Has anyone tried just using both names? When I got married, I filed as "Jane Maiden-Married" since my paperwork was still processing. It went through without issues.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The key thing to understand is that there's often a delay between when you submit your name change application and when it actually updates in the IRS verification system. Here's what worked for me: I called the Social Security Administration directly (yes, the wait times are brutal) and asked them to confirm what name is currently showing in their records for my SSN. They told me that even though I had submitted my paperwork, my maiden name was still the "active" name in their system until the processing was complete. I ended up filing my taxes using my maiden name, and it went through without any issues. You can still file as "married filing jointly" even while using your maiden name - the filing status is separate from the name issue. One tip: if you do need to call SSA, try calling right when they open (usually 7 AM local time) to avoid the worst of the hold times. Good luck, and don't stress too much - this is a super common issue that lots of newly married people deal with!

idk if this helps but when I had this problem it was bc my birth certificate had my middle name spelled different than my ss card

Another thing to check - make sure you're using the exact same name format that appears on your W-2 forms. Sometimes employers use your old name on tax documents even after you've updated your info with them. If your W-2 shows your maiden name but you filed with your married name, that could cause the mismatch. You might need to file with your maiden name this year and update everything for next year's filing.

TaxSlayer might be part of the problem tbh. Used them for years but switched to FreeTaxUSA this year after TaxSlayer messed up my state return last time. Their system sometimes submits things in weird formats that trigger manual review flags at the IRS.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed in early February and still waiting. From what I've learned lurking in tax forums, divorce situations with kids are basically guaranteed to get extra scrutiny. The IRS has to verify that both parents aren't claiming the same children, which can take weeks or even months. One thing that helped me was setting up informed delivery with USPS so I could see if any IRS letters were coming before they actually arrived. Sometimes those verification letters get delayed or lost, and you don't want to miss the deadline to respond. Also, if you're really strapped for cash while waiting, some tax prep places offer refund advance loans, though the interest rates are pretty brutal. Might be worth looking into if you're facing late fees on bills.

I'm kinda shocked nobody's mentioned that Oregon has its own witholding form too (OR W-4). If you're only adjusting your federal W-4, you're missing half the equation. Oregon's state tax rates are pretty high (up to 9.9%!) and that might explain why your state refund was smaller than expected last time. You should check if your employer has you fill out a separate Oregon withholding form or if they just use your federal W-4 settings for state witholding too. Could make a big difference!

This is such great advice about the Oregon W-4! I honestly had no idea there was a separate state form. I just filled out the federal W-4 when I got hired and assumed that covered everything. Looking at my paystub now, I can see they're taking out Oregon state tax, but I have no clue what rate or how it was calculated. I'm going to check with HR tomorrow to see if I need to fill out a separate Oregon form. Oregon's tax rates being up to 9.9% is pretty scary - that could definitely explain why my state refund was so much smaller than I expected. Between potentially higher federal rates if TCJA expires AND making sure my Oregon withholding is right, I feel like I have a lot more to figure out than I thought! Thanks for pointing this out - I probably would have just focused on federal and gotten another surprise next year.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in early April and still stuck with Tax Topic 152 and that frustrating "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message. The no status bars thing is what really gets me - like, give us SOMETHING to show progress is being made. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like getting your transcript is really the key to understanding what's actually happening. Going to try setting up that IRS account tonight and see if I can get some real answers about why this is taking so long. Has anyone had success with just waiting it out vs. actively trying to contact them? I'm torn between being patient and trying to get through to an actual person who can help move things along.

I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in late March and still getting that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152. The lack of any status bars is so frustrating because you have no idea if any progress is being made at all. From reading through all these comments, it really seems like getting your transcript is the most important first step. That's where the real information is hiding that the Where's My Refund tool doesn't show you. I'm definitely going to try setting up an IRS account this weekend to see what codes are actually on my return. The calling services people mentioned sound helpful but I'm wondering if I should try the transcript route first before spending money on those. Has anyone here found that just having the transcript information was enough to understand the delay without needing to actually call? Also really appreciate the tip about contacting your congressman's office - I had no idea that was even an option for tax issues!