According to the IRS.gov website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), most refunds are issued within 21 days of acceptance, but there are several factors that can extend this timeline: - If you claimed EITC or ACTC, the PATH Act prevents refunds before mid-February - If your return requires additional review - If your return includes Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) - If you have past-due debts (taxes, child support, student loans) The quickest way to get your refund is to e-file and use direct deposit, which you've already done. You can start checking Where's My Refund about 24 hours after acceptance, but it likely won't show much information until your return moves further in the process. The transcript will update before WMR in most cases, so that's worth monitoring too.

I filed on 1/20 last year and was accepted on 1/21. Got my refund on 2/8, so exactly 18 days later. Did you have any tax credits or complicated situations on your return? That makes a huge difference in timing. Also, did you opt for direct deposit or paper check? Direct deposit usually knocks about 5-7 days off the wait time compared to paper checks.

I'm so happy to share that I was in your EXACT situation last year! I was absolutely terrified about getting audited after taking an advance. I ended up getting selected for a correspondence audit (not because of the advance, just random bad luck), but I submitted all my documentation and got a FULL approval with no changes to my return! I was literally jumping around my apartment when I got the closure letter! The key was having everything organized and responding quickly to their requests.

The Statistical Determination System (SDS) and Discriminant Function System (DIF) that the IRS uses for audit selection doesn't include refund distribution methods in its algorithm. The correlation between advances and audits that some people perceive is likely because both are more common among early filers with EITC claims, not because one causes the other.

Let me clarify exactly how the TurboTax refund advance works in 2024 because there's so much misinformation out there! The TurboTax refund advance is ONLY available through Credit Karma Money now. When you qualify, you'll get a Credit Karma Money account (if you don't already have one) and the advance goes there - NO physical card is mailed! I was SO worried about this last year because I needed the money fast! Here's the process: 1. File with TurboTax and select the refund advance option 2. Complete the advance application (includes credit check) 3. If approved, funds appear in Credit Karma Money account within 1-2 days after IRS accepts your return 4. Use the virtual debit card or transfer to your bank The advance amount ranges from $250-$4,000 depending on your expected refund size. And yes - Credit Karma is the ONLY way to get the TurboTax advance now because Intuit (TurboTax's parent company) acquired Credit Karma!

To clarify the TurboTax/Credit Karma relationship: Intuit (TurboTax's parent company) acquired Credit Karma in December 2020. As part of their integration strategy, they consolidated their financial product offerings. The refund advance program now exclusively operates through Credit Karma Money accounts. The advance is technically a 0% APR loan secured by your anticipated tax refund. Qualification criteria include: - Minimum expected federal refund of $500 - Sufficient credit score (typically 620+) - Identity verification - No outstanding tax liens or delinquencies Unlike some competitor products, no physical card is issued. The advance is deposited electronically to your Credit Karma Money account, typically within 24-48 hours of IRS acceptance of your return.

I'm very budget-conscious and understand wanting that refund ASAP. Here's what I'd do in your situation: Step 1: Contact Chime support specifically about tax filing status Step 2: Check IRS transcript (not just WMR) for any activity Step 3: If no updates after 21 days, call IRS directly at 800-829-1040 Step 4: Only consider re-filing if IRS confirms they have no record of your return I'm a bit worried that filing twice could delay your refund even longer, which doesn't help with those medical bills.

Have you considered that this might actually be a blessing in disguise? If you file again with a different company, wouldn't that just create more confusion in the system? And what happens if both returns suddenly get processed? Would the IRS think you're trying to claim twice? Sometimes patience, while frustrating, is the best approach with tax matters, wouldn't you agree?

Did anyone else notice how confusing TurboTax made this whole situation? I specifically remember when filing my 2022 return last year, TurboTax had a clear section asking "Did you receive advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2022?" but the correct answer was NO because advances only went out in 2021. Now for 2023 returns, they've finally removed that confusing question altogether. Wouldn't it have been more helpful if they'd explained this change somewhere in the interface?

I filed on February 15th this year and had the exact same concern. The advance Child Tax Credit reconciliation was a major part of filing for tax year 2021 (filed in 2022), but was already less prominent for tax year 2022 (filed in 2023). For this year's filing (tax year 2023), there's no question because there were no advances paid during 2023. The Child Tax Credit itself is still there at $2,000 per qualifying child, but without the advance payment component that existed only in 2021.

