Don't forget to check if your state offers tax benefits for education expenses too! I'm in New York and was able to claim a state tax deduction for my tuition payments even after I graduated.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat - graduated in 2022 but still making payments on my undergrad loans through my school's payment plan. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you're keeping detailed records of ALL your payments throughout the year. I use a simple spreadsheet to track the date, amount, and what the payment was for (tuition vs fees vs interest). This made it so much easier when I needed to prove my qualified education expenses. Also, if you're considering the Lifetime Learning Credit vs the tuition and fees deduction, run the numbers both ways. Depending on your tax situation, sometimes the deduction can be more beneficial than the credit, especially if you're in a higher tax bracket. The deduction can reduce up to $4,000 of taxable income, while the LLC maxes out at a $2,000 credit. Good luck with your filing!

Been there, done that. TBH the early refund option is basically a scam IMO. Last yr I had the same issue - DDD was 2/22, TT promised early deposit, nada happened until exactly 2/22. Called TT customer svc and they just read from a script about "banking partners" and "processing times." This yr I skipped the early option and just had my refund direct deposited - got it exactly on my DDD date. Save ur $$ next time and don't fall for the early deposit hype!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed through TurboTax on 2/1, got accepted same day, and have a 2/24 DDD but their 5-day early option completely failed. What's really annoying is that I specifically paid extra for this feature based on their marketing promises. I've been checking my account obsessively since Monday thinking maybe it would show up, but nothing yet. Called my bank (Chase) and they confirmed no pending deposits. The frustrating part is TurboTax's website just shows "Your refund is being processed" with no real timeline or explanation for why the early deposit didn't work. Has anyone with a 2/24 DDD actually received their deposit yet today? I'm trying to figure out if this is a widespread delay or if some people are getting theirs on schedule. Really hoping it shows up by tomorrow morning since that's the actual DDD date, but this whole experience has me questioning whether I'll use TurboTax again next year.

I have been in tax hell for MONTHS trying to get my refund from last year. my transcript made no sense to me with all those random codes. I was about to give up when someone told me about taxr.ai. uploaded my transcript and it explained everything perfectly. turns out i had a simple issue that was easy to fix once i knew what was happening. definitely check it out if youre still having issues.

I've been through this exact same situation multiple times! Republic Bank typically takes 3-5 business days once they send the funds to your bank, which sounds like exactly what you're experiencing. Since they sent it on 3/15 (which was a Friday), you're looking at Monday 3/18, Tuesday 3/19, Wednesday 3/20 as your business days. Many banks process ACH deposits overnight, so definitely check your account first thing in the morning - sometimes they show up between 12am-6am. If it's not there by end of business today, I'd call your bank tomorrow to see if there's a pending deposit they can see on their end. The timing you're experiencing is totally normal, even though the stress is real when you're counting on that money!

Be SUPER careful with ERTC claims right now! The IRS has been cracking down hard on what they consider "improper" claims. My business partner's company had their claim audited and they're now fighting penalties. Make sure you're actually eligible and have solid documentation.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - filed my ERTC claim in February and it's been radio silence from the IRS ever since. The uncertainty is killing me because my business really needs that cash flow. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the 6-9 month timeline that Luca mentioned is pretty accurate, which means I've still got several months to go. The lack of communication from the IRS is the worst part - you have no idea if your paperwork is sitting in a pile somewhere or if there's an issue that needs to be resolved. I'm definitely going to look into some of these tools people mentioned for getting status updates. At this point I just want to know that my claim is actually being processed and hasn't disappeared into the bureaucratic void. Has anyone else tried calling the IRS directly or is that just a waste of time?

Has anyone tried just asking for a copy of their quarterly 941 form? That's what employers use to report wages and taxes to the IRS each quarter. My previous restaurant manager showed me mine when I had a similar issue. Might be worth asking for that specifically.

One thing that's helped me is creating a simple daily tip log using a notes app on my phone. I record cash tips, credit card tips, and any tip-outs to other staff every single shift. Takes maybe 30 seconds but gives you solid documentation. Also, if your restaurant uses a POS system like Square or Toast, sometimes you can ask to see your individual sales reports that show the credit card tips tied to your transactions. This can help you verify if they're calculating your reported income correctly. Some managers are more willing to show you this data than full payroll reports since it's less sensitive information. The key is catching discrepancies NOW rather than waiting until January when your W-2 arrives. Fixing errors after the fact is a nightmare that can drag on for months.