I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! The 810 code is absolutely maddening when you're counting on that refund money. I went through something very similar about 6 months ago and the uncertainty was the worst part. Since you mentioned you claimed EITC, that's almost certainly why you got flagged - they review those claims super carefully. The good news is that if your claim is legitimate (which it sounds like it is), it will eventually clear. The bad news is it typically takes 2-4 months for EITC reviews. A few things that helped me get through the wait: - Check your transcript every Friday for any changes (even tiny date updates can show progress) - Call at exactly 7:00 AM EST - I finally got through after 3 weeks of trying at that time - Keep records of everything in case you need to escalate later I know the waiting is torture when bills are piling up, but hang in there. Most people in your situation do eventually get their full refund plus interest for the delay. You're definitely not alone in dealing with this broken system!

I completely understand your frustration with the 810 code - it's one of the most stressful situations to be in when you're counting on your refund! I went through this exact same thing about a year ago and the uncertainty was absolutely maddening. From reading your situation, it sounds like your return is stuck in manual review, which unfortunately can take quite a while. Since you mentioned claiming EITC, that's very likely the trigger - they scrutinize those claims heavily due to fraud prevention measures. Here's what I'd suggest based on my experience and what others have shared: 1. Check your transcript weekly (maybe every Friday) to track any code changes or date updates - even small changes can indicate progress 2. Try calling at exactly 7:00 AM EST when they first open - several people have had better luck at that time 3. Make sure your address is 100% correct in your IRS account - if there's any discrepancy, their letters won't reach you 4. Document everything with screenshots and dates in case you need to escalate The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially with bills piling up, but most legitimate EITC claims do eventually clear. It typically takes 8-16 weeks unfortunately, but you should get your full refund plus interest for the delay. I know it doesn't help with your immediate financial stress, but you're definitely not alone in this struggle. The system is broken but it does work eventually - hang in there!

4 Has anyone had success calling the IRS to link multiple amended returns after sending them? I mailed two separate amendments three weeks ago and I'm worried they'll be processed out of order.

11 Based on my experience handling similar situations, I'd recommend mailing them separately and timing it strategically. Send your 2020 amendment first via certified mail, then wait about 2-3 weeks before sending the 2021 amendment. This gives the IRS processing centers a better chance of handling them in the correct sequence. Include a cover letter with each return explaining the relationship between them. For the 2020 return, mention "This amendment establishes capital losses that will carry forward to affect my 2021 tax year." For the 2021 return, state "This amendment depends on capital loss carryovers from my 2020 amended return submitted on [date]." Also consider e-filing if your situation qualifies - it's much faster and creates a clearer electronic trail for the IRS to follow between related returns.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - we owe from 2022 due to my freelance income issues and have been on a payment plan since last fall. Based on everything I've read here and my own research, yes, they will definitely take your refund automatically even though you're making payments on time. What's been helpful for me is thinking of it as an accelerated payment rather than losing money - it's still going toward the same debt, just all at once instead of spread out over months. I'm actually planning to adjust our withholding for 2024 so we break even or owe a small amount rather than getting a refund that will just be taken again next year. One thing I'd recommend: screenshot or print your current payment plan details from the IRS website before you file, including your balance and number of remaining payments. That way you have a record to compare against when their systems eventually update after the offset. Several people mentioned the lag time in their systems, so having your own documentation seems really important. File as soon as you have all your documents - there's no benefit to waiting, and at least you'll know sooner rather than later what happened to your refund. Good luck navigating this! It's stressful but it sounds like everyone who's been through it came out okay on the other side.

I just went through this exact situation and can confirm what everyone else is saying - yes, they will absolutely take your refund even though you're on a payment plan. I was in the same boat last year owing from 2021 taxes and had been making payments for about 8 months when tax season rolled around. Here's my timeline so you know what to expect: Filed our return in mid-February expecting a $1,650 refund, got the "refund applied to past due obligation" message on Where's My Refund about 18 days later, and received the official notice explaining the offset about 2 weeks after that. The frustrating part was that their online payment portal didn't update to show the new balance for almost 7 weeks, so I was flying blind for a while. My biggest piece of advice: Keep making your regular monthly payments exactly as scheduled, even after you see the offset happened. Don't try to skip a payment thinking the refund covers it - that's not how it works and could mess up your payment agreement. The offset just reduces your total balance and shortens your payment timeline. Also, I'd definitely recommend calling them about 3-4 weeks after you see the offset to verify it was applied correctly. I found out mine was initially credited to the wrong tax year and had to get it fixed. Better to catch those kinds of errors early than deal with collection issues later. The silver lining? My 36-month payment plan became a 22-month plan overnight, which will save me quite a bit in interest. Good luck!

Can both parents in the same household file as Head of Household? I thought there was some rule against that if you live together?

Hey Sean! Congratulations on the upcoming baby! Your situation isn't as complicated as you think. You're absolutely right that you can file as Head of Household based on your new baby, even with a December birth. Here's the key thing everyone's touched on but I want to emphasize: for Head of Household, you need YOUR qualifying person. Your girlfriend's son doesn't count for YOUR filing status since you're not married yet - he's not legally your stepchild. But that's totally fine because your biological child will be your qualifying person. The December timing works in your favor too. As others mentioned, the "more than half the year" rule for a newborn only applies to the time since birth, not the full calendar year. One practical tip: start keeping detailed records NOW of all household expenses you pay (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, etc.). You'll need to show you paid more than half the cost of maintaining the home. This becomes especially important since you and your girlfriend will both potentially be filing as Head of Household from the same address - the IRS may want to see clear documentation of who paid what. Good luck with the baby and congratulations on the upcoming wedding next summer!

I work at a credit union and see this exact situation pretty regularly. The "already verified" message doesn't mean your check is bad - it just means the check has been run through a verification system once already. Target's system likely did verify it was legitimate but then couldn't process it due to their internal limits or policies. A few tips from someone who processes these daily: - Credit unions are often more flexible with government checks than big banks - If you have any bank account anywhere, even a small balance, depositing there is your best bet - Treasury checks (which tax refunds are) have a 1-year expiration, so you have time to figure this out - The issuing bank route mentioned above is solid advice - they legally have to honor their own checks Don't stress too much about the verification flag. It's more of a tracking thing than a problem with your actual check. You'll get your money!

I had almost the exact same experience with Jackson Financial last year! The "already verified" thing is super confusing but it doesn't mean your check is ruined. What helped me was calling Jackson Financial directly and asking them to walk me through the best places to cash it in my area. They actually had a list of banks and credit unions that regularly work with their refund checks without issues. Also, if you're really stuck, Jackson Financial might be able to help you reissue the refund as direct deposit for a small fee. It's not ideal since you've already waited for the money, but it could save you more driving around and frustration. I ended up going that route and got my refund deposited within 3 business days. Don't give up - that money is definitely yours and there are multiple ways to get it! The verification flag is just a speed bump, not a roadblock.