Just a quick tip - make sure when you fill out Form 8822 you check box 1 in Part I (not Part II) and ONLY fill out the line for birth date correction. I made the mistake of filling out every line and checking multiple boxes, and my form got misrouted and took 3 months to process. The IRS clerk I finally spoke with said to keep it simple and only complete the fields you need to change.

I went through this exact nightmare last year! The birth date mismatch is incredibly frustrating, but you have a few good options to get this resolved before the deadline. First, don't panic about the paper filing - it's actually not that complicated. You can use TurboTax to prepare everything normally, then instead of e-filing, just print out the forms and mail them in. Make sure to sign and date everything, and send it certified mail for proof of timely filing. For the long-term fix, definitely submit Form 8822 with a copy of your birth certificate. As someone mentioned, keep it simple - only fill out the birth date correction field and don't overthink it. One thing that really helped me was calling the IRS early in the morning (like 7 AM) when they first open. The hold times are usually shorter then. If you still can't get through, the Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment suggestion is solid - I wish I had known about that option when I was dealing with this. Also, remember you can always file for an automatic extension using Form 4868 if you need more time to sort this out. Just make sure to pay any estimated taxes owed by the original deadline to avoid penalties. You'll get through this - it's more common than you think and the IRS deals with these corrections regularly once you get the right paperwork to them!

The IRS verification system is basically the DMV of the digital world! 😂 But seriously, everyone's timeline is different, and the blinking bar is just their way of saying "we're thinking about it." I've been through this twice (thanks identity thieves!), and both times it resolved within 2 weeks. Hang in there - it's frustrating but the system does eventually work. Your refund is coming, just on IRS time, not human time.

I'm in the exact same boat! Completed my ID verification through ID.me on Monday and still seeing that frustrating blinking bar. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring - sounds like 9-15 business days is pretty normal even though it feels like forever when you're waiting for your refund. I'm going to try checking my transcript like some of you suggested. Does anyone know if there's a specific code that shows up when verification is actually complete in their system? Also curious if anyone has noticed if filing early vs. late in the season affects these processing times at all. Thanks for sharing your timelines - it really helps to know this delay is normal and not a sign something went wrong!

These wait times are getting ridiculous fr fr. The IRS needs to get their act together 🤡

9 weeks is definitely the worst case scenario they give you! I did in-person verification last month and got my refund in about 3 weeks. Keep checking your WMR tool and transcript - once you see movement there, your refund usually follows within a few days. The waiting is the hardest part but you're through the verification hurdle now!

17 Has anyone tried the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on their website? I heard it's pretty accurate for figuring out how to fill out your W-4.

22 As someone who works in tax preparation, I'd recommend starting simple since you're single with no dependents. The new W-4 is actually designed to be more accurate than the old allowance system once you understand it. For your situation: - Step 1: Check "Single or Married filing separately" - Step 2: Leave blank (only applies if you have multiple jobs or your spouse works) - Step 3: Leave blank (no dependents) - Step 4: This is where you fine-tune The key is Step 4(c) - if you consistently get large refunds, you can reduce withholding here by entering a negative amount (like -$50 per paycheck). If you usually owe, add extra withholding with a positive amount. One tip: Look at last year's tax return to see if you got a big refund or owed money. If you got back more than $500, you might want to reduce withholding slightly. The goal is to get within a few hundred dollars either way. The IRS withholding calculator is free and official, but honestly it can be overwhelming for straightforward situations like yours. Start with the basic approach above and adjust after your first few paychecks if needed.

has anyone considered just using a personal loan from a credit union? i took one out last year for about 10k, got a decent rate around 7% without any of the risks of the 401k loan or cd penalties. might be worth looking into as a third option????

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing aspect of your CD maturity. Since your CD is set to mature in March and you need cash now, you might want to calculate exactly how much time you're losing. If it's only a few months until maturity, the early withdrawal penalty might be less painful than it initially appears. Also, regarding the 401k loan "double taxation" - I went through this analysis recently and found that the math really depends on your current tax bracket vs your expected retirement tax bracket. If you're in a higher bracket now than you expect to be in retirement, the double taxation effect on the interest portion is actually minimal. For a short-term need like yours (3-4 months), I'd lean toward the CD early withdrawal simply because it's a clean transaction with no ongoing obligations or job-related risks. The penalty is a one-time hit, and you know exactly what it costs upfront.