Same here with the 2/24 DDD! I've been refreshing my Chime app way too much today. From what I've seen in this community, it really seems to depend on when exactly the IRS sends out the payment batches. Some people get lucky with the early deposit, others have to wait until the exact date. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but fingers crossed we see something by tomorrow or Wednesday. The 846 code is definitely a good sign though - at least we know it's actually coming this time instead of being stuck in processing limbo!

I'm in the exact same situation! Got my 846 code this morning with a 2/24 DDD and I bank with Chime too. This is actually really reassuring to see so many others with the same timeline. From what I've read in other threads, Chime's early deposit usually kicks in 1-2 days before the DDD, so I'm cautiously optimistic we might see something by Wednesday. I've been burned before by getting too excited about dates, but the 846 code is definitely a relief after weeks of checking transcripts and seeing nothing but processing codes. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us with 2/24 dates - seems like we're finally in the home stretch!

Don't forget that there's a $10,000 cap on the total state and local tax (SALT) deduction. This includes state income taxes (or sales taxes if you choose that instead) PLUS your property taxes from both 5b and 5c combined. So if you're already over $10k with just your state income tax and real estate taxes, finding more to add to line 5c won't help your federal return. This is especially important if you live in a high-tax state like NY, CA, NJ, etc.

The $10,000 SALT cap is still in effect for 2025 - there hasn't been any legislation passed to change it yet. The cap was set to expire after 2025 under the original Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but Congress would need to act to either extend it, modify it, or let it sunset. Some proposals have been floating around to raise the cap to $15,000 or $20,000, or to eliminate it entirely, but nothing has been finalized. Given the political dynamics, it's unlikely we'll see changes before the 2025 filing season. So for now, if you're in a high-tax state and already hitting the $10k limit with income tax and property tax, adding personal property taxes won't provide additional federal benefit - though it's still worth tracking for potential future changes and for state return purposes if your state allows itemized deductions.

This is such a great question that I think many taxpayers struggle with! Beyond the excellent points already mentioned about state taxes and AMT considerations, there's another scenario worth considering - charitable contribution bunching. Sometimes taxpayers will choose to itemize in a "low" year (where itemized deductions are less than standard) as part of a multi-year strategy. For example, if you typically donate $8,000 annually to charity, you might donate $16,000 every other year and $0 in the alternate years. In the $16,000 year, you'd have enough to itemize meaningfully, but in the $0 year, your itemized deductions might be lower than standard - yet you'd still choose to itemize to maintain consistency in your tax planning strategy. Also, don't forget about the "bunching" strategy for medical expenses. Since medical expenses are only deductible above 7.5% of AGI, some people time their elective medical procedures to bunch expenses into one tax year, which might require itemizing even when the total is lower than standard deduction in order to set up the following year's bigger deduction. The key is looking at your tax situation holistically across multiple years and considering both federal AND state implications!

Great question about bunching strategies! You're absolutely right that it can seem sophisticated, but it's actually becoming more common among middle-income taxpayers too, especially after the 2017 tax law changes that raised the standard deduction so much. The charitable bunching strategy works well for anyone who regularly donates to charity, regardless of income level. For example, if you normally donate $6,000 per year but your other itemized deductions (like mortgage interest and property taxes) only add up to $8,000, you'd have $14,000 total - still less than the $29,200 standard deduction for married filing jointly. But if you donate $12,000 every other year instead, you'd have $20,000 in itemized deductions in the "high" year, which combined with other deductions might push you over the standard deduction threshold. The medical expense bunching is particularly useful for families dealing with ongoing health issues or planning elective procedures. Since you need to exceed 7.5% of your AGI before medical expenses become deductible, timing procedures, dental work, or even things like new glasses and contacts into the same tax year can make a big difference. A lot of tax software now actually suggests these strategies, so you don't need to be a tax expert to implement them. The key is just thinking beyond the current tax year when making financial decisions.

Another option nobody's mentioned is to contact your HR department directly and request a duplicate W-2. They're legally required to provide it. My company actually has a self-service portal where I can download my W-2 anytime. Might be worth checking if yours has something similar?

Has anyone tried using the last paystub method? My accountant told me I could use my last paystub of the year as a substitute for a W-2 in a pinch, but I'm not sure how to report it properly on the tax forms.

Quickbooks Self-Employed has been a lifesaver for me with this exact problem. It lets you swipe left/right to categorize transactions as business or personal, and you can split transactions too if needed. Way easier than sorting through everything manually at tax time.

I went through this exact same situation with my consulting LLC last year! What really helped me was setting up a formal reimbursement system retroactively. I created expense reports for all the personal funds I'd used for business expenses, then had my LLC "reimburse" me by transferring money from the business account to my personal account. The key is maintaining that paper trail showing these were legitimate business expenses that you temporarily covered. I used a simple Excel template to document each expense with date, amount, vendor, business purpose, and which personal account I used. Then I'd do monthly reimbursements to myself. Your accountant will definitely appreciate that you've been tracking everything - that's honestly the hardest part. The fact that you have receipts and documentation puts you way ahead of most small business owners. Just make sure going forward you try to use business accounts when possible, but don't stress too much about the occasional personal payment as long as you document it properly.