As someone who just joined this community and is navigating my first tax season as an independent filer, this post and all the responses have been incredibly educational! I literally had my transcript open in another tab with an 846 code showing a date next Friday, and I was about to ask the exact question you're talking about. Reading through everyone's explanations really drives home how clear the information actually is once you understand what you're looking at. I think the issue for newcomers like me is that we're so used to things being complicated with the IRS that we assume there must be some hidden complexity we're missing, even when the answer is right there. The banking processing time explanations are especially helpful - knowing that direct deposits might take 1-2 extra days after the 846 date gives me realistic expectations instead of refreshing my bank account obsessively on Friday. Thanks for the reality check, and thanks to everyone who took the time to break down how this all works!

I'm brand new to this whole tax thing and honestly, this entire thread has been like a masterclass in reading transcripts! I literally have my transcript pulled up right now showing an 846 code with a date for next Wednesday, and I was 100% about to make one of those posts asking "so when will I actually get my money?" It's embarrassing how obvious it seems now that everyone's explained it, but when you're staring at a government document full of random codes and numbers for the first time, it really does feel like there must be some hidden complexity you're missing. I kept thinking "surely it can't be THAT simple, right?" Thanks for the reality check (even with the eye-rolling 😅) and thanks to everyone who took the time to explain the banking processing times and everything else. This community seems awesome for helping newcomers figure out all this confusing tax stuff. Now I can stop obsessively checking my bank account and just wait for Wednesday... plus 1-2 days for my bank to process it!

I'm a tax preparer and see this confusion every tax season with military families! You're absolutely doing this correctly - military retirement pay is unearned income and doesn't qualify for EIC calculations, even though it does count toward your overall income limits. One thing I always tell clients in your situation: consider having your tax software or preparer run a "what if" scenario comparing married filing jointly vs. married filing separately. Sometimes when one spouse has significantly higher income, filing separately can unlock credits for the lower-earning spouse, though you'd lose other benefits like higher standard deduction. Also, since you mentioned your neighbors' situation - they might have different circumstances (lower civilian income, different filing status, or additional deductions) that keep them under the income thresholds. Or unfortunately, they might be claiming the credit incorrectly. The IRS matching system usually catches these errors within a couple years, so if they are making a mistake, they'll likely hear about it eventually. Keep documenting your research on this topic (like saving this thread) in case you ever need to show you made a good faith effort to understand the rules correctly!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a veteran spouse dealing with a similar situation - my husband gets VA disability compensation and I was confused about how that impacts our EIC eligibility too. For anyone else reading this who might have VA disability pay, I learned that VA disability compensation is treated differently than military retirement pay for tax purposes. VA disability is completely tax-free and doesn't count as income at all for EIC calculations (neither as earned income nor toward the income limits). So if you have VA disability, it won't hurt your EIC eligibility the way military retirement pay does. Just wanted to add that distinction since I see a lot of confusion about different types of military-related income. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - it's so much clearer now why some military families qualify for EIC and others don't!

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed my MA return on February 19th and it's been over 7 weeks now with nothing but that useless "processing" status. My federal came back in 9 days but the state is just sitting there doing absolutely nothing. What's really frustrating is how their phone system seems designed to discourage you from calling. I've tried three times and either get disconnected after waiting 90+ minutes or get someone who just reads me the same "be patient" script. My refund is $620 so it's definitely worth following up on. I'm honestly shocked at how many of us are dealing with this same issue. It seems like MA completely botched their processing system this year. At this point I'm seriously considering filing a complaint with the state attorney general's office if this drags on much longer. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops or pay for third-party services just to get basic information about our own tax refunds. Anyone know if there's an escalation process beyond the regular customer service line?

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation here in Massachusetts! Filed my return on February 17th and it's been over 7 weeks now with absolutely no movement beyond that generic "processing" status on their website. My federal refund came through in just 12 days, which makes the state delay even more infuriating. What really gets me is that I've called the MA DOR twice and gotten completely different information each time. First rep said 6-8 weeks is normal, second one mentioned some kind of "system modernization" causing delays but couldn't give me any specifics about my return. It's like they're just guessing at this point. My refund is around $715, so definitely not something I want to just write off. Reading through all these comments, it's clear that 2025 has been an absolute disaster for Massachusetts tax processing. The inconsistency is what bothers me most - some people getting refunds in 4 weeks while others wait 11+ weeks with identical filing dates. I'm definitely going to try that callback service people mentioned because the regular phone line seems like a complete waste of time. It's honestly embarrassing that Massachusetts can't get their basic tax processing system working properly. We shouldn't need third-party services just to get our own money back! Has anyone had any luck getting actual helpful information by escalating beyond the first-level customer service reps?

Has anyone used CCH Axcess for SPVs? My CPA recommended it to me for our angel fund, but the pricing seemed outrageous for what's essentially a passive investment vehicle with 25 investors.

For your situation with multiple investment LLCs and 40-50 K-1s, I'd recommend starting with TaxAct Professional as Isabella mentioned. I've been using it for my real estate investment partnerships for 3 years now, and it handles the member data carryover beautifully. The key advantage for investment vehicles is that once you set up the allocation percentages and member information, subsequent years are mostly just updating income/loss amounts and any membership changes. TaxAct's batch K-1 printing and e-filing capabilities will save you hours compared to manual preparation. One tip: when you first set it up, take the time to carefully enter all the member information including addresses and SSNs. The software will catch common errors like mismatched names/SSNs that could cause IRS notices later. For the price point (around $200-300 per return), it's a solid middle ground between DIY manual work and expensive professional software. The learning curve is pretty gentle if you're already familiar with 1065 forms, and their support is responsive when you run into questions about specific partnership allocations.

I went through this exact scenario last year and understand the frustration completely. After getting my 846 code with a DDD of February 14th, I waited until February 17th with no deposit showing. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, I called my bank directly and asked to speak with someone in their ACH department - not just customer service. They were able to see that the Treasury payment was actually received but was being held for verification due to a slight name formatting difference between my tax return and my bank account. Second, I discovered that the IRS Where's My Refund tool sometimes shows different information than what's on your actual transcript. My transcript showed the 846 code, but WMR was still showing "being processed." The resolution took exactly 4 business days from my DDD, and the funds appeared without any additional action needed. The bank representative explained that government deposits sometimes trigger additional verification protocols, especially if there are any minor discrepancies in how your name appears. If you're still within 5 business days of your DDD, I'd recommend calling your bank's ACH department first before contacting the IRS. They can often provide more immediate answers about whether the payment was received and why it might be delayed.

I've been through this exact situation twice in the past three years, and I completely understand your concern about the reliability of the DDD timeline. What I've learned is that while the 846 code is definitive proof your refund has been approved and sent, the actual deposit timing can vary significantly based on several factors beyond the IRS's control. In my experience, the most common delays occur when: 1. Your bank has additional verification procedures for government deposits over certain amounts 2. The DDD falls on or near a federal holiday, which can extend processing by 1-2 business days 3. There's a minor discrepancy in your account information that triggers a manual review I'd recommend checking your transcript one more time to ensure no additional transaction codes appeared after the 846 (like a 971 notice code), and then contact your bank's treasury or ACH department directly. They can often tell you immediately if the deposit was received and why it might be pending. The good news is that once you have that 846 code, your money is definitely coming - it's just a matter of working through the banking system's processes. Keep us updated on what you find out!