I got a letter 2 weeks after filing my 2011 return that I owe federal from 2010. I talked the lady and proceeded to fax a payment plan to them. She told me since I was responding to the first corrspondence I will be fine and my return will reach me in time... How true is this? And if they decide to take the money out of my return how long will that delay me getting it?

At a MINIMUM, they will hold the refund until you get the payment plan in place.

THEN they will confiscate the 2011 refund to help satisfy what you owe for 2010.

The only way you get a refund is if you file JOINTLY, and your spouse files as an INJURED SPOUSE to get his/her share of the refund.