Anyone know if this same rule applies for the Earned Income Credit? Me and my gf had our baby girl on Nov 15th and I heard the EIC gives you a pretty decent amount back if you don't make too much $$$.

Great question! I went through this exact same situation when my son was born in December 2023. I was so confused about whether to mark "yes" or "no" on the forms, but it turns out the IRS has very clear guidance on this. As others have mentioned, your daughter is absolutely considered to have lived with you for the entire year of 2024, even though she was only born in November. The key thing to remember is that the IRS looks at what percentage of her life she lived with you during the tax year - which in your case is 100% since she's been with you from birth through December 31st. This means you can claim her as a dependent, get the full Child Tax Credit ($2,000 for 2024), and potentially qualify for other benefits like Head of Household filing status if you're single. Just make sure you have her Social Security Number before filing - that's the one thing that can't be skipped!

The Michigan Treasury is so behind rn its not even funny. Their still processing stuff from January smh

I feel your pain! Filed mine paper on Feb 5th and still waiting too. Called the Michigan Treasury helpline yesterday and they said they're running about 8-10 weeks behind on paper returns due to staffing issues. The automated system won't even show your return until they physically scan it into their system, which could be weeks from when they receive it. Hang in there - at least we'll get our refunds eventually!

You might want to consider submitting Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application) if this is causing financial hardship or if your PCS timeline creates special circumstances. The Taxpayer Advocate can sometimes expedite processing when there are compelling reasons. The normal 20-week processing timeframe might be problematic with your military relocation timeline.

@Geoff Richards I completely understand your frustration as a military spouse! The processing times are definitely longer than they used to be. One thing that might help with your PCS timeline - if you're moving overseas or to a combat zone, you may qualify for extended filing deadlines which could give you more breathing room. Also, make sure you keep detailed records of your amended return submission since military families sometimes need to reference tax documents for security clearances or other military processes. Have you considered reaching out to the legal assistance office on base? They sometimes have contacts who can help navigate IRS issues for military families. Hang in there! 🇺🇸

Don't forget to check if you need to make estimated tax payments to California's Franchise Tax Board too! The FTB has their own payment system separate from the IRS called WebPay. Since you mentioned you're a California resident, you'll likely owe state taxes on that property sale as well. I made this mistake last year and only focused on the federal portion. Ended up with a penalty from California because I didn't make my estimated payment on time. The California tax on my property sale wasn't small either!

I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago when I sold my investment property and had to handle everything while backpacking through Southeast Asia. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely set up your electronic payment BEFORE you leave. I used IRS Direct Pay and it was seamless - no enrollment required and you can schedule the payment in advance. With $95k, you'll want to double-check the daily/monthly limits on your Bank of America account for ACH transfers. Second, consider making your payment in installments if cash flow is tight. The IRS allows you to set up payment plans online, and the fees are pretty reasonable compared to the stress of coming up with the full amount at once. Most importantly - and I can't stress this enough - file for the extension if you haven't already, even though CA residents get the automatic October extension. Having that official extension on file gives you extra protection if anything goes wrong. One last tip: Download the IRS2Go mobile app before you leave. You can check the status of your return and payments from anywhere, which gave me huge peace of mind while I was dealing with spotty WiFi in rural Thailand. Safe travels and don't let tax stress ruin your trip! You've got plenty of time to get this sorted before you leave.

According to the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing a backlog of verification cases. The letter notification is almost certainly legitimate. The TaxpayerAdvocate.org site specifically mentions that the WMR tool showing a letter status is accurate in 97% of cases, even when the systems seem misaligned. I'd recommend preparing documentation like your W-2s, 1099s, and identity verification just in case that's what they're requesting.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago and can share what happened in my case. The WMR status change you're describing is usually triggered when the IRS needs additional verification - in my case it was a CP05 notice requesting income verification because one of my W-2s didn't match what their systems had on file from my employer. The letter took exactly 2.5 weeks to arrive, and once I provided the requested documentation through their online portal, my refund was released within 3 weeks. I'd recommend checking your tax transcripts online now if you can access them, as they often show the specific notice codes before the physical letter arrives. Given that you're caring for your mother and need the refund, having that advance knowledge of what's coming can help you prepare the right documents ahead of time.