This tax transcript stuff is like trying to read hieroglyphics without the Rosetta Stone! I was in your shoes last year - saw a big number by code 150 and thought the IRS was picking my pockets. Turned out that number was just my tax liability, like the price tag before coupons and discounts are applied. Your boyfriend probably had enough tax credits to knock his liability down to zero - like having enough loyalty points to get something for free. Check for codes 806 (withholding) and 766 (credits) - those are your "coupons" that reduce what you owe.

Let me walk you through what's happening with your transcript. First, code 150 shows your tax liability - the amount of tax calculated on your income. Second, this is completely normal and doesn't mean money is being taken from your refund. Third, your boyfriend showing $0 means his deductions and credits reduced his tax liability to zero. Fourth, to calculate your expected refund, find code 806 (withholding) and any credit codes (like 766). Fifth, subtract your code 150 amount from those combined amounts. That's your expected refund. Don't worry - this is all part of the normal process.

The Chapter 13 Trustee Program operates under Title 11 of the United States Code, while IRS refund processing occurs under Title 26. This jurisdictional separation creates a procedural gap that often results in refunds being issued directly to debtors even when they should ultimately go to the estate. The Form 13 Notice of Income Tax Refund (NOITR) is the document trustees file with the IRS to intercept refunds, but it must be processed before your refund reaches the disbursement phase. Based on your DDD of 3/14, it appears the NOITR wasn't filed in time for this tax cycle. I'm slightly worried you might face compliance issues if you don't properly handle the incoming funds according to your plan terms.

Think of your tax refund in Chapter 13 like mail that gets forwarded when you move - sometimes the forwarding request doesn't get processed before the mail is already on its way to your old address. Your bankruptcy trustee is supposed to file intercept notices with the IRS, but they don't always get them in before the IRS processes your return. In my district (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), about 70% of Chapter 13 filers receive their refunds directly and then have to forward them to the trustee rather than having them intercepted automatically. The most critical thing is to read your specific plan language - some plans have exemption amounts (first $1,200 is yours, remainder to trustee), some have percentage splits (50% to you, 50% to estate), and others require 100% turnover of all refunds.

I think I might be able to provide some insight, although I'm not completely certain about all the details. From my personal experience last year, when my refund was offset for child support, they took the whole amount because my debt was larger than my refund. I believe this is generally how it works in most cases. The state child support agency should send your friend a notice showing how the money was applied to their balance.

I managed to navigate this exact situation successfully last year! Here's what worked for me: • Accepted that my entire refund would be taken (it was) • Immediately contacted my state child support agency • Negotiated a reasonable payment plan for the remaining balance • Adjusted my W-4 to have less tax withheld • Set up automatic payments to avoid future offsets The result? This year I'm getting a small refund that won't be offset because I'm current on my payment agreement. It's totally possible to get through this!

Can someone explain the difference between a 3176C and a CP2000 notice? I received something similar but I'm not sure if it's the same examination process. Does the examination automatically mean they suspect fraud or is this just random verification?

I went through this last tax season. What was your AGI? My medical expenses were around $15K but since my income was $95K, I could only deduct expenses exceeding $7,125 (7.5% of AGI). The examiner focused heavily on whether my expenses exceeded that threshold. Did you include mileage to medical appointments? That's $0.22/mile for 2023 and adds up quickly. Did you include health insurance premiums not paid through pre-tax employer plans? Many people miss those. What about home modifications for medical reasons? I had to install a wheelchair ramp that qualified.

I waited exactly 47 minutes on hold with the IRS trying to confirm my CTC deposit on my Serve card last month. Complete waste of time. Then I tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com/?ref=reddit) and got connected to an agent in exactly 9 minutes. The agent confirmed my $3,600 Child Tax Credit was part of my $5,247 refund deposit and explained the remaining $1,647 difference was due to my Earned Income Credit. Claimyr's callback system saved me hours of hold music and gave me peace of mind knowing exactly what was deposited.

Has anyone checked if American Express Serve has different processing times for government deposits? I've heard some prepaid cards hold tax refunds for 1-2 business days before making them available. Did you get an email notification from Serve when it posted? And does your online account show it as "pending" or "completed"?

This is normal. Don't panic. IRS will mail a check. System works this way by design. Security feature. Not a glitch. You'll get your money.

You might want to check your tax transcript, if possible, to see if there's any indication of the rejected deposit. Generally speaking, the IRS will typically reissue the refund as a paper check when electronic deposits are rejected, though the timeframe can vary somewhat depending on current processing volumes. It's also potentially worth noting that some banking institutions have different policies regarding joint tax refunds versus individual accounts.

Has anyone been through this recently? I've heard some IRS offices are more flexible than others about what they accept. Does it vary by location?

• Finally got through my verification yesterday! • Brought ALL my documents (original W-2s, 1099s, ID, SS card) • For self-employment: brought bank statements, expense receipts, mileage log • Appointment took only 20 minutes • Agent mainly focused on verifying my identity and income documents • Barely looked at my expense documentation • WMR updated this morning showing refund approved! So relieved this is over. My advice: over-prepare rather than under-prepare. Better to have too many documents than not enough!

Isn't it strange how the IRS can process millions of returns electronically but still sends physical checks through the mail? Why not just offer prepaid debit cards as an alternative? Anyway, to answer your question: The official timeline is 7-10 business days from the mailing date (not your verification date). But how do you know the mailing date? That's the real question. In my experience as a tax preparer, paper checks are typically mailed within 48 hours of the "refund approved" status, but during peak season (like now), it can take up to 5 business days just to mail the check.

I've been through this paper check waiting game three times now. Here's what I've learned: • Paper checks typically arrive 7-14 calendar days after the refund approval date • The IRS doesn't provide tracking numbers for refund checks • The Where's My Refund tool won't update once it shows "Your refund has been approved" • Checks are mailed from regional service centers, so your location matters • If it's been more than 4 weeks, you can request a payment trace Last year my check arrived exactly 9 days after approval. The year before that, 12 days. It's not an exact science, but the mail usually delivers within two weeks.

As someone who plans their taxes with the precision of a NASA launch, I can tell you the 960 code is just the IRS's way of saying "this refund is taking a little detour before reaching its final destination." 😂 But seriously, if your daughter wants to confirm everything is proceeding correctly, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an IRS agent. I waited 2+ hours on hold last tax season before discovering this service. Got connected to an actual human being in under 30 minutes who confirmed the 960 code was just standard procedure for refund transfers. Worth it for the peace of mind alone when something unexpected shows up on a transcript.

I remember panicking when I saw this code on my transcript too! Turns out it's completely normal when you choose to have fees taken from your refund. What's happening is that FreeTaxUSA has partnered with a bank (usually Santa Barbara Tax Products Group or similar) to handle the refund transfer. Your daughter technically gave authorization when she agreed to the terms during filing - it's in that long agreement nobody reads. Last year, I called FreeTaxUSA directly and they explained that the authorization is extremely limited - just enough to receive the refund, take their cut, and send the rest to her. The code will disappear from her transcript after everything processes.

OMG this is so frustrating! 😤 Did the agent give you ANY hint about what might have triggered the review? I'm wondering if it could be related to the W-2 verification system they implemented this year? So many people are getting caught in these reviews even with perfect returns!

Word of caution - I had a similar situation last year and made the mistake of assuming I just needed to wait out the 120 days. Turns out they had sent a notice requesting documentation to an old address I hadn't updated with them. When I didn't respond (because I never got it), they adjusted my return and I lost a significant portion of my refund. Had to file an amended return and it took another 6 months to resolve. Don't just wait - be proactive about checking your account transcript weekly for updates.