I'm dealing with this same situation right now! Got my 826 code last week followed by the 971, and like everyone else here, I've been anxiously waiting for that 846 to show up. What's really helpful about this thread is seeing the actual timelines people experienced - it ranges from 8 days to 3 weeks, but most seem to fall in that 7-14 day window that @Ali Anderson mentioned. I have an old balance from 2022 when I miscalculated my quarterly payments as a freelancer, so I knew an offset was coming but didn't really understand the process. The hardest part is that "Where's My Refund" just shows generic status messages that don't really tell you what's happening with offsets. At least now I know those codes actually mean the system is working through everything properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much better than just wondering and worrying!

I went through this exact same situation last year! Had my 826 and 971 codes appear within a day of each other, just like you're describing. I also had a prior year balance from a retirement withdrawal (roof repair too, actually - what are the odds!). The waiting period between seeing those codes and getting the 846 was absolutely nerve-wracking. Mine took exactly 12 days from the 826 code to finally seeing the 846 appear on my transcript. What helped me stay sane during the wait was understanding that the 826 code means they've already calculated and applied the offset - so the hard part is actually done. The remaining time is just administrative processing. One thing I learned that might help: the notice you'll receive (triggered by that 971 code) will break down exactly how much went to your debt versus how much you'll get back. In my case, they took about 60% for my prior balance and I got the other 40% deposited about 4 days after the 846 appeared. You're still early in the process at 5 days, so try not to stress too much. The system is working exactly as it should!

I might be in the minority, but I actually think the current system makes some economic sense. Interest is basically guaranteed income - you're not taking any real risk with your principal. Capital gains require taking actual risk - your investment could go down in value. The tax code incentivizes risk-taking that can lead to economic growth. When you buy stocks, you're providing capital to businesses that can use it to expand, create jobs, and innovate. Bank deposits, while useful for liquidity in the banking system, don't have the same direct effect on economic productivity. That said, I do think there should be some consideration for small savers, maybe some kind of interest income exemption for the first few thousand dollars.

The tax treatment difference really comes down to risk and economic policy goals. Interest income is essentially "rental income" for your money - the bank pays you a guaranteed rate to use your funds, similar to how a tenant pays rent to use your property. There's virtually no risk of loss, so it's treated like regular income. Capital gains represent appreciation from risk-taking in productive assets. The preferential rate exists partly because: 1) It encourages long-term investment in businesses 2) It accounts for inflation eroding real returns over time 3) It compensates for the liquidity risk of locking up capital However, I do think the system could be more nuanced. Many countries have tiered systems where smaller amounts of interest income get preferential treatment, recognizing that basic savers shouldn't be penalized. A first $1,000-2,000 of annual interest income taxed at capital gains rates might balance the competing policy goals while helping typical savers. The current system works well for encouraging investment, but it does create some unfair outcomes for people who legitimately need safe, liquid savings for short-term goals.

One important thing nobody mentioned - make sure you're looking at the correct IP PIN for the current tax year! The IRS issues new IP PINs every year, so don't use last year's PIN for this year's return. This is a common mistake people make.

I went through this exact same situation last year with H&R Block desktop and my first IP PIN! I was so nervous about messing something up, but it actually went much smoother than I expected. The key thing is to have your IP PIN letter handy when you're ready to e-file. H&R Block will walk you through it step by step - first the AGI verification, then later it will specifically ask if you have an IP PIN and where to enter it. Don't try to enter it anywhere else in the software, just wait for the prompt. One tip: double-check that you're using the current year's PIN (the one you should have received in January 2025 for your 2024 return). And if for some reason your return gets rejected, don't panic - it's usually just a typo in the PIN entry and you can fix it and resubmit. The IP PIN actually makes your return more secure, so you're doing the right thing by keeping it active. Good luck with your filing!

Anyone else notice that TaxSlayer seems really buggy this year compared to previous years? I switched to FreeTaxUSA after getting weird errors in TaxSlayer that their support couldn't even explain. Their customer service wait times were over 2 hours when I tried calling!

I'm glad you got it sorted out! This is actually a pretty common issue with tax software - they're designed to be overly cautious and flag anything that might indicate missing information. The education credit section is notorious for this kind of confusion. Just to add some context for anyone else reading this thread: most tax software will let you claim education expenses for yourself through either the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC). The AOTC is generally better if you're in your first four years of college, while the LLC works for any post-secondary education including professional development courses. Make sure you have your Form 1098-T from your school if you're claiming tuition expenses, and keep receipts for any books or supplies you're claiming. The software should walk you through which credit gives you the bigger benefit once you enter all your information correctly.

This has been such an amazing thread to follow! As someone who's also in that post-grad transition phase, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such practical, real-world advice. What really stands out to me is how this seemingly simple question about addresses opened up so many important considerations that honestly never would have occurred to me. The stories about W-2s getting lost, the electronic delivery options, the mail forwarding backup plan - these are exactly the kinds of "adulting" tips that make such a huge difference but nobody teaches you. I love how supportive this community has been for helping navigate these challenges. Reading through everyone's experiences has made me feel so much less alone in trying to figure out all this post-graduation complexity. It's clear that pretty much everyone goes through this same confusion, which is oddly comforting! The consensus around "reliability over everything" when it comes to tax documents makes total sense after hearing all these real experiences. Better to play it safe with a stable address than deal with the headache of chasing down lost paperwork during tax season. @Abigail Spencer - you definitely asked the right question at the right time! This discussion is going to help so many people beyond just your situation. Thanks for being brave enough to ask what we were all wondering about. Good luck with your new job! 🎉

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who just accepted my first full-time position after graduation, I was literally about to Google this exact same question before stumbling across this discussion. The collective wisdom here is amazing - I love how everyone emphasized the "reliability over everything" approach. After reading about all the potential complications with W-2s getting lost or sent to wrong addresses, I'm definitely convinced that using my parents' address is the smart move while I'm still figuring out my long-term living situation. The electronic W-2 revelation has been huge for me too! I had no clue this was becoming so standard. It's going straight to the top of my HR questions list for orientation next week. One thing I really appreciate about this community is how everyone shared their actual mistakes and lessons learned, not just theoretical advice. @Liam Mendez's story about chasing down his W-2 was exactly the kind of real-world example that helps put everything in perspective. @Abigail Spencer - thanks for asking the question we were all thinking! Your timing was perfect since so many of us are going through this exact transition right now. This discussion is going to save so many people from potential headaches down the road. It's so reassuring to know we're all navigating this "adulting" journey together and learning from each other's experiences. This community really is the best! 🙌