Don't forget to designate your own beneficiaries for this inherited IRA right away! I learned this the hard way - if something happens to you before the account is depleted, it creates an even more complicated situation for your heirs. Just had to deal with this with my mom's inherited IRA after she passed away.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the "stretch" provisions that were eliminated by the SECURE Act in 2019. If you're reading older articles or getting advice from people who dealt with inherited IRAs before 2020, they might reference being able to "stretch" distributions over your lifetime, but that's no longer allowed for most beneficiaries. Also, since you mentioned discovering the account 14 months after your aunt's death, you'll want to move quickly. Even though you have flexibility in how you take distributions over the 10-year period, there are some time-sensitive actions you need to take. The inherited IRA needs to be established and titled correctly, and if your aunt had any required minimum distributions for the year she passed away that weren't taken, those need to be addressed soon to avoid penalties. I'd recommend getting the account properly set up as an inherited IRA first, then working on your distribution strategy. The clock on that 10-year period started ticking when your aunt passed away, not when you discovered the account.

I'm literally going through this exact same situation right now! Got the "Action Required" message for my 2024 return about 5 days ago and have been stressed out ever since. Also claimed EIC like so many others here, which definitely seems to be triggering these reviews. Reading through all these responses has been such a lifesaver for my anxiety! I had no idea this was so common during early filing season. The fact that so many people are experiencing the same thing with EIC claims makes me feel way less like I did something wrong on my return. The obsessive WMR checking is SO real 😅 I've been refreshing it multiple times a day even though I know logically it's not going to change that fast. But it's hard not to when you're depending on that refund! I keep reminding myself that the message says they'll mail us if they actually need information, and since I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet, that's probably a good sign. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's amazing how much better it feels knowing we're all in this stressful waiting game together! Hoping we all get good news soon 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my 2024 return about 10 days ago and just got that "Action Required" message yesterday. Like everyone else here, I also claimed EIC which seems to be the main trigger for these reviews during early filing season. It's honestly so reassuring to read through all these experiences - I was starting to panic thinking I had made some major error on my return! The obsessive WMR checking is definitely real 😅 I've probably refreshed it like 15 times today even though I know nothing will change. What's helping me stay calm is focusing on the specific wording in the message - "If we need additional information, we'll mail a notice with further instructions." Since none of us have received any actual mail yet, that seems like a good sign that this is just their standard verification process for EIC claims. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that refund, but seeing how many people went through this exact situation last year and had it resolve automatically within 2-3 weeks gives me hope. Thanks everyone for sharing - this community is seriously saving my sanity during this stressful waiting period! 🤞

Thanks everyone for the advice! I checked the years and they match, so that's not the issue. I'm going to try taxr.ai first to see if I can figure out what's causing the discrepancy without having to call the IRS. If that doesn't clarify things, I'll probably use Claimyr to talk to an agent directly. I did notice that Credit Karma was asking about some education expenses that I didn't claim on my original return, so maybe that's part of the difference. Will update when I figure it out!

Great approach! Education expenses are definitely one of the most common sources of discrepancies between tax calculators and actual filed returns. The American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit can add up to significant refund amounts, but they have specific eligibility requirements that calculators sometimes overlook. Even if you paid for education expenses, you might not qualify for the credits if your income is above certain thresholds, or if you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, or if the school/program doesn't qualify. The calculators often assume you're eligible without checking these details. Keep us posted on what you find with taxr.ai - it'll be helpful for others in similar situations to know what the actual cause was!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - check if you have any cashback or rewards credit cards that offer bonus categories for "software" or "digital services" purchases. I used my Chase Freedom card during a quarter when software was a 5% category and got $6 back on my H&R Block filing. It's not a discount code, but it's still money back in your pocket! Also, if you're a AAA member, they sometimes have tax software discounts in their member benefits portal. I remember seeing H&R Block deals there in previous years, though I'm not sure what they're offering this season. Worth checking if you're already a member since you're paying for those benefits anyway. Good luck with your filing! This thread has been super helpful - I had no idea there were so many ways to save on tax software.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea there were so many different ways to find H&R Block discount codes. I'm definitely going to try a few of these strategies: 1. First, I'll check with my employer's HR department about any corporate partnerships - that 20% discount someone mentioned sounds amazing 2. I'll also look into my credit union's member benefits portal since I've been banking with them for years but never explored those perks 3. The cart abandonment trick is genius - I'm already at the payment screen anyway, so waiting a couple days to see if they send me a discount code makes perfect sense I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences, especially the tax preparer who gave professional insights about not waiting too long if you're expecting a big refund. That's such a good point about the time value of money. One quick question for the group: for those who have tried multiple methods, which approach typically gives the biggest discount? I'm trying to decide if I should try the cart abandonment first or spend time researching corporate/credit union discounts. Thanks again everyone - this community is awesome for sharing real money-saving tips!

I totally get that sinking feeling! I made this exact same mistake about 5 years ago and remember that moment of panic so clearly. After spending days getting everything perfect, forgetting to sign felt like such a rookie error. Here's what happened in my case: The IRS sent my unsigned return back exactly 22 days later with a very standard, polite letter explaining they couldn't process it without my signature. No penalties whatsoever - they treat this as a routine administrative issue since it happens so frequently. When you get yours back, just sign it immediately and mail it back the same day. Make sure to keep copies of everything for your records. Since you mailed it well before the deadline, you have plenty of time to get this resolved. If you want to eliminate any timing anxiety while waiting, definitely consider filing Form 4868 for an automatic extension to October 15th. It's completely free and only takes a few minutes online. Even though you probably don't need it, having that extra buffer really helps with peace of mind. One thing that helped me feel more in control was keeping a simple timeline log: when I mailed the original, when I realized the mistake, when I got it back, etc. Having those dates written down made the whole process feel more manageable. This feels huge right now, but trust me - the IRS processes thousands of these unsigned returns every tax season. It's such a common mistake that they have it down to a routine procedure. You're going to be absolutely fine!

I completely understand that moment of panic! I made this exact same mistake about two years ago and felt absolutely sick when I realized what I'd done after all that careful work. Here's what you can expect: The IRS will mail your unsigned return back to you in about 2-4 weeks with a standard letter explaining they need your signature to process it. There are absolutely no penalties for this - they handle thousands of these cases every tax season, so it's completely routine for them. When you get it back, just sign it immediately, make copies for your records, and mail it right back the same day. Since you sent it well before the deadline, you have plenty of time to resolve this without any issues. If you want extra peace of mind while waiting (which I totally get), consider filing Form 4868 for an automatic extension to October 15th. It's free, takes just a few minutes online, and completely eliminates any deadline stress. One thing that really helped my anxiety was keeping a simple log of dates - when I mailed the original, when I realized the mistake, when I received it back, etc. Having that timeline documented made me feel much more in control. This feels like a disaster right now, but honestly, it's such a common mistake that the IRS has streamlined processes specifically for handling unsigned returns. You're going to get through this just fine!