Think of withholding like making payments on a fixed-price car throughout the year. Whether you pay $100 every month or $1200 all at once in December, the car still costs $1200. Your tax liability is like that fixed price - it's calculated based on your income, filing status, credits, etc. The timing of when you pay doesn't change the final amount due. What likely happened is that other factors in your tax situation changed between years (maybe different deductions, credits, or slightly different income) that offset any difference from your withholding pattern.

I had this same situation when I switched jobs mid-year. At my old job, I had minimal withholding, and at my new job, I had much higher withholding. But my refund was almost identical to the previous year. When I compared my returns side by side, I noticed my total tax liability was almost the same both years, so the refund was similar too. It's like comparing two different routes to the same destination - you still end up in the same place regardless of how you got there. You need to check this ASAP though since tax season is wrapping up and you want to make any withholding adjustments for this year before too much of 2024 passes!

This ID verification system has been a nightmare for so many people this year. Last month, I was in the same boat - couldn't verify through the online system no matter what I tried. I finally got through on the phone after calling the dedicated ID Verify line (not the main IRS line) at exactly 7:00am when they opened. My return went to pending for about 10 days, then processed. I'm concerned that yours has been pending for a couple weeks already - that might indicate they found something else they want to review after confirming your identity.

The 5071C letter process has changed significantly this year. New security measures implemented. Stricter verification standards. Higher fraud prevention focus. Check your mail daily. They might send a follow-up 5747C letter. That requires in-person verification at a TAC office. Appointments booking 6-8 weeks out currently. Schedule immediately if received.

One tip our community doesn't share enough: the IRS has different phone numbers for different issues! It's like everyone's trying to go through the same door when there's actually a dozen entrances. 😂 If you're dealing with: - Identity theft: 800-908-4490 - Tax forms: 800-829-3676 - Installment agreements: 800-829-1040 I've found that using the specific number cuts wait time by half. Also, don't forget to have a good book ready while you wait... War and Peace should be about the right length!

Has anyone tried the Taxpayer Advocate Service? I've heard mixed things abt their effectiveness lately. My CPA mentioned they're super backed up too, but might be worth a shot for complicated issues that reg IRS reps can't solve?

After three days of portal-checking hell, my July payment magically appeared this morning! It's like watching water boil - the moment you stop obsessively checking, it happens. The IRS systems are like an old car with a finicky starter - sometimes it roars to life immediately, other times you have to sweet-talk it and cross your fingers. Check your bank account directly rather than trusting the portal - mine showed up there first.

Just a heads up - I've seen a few cases where people who changed banking info recently had their July payment sent as a paper check instead of DD, even though the portal didn't indicate this change. Happened to my neighbor who updated her bank info in June. The portal showed nothing processing, but a paper check showed up in her mailbox about a week after the usual payment date. Might be worth checking your mailbox regularly just in case.

After my amended return was stuck for weeks, I tried calling the IRS directly. Here's what I did: Step 1: Called the regular IRS number and waited 2+ hours before being disconnected Step 2: Tried again the next day, same result Step 3: Used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual agent in about 25 minutes Step 4: The agent confirmed my deposit was scheduled for processing but explained there's often a 24-48 hour delay between the DDD and when banks post funds So frustrating that we can't just get straight answers from the IRS website! But at least the agent was able to confirm everything was on track.

I believe most banks might be processing these deposits today or tomorrow. I'm waiting on mine too... seems like there might be a slight delay with this batch. From what I understand, the IRS sometimes sends these in groups, and financial institutions process them according to their own schedules. Maybe we should all update here when ours hit so we can see if there's a pattern?