Slightly off topic but make sure you're checking the official IRS "Where's My Refund" tool and not some scam site!!! There are tons of fake ones that look almost identical to the real thing. The real one is at irs.gov/refunds or through the IRS2Go app. I got tricked last year by googling "where's my refund" and clicking the first link, which asked for way more info than the IRS actually needs. Ended up with my identity stolen and had to freeze my credit. Just a warning since it's tax season and the scammers are out in full force!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can tell you that Monday-issued refunds are processed the same way as any other day - it depends on what you selected when filing. If you chose direct deposit, that's what you'll get. If you didn't provide bank info or there's an issue with your account, they'll send a check. For direct deposit on Monday issues, I've typically seen the money hit accounts by Wednesday or Thursday. My bank (Chase) usually shows it as pending Tuesday night and available Wednesday morning. However, some banks like credit unions can take until Friday. One thing to keep in mind - if there are any flags or issues with your return (like identity verification needed), the IRS might switch to paper check even if you requested direct deposit. This happened to my neighbor last year and caused a lot of confusion when the deposit never showed up. Since you need the money ASAP for car repairs, I'd suggest checking your bank account daily starting Tuesday and also keeping an eye on your mail just in case. The IRS customer service line is pretty backed up right now, but if nothing shows up by Friday, it might be worth trying to call them to verify the payment method.

I'm going through something very similar with my parents right now! They're also claiming they need my full transcript for their taxes, and it's been causing a lot of tension in our family. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that transcripts weren't actually required for education tax credits. My situation is almost identical to yours - I'm 20, they claim me as a dependent, and they pay part of my tuition through a 529 plan. When I questioned why they needed my transcript, they got defensive too and said something about "making sure everything is documented properly for the IRS." Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like they probably just need the 1098-T form and maybe an enrollment verification letter. I'm going to try offering them the enrollment verification instead - that seems like a good compromise that gives them what they actually need without me having to share my grades. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. It's reassuring to know this is a common issue and that there are legitimate alternatives to sharing our full academic records. Sometimes parents mean well but get confused about tax requirements!

As someone who works in tax compliance, I can confirm that transcripts are absolutely not required for any education tax credits or 529 plan documentation. Your parents likely just need the 1098-T form and possibly an enrollment verification letter. The confusion often comes from parents wanting to be "extra safe" and provide more documentation than necessary, especially if they've heard horror stories about IRS audits. But the IRS has specifically designed forms like the 1098-T to capture all the information they need for education credits. If your parents are still insisting, you could suggest they speak with a tax professional or call the IRS directly to confirm what's actually required. Sometimes hearing it from an official source helps put these concerns to rest. Your privacy regarding your academic performance is important, and you shouldn't have to compromise it for tax documentation that isn't even needed. The enrollment verification letter from your registrar's office is really the best compromise here - it shows your enrollment status without revealing grades, and it's what the IRS would actually want to see if they ever questioned your eligibility for education credits.

Has anyone tried the "import transactions" feature in the desktop version of TurboTax Premier? I heard it might handle wash sales better than the online version, but I don't want to pay for it if it doesn't actually work.

I went through this exact same headache with TurboTax last year and ended up having to manually adjust about 50+ wash sale transactions. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely need to verify each transaction because TurboTax's automatic import often gets the wash sale adjustments wrong. What worked for me was printing out my detailed brokerage statements and going line by line to compare against what TurboTax imported. I found that the software was calculating wash sales incorrectly in cases where I had multiple purchases and sales of the same stock within the 61-day window. One tip that saved me time: focus on the transactions with the largest dollar amounts first. I found several cases where TurboTax had completely missed wash sales on my biggest trades, which would have been a red flag to the IRS. The smaller discrepancies like your $270 vs $13 example are annoying but less likely to trigger problems. It's tedious work but worth doing correctly. The IRS does match your reported numbers against what your broker sends them, and wash sale reporting errors are one of the most common reasons for tax notices.

I've been a server for about 2 years and went through this exact same confusion when I started. The short answer is yes, you legally have to report ALL tips - cash, credit card, everything. I learned this the hard way when a coworker got audited last year. What really surprised me was finding out that the IRS has specific programs targeting the restaurant industry. They know servers typically underreport cash tips, so they use statistical models to estimate what your tips should be based on your restaurant's sales data and credit card tip percentages. If you're consistently reporting way below what they calculate, you're basically putting a target on your back. I started using a simple system: I write down my cash tips on my phone after each shift, take a quick photo of the money, and immediately put 25% aside in a separate envelope for taxes. It's become second nature now, and I sleep so much better knowing I'm not risking a massive audit bill. The adjustment was tough at first - definitely less cash to take home each night. But being able to qualify for my car loan because I had legitimate reported income made it all worth it. Plus, I'm actually building toward decent Social Security benefits instead of missing out on those credits. Start tracking everything now, Madison. The temporary financial adjustment is way easier to handle than explaining to the IRS why your lifestyle doesn't match your reported income.

I've been serving for about 8 months now and this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! Like you Madison, I was definitely in the "cash tips are invisible" mindset until recently. Reading about all these audit stories and the sophisticated tracking methods the IRS uses is honestly terrifying but so important to know. What really hit me was learning that my restaurant might already be estimating my tips on my W-2 (Box 8) - I had no idea that was even a thing! I'm definitely going to check my paystubs when I get home tonight. If they're already reporting an estimated amount and I'm claiming way less, that seems like an automatic red flag. I'm starting the photo tracking method immediately. Taking a picture with the date written on paper seems foolproof even for someone like me who gets scattered during busy shifts. And all the advice about setting aside 25-30% right away makes total sense - I've been spending my cash tips pretty freely without thinking about tax time. The Social Security benefits angle really changed my perspective too. I never realized that unreported income means missing out on credits that affect your retirement benefits. That's a huge long-term cost I hadn't considered. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and systems. You've probably saved me from making some very expensive mistakes! Going to start proper tracking and saving tonight.

lucky you even got yours already im still waiting since february 😭

Don't worry, this is totally normal! The 846 code just means "refund issued" and the date on your transcript is the official IRS release date. Banks often process direct deposits 1-3 business days before that official date, which is why you got your money early. You're definitely not getting a duplicate refund - just one of those quirks of how the IRS system works vs when banks actually post the funds.