Just want to echo what others have said about the batch processing - it really does make a huge difference in timing! I filed my return last Tuesday around 2 PM and it sat in "Return Received" status until Thursday morning at 6 AM, so about 40 hours total. I was starting to panic that something was wrong, but it turns out I just missed their processing window. One thing I learned from calling the IRS (after using Claimyr - which actually worked great) is that they do most of their e-file acceptance processing overnight between 12 AM and 6 AM EST. So if you file during regular business hours, you're likely looking at waiting until the next overnight cycle. For your $2,300 refund, once it gets accepted you should see it pretty quickly. Mine was $1,850 and hit my account exactly 8 days after acceptance. The key is just getting through that initial acceptance hurdle - everything moves much faster after that point. Try not to stress too much about the 3-hour wait time. Based on when you filed and the batch processing schedule, you'll probably see acceptance sometime tonight or tomorrow morning!

I filed my 2025 return through TaxSlayer this morning around 10 AM and just got the acceptance notification about 6 hours later! So you're definitely within the normal timeframe at 3 hours. What really helped calm my nerves was learning from this thread about the IRS batch processing schedule. Since you filed this afternoon, you'll likely see acceptance during tonight's overnight processing cycle (12 AM - 6 AM EST) or tomorrow morning at the latest. The 48-hour window the software gives you is really the maximum - most returns get accepted much faster, especially early in the season like now. Your $2,300 refund should process quickly once accepted since there's less volume in the system compared to the March/April rush. I know the waiting is torture when you're planning around that money, but try to resist the urge to check every hour. The status only updates once daily anyway, usually overnight. You'll probably wake up tomorrow to good news!

Has anyone used FreeTaxUSA for state-only filing? Their website says they support it but I can't figure out how to skip the federal part.

I went through this exact situation last year when I moved from Florida to Illinois mid-year! Here's what I learned that might help you and others in similar situations: First, don't panic about filing state-only - it's totally normal and legitimate. Since you already filed federal, you just need to be careful not to double-file that part. For Colorado specifically (saw your comment above), I'd recommend starting with their Revenue Online portal at colorado.gov/revenueonline. Yes, it can be confusing at first, but here's the key: look for "Individual Income Tax" and then "File a Return." They have a questionnaire that helps determine if you need Form 104 (standard) or 104EZ (simplified). Since you moved mid-year from Texas (no state tax) to Colorado, you'll likely need the regular 104 form. You'll need: - Your federal AGI from your completed return - Your W-2 showing Colorado withholding - Documentation of your move date - Any Colorado-specific deductions you might qualify for The state system will ask for your federal AGI and other key figures from your federal return, but you won't be re-filing federal - just using those numbers for your state calculation. If Colorado's system still feels overwhelming, the paid options mentioned above (TaxAct, H&R Block state-only) are worth the $25-40 if it saves you hours of frustration. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the cost!

Anyone know if these carryover losses expire? I've been carrying some forward for a few years now and wondering if there's a time limit before I lose them.

I went through this exact same situation last year with my crypto losses from 2022. The confusion is totally understandable because it does feel like you're claiming the same deduction twice. Here's what I learned after consulting with a tax professional: You should enter the same capital loss carryover amounts on both your federal and state returns. This isn't double-dipping because you're filing two separate tax returns to two different taxing authorities (federal government and state government). California (which I saw you mentioned in the comments) does conform to federal capital loss treatment, so your carryover amounts should be the same on both returns. The key thing to remember is that your federal return calculates your federal tax liability, and your state return calculates your state tax liability - they're independent calculations that both happen to use the same underlying capital loss carryover. TurboTax should handle this correctly once you input the information. The software knows the state-specific rules and will apply them appropriately. Better to use the legitimate deduction you're entitled to than leave money on the table!

Paolo, you've gotten excellent advice throughout this thread! I just wanted to add my experience as someone who completed this exact same process with my single member LLC about 8 months ago. Yes, definitely select "Sole Proprietor" on line 9a of Form SS-4. I had the same mental block you're having - it feels strange to select "Sole Proprietor" right after forming an LLC, but that's exactly how the IRS system works. The LLC gives you liability protection at the state level, while the federal tax treatment defaults to sole proprietorship for single-member LLCs. What really put my mind at ease was understanding that this is just the starting point, not a permanent decision. Once you have your EIN and your business is generating consistent income, you can always explore the S-Corp election (Form 2553) that your friends mentioned. Most tax professionals recommend waiting until you're netting at least $50K annually before considering that route, since the payroll requirements and additional accounting costs need to be justified by the self-employment tax savings. For now, keep it simple: select "Sole Proprietor," get your EIN, open a dedicated business bank account, and focus on building your business. You're making smart moves by getting your paperwork in order early - just don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Submit that form and start generating some revenue!

Paolo, you're absolutely right to feel confused - I went through this exact same struggle when I started my single member LLC earlier this year! Yes, you should definitely select "Sole Proprietor" on line 9a of Form SS-4. I know it feels counterintuitive since you just formed an LLC, but here's what I learned: the IRS treats single-member LLCs as "disregarded entities" by default, which means for federal tax purposes, you're taxed like a sole proprietor even though you have all the legal protections of the LLC structure. It's actually a great setup because you get liability protection while keeping your taxes simple. Don't worry about the S-Corp election your friends mentioned - that's a completely separate process they did AFTER getting their EIN by filing Form 2553. You don't need to figure that out on your initial SS-4 form. Most accountants recommend only considering S-Corp status when your business is netting around $50K+ annually, since it comes with additional payroll requirements and accounting costs. My advice: select "Sole Proprietor," get your EIN, and focus on actually building your business first. You can always explore more complex tax elections later when your income justifies the extra administrative work. You're not locked into this choice forever, so don't overthink it!

16 Another thing to check: look for Box 14 on your W-2. Sometimes employers will put additional information there, including health insurance premiums. It's an optional field that employers can use to provide additional information. The stuff in Box 14 doesn't directly impact your tax return calculations, but it can be helpful for understanding what went into the numbers in the other boxes.

Just want to echo what others have said here - your health insurance premiums ARE being treated as pre-tax, which is why you're not seeing them itemized separately like your 401k contributions. Think of it this way: your employer takes out your health insurance premiums before calculating your taxable wages. So when they report your wages in Box 1 of your W-2, those health premiums have already been subtracted. That's different from 401k contributions, which get reported separately in Box 12. To double-check this is working correctly, grab your last paystub of the year and look at the year-to-date totals. Your gross pay minus all pre-tax deductions (401k + health insurance + any others) should equal what's shown in Box 1 of your W-2. The bottom line: you're getting the tax benefit you expected from those health premiums - they're just handled differently in the reporting than retirement contributions. Your AGI is already reduced by that $2,700, so you don't need to do anything else when you file your return.