Filing Status Discrepancy - Transcript Shows MFJ but Filed HOH

You have a serious problem. When the IRS system shows MFJ but you filed HOH, that's a red flag. This happens when either: 1) Your ex filed MFJ using your information, 2) There was a processing error, or 3) Your return was manually changed by an examiner. First, pull your wage and income transcript to confirm all income reported matches what you earned. Second, check if your ex received a larger refund than expected, which might indicate he filed MFJ. Third, contact the IRS immediately as this could delay your refund and potentially trigger an audit.

Did you use the same tax preparer as last year? I went through something similar in 2022 where my return was auto-populated with the previous year's filing status. The software had saved my ex's information and defaulted to MFJ even though I selected HOH. The transcript looked exactly like yours - zeros everywhere but showed the wrong filing status. What tax software did you use?

I had this exact transcript issue last month. The system showed MFJ when I filed single, and I was freaking out about my $4,800 refund. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it identified the specific code pattern that shows a review in progress. Unlike other transcript tools that just show generic definitions, taxr.ai explained that this specific combination meant the IRS was comparing my filing status against previous years and my ex's current filing. My refund was released 8 days later without me having to do anything. This tool saved me from unnecessary panic and helped me understand what was actually happening.

I've seen this situation at least a dozen times in my tax preparation work. The transcript showing MFJ when you filed HOH is usually the IRS computer system pulling your previous year's data while processing your current return. The zeros typically indicate they're still processing, not that there's a problem. However, both you and your ex filing HOH from the same address could absolutely trigger verification. Only one person can claim HOH status for a given address in most circumstances. My sister-in-law had this exact situation and it took 11 weeks to resolve because they had to determine who actually qualified for HOH. Document everything about your living situation just in case.

I think you may need to speak with an IRS representative as soon as possible. This could potentially be a case where your ex-spouse filed using your information incorrectly, or there may be a system error. When I had a similar filing status discrepancy, I spent days trying to reach someone at the IRS without success. I finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) which connected me to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent was able to see notes on my account that weren't visible on the transcript and confirmed it was just a processing review, not fraud. If you're worried, it might be worth using their service rather than spending hours on hold. Time is really important in these situations, especially with the wrong filing status showing.

I would suggest, if you don't mind me saying, that you might want to check a few additional things that could possibly help clarify your situation. First, perhaps look at your Return Transcript (not just the Account Transcript) which might show the actual filing status that was processed. Second, it's somewhat possible that the transcript is displaying information from a previous tax year if the current year processing isn't complete. Third, you might want to verify if your ex-spouse possibly claimed any dependents that you also claimed, which could potentially trigger a review that might explain the delay. In my experience, these discrepancies often resolve themselves within about 2-3 weeks as the IRS systems fully update.

Here's what you need to do immediately: Step 1: File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if you believe your ex filed incorrectly using your information Step 2: Request a Wage and Income Transcript to verify all income reported under your SSN Step 3: Pull your credit report to check for other potential identity issues Step 4: Document your separate living situation with lease agreements, utility bills, etc. I'm so tired of seeing the IRS systems cause these problems. This happens CONSTANTLY with separated couples. The bigger issue here is that if both of you claimed HOH from what the IRS might consider the same household, they'll deny one of you that status. And with him already receiving his refund, guess who they'll likely side with? You need to be proactive here.