I had this same lockout issue last month and it was incredibly frustrating! In my experience, it took exactly 48 hours to reset, even though their messaging says 24 hours. I tried all the usual tricks - clearing cache, different browsers, incognito mode - but nothing worked until that 48-hour mark hit. One thing that helped me during the wait was calling the automated refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. You don't need to log in and sometimes it has more recent updates than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Just have your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. Since you filed on March 5th, you're right at that 21-day processing window, so hopefully you'll see movement soon! The waiting is the worst part, especially when you're counting on that money. Once I finally got back into my account after the lockout, my refund status had actually updated with a deposit date. Fingers crossed yours comes through quickly!

I've been in this exact same boat multiple times this tax season! The lockout period can vary - I've experienced anywhere from 24 to 72 hours depending on how their system is feeling that day. It's incredibly frustrating, especially when you're anxiously waiting for updates on your refund. A few things that have helped me: try using a completely different device or network (like your phone's hotspot instead of home WiFi), clear all browser data, and sometimes waiting until odd hours like early morning can help. The IRS system seems to reset at random times. Since you filed March 5th, you're right in that 21-day window where things should start moving. I know the "still processing" message is maddening - it tells you absolutely nothing useful! One trick I've found is calling the automated refund line at 1-800-829-1954. Sometimes it has slightly more current info than the online tools, and you don't need to deal with logging in. Hang in there! I filed around the same time as you and just got movement on mine yesterday, so hopefully yours will update soon too. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, especially when bills are involved.

bruh the IRS website has a calculator but its straight garbage tbh 🗑️ never gives the right numbers

With $80k income, MFJ, and 3 kids you're looking at a solid refund! The Child Tax Credit alone will give you $4k for the two younger ones (assuming they qualify). If your 19yo is in college, you might also get education credits. Plus with only $3k withheld on $80k income, you definitely underpaid during the year which actually works in your favor for a bigger refund. I'd estimate somewhere in the $5k-7k range but definitely use actual tax software to be sure!

For those stuck on the insolvency worksheet, I found this real-world example helped me understand the big picture: Assets: Car worth $8,000 Checking account $1,200 Personal belongings $2,000 Total assets: $11,200 Liabilities: Credit card debt $13,000 Medical bills $5,000 Car loan $6,000 Total liabilities: $24,000 Insolvency amount: $12,800 ($24,000 - $11,200) If cancelled debt is $7,500, you can exclude the full amount. If cancelled debt is $15,000, you can only exclude $12,800. Hope this helps someone else!

Great breakdown of the insolvency calculation! One thing to add for anyone reading this - make sure you're valuing your assets at fair market value, not what you originally paid for them. For example, if you bought your car for $15,000 but it's only worth $8,000 now due to depreciation, use the $8,000 figure. Same goes for things like electronics or furniture - use what you could reasonably sell them for today, not what you paid. Also, don't forget about less obvious liabilities like unpaid taxes, student loans, or even money you owe to family members. Every dollar of legitimate debt counts toward proving your insolvency, so make sure you're including everything when you do your calculation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding RSU withholding issues! As someone new to receiving stock compensation, I had no idea this was such a widespread problem. I'm currently in my first year of RSU vestings and want to make sure I don't run into this same situation next tax season. Based on all the great advice shared here, I'm planning to: 1. Set up quarterly tracking like Joshua suggested, documenting each vesting event and where the withholding gets reported 2. Create that dedicated email folder for all RSU communications 3. Identify my company's stock plan administrator contact info now, before I need it 4. Take screenshots of my account right after each vesting as Gianni recommended One question for the group - for those who successfully resolved their missing withholding documentation, what's the best way to verify that everything is correctly reported when you actually file your return? I want to make sure I don't accidentally double-count or miss anything when the time comes. Also, is there a particular time of year when it's best to do a "mid-year check" on RSU withholdings to catch any reporting issues before they become tax season problems? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating stock compensation so much easier!

I've been following this thread closely as I'm dealing with a very similar situation - $94k in RSU withholdings from E*TRADE that completely disappeared from my W2. This has been one of the most helpful discussions I've found anywhere online about this issue! After reading through everyone's experiences, I've already started implementing several suggestions: 1. **Found my company's separate stock plan portal** - Just like Gabrielle mentioned, this was completely separate from my regular E*TRADE account. There's a "Tax Documents" section I never knew existed that shows detailed withholding information. 2. **Contacted our stock plan administrator directly** - Following Zoey's advice, I called the dedicated equity compensation support line instead of going through regular HR. The specialist immediately understood the issue and is preparing a comprehensive tax reconciliation report for me. 3. **Requested IRS tax account transcript** - Based on Javier's suggestion, I've submitted a request to verify that the IRS actually received my withholdings. Should have results in a few weeks. What strikes me most about this thread is how common this problem seems to be, yet there's so little official guidance about it. The practical solutions shared here are far more valuable than anything I found in standard tax resources. For anyone else dealing with this: don't panic about the missing withholdings. As multiple people confirmed, the money was sent to the IRS and you will get credit for it. It's just a matter of finding the right documentation trail. I'll update this thread once I get my transcript results - might help others verify their situation too.

This is a really common situation that trips up a lot of people! The key thing to remember is that the IRS cares about who actually paid the mortgage interest, not whose name appears on the 1098 form. Since you're making 100% of the payments, you can absolutely claim 100% of the mortgage interest deduction on your tax return. When you file, you'll want to include a brief explanation with your return stating something like: "Mortgage interest paid by taxpayer although Form 1098 issued to other borrowers due to lender reporting limitations." Your brother and sister should NOT claim any of this mortgage interest on their returns since they didn't pay it. The fact that their names are on the 1098 doesn't give them the right to the deduction - it's all about who actually made the payments. Make sure to keep good records of all your mortgage payments (bank statements, canceled checks, etc.) in case the IRS has any questions later. This documentation will clearly show that you were the one making the payments throughout the year. If you're using tax software, look for an option that lets you indicate you paid mortgage interest reported under someone else's name/SSN. Most major tax programs have provisions for this exact situation.

I had a very similar situation with my mortgage at Bank of America last year! Three of us were on the original loan (me, my wife, and my brother-in-law), but only the first two names appeared on the 1098. I was doing most of the payments from my personal account. What really helped me was getting a formal letter from the bank confirming that all three of us were legally obligated borrowers, even though only two names appeared on the 1098 due to their system limitations. I called their mortgage customer service and specifically asked for a "borrower confirmation letter" for tax purposes. When I filed my taxes, I claimed the percentage of mortgage interest that corresponded to the payments I actually made (about 70% in my case). I attached a brief explanation to my return along with the bank letter. Everything went smoothly - no questions from the IRS. The key is having solid documentation of your actual payments and some confirmation from the lender about your borrower status. Keep all your bank statements showing the mortgage payments, and definitely get that confirmation letter from Citizens Bank if you can. It's worth the phone call!