One more suggestion - use the IRS Withholding Calculator (Google it) and run your numbers there. It's a bit clunky but will give you a decent starting point. In my experience though, you might want to withhold a bit MORE than it suggests if you really want to avoid owing.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for years! One thing that finally worked for us was using the "Tax Withholding Estimator" on the IRS website, but with a twist - I always add an extra $50-75 per paycheck beyond what it recommends. The problem with most W-4 calculators (including the IRS one) is they assume everything stays constant throughout the year. But if either of you gets bonuses, overtime, or any irregular income, you'll end up short. Since you owed $3,200 last year, here's what I'd suggest: 1. Use the IRS estimator as a baseline 2. Add at least $130 extra per paycheck (that's $3,200 ÷ 24 paychecks if paid bi-weekly) 3. Consider checking "Married filing separately" on the W-4 like you mentioned - it really does increase withholding Also, don't stress too much about over-withholding. Getting a refund is way better than scrambling to find $3,200 at tax time! You can always adjust mid-year if the withholding seems too high.

I remember when amended returns took like 12 weeks max. Now we're all out here waiting half a year+ like clowns 🤡

Same here - filed amended return in October and still waiting. The "adjustments pending" status is actually progress though! I've been tracking mine on the IRS website and once it moved to that stage, I got my refund about 6 weeks later. Hang in there, sounds like you're getting close! 🤞

I went through this exact process with my wife from the Philippines about 6 months ago. Using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent was definitely the right choice for us. The agent we found through the IRS website was professional and made the whole process much less stressful. A few tips from my experience: First, verify the agent's credentials directly on the IRS website before committing. Second, ask about their experience with your spouse's specific country - some agents are more familiar with certain documentation requirements. Third, get a clear breakdown of all fees upfront (ours was $150 total). The biggest advantage was that my wife didn't have to mail her original passport anywhere. The agent verified everything locally and sent certified copies to the IRS. We got her ITIN in about 7 weeks, which was faster than some people I know who did it themselves. For something this important, having that professional guidance was worth every penny.

I went through this same process with my spouse from Germany about a year ago and can definitely recommend using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent. The peace of mind was worth it, especially since we didn't have to worry about original documents getting lost in international mail. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much here - make sure to ask the Acceptance Agent about their turnaround time for reviewing and submitting your documents. Some agents batch their submissions weekly, while others submit more frequently. This can affect your overall timeline. Also, double-check that they're familiar with Brazilian documentation requirements specifically. Each country has slightly different document formatting and translation requirements, and you want someone who's handled Brazilian cases before. The agent we used had worked with German documents many times, which made the process much smoother. Overall, using an Acceptance Agent saved us probably 2-3 weeks compared to doing it ourselves, and we avoided the stress of mailing irreplaceable documents internationally. Just make sure you're comfortable with their fees and process before committing.

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed in February with a 570 code and still haven't gotten any verification letter. Reading through these comments is actually really reassuring - sounds like being proactive is the way to go instead of just waiting around. Going to try calling that hotline number first thing Monday morning and maybe check out that taxr.ai tool too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, makes me feel less alone in this mess!

Been dealing with this exact issue! Filed in late January and just got my verification letter last week - took almost 4 months. The key thing I learned is that you can actually verify online through ID.me even without the letter. Just go to the IRS website and look for "Verify Your Identity" - saved me weeks of waiting. Also pro tip: if you moved recently, check with your old address too because they sometimes use outdated info. The whole process is frustrating but you're definitely not alone in this!

Check your wage and income transcript too. Sometimes employers mess up reporting and that triggers the 570

Been through this exact situation! Code 570 with multiple credits can be really stressful but it's actually pretty common. The IRS often puts a hold when there are several credits on one return (like your EIC, multiple 766 codes) - they just want to verify everything is legit. The code 960 (appointed representative) likely means they've assigned a specific examiner to your case, which can actually be good since it means someone is actively working on it rather than it just sitting in a pile. Don't file an amended return unless you get a specific letter asking for one - that could actually slow things down more. Most of these resolve within 60-90 days from the 570 date. Keep checking your transcript weekly and watch your mail for any IRS correspondence. Hang in there! 💪