll person suggested this might be possible but wasn't sure of the process.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many people face! I went through the exact same thing last year with my part-time consulting gig. One thing I discovered is that some employers are more willing to work with you if you can show them the specific IRS guidance. Publication 15 (Circular E) actually addresses this scenario and explains that while employers must withhold SS tax up to the wage base, they can stop if an employee provides sufficient documentation that the limit has been reached across all employers. The key is presenting it as helping THEM avoid potential administrative headaches rather than just asking for a favor. When I framed it that way - explaining that continuing to withhold would just create unnecessary paperwork when they eventually have to reconcile everything - my employer was much more receptive. Also worth noting that if you're planning to stay at both jobs into next year, this same issue will come up again in 2024 with the new wage base limit. Might be worth establishing the process now so it's easier to handle next year!

I've been filing taxes with dependents for 8 years now, and I've tried filing at different times each year. In 2020, I filed January 31st and got my refund March 2nd. In 2021, I filed February 20th (after PATH lifted) and still got my refund March 5th. In 2022, I filed February 1st and got my refund February 28th. Last year, I filed February 18th and got my refund March 10th. This year I filed January 29th and just got my refund yesterday (March 2nd). My conclusion? There's minimal advantage to waiting, and the processing time varies year to year regardless of when you file.

Thanks for starting this discussion, Chloe! As someone who's navigated the PATH Act maze for a few years now, I'd say the timing strategy is less important than most people think. The IRS will hold your refund until mid-February regardless of when you file if you're claiming CTC or EITC - that's just how the law works. What I've found more impactful is making sure your return is squeaky clean before submitting. Double-check that your child's SSN matches exactly what's on file with Social Security, ensure you're the only one claiming them as a dependent, and keep all your documentation organized. A clean return might not avoid the PATH delay, but it'll move through processing much faster once that hold lifts. I usually file in early February now - gives me time to gather everything properly without the January rush, but still gets me in the queue early. The key is managing expectations: PATH Act delays are inevitable with child credits, but proper preparation can prevent additional complications that extend your wait even longer.

One thing nobody's mentioned - with your income level, you might benefit from bunching deductions in certain years if you're close to being able to itemize. We're also W2 employees around $400k combined, and we've saved by planning charitable contributions strategically. Our CPA helped us set up a donor-advised fund that lets us bunch multiple years of charitable giving into a single tax year to exceed the standard deduction threshold, then take the standard deduction in off years.

Haven't seen anyone address the new baby situation specifically. With your income level, you won't qualify for the child tax credit (phases out for married couples filing jointly with income over $400k), but you might qualify for the dependent care credit if you pay for childcare. That's something software should catch, but a professional might help optimize. Also worth checking if your employers offer dependent care FSAs - with two W2s you could potentially each set aside $5k for a total of $10k pre-tax for childcare expenses.