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What tax year are you trying to e-file?   E-filing is closed for 2024 returns.   If you are trying to file a 2024 return it has to be mailed.  E-filing has not yet opened for 2025 returns.   Are you trying to enter the "issue" date in the spot for the expiration?   Look carefully at the screen.

Did you e-file your tax return and was it accepted? Only the IRS and your State control when and if a Federal or State tax refund is Approved and Issued.   You complete your tax return by finishing all 3 Steps in the File section. In Step 3, to e-file your tax return, you must click on the large button labeled "Transmit my returns now".   After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.   Note - Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund.  Only the taxpayer listed on the tax return can obtain the status of a tax refund or a tax return.   To check the status of an e-filed return, open up your desktop product or log into your TurboTax Online Account. You can find your status within the TurboTax product. If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/track-state-refund/L3jgO8PGs_...   After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.

E-filing is not open yet for 2025 returns.   The IRS will not begin to accept returns until late January.   If you are hoping for a quick refund by filing as early as possible, you might be making a mistake that will have you waiting for your refund for months.   Users who rush to file early often end up under review or file with mistakes that require them to amend later. Employers have until the end of January to issue W-2’s.   Some 1099’s that you need do not become available until sometime in February.  If you file your return without the tax documents, you are filing an incorrect tax return.  If you file before the IRS is accepting returns, your return just sits on a server, where you will be powerless to fix any mistakes you discover after you file.   No changes can be made when your return is pending on a server.  And….every year…..Every. Year.  …..we get users who want to know how to fix their incorrect e-filed returns that are sitting on the server.  

I have been using TTax for many years.  In the last few years, the desktop version of the software (Premier) has been increasingly problematic, especially in the timeliness of the release of forms (in my case, 8949).  The IRS posted this form in mid-December, but it is still unavailable after TTax update today.

You will have to contact TurboTax support for assistance with this problem.  See this TurboTax support FAQ for contacting support - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/turbotax-phone-number/L0Od33nMQ_US_en_US?uid=lfgviwbm

I assume his children live with him more than half the year. In that case you can agree on which of you has contributed a dollar more to the household and can then file head of household. The other files as single. If you like the other of you could file head of household on alternate years. 

Mailed returns take longer to be processed.  You mailed a return ---and seem to be aware of the delays caused by a government shut down.    Only the IRS is in control of processing your return, and only the IRS can give you any information.   Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.     You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2024 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:    https://www.irs.gov/refunds   Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday  

If you are a non-married couple who live together with your child, then only one of you can claim the child(ren) and the one not claiming the child does not enter anything at all on their tax return about the child.   The “sharing” of child-related credits you may have heard about is only possible between divorced or never married parents who live apart and share custody and who have a written agreement to share the credits.    The child’s SSN can only be entered on one tax return.   Any other return with the child’s SSN on it will be rejected.   If you are a family, then work out how to share the refund between yourselves.             TIE BREAKER RULES   https://itap1.for.irs.gov/owda/0/resource/Commentary_Files_Redirect_ITA/en-US/help/tbrk09.html  

Thank you for the condolences- it’s been a rough time.   So it seems like I have a pretty good grip on everything as your response confirms my research.   The only part that keeps confusing me is the K1 - I’m already aware of why it is issued and such - but since the cottage has no capital gains, will I report the sale of the cottage on my 1040?   Or is the K1 just to pass the capital losses from the cottage sale to me?   This part keeps confusing me.

When you use online TurboTax, each return needs its own account and user ID.  If you use the same account and user ID for a second return, the second one overwrites the first one and you lose the first one forever.  You get one return per fee.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-online/00/25596     As for claiming your father as a dependent, if he had more than $5200 of income not counting Social Security, he cannot be claimed as anyone else's dependent.

You will have to contact TurboTax support for assistance with this problem. Use the key words Billing Issue See this TurboTax support FAQ for contacting support - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/turbotax-phone-number/L0Od33nMQ_US_en_US?uid=lfgviwbm

Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday   You may want to contact a Taxpayer Advocate in your area.  See this IRS website for Taxpayer Advocate - https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/ or call 1-877-777-4778