Just want to add - the whole system is wildly inconsistent. For tax purposes, your kid ages out of the Child Tax Credit at 17. For FAFSA college financial aid, they're considered your dependent until 24. For health insurance, they can stay on your plan until 26. For court-ordered child support (at least in my state), it's until 18 or high school graduation, whichever comes LATER. No wonder parents are confused! It's like each government department made up their own rules without talking to each other.

This is such a common frustration! I went through the exact same thing when my oldest turned 17 last year. What really helped me was understanding that even though you lose the Child Tax Credit, there are actually several other credits and deductions you might still qualify for that can partially offset the loss. Since your daughter is 17 and in high school, definitely look into the Credit for Other Dependents (up to $500). If she's taking any dual enrollment courses or college prep classes that count for college credit, you might qualify for education credits. Also, if you're paying for SAT/ACT prep courses or college application fees, some of those educational expenses might be deductible. The key is to think beyond just the Child Tax Credit - there's often a patchwork of other benefits available. It's frustrating that the system is so complicated, but don't assume you're getting nothing just because you lost that one big credit. I actually ended up with more total tax benefits than I expected once I found all the alternatives I qualified for.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in April and it's still stuck on "Return Received" - no movement whatsoever on the other steps. The daily WMR checking has become an obsession at this point, and seeing that same "still processing" message every single day is driving me insane. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting and eye-opening. It sounds like identity verification through ID.me is the most likely culprit for these massive delays. I had no idea this was such a widespread issue this year or that they might send verification letters that never actually arrive. I'm definitely calling that 800-830-5084 identity verification line tomorrow morning (thanks StarStrider for that number!) and will also request my account transcript to see what codes might explain the delay. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become tax code detectives just to understand what's happening with our own refunds, but apparently that's where we are in 2025. The double standard really gets to me too - if we're even a day late with payments, boom, penalties and interest. But they can sit on our money for 6+ months and it's just "processing delays" with zero accountability or meaningful communication. Anyway, thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and actual actionable advice. At least now I have a game plan instead of just refreshing WMR like a maniac every day! 🤞

I'm in the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed in March 2024 and have been stuck on "Return Received" ever since. The daily WMR checking has become a ritual of disappointment at this point. What really strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how common the identity verification issue seems to be this year. I had no clue about the ID.me requirement being so widespread or that verification letters might not even reach us. It's mind-boggling that the IRS has this massive blind spot in their communication system. I'm definitely calling that 800-830-5084 identity verification line tomorrow morning armed with all my documents. Also going to request my account transcript since it sounds like that shows the actual story behind the scenes instead of the useless "still processing" message we all know and hate. The most infuriating part is the complete lack of transparency. We're expected to be mind readers about what's holding up our returns while they sit on our money for months. Meanwhile, if we were late on anything, we'd be hit with penalties immediately. The hypocrisy is unreal. Thanks to everyone for sharing actual solutions and experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that cuts through the bureaucratic nonsense. Finally feel like I have a roadmap instead of just endlessly refreshing WMR! 🙏

clown show every year fr fr 🤡

Don't stress too much about being stuck at "Return Received" - it's totally normal! I filed mine on Jan 28th and was in the exact same boat for about 10 days. The IRS is still catching up from the filing season rush and they process returns in batches, not individually. Since you're checking daily (which I totally get - we all do it lol), just know that the system really does only update once per day, usually overnight. The 21-day processing window is their standard timeline, but with the volume they're handling right now, some returns are taking closer to 3-4 weeks even without any issues. Keep an eye on your transcript too if you can access it online - sometimes it shows movement before WMR updates. Hang in there! 🙂

Back in 2023, I had a similar concern when I saw my 846 code. In my experience, if there's an offset, your transcript should show both the 846 code (with the amount after the offset) and potentially a 898 code (showing the offset itself). However, sometimes there's a delay between when these codes appear. Have you checked your transcript more than once? I'd recommend checking again in 24-48 hours to see if any additional codes appear. I'm slightly worried that the systems don't always sync perfectly.

Great question! I went through this exact situation last year. From my experience, offsets will typically show up on your transcript as a TC 898 code, and the amount shown with your 846 code should reflect the net amount after any offsets have been applied. However, I learned the hard way that there can sometimes be a timing delay - I saw my 846 code first, then the 898 offset code appeared about 2 days later on my transcript. The WMR tool usually gives you a generic message about offsets but isn't as detailed as the transcript. If you want to be absolutely sure, I'd recommend checking your transcript again in a couple days and also calling the Treasury Offset Program hotline at 800-304-3107 - it's automated and will tell you immediately if you have any pending offsets. Better to know for sure than be surprised when the deposit hits your account!

Does anyone know if the rules are different for state taxes? We're in California and their tax rules sometimes differ from federal. Can my son be my dependent on federal but independent on state? He's 19, in college, I pay more than half his support.

This is such a common confusion that comes up every tax season! Your son can absolutely file his own return to get his refund AND you can still claim him as your dependent - these two things are completely separate. The key is that when he files his return, he needs to check the box that says "Someone can claim you as a dependent." This tells the IRS that while he's filing to get his withholdings back, he's not claiming his own personal exemption. Based on what you've described, your son clearly qualifies as your dependent under the "qualifying child" test - he's under 19 (or under 24 if a full-time student), lives with you more than half the year, and you provide more than half his support. His $4,800 in earnings doesn't disqualify him at all. The benefits work out much better for your family this way too. You get to claim valuable tax credits like the Child Tax Credit, while he still gets back whatever was withheld from his paychecks. It's really a win-win situation, even though it might take some explaining to convince him that this is the smart financial move for the whole family!