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.

Been there. Done that. Missed 2020 taxes. Nightmare. Got letters. Penalties added up. Finally fixed it last summer. Don't wait. Get your W-2 copies now. File both years. Sleep better.

I work with tax resolution cases regularly. As of April 3rd, 2024, you can still file your 2022 return without triggering automatic audits. The IRS typically begins sending CP59 notices (non-filing notices) around September following the tax year. If you file before receiving formal notices, you'll minimize penalties. The Substitute for Return (SFR) process usually begins 18-24 months after the due date, which would be around October 2024 for your 2022 return.

I want to caution you about one thing that happened to me last year. I was in a similar situation and assumed everything was fine. Here's what I should have done: 1. First, verify your e-file was actually transmitted by checking your tax software status 2. Second, check your email for any rejection notices (sometimes they go to spam) 3. Third, create an IRS online account if you haven't already 4. Fourth, check both account and return transcripts 5. Finally, if nothing shows after 21 days, contact the IRS directly I waited too long assuming it was normal processing, but my return had actually been rejected due to an AGI mismatch from the previous year. By the time I figured it out, I was already 6 weeks delayed.

Have you tried checking your state tax refund status? Sometimes the state system will show acceptance even when the federal systems don't. Isn't it interesting how the two systems that should be communicating with each other often tell different stories? If your state shows acceptance, it usually means your federal return was also received since most software submits them together.