Has anyone successfully disputed a 1099-C amount? I received one last month that seems way too high compared to what I actually borrowed.

This is such a common situation that catches people off guard! I went through something similar with my grandmother a few years back. One thing I'd strongly recommend is gathering all of your aunt's financial records from right before each debt cancellation date - bank statements, credit card statements, any other debts, and documentation of her assets (home value, car, etc.). The insolvency calculation can be tricky but it's often the key to avoiding a big tax bill. Since your aunt is 79 and on fixed income, there's a good chance her total debts exceeded her assets when the cancellations occurred. Don't forget to include things like medical bills, utility bills, or any other outstanding debts in the liability calculation. Also, definitely double-check those 1099-C amounts against your records. Debt settlement companies sometimes include their fees in the cancelled debt amount, but those fees weren't part of the original loan your aunt received, so they arguably shouldn't be taxable. It's worth questioning every dollar on those forms. Given the complexity and the potential tax savings, this might be worth consulting with a tax professional who has experience with 1099-C issues, especially if the insolvency calculation gets complicated.

One thing to consider that I learned the hard way - does your fiancée qualify for any income-based benefits? When my girlfriend claimed our daughter, it lowered her AGI enough that she could stay on her income-based health insurance, which saved us WAY more than the extra tax refund I would've gotten by claiming our daughter. Sometimes the best tax move isn't just about who gets the bigger refund, but about how it affects other benefits like healthcare subsidies, student loan payments, childcare assistance, etc. Just something to think about.

Just want to add something that might help - make sure whoever claims your son also considers whether they qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you're paying for daycare or childcare. This credit can only be claimed by the parent who claims the child as a dependent, and it can be worth up to $2,100 for one child. Also, don't forget about the Child Tax Credit - it's worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child and has income phase-outs. If one of you makes significantly more than the other, the lower-income parent might get more benefit from these credits. The tax software suggestions others mentioned are great, but also consider running a quick calculation on who would benefit more from Head of Household status combined with these child-related credits. One last tip - if your fiancée does end up owing money because of the W-4 withholding situation, she can adjust her W-4 for next year to avoid the same problem, or you could coordinate your withholdings better as a couple to optimize your cash flow throughout the year.

What we're seeing here is a perfect example of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network's operational efficiency. Financial institutions receive the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) file from the Treasury several days before the official Direct Deposit Date. Progressive banks implement what's known as "provisional crediting" - essentially fronting the money to customers before the actual settlement date. This practice has become more common as banks compete for customer satisfaction metrics. The IRS deliberately sets DDDs conservatively to account for various processing contingencies in the Treasury disbursement system.

This is really encouraging to hear! I filed on 2/13 with Chase and got a DDD of 3/3 on my transcript. Based on your timeline, I'm hoping to see mine show up around 2/26-2/27. It's such a relief when it comes early, especially with all the unexpected expenses that seem to pop up this time of year. I've noticed Chase has been pretty consistent with early deposits over the past few years - they seem to prioritize getting funds to customers as soon as they receive the ACH notification. Thanks for sharing the positive news and including the detail about no fees! That's always a concern when dealing with early deposits from some banks.

After dealing with a similar issue, I finally got through to an actual IRS representative using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They confirmed my return was in the identity verification queue and gave me exact timelines. Completely worth it to finally get a straight answer from a real person instead of the automated system runaround. The uncertainty was killing me before that.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in early February, got flagged for identity verification, completed it through ID.me, and now my transcript shows absolutely nothing like yours does. It's so frustrating because I've been filing for years and this has never happened before. The worst part is how they just completely wipe your return from the system with zero explanation. I keep checking my transcript hoping something will appear but it's just that same "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" message. Really hoping the 9-week timeline everyone is mentioning is accurate because I'm going crazy not knowing what's happening with my refund. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!

11 One thing to watch out for with W2G forms as a non-resident - make sure the casino actually withheld the correct amount! I won $4,300 at a casino in Vegas and they only withheld 24% instead of the 30% required for non-residents. Ended up having to pay the difference plus a small penalty when I filed.

Great thread! Just wanted to add that if you're working with a CPA, make sure they're familiar with Form 8833 (Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure). Many non-residents with gambling winnings need to file this form to claim treaty benefits for reduced withholding rates. Also, keep in mind that some states have their own tax obligations for gambling winnings, even for non-residents. Nevada doesn't have state income tax, but if you won in a state like California or New York, you might need to file a non-resident state return too. Your CPA should know about these state-level requirements, but it's worth asking specifically about it during your consultation. The AICPA directory mentioned earlier is solid, but also check if your CPA has an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) specialization - many non-residents need ITINs for tax filing, and having a CPA who handles both the ITIN application and the tax return can streamline the process.