Thanks for starting this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - filed my return about 9 days ago through TurboTax and I've been refreshing that Where's My Refund page like it's my job. This is my first refund in years too, so I had no idea what to expect timeline-wise. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. The tip about checking your tax transcript is amazing - I just pulled mine and there are so many more details than the basic status tool shows. Even though I'm still showing "return received," I can see processing codes that indicate things are actually moving along behind the scenes. I claimed some medical expenses and charitable deductions this year that I didn't have in previous years, so based on what everyone's saying, that might extend my processing time a bit. But at least now I understand that the timeline really depends on your specific situation rather than just being a random lottery. The hardest part is definitely the waiting when you're not used to getting money back! But this community has been great for managing expectations and understanding what's normal vs what would be cause for concern.

Oh wow, I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm literally in the exact same situation - filed through TurboTax about 6 days ago and I've been checking that Where's My Refund tool probably 15 times a day. This is also my first refund in several years and I had no idea what was normal timing-wise. All the advice about checking your tax transcript is incredible - I just looked mine up after reading these comments and there's SO much more information there! I can actually see processing codes and dates that give me a way better picture of what's happening. The basic "return received" status was making me think nothing was happening at all. I claimed the Child Tax Credit and some education expenses this year, so sounds like I should probably expect closer to the full 21 days based on what everyone's sharing. At least now I know that's totally normal and not a sign that something went wrong with my return. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one going crazy with the constant checking! This community is awesome for getting real answers instead of just the generic IRS messaging.

I completely understand your anxiety about this - when you're dealing with a different country's tax system, it's natural to worry about these details! The good news is that everyone here is absolutely right. I've been filing jointly with my husband for over a decade, and our refunds have always gone to my personal checking account without any issues. The IRS really does operate differently than many other countries' tax agencies. They're focused on getting your refund to the account you specified, not verifying whose name is on that account. As long as you entered the correct routing and account numbers, you're golden. Since you mentioned you're coming from a different country's system, I think you'll find the US approach refreshingly straightforward once you get used to it. The IRS assumes that if you're filing jointly, both spouses have agreed on where the refund should go. Your Chase account will accept the deposit just fine - they process thousands of these every tax season.

I can definitely relate to your concern! I went through the same worry when I first moved to the US from Canada. Back home, Revenue Canada was super strict about account ownership matching the names on tax documents, so I was convinced the IRS would reject our joint refund going to my individual account. Turns out everyone here is spot-on - the US system is much more relaxed about this. I've been filing jointly with my spouse for three years now, and our refunds have always gone straight to my personal Bank of America account without any hiccups. The IRS truly doesn't cross-reference account holder names. One small tip that gave me extra peace of mind: I logged into my bank's online portal and verified that my account was set up to accept electronic deposits from government agencies. Most major banks like Chase have this enabled by default, but it was one less thing for me to worry about. Your anxiety is totally understandable given the differences between countries' systems, but you can breathe easy on this one!

Honestly, if you've been doing your own taxes since 2012, adding a 1099-SA and 1099-K isn't that big a jump in complexity. I'd try the DIY route first with a slightly better tax software than the free version. HR Block in person is crazy expensive for what you're describing - my sister paid $230 last year for something similar!

For your situation, I'd recommend starting with mid-tier tax software before jumping to in-person prep. TurboTax Deluxe or H&R Block Premium online will easily handle your 1099-SA and potential 1099-K for around $50-80, which is way less than the $150+ you'd pay in person. The 1099-SA is pretty straightforward - if you used your HSA money for qualified medical expenses, it's not taxable income. The 1099-K can look scary but it's just reporting payment processor transactions, not necessarily taxable income. You only owe taxes on actual profit from sales. Since you've been successfully filing your own taxes for over a decade, these additions aren't dramatically more complex. The software will walk you through both forms with interview-style questions. Save the money and try the DIY approach first - you can always go to a professional next year if you find it too complicated.

Did you file with any tax credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit? Those can delay processing significantly. Also, what does your Where's My Refund status show - just received, or approved? My transcript showed nothing for weeks despite filing in early February, then suddenly updated all at once with my direct deposit date. Have you tried checking your transcript again today? The IRS typically updates transcripts overnight on Thursdays and Fridays.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed on January 30th through H&R Block, got the acceptance confirmation immediately, but my transcript still shows "No return filed" as of today. It's been over 6 weeks now and I'm getting really anxious. I called the IRS twice but couldn't get through after waiting for hours. What's frustrating is that friends who filed after me have already received their refunds. I'm wondering if there's something specific about my return causing the delay - I did claim the Child Tax Credit for my two kids and have some education credits. Has anyone found that certain credits cause longer processing times? Really hoping to see some movement soon since we need the refund for some urgent home repairs.

This is a really helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I went exempt for about 6 weeks last year due to some unexpected car repairs. My tax preparer says I owe around $800, which sounds like it's in line with what everyone else is experiencing here. One thing that's been bugging me though - should my employer have warned me about the tax consequences when I changed my withholding to exempt? I feel like HR just processed the change without any explanation of what it would mean come tax time. I know it's ultimately my responsibility, but it would have been nice to understand the full picture before making that decision during a stressful financial period. Has anyone had experience with employers who actually do explain these things, or is it pretty standard that they just process whatever you request on your W-4 without commentary?

I went through something very similar last year! I was exempt for about 5 weeks in August due to some emergency home repairs, and ended up owing around $720 at tax time. Like you, I was really worried I'd made a huge mistake or that my tax preparer was trying to scam me. The key thing I learned is that going "exempt" doesn't mean you're exempt from paying taxes - it just means you're not having federal income tax withheld from your paychecks during that period. You still owe the full amount of tax on that income, you just pay it all at once when you file instead of throughout the year. Your $650 amount sounds totally reasonable for one month exempt, especially if you're making decent money. The IRS website delay is also completely normal - mine took about 3 weeks to show the balance after I filed. One thing that gave me peace of mind was asking my tax preparer to walk me through exactly how they calculated what I owed. A good preparer should be able to show you the math - basically comparing your total tax liability for the year against what was actually withheld from all your paychecks. If they can't explain it clearly, that might be a red flag. Don't stress too much though - sounds like everything is probably correct and you'll just need to pay the amount when it shows up in the IRS system!