This requires immediate attention! • File Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer) • Contact the Treasury Inspector General immediately • Document all instances of unauthorized use • Request a copy of your tax file from the preparer • Check for identity protection issues If you're having trouble reaching the IRS about this issue, use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get connected to an agent quickly. This is time-sensitive because if the preparer is doing this with multiple clients, it could trigger widespread compliance issues. Don't wait on hold for hours - Claimyr will get you through to discuss this serious violation.

Did the preparer explain why they felt entitled to use previous documents without permission? I went through something similar back in 2021 when my divorce was finalized. My ex's preparer used copies of our kids' documents from when we were married, and it created a nightmare with duplicate dependent claims. Did you find out about this because of a rejection or audit notice?

When this happened to me, I spent 3 days trying to get through to the IRS on their regular number. Complete waste of time. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 30 minutes. The agent told me exactly what was flagged in my return and I was able to resolve it that same day by faxing one document. Saved me weeks of anxiety and waiting.

Check your transcript online if you can. It often shows more detailed information than WMR. Look for specific codes like 570/971 which indicate what type of review they're doing.

If you want to challenge this offset, follow these steps: 1. First, contact your state's child support enforcement agency - not the IRS - to request a formal review (do this immediately as there are strict time limits) 2. Gather all payment evidence including bank statements, canceled checks, and receipts 3. Submit a written request for administrative review citing specific reasons (payment errors, incorrect calculations, etc.) 4. If the state review is unsuccessful, some states allow you to appeal to a higher administrative level 5. As a last resort, you might need to file a motion in family court to correct the arrears amount I'd be cautious about expectations though. Unless there's a clear accounting error or you can prove payments weren't credited, these offsets are difficult to reverse.

On March 15, 2024, I successfully challenged a similar offset by proving an accounting error. Instead of disputing the entire offset, focus on verifying the exact amount. On January 22, I requested a full accounting from my state agency, which revealed they hadn't credited four payments made between October 3 and December 28 last year. If you can't stop the offset entirely, you might qualify for a hardship reduction under the Consumer Credit Protection Act if the offset exceeds 65% of your disposable income. This won't eliminate the offset but could reduce the amount taken.

You might want to try a different approach than just waiting. I've been through this before and found these steps helpful: • Call TurboTax directly (not the IRS) - they can confirm if your refund was sent to SBTG • Check your bank for pending deposits - sometimes they appear there before SBTG updates • Look at your TurboTax order confirmation - it should list the exact fees being deducted • Try the SBTG customer service number instead of just the website The $25 fee you mentioned sounds low - are you sure that's the total? Usually there's the TurboTax fee PLUS an additional SBTG processing fee (usually $34-39) for the refund transfer service. This higher total might be why you're extra concerned about tracking it.

Let me clarify exactly how this process works: Step 1: IRS approves your refund (you're here with code 846) Step 2: IRS sends full refund amount to SBTG's bank Step 3: SBTG receives funds (typically 1-3 business days after 846 date) Step 4: SBTG deducts TurboTax fee + their own processing fee Step 5: SBTG forwards remaining balance to your bank Step 6: Your bank processes the deposit (0-2 days depending on your bank) The SBTG tracking system often doesn't update until Step 3 is complete. With today being April 3rd, and assuming your 846 code is dated within the last few days, you should see movement by April 7th at the latest. If nothing shows by then, you should contact TurboTax immediately as there could be an issue with your account information.

I filed on February 16, 2024 - just one day after you - and received my refund on March 12, 2024. However, my sister filed on February 14, 2024, and is still waiting. The IRS began accepting returns on January 29, 2024, and their published timeline states 21 days for most refunds, but that's just an estimate. Last year, I filed on February 3, 2023, and waited 31 days for my refund. The year before that, I filed on February 10, 2022, and waited 24 days. There's definitely variation even with similar filing dates.

You might want to consider checking if you're subject to the PATH Act, which could potentially delay your refund if you claimed certain credits. Generally speaking, the IRS processes most returns within 21 days, but there are several factors that might extend this timeline. If your return includes EITC or ACTC claims, the IRS cannot issue your refund before mid-February, regardless of when you filed. Additionally, if this is your first tax filing after a divorce, there could be some verification processes happening in the background.