I went through this exact situation with my son last year! We had no idea we could claim him as a dependent after he turned 19 because of his disability. When we filed, everything went through normally - no immediate flags or questions. About 3 months later, we did get a letter asking for verification. I sent in his disability determination letter, proof he lived with us, and a breakdown of our financial support. The whole verification process took about 6 weeks, but we eventually got our full refund with him as a dependent. The most helpful thing was having a folder with all his documentation already organized. This year, we claimed him again and didn't get any questions at all! I think once you're in their system as verified, it goes much smoother in subsequent years.

I've noticed a pattern with these dependent disability claims over the years. The IRS typically accepts them at face value during initial filing, but about 15-20% get selected for verification later. On February 12th this year, I helped my sister file with her disabled adult son as a dependent for the first time. By March 30th, she received a verification request. We submitted the documentation on April 15th, and she received her full refund on May 28th. The community wisdom here is pretty consistent: file accurately, be prepared with documentation, and be patient with the process. Most people I've helped through this have eventually received their full entitled benefits, even if it takes some extra time and paperwork. One other tip: if you do get selected for verification, respond as quickly and thoroughly as possible. This significantly reduces the overall wait time.

Did you pay off a mortgage when you sold? If so, did you receive a payoff statement? IRS Publication 523 covers home sales in detail. It specifies all required documentation.

One thing I learned from my home sale last year that nobody mentioned yet - keep your closing disclosure forever! I had to reference mine from my purchase 15 years ago when calculating my basis. Also, if you paid any points when you bought the home, those affect your basis too. If you made energy-efficient improvements, there might be credits to claim separate from the sale itself. The settlement statement from your sale will show if transfer taxes were paid, which may be deductible on your state return depending on where you live.

Just a warning from someone who's been burned before - be really careful about seeking alternatives for refund advances outside official channels! Last year I got desperate when TurboTax denied my advance and found this "tax refund loan" service through an Instagram ad. According to the IRS.gov warnings about refund loans (https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/refund-anticipation-loans), what I got into was basically a predatory loan. Started as "just 15% fee" but ended up costing me almost 40% of my refund with all the hidden charges and "processing fees" they added later. I'd recommend just waiting for your actual refund rather than getting into one of these sketchy alternatives.

FYI - the whole refund advance situation is diff this yr. TT basically front-loads their offers during peak marketing season (early Jan). They don't advertise this, but their advance $ comes from a limited pool that usually runs dry by end of Jan. Super annoying, ik! Pro tip: if ur refund's coming soon anyway, prob not worth the hassle of trying other options. Most ppl are getting refunds pretty quick this yr - like 14-21 days if ur return is straightforward. Might be faster to just wait for the real thing vs jumping thru hoops for an advance now.

You might want to consider opting out of advance payments altogether if your income fluctuates. I typically recommend that remote workers with variable income take the full credit at tax time instead of monthly advances, particularly if there's any possibility your annual income might exceed eligibility thresholds. This approach generally eliminates potential repayment obligations if your actual 2024 income differs substantially from your 2023 reported income. The opt-out deadline is usually around the 28th of the month prior to the payment month.

Just adding that I got accepted last week and saw nothing about advances on my account for 2 weeks. Then suddenly it appeared in my IRS account under the 'Messages' tab, not where I expected it. Check there. Also make sure you actually qualify - they look at your AGI, filing status, and number of qualifying children. I think the income limit is $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly.

I think we should be careful about suggesting someone can simply not report income... The employer may have already submitted their information to the IRS, and the system is designed to match these reports. While it's true the IRS is understaffed, their automated systems still flag discrepancies between reported income and filed returns. The potential consequences of intentional omission might outweigh any small tax savings.

IMO ur overthinking this. Just add it to ur return - ez fix. If u got a W-2, the IRS already knows about it anyway. Their computers auto-match that stuff. If u didn't get a form, technically still reportable but tbh the risk/reward is diff. Def report if u got official docs tho. BTW if ur using tax software it'll take like 2 mins to add another W-2 or 1099. Not worth the stress of wondering if they'll catch it.