Have you checked if you have an outstanding balance with the state? Exactly 17.4% of Michigan returns get held up because of prior-year balances or other state debts. The MI Treasury has 42 different hold codes that can delay processing, and many won't show up in the standard lookup. You might want to try the Michigan Treasury's alternative verification system at https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/check-my-return-status and click the "Verify Identity" option. It requires more information but often shows status when the regular system fails. I'm concerned this might be more than just a glitch if it's been more than 14 days since acceptance.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my Michigan return on February 18th, got the acceptance confirmation, but the status checker has been giving me that "information not found" error for over two weeks now. It's so frustrating when you're counting on that money! I've tried entering my info different ways (with and without dashes in SSN, different browsers, etc.) but nothing works. Reading through these comments is actually really reassuring - sounds like this is just how Michigan's system works unfortunately. I'm going to try calling that automated line someone mentioned and maybe check super early in the morning like Anna suggested. Fingers crossed we both get our refunds soon! 🤞

Does anyone know if TurboTax eventually asks for the EIN? I'm in the same boat with a $5.12 dividend and no 1099-DIV, but I'm still early in my return and worried I'll get stuck later when it asks for info I don't have.

I had this exact situation a couple years ago with a tiny dividend from some old stock I'd forgotten about. The whole process was way simpler than I expected once I figured it out. In TurboTax, when you get to the dividends section, just select "I'll enter my dividend information myself" instead of importing a 1099. You'll see fields for the company name and dividend amount - that's literally all you need for small amounts like yours. Put in the company name and your $8.73 in the ordinary dividends box. TurboTax will probably throw up some yellow warning messages about missing EIN or other details, but you can just ignore those and continue. The IRS doesn't expect you to have information that wasn't provided to you. As long as you report the income amount and identify who paid it, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to do. Don't overthink it - you're being more careful than most people would be over $8.73, which shows you're handling your taxes responsibly!

Am I the only one who thinks 27% seems really high? I'm in TX too and only have about 22% taken out total. Maybe check if they're withholding for a 401k or health insurance too? Those would be separate from the tax withholdings but still reduce your take-home pay.

Here's a tip that helped me: use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (just google it) to figure out exactly how to fill out your W-4. You enter your pay info and it tells you precisely what to put on each line of the form to get the right amount withheld - not too much, not too little. Helped me adjust my withholding to get about $200 more per month in my paycheck without owing at tax time.

Has anyone here actually succeeded in itemizing with Healthshare expenses? We're on Samaritan and paying about $750/month in shares plus had about $5k in expenses that weren't shared this year. But we're still well below the standard deduction threshold for married filing jointly.

Based on my experience with Healthshares and tax law, I want to clarify a few key points that might help you navigate this situation: First, you're correct that your monthly Healthshare contributions ($8k annually) are NOT the same as traditional insurance premiums for tax purposes. However, they DO count as qualifying medical expenses when calculating your itemized deductions, subject to the 7.5% AGI threshold. The $9k you paid out-of-pocket that wasn't reimbursed is also deductible as medical expenses. So you'd have $17k in potential medical deductions ($8k contributions + $9k out-of-pocket), which exceeds your 7.5% threshold of approximately $12,750 (based on $170k income). However, the reimbursed $29k is NOT deductible, regardless of whether you paid providers first and got reimbursed later. The IRS looks at the final economic burden - if you were ultimately made whole through reimbursement, you can't deduct those expenses. Given your income level and the amounts involved, you'd need to carefully calculate whether itemizing would benefit you over the $27,700 standard deduction for married filing jointly. Include your medical expenses above the threshold, state/local taxes (up to $10k), mortgage interest, and charitable donations to see if itemizing makes sense. Keep detailed records of everything, including dates, amounts, and proof of payment/reimbursement. Healthshare arrangements can sometimes trigger additional IRS scrutiny, so documentation is crucial.

Has anyone considered the plain packaging requirements in the UK? Even if you handle all the duty and tax issues correctly, imported cigarettes still need to comply with UK packaging regulations. Turkish cigarette packages won't meet these standards, which could cause additional complications.

I've been through a similar situation with specialty tobacco products from overseas, and I learned the hard way that there are several layers of complexity beyond just the duties and taxes. First, regarding the plain packaging issue that Harper mentioned - this is actually a major concern. Turkish cigarettes won't meet UK packaging standards, but for personal imports (not for resale), there's usually some flexibility. However, you should check with HMRC directly about this specific requirement. Second, I'd strongly recommend starting with a smaller test shipment - maybe just 1-2 cartons instead of 5. This lets you understand the actual process and costs without risking a large investment. The duties can add up quickly, and there's always a chance of complications or delays. Finally, make sure whoever is shipping from Turkey understands the declaration requirements. The package must be clearly marked as containing cigarettes with accurate quantity and value. Any attempt to mislabel or undervalue could result in seizure and potential legal issues for both sender and recipient. The tobacco import rules are genuinely complex, so getting official guidance before proceeding is definitely worth the effort.