Partner's Tax Return ($10k) Filed with Wrong Status - Stuck in Processing Limbo Since January

Yes, this is almost certainly the cause of the delay. As of March 28th, 2024, the IRS has been flagging returns with inconsistent filing statuses for additional review. When a tax preparer marks someone as 'married filing jointly,' the IRS cross-references this with prior year filings and their internal records. Since you're not legally married, this creates a mismatch that would trigger an automatic hold as of January 29th when that batch of returns would have been processed.

You're basically in IRS purgatory right now... not a fun place to be! 😅 This is a classic case where you need to speak with an actual human at the IRS, but as we all know, that's about as easy as finding a unicorn these days. After my similar nightmare last year (wrong filing status, though mine was 'head of household' when it shouldn't have been), I finally used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. Saved me hours of redial hell. The agent confirmed my suspicion about the status issue and put notes in my file to help move things along. Worth considering if you're tired of waiting: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

According to Internal Revenue Code §1.6013-1(a), a joint return can only be filed by individuals who are legally married as of the last day of the tax year. The IRS Publication 501 further clarifies that "married filing jointly" status requires a legal marriage recognized by the state where you live or where the marriage occurred. The incorrect status is indeed likely causing the delay, as the IRS's automated verification system flags these inconsistencies. In cases where the refund amount is substantial ($10,000 in your case), this triggers additional verification protocols under the Taxpayer First Act provisions. I would recommend having your partner file Form 1040-X (Amended Return) as soon as possible to correct the filing status. However, be aware that amended returns can take up to 16 weeks to process under current guidelines.

Hey there! This is def a common issue, esp with large refunds + filing status probs. FWIW, I'd recommend checking ur bf's tax transcript ASAP to see what's actually happening behind the scenes. The WMR tool is super limited, but transcripts show all the deets! I had a similar sitch last yr and was going crazy until I used taxr.ai to decode my transcript. It showed me exactly why my return was held up (had a 570 code I didn't understand) and predicted when I'd get my $$ almost to the day. Might help u figure out if it's really the status issue or something else: https://taxr.ai

This is a textbook case of what we call a "filing status mismatch" in tax preparation terminology. Based on the timing and circumstances, here's what's happening and what needs to be done: 1. The return is likely in the Error Resolution System (ERS) department at the IRS due to the incorrect filing status. 2. With a $10,000 refund amount, it's also likely been flagged for potential identity verification under the Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP). 3. The fastest resolution path is two-pronged: - First, contact the IRS directly to verify the return is being held for the reason you suspect (incorrect filing status) - Second, file Form 1040-X to correct the status to either "Single" or "Head of Household" depending on your partner's situation 4. Important: DO NOT file a second original return as this will create a duplicate filing situation and potentially delay things even further. 5. Current processing timeframe: Once the status issue is addressed, expect 4-6 weeks for the corrected return to be processed, assuming no other issues are identified.

OMG I had the EXACT same thing happen to me last year!!! My preparer checked the wrong box and my $8,500 refund just SAT THERE for months!!! I was checking WMR every single day, sometimes 3-4 times a day hoping for an update. I was literally losing sleep over it! 😫 The good news: I finally got it resolved and got my money! The key was getting through to a real person at the IRS who confirmed the status error and put notes on my account. After that happened, my return started moving again within a week. It was such a relief when that deposit finally hit my account! Don't give up hope! This is fixable! Just make sure your boyfriend is the one who calls since it's his return, and have him ready with his ID info, last year's AGI, and the exact amount of the expected refund. They'll ask for all of that to verify his identity.