I experienced this exact scenario during the 2022 filing season. The IRS system flagged my Emerald Card deposit due to a Treasury Offset Program verification. My transcript showed code 971 followed by 846 with paper check indicator. The check arrived exactly 19 days after the 846 date on my transcript. If you're concerned about timing for your quarterly estimated payment, you might consider making a partial payment through EFTPS.gov using other funds, then amending the payment once your refund arrives. The IRS generally waives underpayment penalties if you pay at least 90% of your quarterly obligation by the due date.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed with H&R Block using my Emerald Card for direct deposit, but my refund status just switched to paper check yesterday. I checked my transcript like others suggested and sure enough, there's a 971 notice code followed by an 846 with paper check indicator. What's really frustrating is that I used the same Emerald Card last year with zero issues. Has anyone figured out if there's a pattern to which accounts are getting flagged? I'm wondering if it's related to the amount of the refund or specific tax forms used. Really need to plan around this 2-3 week delay everyone's mentioning since I have some bills due soon.

OMG this verification stuff is SO frustrating! 😤 I've been researching this extensively and found that the IRS is flagging WAY more returns for verification this year! Apparently there's been a huge spike in tax identity theft, so they're being extra cautious. I'm super curious - did your letter have a 5071C code on it? That specific verification type seems to be taking longer than the 4883C letters. Either way, hang in there! Most people I've talked to are getting their refunds about 3-4 weeks after completing verification.

I'm dealing with a similar verification situation right now - filed early February and just got my letter yesterday. One thing I've learned is that the IRS has definitely ramped up their identity protection measures this year, especially for early filers. For anyone still waiting, here are a few tips that helped me navigate this: • Keep checking your online IRS account - sometimes the verification option appears there before the letter arrives • If you call, have your prior year AGI and filing status ready - they'll ask for these to verify your identity • Document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what agents told you The waiting is brutal, but from what I'm seeing in various tax forums, most people are getting their refunds 2-4 weeks after completing verification. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it really helps to know others are going through the same thing!

My ex tried the same argument about only paying the post-tax amount! I finally had him talk to his own tax person who explained that the pre-tax benefit is a feature of MY employment that has nothing to do with HIM. He eventually agreed to pay the full amount. One thing that helped was pointing out that if he got insurance himself, he'd be paying the full premium anyway. The fact that I get a tax advantage doesn't change his responsibility. Plus, depending on your tax bracket, that difference can really add up over time!

This is a really common misconception that comes up in divorce situations. Your partner's ex is essentially trying to get you to subsidize his obligation by benefiting from your employment's tax structure. That's not how it works legally or ethically. The key point everyone else has made is spot-on: the $135 is what comes out of your paycheck to cover his children. Whether that money is pre-tax or post-tax is irrelevant to his reimbursement obligation. If he had to purchase coverage himself (which is what he's supposed to be doing), he'd pay the full retail price without any tax benefits. I'd recommend documenting everything - keep records of the premium increases, your communications about reimbursement, and any payments he does make. If this escalates, you'll want a clear paper trail showing you stepped up to fulfill his obligation and that he's trying to shortchange you on the reimbursement. Stand firm on the full $135. His argument might sound logical on the surface, but it's really just an attempt to get out of paying his full responsibility.

Has anyone considered the fact that waiting just ONE MONTH would save potentially tens of thousands in taxes? I mean, I get the builder incentives might be good, but are they $15-20k good? Seems crazy to rush into a potentially big tax bill for a slightly better interest rate.

You might want to check if your move qualifies for a partial exclusion under the "unforeseen circumstances" provision. The IRS allows partial exclusions for moves related to health, employment changes, or other qualifying unforeseen circumstances. Moving closer to your kids could potentially qualify if it's for caregiving purposes or other family-related reasons that meet the IRS criteria. Even if you don't qualify for any partial exclusion, remember that you can add your selling costs (realtor commission, title fees, etc.) directly to your cost basis to reduce the capital gain. On a $415k sale with typical 6% realtor fees, that's about $25k in selling costs that reduce your taxable gain. Also, don't forget to include any capital improvements you've made since 2021 - new appliances, flooring, HVAC work, etc. These all increase your basis and reduce your gain. Keep all your receipts organized. Given the potential tax savings of waiting one more month versus the builder incentives, I'd run the actual numbers on both scenarios. Sometimes those builder rate buydowns are worth more than the tax hit, especially if you're planning to stay in the new home long-term.

Important note: If any portion of that inheritance is in retirement accounts, the rules can be totally different! I learned this the hard way when I inherited an IRA from my mom and then got divorced three years later. Even though the inheritance itself was separate property, the court considered the fact that I'd made investment decisions during the marriage in determining how to classify the growth. Make sure you get advice specific to the type of assets you're holding.

This is such a timely question for me! I'm in a similar situation but with a smaller inheritance ($180k) that I received about 6 months before getting married. What's really helpful about this thread is seeing how important the documentation aspect is - I've been pretty casual about record keeping and now I'm realizing I need to be much more systematic. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with inheritance that includes both liquid investments AND real estate? I inherited a rental property along with some cash, and I'm wondering if the rental income during marriage gets treated differently than investment gains. The property has appreciated quite a bit since I got married, plus there's been rental income that I've been reinvesting into property improvements. I'm starting to think this might be more complex than just keeping separate bank accounts! Also really appreciate the practical service recommendations in this thread. I had no idea there were specialized tools for analyzing inheritance situations or services to help with IRS calls. Definitely going to look into both of those.