Has anyone used TurboTax Self-Employed for this situation? I'm also a teacher with some side consulting work, and wondering if it's worth paying for that version vs just the regular one.

As someone who went through this exact transition from teacher-only income to teacher + 1099 freelance work, I can't stress enough how important it is to get organized NOW rather than waiting until tax season. The quarterly payment approach is definitely the safest route, but increasing your W-4 withholding at school is much more convenient if you can swing it. I'd recommend calculating about 25-30% of your expected freelance income and having that withheld from your teaching paychecks over the remaining pay periods. Don't forget to open a separate business checking account for your freelance income and expenses - it makes tracking everything SO much easier. And start keeping a simple spreadsheet or use an app to track every business expense from day one. Even small things like office supplies, software subscriptions, and mileage add up quickly. One thing I wish someone had told me: if you're making $38-50K in freelance income, you're definitely going to owe self-employment tax (15.3%) on top of regular income tax. Make sure whatever method you choose accounts for both!

I went through this same anxiety last year! Code 846 is definitely the most reliable indicator you'll get from the IRS. I had an amended return that took 8 months to process (absolutely ridiculous), and when I finally saw that 846 code with a date of 2/15, I was skeptical after being let down so many times. But sure enough, my direct deposit showed up at 5:45am on 2/15 - not a day late! The transcript pulls from their master processing system, while WMR is just a consumer-facing tool that updates whenever they feel like it. I've learned to completely ignore WMR and only trust the transcript. Your 4/10 date should be solid, especially since amended returns go through extra verification steps before they issue that 846 code. Hang in there - you're almost done with this nightmare!

I've been in your exact shoes with an amended return! The 846 code with 4/10 date is absolutely reliable - that's when the IRS has officially scheduled your refund for disbursement. I know it's hard to trust after being jerked around, but that code means they've completed all their review processes and your money is locked and loaded for that date. I actually set a calendar reminder for 6am on my 846 date last year and watched my bank account like a hawk - the deposit hit at 5:52am exactly as predicted. The transcript is pulling from their internal processing system while WMR is just a dumbed-down public interface that barely works. Your refund is coming on 4/10, and you can finally stop worrying about it!

I'm still confused about one thing - if I do a Roth conversion in September 2025, should I pay the ENTIRE estimated tax on that amount with my third quarter estimated tax payment? Or should I split it between Q3 and Q4 payments?

Great question about the timing! I went through this exact scenario last year when I did a $30k Roth conversion in August. The key insight is that you're not penalized for "missing" estimated payments on income that hadn't occurred yet. So if you convert in September, you only need to account for that income in your Q3 and Q4 estimated payments. Here's what I did: I calculated my Q3 estimated payment to include the conversion income (since it happened in Q3), then made sure my Q4 payment covered the remaining amount based on my total projected tax liability for the year. One tip that really helped me - I used the "annualized income installment method" on Form 2210 when I filed. This tells the IRS exactly when your income came in during the year and prevents any underpayment penalties for the earlier quarters. The IRS actually expects uneven income throughout the year (that's why they have these provisions), so don't stress too much about the timing as long as you handle the remaining payments correctly!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding how summer funding might be handled differently. Many grad programs have different funding structures for summer months - sometimes it's research assistant wages (W-2), sometimes it's fellowship money (1099 or no form at all), and sometimes students are on their own to find funding. I learned this the hard way when my summer research stipend was processed as a fellowship rather than wages, which meant no taxes were withheld at all. I ended up with a surprise tax bill the following year because I wasn't prepared for the different treatment. If your son's program has summer funding, I'd recommend asking the graduate program coordinator or financial aid office specifically how summer stipends are classified and reported. This way you can plan ahead for any potential tax differences rather than being caught off guard later. Some students end up needing to make quarterly estimated payments during summer months if taxes aren't being withheld from fellowship-type funding. Also, international students have completely different tax rules that can be even more complex, but I'm assuming your son is a US citizen/resident based on your post. Just wanted to mention it in case it's relevant for anyone else reading this thread!

As someone who's been through this maze myself, I can confirm that the tuition waiver portion should indeed be tax-free since your son is working as a research assistant! The key thing that saved me a lot of headaches was getting everything in writing from the university early on. I'd recommend having your son request a formal letter from the graduate school or financial aid office that breaks down exactly how his funding package is structured - specifically stating the tuition waiver amount and confirming his status as a research assistant. This documentation becomes invaluable if there are ever any questions down the road. Also, since he's in a 5-year program, it's worth noting that some universities change their internal systems or reporting methods over time. I had friends whose funding was reported differently in year 3 versus year 1 of the same program, not because the actual tax treatment changed, but because the university switched payroll systems. Having that baseline documentation helps ensure consistency. One last tip - if your son plans to do any conference presentations or publish research, keep track of any related expenses not covered by the university. These can sometimes be deductible as unreimbursed employee expenses, though the rules changed somewhat with recent tax law updates. Good luck navigating this - you're asking all the right questions!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Mailed my paper return on March 10th and it's been stuck in USPS "In Transit" limbo for about 2 weeks now. I'm expecting a $2,800 refund and like everyone else here, the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool shows absolutely nothing. Finding this thread has been such a relief - I was starting to panic thinking I was the only one dealing with this mess! The 6-week rule that @Dylan Mitchell mentioned seems to be the standard advice, and @Louisa Ramirez's explanation about processing backlogs really puts things in perspective. I had no idea this was such a common issue during busy filing season. I'm definitely going to contact USPS first to get official documentation about the tracking status, and I'm seriously considering trying Claimyr once I hit that 6-week threshold. The testimonials here are really compelling - especially @Connor O'Reilly's complete change from skeptic to advocate after actually using it. I've already wasted countless hours trying to get through to the IRS with zero success. This whole experience is absolutely converting me to e-filing next year! The uncertainty and stress of paper filing just isn't worth it when there are faster, more reliable digital options available. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's exactly what people like us need to hear to stay sane during this waiting nightmare!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and it's such a relief to find this thread! Mailed my paper return on March 6th and it's been stuck showing "In Transit" on USPS tracking for about 2 weeks now. I'm expecting a $2,100 refund and the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool shows absolutely nothing - not even that they've received it. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had no idea this was such a widespread problem during filing season! The 6-week rule that @Dylan Mitchell mentioned seems to be the consensus, and @Louisa Ramirez's explanation about processing backlogs even after returns are received really helps calm my nerves. I was convinced my return was lost forever in the mail. I'm going to follow the advice here about contacting USPS first for official documentation, and I'm definitely bookmarking Claimyr for when I hit that 6-week mark. The success stories throughout this thread are really convincing - especially @Connor O'Reilly's complete transformation from skeptic to believer after actually trying it. I've already spent probably 6+ hours this week alone on hold with the IRS getting absolutely nowhere. Like everyone else here, this is absolutely my last time filing on paper! The stress and uncertainty of not knowing if your return even made it to the IRS just isn't worth it when e-filing is so much faster and more reliable. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - finding this community has been a huge lifesaver during this stressful waiting period!