Have you checked if you even need to amend? The IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502) has specific guidance on retirement plan loans. Did you take a qualified loan that you're repaying according to the terms? Or did you default on payments making it a deemed distribution?

Did your 1099-R show a taxable amount in Box 1? And what's the distribution code in Box 7? This makes a huge difference in whether you need to amend.

Tax professional here. There's an important distinction to make regarding your son's filing requirements. If your 18-year-old son is a dependent with earned income (W-2 wages), he has a filing requirement if his earned income exceeds $12,950 for tax year 2023. However, even if he's not required to file, he should still consider filing if any federal income tax was withheld from his paychecks, as he'll likely receive that money back as a refund. When he files, he must indicate on Form 1040 that he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return. This doesn't prevent him from filing - it just impacts which deductions and credits he's eligible to claim.

Another approach to consider: 1. Have your son gather all his tax documents (W-2, etc.) 2. Help him create an account on one of the free filing services 3. Walk through the process together, making sure he checks "Someone can claim me as a dependent" 4. Review the return before submitting to ensure no improper credits are claimed 5. Have him file electronically for fastest processing This is what I did with my daughter last year. It was actually a good learning experience for her to understand how taxes work, while I was there to guide her through it.

Filed January 30th. No updates. Checked transcript. Nothing. Called IRS. On hold forever. Finally got through. They said wait. Still waiting. Day 24 now. Getting worried. Need this refund soon. Mortgage payment coming up.

According to the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/refunds, most refunds are issued within 21 days of acceptance. However, my experience with January 30th filing this year was much different. I received no confirmation email from TurboTax initially, but when I logged into my TurboTax account and checked my filing status, it showed my return was accepted on February 2nd. My transcript became available on February 18th, and my refund was deposited on February 25th. If you haven't already, I recommend checking your account online rather than waiting for an email, and also requesting your tax transcript online which often updates before WMR does.

I filed on January 23rd, 2024 and was accepted on January 24th, 2024. My WMR showed 'STILL processing' from February 15th until March 22nd. Exactly 58 days from acceptance to deposit. I tracked every status change. The transcript updated on March 18th with an 846 code dated March 22nd. The money hit my account at 3:17 AM on March 22nd. Independent contractor returns take longer this year because of increased fraud prevention measures implemented on January 16th, 2024.

The collective wisdom around here is that 'STILL processing' indicates your return has been selected for manual verification, which is extremely common for Schedule C filers. The automated fraud detection system (EFDS) and the Return Review Program (RRP) algorithms flag approximately 35% of all self-employment returns for additional scrutiny. Most people see their status resolve within 45-60 days without any issues. The key is to monitor your transcript for movement rather than WMR, as the transcript will show actual processing codes while WMR often lags behind.

According to IRS Publication 5344, the normal processing time for e-filed returns is 21 days, but this is not a guarantee. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, transcripts may not update until full processing is complete. During peak filing periods (which we're in now), this can take longer due to verification requirements under IRC §6402. If it's been less than 21 days since acceptance, the IRS won't even take inquiries about your refund status. I recommend waiting until at least the 21-day mark before becoming concerned.

You know what's funny (but not really)? I've been checking my transcript so often that I think the IRS website recognizes me now. 😅 "Oh look, it's THAT person again..." But seriously, I noticed last year that sometimes the transcript status can jump from N/A straight to fully processed without any in-between status. It's like watching water boil - nothing happens for ages and then suddenly everything happens at once. As long as your return was accepted and you have that confirmation, you're probably fine. The system is just... how do I put this nicely... not the most efficient technology in the world.

I've seen this happen every year since 2017. Back then, I worked for a tax preparation company. The PATH Act specifically includes the Additional Child Tax Credit which is the refundable portion of the CTC. If your credit exceeds your tax liability, making part of it refundable, that triggers PATH Act verification. Last year, most of my clients with ACTC saw refunds between February 27th and March 3rd, despite filing in late January.

This community wisdom has saved me so much stress: The PATH Act delays refunds for ANY refundable credits, not just EITC. The Child Tax Credit has two parts - regular CTC (up to $2,000 per child) and Additional CTC (the refundable portion). It's that second part that triggers the PATH delay. The IRS won't even begin processing these returns until February 15th, by law. Don't waste time checking WMR constantly before then - nothing will change!

Look at your withholding, not just your refund! 😂 A smaller refund might actually be GOOD - means you kept more money throughout the year. I adjusted my W-4 last January to have less withheld since I knew the child credits were dropping. Got smaller paychecks last year but didn't face refund shock this spring. The real question isn't "are refunds lower" but "is your total tax burden higher?" For most people, it's actually slightly lower due to bracket adjustments.

For investment-focused filers like yourself, pay attention to Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A) limitations and Net Investment Income Tax thresholds, which remain unchanged but affect high-income investors. Capital gains rates haven't changed (still 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income bracket), but bracket inflation adjustments might put you in a different tier. Consider tax-loss harvesting if you have unrealized losses to offset gains. Filing timing won't affect your 2023 tax liability, but might affect cash flow planning.

I'm not sure about these third-party services for contacting the IRS. There are a few things you should try first: • Check your e-file confirmation from your tax software • Verify the exact refund amount to the penny (not rounded) • Try the IRS2Go app instead of the website • Wait 24-48 hours and try again The IRS systems update overnight, so continuous checking won't help. Also, be careful about sharing any personal info with non-IRS services.

I understand the skepticism, but on February 8th I was in the exact same situation - filed on January 24th and WMR kept giving me the error message. After trying for days and getting nowhere, I used Claimyr and it worked exactly as described. They don't ask for any personal information - they just connect you to the IRS phone system without you having to do the redial-for-hours dance. I totally get being cautious with tax matters, but this service literally just helps you get through the phone tree faster.

You need to act quickly! The IRS begins processing paper returns on January 29th, 2024, but they're already backlogged. If your son files his amended return exactly on February 15th when TurboTax allows it, you might get your refund by late April. However, if you wait until March 1st, you're looking at June or later. I've seen these dependent conflict cases take exactly 16 weeks to resolve when handled promptly, but up to 26 weeks if there are any delays. The difference between acting now versus waiting a few weeks could be thousands of dollars sitting in IRS limbo instead of your bank account!

According to Publication 501, a qualifying child must meet relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests. As per IRC § 152(c)(3)(A), your 16-year-old son is clearly eligible as your dependent if you provided more than half his support. The community consensus is clear: paper returns with dependency conflicts are taking 90-120 days minimum this filing season. My experience last year confirms this timeline. File Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) if you're due a joint refund that might be affected by this issue.

I believe you might want to consider waiting until the original return is processed before filing the amendment. In my experience, filing an amendment while the original is still processing can sometimes cause confusion in the IRS systems. It might be a good idea to wait until you receive confirmation that the original return was accepted, then perhaps wait another week or two before submitting the 1040-X? Just a suggestion based on what I've seen others recommend.

Why does this always happen with TurboTax users? I had the EXACT same issue in 2022. Got a tiny W2 ($432) from a job I worked for two weeks and forgot about. Filed my amendment through TurboTax on March 30th. You know when it finally processed? November 12th. That's right - over 7 months later! The IRS is completely overwhelmed with paper amendments. My advice? If the W2 is for a small amount and wouldn't significantly change his tax liability, some people might just wait to see if the IRS sends a notice. They'll calculate any difference and send a bill with minimal penalties if you respond quickly. Not saying that's the right approach, but realistically, that's what some people do when the amount is small.