This is frustrating but unfortunately pretty common right now. The IRS has been having major processing issues this year. A few things to check: 1. Log into your tax software account and download/view your actual filed return (not just the transcript). Confirm line 4 shows "Head of Household" is checked. 2. If your filed return shows HOH but the transcript shows Single, this is definitely an IRS processing error that needs to be corrected. 3. You have two options: call the IRS directly (good luck with that) or file Form 1040X to amend. The amendment route is more reliable but takes longer. 4. Make sure you have documentation ready - school records, medical records, anything showing your son lived with you for more than half the year. The difference in refund between Single and HOH can be substantial, so it's definitely worth fighting. Don't let them keep your money! Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence.

This exact thing happened to me two years ago! Filed as Head of Household, got my confirmation, then my transcript showed Single and my refund was about $1,200 less than expected. After weeks of trying to call the IRS (literally got hung up on 15+ times), I finally got through to someone who explained that their system had flagged my dependent verification and automatically changed my status. Here's what worked for me: I gathered ALL my documentation - school enrollment records, pediatrician records showing my address, daycare receipts, basically anything proving my son lived with me more than half the year. Then I filed Form 1040X with a detailed letter explaining the situation and attached all the supporting docs. It took about 16 weeks total, but I eventually got the full difference plus interest. The key is being thorough with your documentation and keeping copies of everything you send. Also, track your amended return online using "Where's My Amended Return" on the IRS website - it actually updates more reliably than calling. Don't give up! You're entitled to that money if you legitimately qualify for HOH. The IRS processing errors this year have been absolutely ridiculous.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I was definitely overthinking this. I checked my brokerage account online like Omar suggested and found a tax summary document that shows my dividend amount and confirms they were qualified dividends. I went ahead and manually entered the information in FreeTaxUSA - it was actually pretty straightforward once I found the right section. Better to report the $14 and be compliant than risk getting a notice later like CosmicCadet experienced. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help a tax newbie navigate this!

Great to see this resolved! For future reference, you can also contact your brokerage directly if you can't find the tax documents online - they're required to provide you with the dividend information even if they don't send a formal 1099-DIV for amounts under $10. Most brokerages have a dedicated tax support line during filing season that can quickly provide you with the details you need. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple small dividend payments from different stocks and want to make sure you're capturing everything accurately.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I've been dealing with this exact same message for about 6 weeks now. From what I've learned, the 151 topic usually means they're doing additional verification - could be income matching, identity verification, or checking your credits/deductions. The frustrating part is the wait time can be anywhere from a few weeks to several months. I've called the IRS twice and both times waited over 2 hours just to be told "it's under review, wait for a letter." Really considering trying one of those AI tools people are mentioning to at least understand what's causing the delay instead of being left in the dark.

Has anyone used the "cancel payment" feature directly in FreeTaxUSA? I think they have an option to cancel scheduled payments within a certain timeframe. Might be worth logging back into your account to see if you can cancel it there before trying more complicated solutions.

Don't stress too much about this - bank account typos are surprisingly common! I work at a credit union and see this kind of thing regularly. Here's what most likely will happen: When the IRS tries to process your payment, the bank will reject it because the account number doesn't exist or doesn't match your name. Banks have multiple verification steps that prevent money from accidentally going to wrong accounts. Your best bet is to call the IRS Electronic Federal Tax Payment System at 1-888-353-4537 (this is specifically for payment issues, not the general IRS line). They can cancel the pending payment and help you set up a new one immediately. Have your SSN and the exact payment amount ready. If for some reason you can't get through, make a backup payment right now using IRS Direct Pay online. That way you're covered either way. The IRS will see you made a good faith effort to pay on time, which protects you from penalties even if there's a brief delay sorting out the incorrect payment. The key is acting fast - don't wait for the payment to fail and then get a notice weeks later. Being proactive here will save you potential headaches and fees.

Honestly, I think you're overthinking this. I've been selling digital art through PayPal for years and never reported income under $2000. The IRS has bigger fish to fry than small-time artists making a few hundred bucks. PayPal didn't even issue you a tax form!

I went through this exact same situation last year with my freelance graphic design work through PayPal! The confusion is totally understandable because PayPal's reporting thresholds and your actual tax obligations are two completely different things. Here's what I learned after consulting with a CPA: You absolutely need to report that $754 as self-employment income on Schedule C, and you'll owe self-employment tax on it (which is about 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare). The fact that PayPal didn't send you a 1099-K is irrelevant - you're still legally required to report all income. The good news is you can deduct those PayPal fees as a business expense! Keep track of all your art supplies, software subscriptions, and any other legitimate business costs. I was surprised to learn I could even deduct a portion of my phone and internet bills since I use them for client communication. For next year, I'd recommend setting aside about 25-30% of each payment you receive for taxes. It makes filing much less stressful when you're not scrambling to find money to pay what you owe. One more tip: if your art income grows to where you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year, you'll need to start making quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties. But at your current income level, you should be fine paying annually.