Have you considered whether you might qualify for First Time Penalty Abatement? Given your history of compliance, you might be eligible! Important things to consider: • You must file the return first before requesting abatement • The IRS looks for a clean compliance record for the 3 prior years • You need to have paid or arranged payment for any tax due • Request must be made within a reasonable timeframe Time is critical here - each day increases potential interest charges!

Last year I was in almost the exact same boat - missed filing 2022 taxes while dealing with family health issues. I compared costs between tax prep options and found TurboTax wanted $119 for the prior year return plus $59 for state, while FreeTaxUSA charged $19.95 for federal and $14.95 for state. The interface wasn't quite as polished, but it imported my W-2s and 1099s just fine. I had to manually enter some investment data that TurboTax would have imported automatically, but saved almost $150 total. The actual filing process took 2.3 hours compared to my usual 1.5 hours with TurboTax.

I've been through this exact situation. Here's what you need to know: • Filing with a new dependent after divorce ALWAYS triggers additional verification • The IRS cross-checks with your ex-spouse's return to ensure no duplicate claims • The normal 21-day timeline doesn't apply to your situation • You're likely in the "Path Act" verification process • This can take 45-60 days, sometimes longer What to do: • Check your transcript for code 570 (hold) or 971 (notice issued) • If you see code 420, that's an audit indicator • Have your divorce decree and custody documents ready • Don't panic - most of these resolve automatically This is frustrating but completely normal for your situation.

OMG I was in EXACTLY your situation last year! First time filing with my daughter after divorce finalized in December. I was checking WMR like 10 times a day and driving myself CRAZY! But it all worked out fine - took about 7 weeks total to get my refund. The system is just extra careful with new dependent situations. I had all my documentation ready (custody agreement, school records, medical bills) but they never even asked for it. Hang in there!

For anyone dealing with PATH Act holds, here's what you should know: • The PATH Act was implemented to prevent fraud and verify income claims • Early releases do happen but aren't guaranteed • Refund timing depends on multiple factors: - Filing date - Processing cycle code - Bank processing times - Verification requirements • The official PATH release date remains February 15th regardless of when you filed I'm concerned that many people are budgeting based on potential early releases when they should be planning for the official date at minimum.

I've been tracking PATH release dates since 2019, and I've noticed early releases typically start appearing around February 8th-10th, with the bulk coming through February 22nd-24th. Last year specifically, the first reports of deposits came on February 7th, with most people receiving theirs by February 24th. The IRS never officially acknowledges these early releases.

I was in the same boat last week and was going CRAZY! According to the IRS2Go app and https://www.irs.gov/refunds my return was stuck on 'received' for 23 days. Then suddenly yesterday it jumped straight to 'refund sent' and the money hit my account this morning! Hang in there - the system is definitely backed up this year but the money does come eventually.

I had 'Return Received' for 19 days, then it updated to 'Refund Approved' with a direct deposit date 3 days later. My sister-in-law filed the same day and got her refund in 12 days total. My brother filed a week before me and is still on 'Return Received' after 26 days. There's no consistent pattern I can see - seems like everyone's experience is different even when filing situations are similar.

File your own return and claim your two kids. Period. Your boyfriend can't claim you as a dependent if you make more than $4,400. With $10,000 income and two qualifying children, you'll likely get a significant EITC refund. Don't leave that money on the table. Just make sure you coordinate with him on who claims which child to avoid IRS issues.

Last year I was in your shoes (except with just one kid from prior relationship). I almost let my boyfriend claim all of us thinking it would be better... thank god I filed my own return! 😂 Got almost $5,000 back with EITC and Child Tax Credit with my low income. The tax system actually benefits single parents with lower incomes in many cases. My boyfriend's refund would have only increased by like $500 if he claimed me and my son. Run the numbers both ways if you want, but I'd bet money you'll come out ahead filing on your own.