Has anyone tried filing a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) about SBTPG? I just submitted one yesterday after getting nowhere with SBTPG for 9 weeks. They're legally required to respond to CFPB complaints within 15 days.

This is exactly what happened to me! I've been dealing with SBTPG holding my $2,400 refund since March. They keep saying they returned it to the IRS, but when I finally got through to an IRS agent (after waiting 3 hours on hold), they confirmed there's no record of SBTPG returning anything. What really got me was when I asked SBTPG for proof they returned my refund - like a transaction ID or confirmation number - they couldn't provide any documentation. Just kept repeating the same script about "processing delays" and "10-12 weeks." I'm definitely going to try filing that CFPB complaint and the Form 3911 refund trace. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops when they're clearly just sitting on our money. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is happening to tons of people!

My small business return was accepted on January 29th, 2024. Transcript updated with 570 code on February 12th. Then showed 571 code on February 19th. Got 846 code on February 23rd with February 28th deposit date. But the money hit my account on February 23rd - same day as the transcript update! Just like yours! My WMR still shows processing even though I already have the money. This is definitely a new pattern for 2024 filing season.

This is really encouraging to hear! I filed my LLC return on 2/3 and have been anxiously waiting since my transcript still shows "N/A" for 2024. Based on your timeline and what others are sharing, it sounds like the IRS might actually be processing business returns much more efficiently this year. The fact that your deposit hit the same day as the transcript update is incredible - that never happened in previous years. I'm going to stop obsessing over WMR and just wait for my transcript to update. Thanks for sharing the detailed timeline, it really helps set expectations for those of us still waiting!

Just a heads up - even if you made under $2,500, you still need to report that income! Some people think there's a minimum threshold where you don't need to report income, but that's not true for W-2 income.

I went through something similar with a restaurant job a couple years back. One thing that really helped was checking if they had deposited any tax withholdings on my behalf. Even though you made under $2,500, if they withheld federal or state taxes from your paychecks, you'll want to make sure you get credit for those withholdings when you file. Look at your pay stubs to see if there were any deductions for federal income tax, Social Security, or Medicare. If there were, you're definitely entitled to get that money back as a refund, but you'll need either the W-2 or to file Form 4852 to claim it. Also, don't forget that as a server, you probably had tip income that should be reported too. The restaurant should include your reported tips on the W-2, but if you consistently under-reported tips during the year, you might need to account for that separately on your return.

This exact same thing happened to me when I got promoted from $52K to $68K in September last year! I was so confused and worried that I had done something wrong with my taxes. What really helped me understand it was thinking about it this way: for the first 8 months of the year, your employer was withholding taxes as if you'd make $47K all year. Then suddenly in August, they started withholding as if you'd make $62K all year. But the reality is you made something in between those two amounts for 2025 as a whole. The withholding tables just can't perfectly predict this kind of mid-year change. Your situation is actually pretty common - I'd say owing around $800-900 after a $15K raise is totally reasonable and shows your withholding wasn't too far off. One thing that gave me peace of mind was realizing that owing a moderate amount like this is actually better than getting a huge refund, since it means you kept more of your money in your own pocket throughout the year instead of giving the IRS an interest-free loan. Definitely update that W-4 though! I used the IRS calculator and it was pretty straightforward. Now that you're settled into your new salary, next year should be much more predictable.

Hey CyberSamurai! First off, congratulations on the raise - that's awesome! And don't worry, you're definitely not alone in this situation. What you're experiencing is incredibly common and you didn't do anything wrong. Here's what happened: When you got your raise in August, your employer's payroll system started withholding taxes based on your new $62K salary, but it doesn't know or adjust for the fact that you were making less money earlier in the year. So for January through July, taxes were being withheld as if you'd make $47K all year, and then August onwards, it switched to withholding as if you'd make $62K all year. The reality is your actual annual income for 2025 fell somewhere in between. The jump from getting a $1,200 refund to owing $840 might seem dramatic, but it actually shows that your total tax withholding was pretty close to what you actually owed - just slightly under. In some ways, this is better than getting a huge refund, since you kept more of your own money throughout the year instead of giving the government an interest-free loan. Moving forward, definitely update your W-4 now that you're settled into your new salary. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on their website is really helpful for figuring out the right settings. Since your income is now consistent at the higher level, next year should be much more predictable. You've got this! $840 is manageable, and if you need to, the IRS offers payment plans with reasonable terms.

Has anyone used TurboTax for reporting a big capital gain like this? I'm worried it won't handle all the nuances correctly and I'll miss deductions.

With a $2 million profit on this scale, you definitely need professional help. I'd strongly recommend getting both a tax attorney and a CPA who specialize in real estate transactions to review your situation before you sell. A few things to consider beyond what's already been mentioned: 1. **Dealer vs. Investor Status**: Since you built this specifically to sell, the IRS might classify you as a dealer rather than an investor. This would mean your profits get hit with ordinary income tax rates (up to 37%) plus self-employment tax, rather than the lower capital gains rates. 2. **State Taxes**: Don't forget about state capital gains taxes if you're in a state that has them. Some states have no capital gains tax, while others treat it as ordinary income. 3. **Estimated Taxes**: With a gain this large, you'll likely need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. 4. **Timing**: Consider the timing of your sale. If you're already in a high-income year, it might make sense to delay the sale to the following year to manage your overall tax bracket. The potential tax bill on $2 million could easily be $500K+ depending on your situation, so spending a few thousand on proper professional advice is a no-brainer. Don't try to navigate this alone with software or generic advice.