As someone who's been through multiple tax seasons with a spouse on deployment, I understand your concern. The service mentioned above doesn't actually access your tax info - it just helps connect you to the IRS phone system. Some key points: • The PATH Act legally prevents the IRS from issuing certain refunds before mid-February • Military status doesn't expedite processing unless in combat zones • Transcript delays are normal for EIC/CTC claims • Missing PATH Act message doesn't indicate problems I'd recommend setting up direct deposit if you haven't already and making sure your address is current in case your spouse deploys before the refund arrives.

OMG I'm literally in the EXACT same situation! Filed 1/29, accepted same day, and NOTHING has updated. I check WMR and my transcript like 5 times a day and it's making me crazy! My husband is also military and we were counting on this money for some repairs before he leaves. So frustrating that they take our money instantly but take FOREVER to give refunds. Last year I had my refund by February 25th even with claiming credits. The waiting is absolutely killing me.

I might be overthinking this, but I believe there's a middle ground here. Perhaps this community could be used to learn general concepts and terminology, which might help you have more productive conversations with tax professionals? I always bring a list of questions when I meet with my accountant, many of which I've refined by reading discussions here. Just my thoughts, though I wouldn't rely solely on advice from here for actual filing decisions.

This forum has its place. It's helpful for general questions. Not for complex situations. Not for specific filing advice. I'm a bookkeeper. Even I consult CPAs for complex matters. The tax code is massive. It changes yearly. No single person knows it all. Forums can point you in right directions. They shouldn't replace professional guidance.

Have you checked if your return might have been selected for identity verification? Sometimes returns with significant changes from previous years get flagged. Did you have investment income last year too, or is this new? What about your filing status - any changes there?

I had almost exactly this situation with my husband last year! My return had some stock sales and his was just W-2 income. His refund came in 9 days, mine took 23 days. I called the IRS after 2 weeks of waiting and they told me returns with capital gains transactions go through a different processing pipeline. The agent said it's completely normal and nothing to worry about. By the time I got off the phone, my transcript had actually updated with a direct deposit date! Yours should update soon too.

Check your tax transcript for TC 570 codes. If you have one, that's your answer - it means they're holding your return for review. If not, try calling the IRS early morning (7am Eastern) when wait times are shorter. Also, if your return is more complex than your husband's (multiple income sources, investments, etc.), that could explain the difference even if filed just a day apart. Different processing teams handle different types of returns.

Have you checked if your return shows any pending actions? Sometimes what appears as a delay is actually an invisible verification process happening behind the scenes. Did you claim any education credits, have investment income, or report any self-employment that your husband didn't? These factors can trigger different processing paths even when filed a day apart. Worth checking your complete transcript and not just the account transcript to see if there are any clues there.

Went through this last year. Got audited for 2021. Was terrified about 2022. No audit happened. Make sure your records are organized. Keep all receipts. Document everything. The amendment itself isn't the problem. It's what caused the audit initially.

Tbh the IRS doesn't have the resources to audit everyone who got audited b4. They look for specific red flags like unusually high deductions, mismatched income reporting, or math errors. Def make sure ur 1099s match what you're reporting! Also, if ur in the same income bracket as last yr, the DIF score (what the IRS uses to flag returns) might be similar, so double-check everything that got flagged last time.