Wait, could this actually be a case of the Recovery Rebate Credit affecting your refund amount? The missing $1000-ish sounds suspiciously like it could be related to one of the stimulus payments. Did you get all your stimulus payments directly in 2021/2022, or were you claiming any of them on your 2023 return?

This is a really serious situation and I'm sorry you're dealing with this. The fact that she's refusing to give you copies of your own tax returns is absolutely unacceptable and highly suspicious - that's literally YOUR property that you paid for. Beyond the excellent advice already given about getting your tax transcripts and filing Form 14157-A, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything in writing. Create a timeline of all your interactions, save screenshots of any texts or emails where she refused to provide your returns, and keep records of all payments you made to her. You should also consider filing a police report for potential theft/fraud. If she did divert your refund money to another account, that's criminal behavior, not just a civil matter. Having a police report number can also strengthen your case with the IRS. One more thing - check your credit reports immediately. If she has access to your personal information and is willing to steal refund money, she might be using your identity for other fraudulent activities. You can get free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com. Don't let this slide - tax preparer fraud is unfortunately becoming more common, and the only way to stop these people is to pursue every available avenue to hold them accountable.

Check if your state has a tax preparer registry or licensing requirement. In some states you can report unlicensed preparers and they face heavy penalties. In California the CTEC can fine them $5000 per return!

This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, tax preparer fraud is way more common than people realize. A few additional things that might help: • Contact your state's Attorney General's office - many have consumer protection divisions that handle tax preparer fraud • If the preparer was using a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number), report them to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility • Document the timeline of when you discovered the fraud vs when the refund was issued - this can be crucial for criminal charges • Consider reaching out to local news stations - they love these consumer protection stories and the public pressure sometimes gets faster results The fact that she's ghosting you now actually works in your favor for proving intent to defraud. Keep trying to contact her via text/email so you have records of her avoiding you. Don't give up! I've seen people recover their money even a year later when they stayed persistent with the legal process. The IRS takes preparer fraud seriously once you get the right person's attention.

I just went through this exact process 23 days ago! TurboTax has the amendment feature but it's weirdly hidden. Go to Tax Tools > Amend a Return (not under the regular filing section). It will walk you through creating the 1040-X but then surprise you at the end by saying you need to print and mail it. I was shocked that in 2024 we're still mailing tax forms! My amendment took exactly 19 weeks and 3 days to process last year - way longer than the 16 weeks they claim on the website.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally just went through this exact situation last month! I missed reporting some freelance income and had to amend my 2023 return through TurboTax. Here's what I learned: • The amendment feature IS there but super buried - go to Tax Tools then look for "Amend a Return" • TurboTax will help you fill out Form 1040-X but you'll still need to print and mail it (so frustrating!) • I sent mine certified mail for $8.50 - totally worth it for the tracking and peace of mind • Include copies of any new forms (like that missing 1099) with your amendment The whole "electronic age but still mailing tax forms" thing is ridiculous, but at least TurboTax does pre-fill most of your original return info so you're not starting completely from scratch. Currently at week 12 of waiting for my processing, so buckle up for the long haul! Pro tip: Keep digital copies of everything and your certified mail receipt - you'll want that tracking number for your sanity during the endless waiting period.

Based on your transcript, the 570 code is actually pretty standard after identity verification - it just means they're doing final checks before releasing your refund. Since your return shows no red flags (clean transcript, no penalties/interest, straightforward Head of Household filing), you should see movement soon. The $5,842 refund calculation looks correct: your $2,377 tax liability minus $5,000 withholding, $987 credits, and $2,232 EIC. Most people see the 570 code clear within 1-3 weeks after ID verification, sometimes sooner. Keep checking your transcripts weekly - you'll likely see a 571 code (release of levy/hold) followed by an 846 code with your actual refund date. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same situation last year! Had to do identity verification in March and got the 570 code that made me panic thinking something was wrong. Turns out it's totally normal - it's basically the IRS saying "we're almost done, just doing final checks." In my case, it took about 10 days after the 570 appeared for me to get the 846 code with my actual refund date. Your transcript looks really clean with no issues, so you should be getting that money soon. The waiting is the worst part but you're in the home stretch! 🤞

I'm an accountant who works with a client in your situation. One thing others haven't mentioned - if you file HOH (which is often the best choice), you can claim your husband as a dependent if you provided more than half his support during the year and his gross income was less than $4,700. This is often overlooked but can make a significant difference to your tax outcome compared to just filing HOH without claiming him as a dependent.

I went through this exact situation last year and want to share what I learned! First, take a deep breath - you have legitimate options and the IRS understands these circumstances happen. Here's what I discovered: You likely qualify for Head of Household status since your husband has been absent for more than 6 months, you're supporting your children, and you're paying more than half the household expenses. This usually gives you better tax rates than married filing separately. However, I'd strongly recommend running the numbers both ways (HOH vs. married filing jointly) because sometimes joint filing can still be better even with an incarcerated spouse, especially if he had zero income. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of any financial support I provided to my husband (commissary money, legal fees, etc.) because this can affect whether you can claim him as a dependent under certain circumstances. The key is that incarceration doesn't change his legal status as your spouse - it just affects where he physically resided. Don't let anyone tell you that you "can't" file jointly because of his incarceration - that's not accurate. It's really about what filing status gives you the best outcome. Most tax software will let you compare scenarios before filing. Take advantage of that feature to see which option saves you the most money!