Congrats on getting ur $$$! This happens ALL THE TIME tbh. Banks are weird w/ govt deposits. My CU has a note on their website that says IRS deposits usually post by 3pm on the DDD but customer svc reps can't see them in the system til they actually post. Super annoying but normal. Btw if anyone's still waiting, check if ur bank has a special govt deposit schedule - mine actually posts them earlier than regular ACH transfers!

This is exactly the kind of transparency we need more of in the tax refund process! I went through something similar last month where my refund was "sent" according to WMR but nowhere to be found at my bank for almost 36 hours. What's particularly interesting about your experience is how the trace request seemed to coincide with the deposit appearing - I wonder if there's an actual connection there or just timing coincidence. The lack of real-time visibility between IRS systems, banking systems, and tax software creates so much unnecessary stress for taxpayers. Thanks for sharing the specific publication references too - it's helpful to understand the official timelines versus what actually happens in practice. Did your bank eventually explain why the deposit wasn't visible to their customer service reps initially?

Did your grandfather's estate go through probate? Just wondering because my uncle left me money but the estate is still in probate and i haven't gotten anything yet. It's been like 8 months!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last year. My grandmother left me about $52,000 and I was panicking about taxes too. The good news is that everyone here is right - you don't owe federal income tax on the inheritance itself. However, make sure you keep good records of when you received it and the amount. While you won't need to report it as income, it's good documentation to have. Also, if you decide to invest that money, keep track of your original $47,000 so you know your basis for any future investments. One thing that helped me was setting aside a small portion in a separate savings account just for any potential tax obligations on future earnings from the inheritance. That way I'm not tempted to spend money I might owe taxes on later. California doesn't have inheritance tax like you mentioned, so you're all set there too. Congratulations on the inheritance - I'm sure your grandfather would be happy knowing it's helping you!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - check if the virtual mailbox service is scanning in color or black and white. Some IRS notices have color elements that contain important information. My virtual mailbox was scanning everything in black and white and I missed some color-coded instructions on a tax notice. Also worth noting that you can call the IRS and request that they communicate with you via email for certain things, though they're pretty limited with what they can send electronically. I did this and it reduced my physical mail by about half.

I've been dealing with this exact situation for the past two years while living in Japan. Here's what I've learned from experience: The privacy concerns about virtual mailbox scanning are valid but manageable. I started by researching the specific virtual mailbox service thoroughly - looked up their Better Business Bureau rating, read their privacy policy in detail, and even called to ask about their employee background check procedures. Most reputable services do have strict protocols for handling sensitive documents. My solution has been a tiered approach based on the sender and envelope appearance: - Routine IRS notices (like balance due reminders or informational letters): Let them scan - Anything certified, registered, or marked "Important Tax Document": Always forward - First-time notices about new issues: Forward to be safe One tip that's saved me hundreds in forwarding fees: I set up an IRS online account and enrolled in email notifications. This way I get advance warning when they're sending something, so I can prepare my virtual mailbox instructions accordingly. The key is finding a virtual mailbox service that gives you granular control over each piece of mail rather than an all-or-nothing approach. It's worth paying a bit more for that flexibility when you're dealing with tax documents from overseas.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my research. The key issue isn't just about joint ownership - it's about establishing that your mom has a legitimate ownership interest beyond just helping you qualify. From what I've found, the IRS looks at several factors: who's primarily responsible for payments, who will be the main user, and whether the arrangement is genuine or just to circumvent the income requirements. If your mom is truly going to be a co-owner (maybe contributing to payments, listed on insurance, actually using the vehicle), that's much stronger than just adding her name. One thing that hasn't been mentioned - make sure the vehicle itself qualifies. The used EV must be purchased from a licensed dealer (not private party), cost under $25,000, be at least 2 years old, and not have been previously claimed for this credit by another owner. The dealer should be able to verify the vehicle's eligibility through the IRS database. Also consider timing - if your mom has claimed any EV credit in the past 3 years, she's ineligible. And even though she doesn't need tax liability for the point-of-sale option, she'll still need to report this on her tax return when she files. The dealership verification process @Ingrid Larsson described sounds like the right approach - having proper documentation upfront will save headaches later if the IRS questions the arrangement.

This is such a valuable discussion! I'm a CPA and wanted to add a few technical points that might help clarify the joint ownership situation for the used EV credit. The IRS guidance emphasizes that the credit belongs to the "qualifying buyer" - meaning the person who meets the income requirements AND has genuine ownership interest. Your mom being added just to circumvent income limits would be problematic, but if she's truly a co-purchaser with real financial stake and usage rights, that's legitimate. A few practical tips: 1) Have your mom contribute meaningfully to the down payment or be equally responsible for loan payments, 2) Make sure she's listed as a driver on the insurance policy from day one, 3) Document any agreement about shared usage (even informally), and 4) Keep records showing she genuinely benefits from the purchase. The point-of-sale option makes this much easier since she doesn't need current tax liability, but she WILL need to report the credit transfer on her next tax return. Also remember that if the arrangement is later deemed improper, the IRS can recapture that $4,000 from either party. One last note - make sure your chosen dealer is actually registered with the IRS for credit transfers. Many smaller used car lots still aren't set up for this, which would force you to claim the credit on a tax return instead (where the tax liability issue would become relevant again).

Check your bank too. Not just WMR. Some banks hold IRS deposits. Mine shows pending two days early. Credit unions often faster. Big banks sometimes slower. Weekends delay everything. Tuesday DDDs are most reliable. Friday DDDs can mean Monday actual deposit. Transcript is most accurate source.

Great question! I've been tracking this pattern for the past few years as well. In my experience, WMR typically updates to "Refund Sent" about 1-2 days before your actual DDD, but there can be some variation. I've noticed that if your DDD falls on a Tuesday or Thursday (which are the most common IRS deposit days), WMR usually updates the night before or early morning of the day prior. However, if your DDD is on a Monday, it might update as early as the preceding Friday since the IRS doesn't process over weekends. One thing I've learned is that your transcript with the 846 code and DDD is always the most reliable source - that date is essentially set in stone once it appears. The WMR tool is more for general public updates and can sometimes lag behind their internal processing systems. Have you checked your transcript recently to see if your 846 code is showing yet?