I haven't received any letters yet. I've claimed both kids for the past 3 years, so it's not a new situation. Their mom and I have a formal agreement about who claims which child each year, so there shouldn't be any conflict there. Should I still be checking for mail from the IRS, or would they have contacted me by now if that was the issue?

If you've claimed the same children for multiple years without issues, it's less likely to be a verification problem. However, the IRS sometimes sends letters requesting information 4-6 weeks after filing, so it could still arrive. Mail from the IRS can also sometimes look like regular mail or get lost, so it's always good to check carefully. But honestly, at this point it sounds more like normal processing delays rather than an information request problem. The IRS processing times really have been significantly longer this year for returns with dependents.

The PATH Act is still in effect, but since the original poster filed on March 5th, that wouldn't be causing their delay. The PATH Act prevents the IRS from issuing refunds before mid-February for returns claiming EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit, but once we're past that date, it shouldn't be a factor anymore.

Thanks for clarifying! I wasn't sure if they had extended those delays or if it was still just the mid-February cutoff. Makes sense that it wouldn't affect March filers.

Does the IRS ever question large jumps in deductions from one year to the next? I'm worried if I suddenly itemize after years of standard deduction it might trigger an audit.

A significant change in deduction strategy alone isn't typically what triggers IRS scrutiny. What matters is that you have proper documentation for everything you're claiming. The IRS understands that life events happen - medical issues, home repairs, major purchases - that can cause a one-year spike in deductions. Just make sure you keep receipts for any large purchases, medical bills, property tax statements, mortgage interest statements, and donation receipts. If you have the documentation to back up your claims, you shouldn't worry about itemizing when it benefits you.

This is great advice. My accountant recommended the same strategy for charitable donations - doubling up one year to itemize, then taking standard deduction the next.

The Savers Credit doesn't have anything to do with medical expenses though? That's for retirement contributions. I don't think there's any tax credit specifically for dental work, just the medical expense deduction that everyone's been talking about.

Lmao I'm just imagining explaining to an IRS auditor that I'm depreciating my teeth at a rate of 10% per year 😂 "Sir, I've calculated that due to my coffee habit, my dental implant is depreciating faster than the standard rate

The divorce was finalized in 2019, but the agreement definitely doesn't call it alimony. It's labeled as "property settlement" in the divorce decree. Is that clear enough for the IRS or does she need additional documentation? And would the extra amount he paid her ($2,500 over the agreed amount) fall under the same category?

If the agreement specifically labels it as "property settlement" in the divorce decree, that's very clear documentation for the IRS. That's exactly what you want - language that explicitly categorizes the payment as division of marital assets rather than support payments. For the extra $2,500, that's a bit trickier. Since it wasn't specified in the original agreement, the IRS might consider it as a separate transaction. If her ex specifically characterized it as interest or compensation for the delay, it could be considered taxable income. If it was presented as an additional property settlement or a gift, it would likely not be taxable to her. I'd recommend documenting any communication about that extra amount (emails, texts) that explains the nature of that additional payment.

This is a really good point. When I went through my divorce, my ex-spouse incorrectly issued me a 1099 for a property settlement payment. I had to file Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) with my tax return to explain why I wasn't reporting the amount as income. Saved me from an automatic audit flag when the IRS computers saw the 1099 but didn't see matching income on my return.

She hasn't received any tax forms yet, but that's a really good point! I'll tell her to wait before filing her taxes to make sure she doesn't get a 1099 from him. If she does, we'll definitely need to file that Form 8275 with an explanation. The divorce was such a mess that I wouldn't be surprised if he reports it incorrectly just to cause problems.

Does the Free File program have a mobile app or is it desktop only? My laptop died last month and I'm only using my phone right now.

Most of the Free File options are designed primarily for desktop, but several have mobile-responsive websites that work on phones. TaxSlayer and TaxAct specifically have decent mobile experiences through their Free File programs. If you're limited to just your phone, Cash App Taxes (mentioned in another comment) might be your best bet - it was literally designed as a mobile-first experience and works great on phones. It's free regardless of whether you access it through Free File or directly, and handles education credits without charging.

Yes, Credit Karma Tax is now Cash App Taxes. I used it this year with a W-2, 1098-T, and even some 1099-INT from my savings account. Completely free for both federal and state, and it handled my American Opportunity Credit without any issues. The interface is pretty streamlined and worked well on both my laptop and phone.