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I just discovered exactly 14 days ago that my student loans are in default when it appeared on my credit report for the first time. I'm concerned about my 2023 tax refund - are people in default on student loans actually having their tax returns seized this year? I've calculated a refund of $3,452 based on our filing status, and we're planning to use that money for some essential home repairs. I'm in California specifically, if that makes any difference to how offsets are handled. My loans have been in default for approximately 217 days according to the report, but I never received any notice about potential tax offsets. Thank you for any precise information about whether this is actually happening in 2024.
I filed on the 19th of February and got accepted on the 20th. Went to check my transcript tonight and it's not there - shows N/A. Just seeing if anyone else is experiencing this and might know why. I'm cautious about proceeding without understanding what's happening with my filing status. I've never had this issue in previous tax years.
This happens to about half the people I know who file in mid-February. My brother filed Feb 17th and had his transcript available Feb 28th. I filed Feb 20th and mine didn't show up until March 10th. Same tax situation, almost identical returns. It's just luck of the draw which processing batch you end up in.
FYI - be careful abt checking too often. Last yr I checked my transcript like 5x/day and got temp locked out of my acct for "suspicious activity." Had to wait 72hrs to get back in, which was super stressful bc that's when my transcript finally updated! Now I limit myself to checking 1x/day max. The IRS systems are hyper-sensitive to multiple logins from the same IP.
Just got a CP02 letter from the IRS last month, and it's about as welcome as a traffic ticket at a funeral. The letter says they're 'verifying my identity' even though I'm just claiming my own kids like I do every year. Has anyone else been through this identity verification maze and actually received their tax refund already? I work remotely and file the same way every year, so this feels like the IRS throwing a random wrench in the works. I know my rights as a taxpayer, but this process is about as clear as mud.
Check your transcript. Online account helps. Shows processing status. CP02 means identity verification. Normal procedure. Need patience. Try calling early morning. Better chances getting through. Keep checking WMR tool daily.
The CP02 is specifically part of the IRS Identity Protection Program, not an audit or review of your dependents. Have you verified your identity through the ID.me portal? Many taxpayers don't realize that until you complete that verification, your return won't continue processing. The IPPP (Identity Protection PIN Program) has expanded significantly in the last two years, and many legitimate returns are being held for verification as a precaution.
So I'm in this weird limbo where the Where's My Refund tool just says "still processing" (been like that for weeks now ๐ฉ) and when I try to check my transcripts, I get an error and can't access them at all. Super frustrating. For those of you who CAN check your transcripts - did any of you get a direct deposit date on your transcript while your WMR was still stuck on processing? Just trying to figure out if there's hope I might get my refund soon even though WMR hasn't updated.
WMR is notoriously unreliable. I filed in early February and my WMR never updated past "processing" but I got my refund in March. The transcript system is separate and generally more accurate, but it sounds like you're having technical issues accessing it. Try early morning (like 5-6am) when the system has less traffic.
When did you file? If it was within the last 21 days, it might just not be fully processed yet. Also, are you claiming any credits like EITC or CTC? Those take longer to process and might explain why you can't access transcripts yet.
I filed on March 2nd, so it's been about 40 days now. And yes, I claimed CTC this year. I didn't realize that could affect transcript access too!
I paid exactly $25 to TurboTax for their 5-day early refund advance feature, but then they cancelled it without explanation. I've checked my account 6 times today and there's no sign of a refund OR a refund of the $25 fee. Did I just lose that money? My AGI is $143,250 so the amount isn't breaking me, but it's the principle - they charged for a service they didn't deliver. Does anyone know if this money gets automatically refunded or do I need to contact them directly? I'm completely overwhelmed with all these different tax services and their hidden fees.
Per IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 3-2024), tax preparation services must disclose all fees and refund policies before charging. TurboTax is required to refund this fee if the service wasn't provided. Document everything! I had this happen on April 2nd last year and had to file a complaint with CFPB before they processed my refund. Don't wait - tax season ends in less than 3 weeks!
Thanks for sharing this! I didn't realize there were actual regulations about this. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you filed the complaint? I've had some issues with them too but wasn't sure if it was worth pursuing.
This happened to my brother too. He just let it go because it was "only $25" but that's exactly what they count on - thousands of people not bothering to follow up. That's millions in profit for services never delivered. I always take screenshots of everything when dealing with tax prep companies now.
I work in financial services and can explain what likely happened: โข TurboTax's refund advance is actually a loan product with underwriting criteria โข Your initial $25 fee reserves the advance pending approval โข When cancelled, the fee should automatically refund โข Common reasons for cancellation: - Credit score below their threshold - Identity verification flags - Certain tax credits that delay processing - Return selected for additional review The refund typically processes in 5-7 business days to original payment method.
Lucas Adams
Here's what you need to know about student loan offsets in 2024: โข The COVID-era protections that paused offsets officially ended in September 2023 โข The "Fresh Start" program gave some borrowers a chance to exit default, but had deadlines โข California residency doesn't protect against federal tax refund offsets โข You can check your offset status by calling the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107 โข If you're married filing jointly, your spouse can submit Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) โข Loan rehabilitation takes 9 months of on-time payments but can stop future offsets โข Consolidation is faster (about 30 days) but doesn't help with offsets already in process Time is critical with these situations - each option has different timelines and impacts.
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Harper Hill
Instead of waiting to see if they take your refund, you might want to consider putting your refund on hold temporarily. You can file your taxes but request a hold on the refund by submitting Form 8379 even if you're not technically eligible for injured spouse relief. This buys you time to call the Default Resolution Group at 800-621-3115 and start loan rehabilitation. Once you make your first rehabilitation payment, ask them for a letter confirming you're in the program, then you can request the hold on your refund be released. This worked for me in 2022 when I was in a similar situation.
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