I'm in the exact same situation! Filed on March 1st, cycle 0605, and my transcript has been blank for weeks now. What's really frustrating is that I used the same tax preparer as last year and had no issues then. I've been checking the Where's My Refund tool daily and it just keeps saying "being processed" with no timeline. At this point I'm wondering if I should call the IRS directly or just wait it out. Has anyone had success getting actual helpful information from calling them about blank transcripts? I don't want to waste hours on hold if they're just going to tell me to wait longer.

I'm in cycle 0605 too and filed on February 28th - still completely blank! Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring. I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my return, but it sounds like this cycle is just moving slower than usual this year. The train analogy really helped me understand what's happening - my return is just waiting for its scheduled processing time. I think I'm going to stop checking daily since that might be counterproductive according to what Misterclamation mentioned about security flags. Going to try checking once a week instead and just be patient. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences!

Call ur congressman fr fr they can help speed things up sometimes

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed back in February with my 1095-A and still waiting. The IRS website just says "still processing" which tells me nothing. It's so frustrating not knowing if there's an actual issue or if they're just backed up. Has anyone tried calling the taxpayer advocate service? I heard they might be able to help with these marketplace delays but not sure if it's worth the hassle.

The 846 code is definitely a good sign! It means your refund has been officially issued by the IRS. Even though WMR hasn't updated with the deposit date yet, the systems don't always sync up immediately. I'd expect to see the money in your account within the next 3-5 business days. The transcript is usually more accurate and up-to-date than WMR, so trust what you're seeing there. Hang in there - you're at the finish line after all that waiting! 🤞

Congrats on finally seeing that 846 code! 🎉 I totally get the frustration with checking WMR every day - been there myself. The good news is that 846 means your refund is officially issued and on its way. Don't worry too much about WMR not showing the deposit date yet - those systems are notorious for being out of sync. The transcript is usually way more accurate and updated faster than WMR. You should see that money hit your account within 3-5 business days from when the 846 appeared. After months of waiting, you're literally at the finish line now! Try to resist the urge to check your bank account every hour (easier said than done, I know 😅).

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year. The key thing that helped me was getting very specific about documentation from day one. I kept detailed logs of all my activities (cleaning, maintenance, guest communication, marketing) to support my material participation claim. One thing I didn't see mentioned is the importance of tracking your average stay calculation properly - the IRS looks at this on a property-by-property basis, not across your entire portfolio. So if you have multiple properties, each one gets evaluated separately for the 7-day test. Also, regarding the substantial services question - it's not just about what services you provide, but how they're provided. Daily cleaning that's mandatory vs. optional can make a difference in classification. The IRS has been getting more scrutiny on STR classification lately, so having solid documentation is crucial. For anyone still unsure about their situation, I'd recommend Form 8582 (Passive Activity Loss Limitations) as required reading - it walks through the material participation tests and has examples that might clarify your specific situation.

Great thread - I've learned a lot from everyone's experiences! One thing I wanted to add that helped me navigate this complexity is understanding the "facts and circumstances" test that the IRS uses when the rules aren't crystal clear. I run three short-term rentals and initially got conflicting advice from two different CPAs about classification. What finally clarified things for me was creating a comprehensive "Services Analysis" document that detailed every service I provide, how often, and whether guests pay extra for them or they're included. This helped determine which properties crossed the line into "substantial services" territory. For material participation documentation, I use a simple spreadsheet tracking: Date, Property, Activity Type, Hours Spent, and Notes. I log everything - guest communications, cleaning coordination, maintenance calls, marketing updates, even time spent researching local regulations. It takes maybe 5 minutes per day but creates an ironclad record. One surprise discovery: the IRS considers "arranging for services" as material participation time, not just doing the work yourself. So if you spend time coordinating with cleaning services, maintenance contractors, or property managers, that counts toward your participation hours. This was a game-changer for my calculations since I coordinate a lot of vendor services across my properties. The key is treating this like any other business venture - proper documentation from the start makes everything much smoother come tax time.

One thing to consider - even if the W2 is only for $79.75, the IRS might send you a CP2000 notice eventually if you don't amend. They match all W2s with tax returns and flag discrepancies. It's automated so even small amounts get caught. I learned this the hard way a few years ago with a tiny 1099. The notice included interest charges too. Better to just fix it now!

In my experience, the IRS computer system will eventually catch this discrepancy and send you a notice. It might take 6-12 months, but it's pretty much guaranteed since employers send W2s directly to the IRS. With such a small amount, you'll probably owe less than $15 in additional tax, but they might add interest and a small penalty by the time they get around to notifying you.