I've researched this extensively and here's what I found about H&R Block refund advance timing: • Instant approvals: About 15% of applicants (typically high credit scores, simple returns) • Same-day (2-8 hours): About 40% of applicants • Next-day (24 hours): About 30% of applicants • Extended review (48-72 hours): About 15% of applicants Factors affecting timing include: • Time of day you apply (applications after 3pm often process the next business day) • System volume (Mondays and Fridays are slowest) • Complexity of your tax situation • Credit history factors The MetaBank system also batches applications, so sometimes you're just waiting for the next batch to process.

I got denied after waiting 3 full days! Kept checking my email constantly. The worst part was they didn't even tell me why I was denied. My credit score is 680 and I had a $3,200 refund coming. Has anyone successfully appealed a denial? Is that even possible? What about applying for the advance again?

I was very cautious about saying this would get better, but in my case, I had to verify for 2021 and 2022 taxes, then surprisingly didn't have to for 2023. I think the IRS updates their verification algorithms regularly, so being flagged two years in a row doesn't necessarily mean it's your permanent tax fate.

Here's what worked for me after 3 years of verification: Step 1: Create an ID.me account before filing Step 2: Verify your identity proactively through ID.me Step 3: Link this to your IRS online account Step 4: File your taxes after completing this process Since doing this, I haven't had to go through the verification process again. It's like pre-verifying yourself before the IRS asks you to.

I'm in the same boat right now. CNC status since late 2022 but they took my entire refund last year. If you're counting on that money, don't. Adjust your withholding instead so you break even. That way they can't take what you don't get as a refund. I learned this the hard way when I needed that money for car repairs.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 5.19.17.2, "The offset of refunds to pay tax liabilities is not prohibited while a taxpayer is in CNC status." I went through this myself. I was placed in CNC status in 2022, filed my return in February 2023, and my entire $2,800 refund was applied to my outstanding tax debt. The IRS considers refund offsets as passive collection actions that are separate from the active collection actions prohibited by CNC status. I understand how frustrating this can be when you're already in financial hardship.

According to IRS Publication 525, "Taxable and Nontaxable Income," there is no statutory maximum for miscellaneous income reporting. However, consulting services of $8,500 as you mentioned would be classified as self-employment income per IRC § 1402(a) and must be reported on Schedule C. This triggers self-employment tax obligations under IRC § 1401 at a rate of 15.3% (12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare). The classification distinction is not about amount limitations but about the nature of the income. The threshold for receiving a 1099-NEC is $600, but your obligation to report and properly classify exists regardless of whether you received a form.

I feel your pain about wanting to avoid amendments! 😫 Just to add some clarity - if you're doing consulting work, you'll want to keep track of ALL your related expenses too. Home office (if you qualify), supplies, software subscriptions, professional development, mileage for business travel, etc. These can offset that self-employment income and reduce both your income tax and self-employment tax. Don't worry about a specific "maximum" - just make sure you're putting everything in the right category and documenting your deductions well.

I had almost the exact same situation but found a solution! Filed Jan 28th, rejected Feb 1st, refiled Feb 2nd. After 10 days of nothing, I contacted my tax preparer who suggested I check my return for common errors. Did you verify that your AGI from last year matches exactly what the IRS has on file? Did you double-check that your names match your social security cards exactly? What about your bank account info for direct deposit?

I'm probably just being paranoid, but I waited about 14 days for acceptance after resubmitting my rejected return. It seems like the IRS might be doing somewhat more thorough checks on resubmitted returns, especially for newly married couples filing jointly for the first time. There's possibly a verification process that happens behind the scenes that we don't see. In my case, everything worked out fine eventually, though the waiting was definitely stressful.

Try checking transcript at night. IRS systems update overnight. Different databases. WMR updates first. Transcript updates later. Normal process. Check account transcript. Not return transcript. Different information. Be patient. Peak filing season creates delays. Independent contractors often face additional verification. Nothing to worry about yet.

Last year I had the same thing happen - accepted February 12th, WMR said processing, but transcript showed nothing for weeks. I kept checking daily and driving myself crazy! Then I learned about cycle codes and processing patterns. Turns out my return got stuck in the identity verification queue even though I never got a letter. When I finally called on day 35, they asked me to verify my identity and then processed my return within 48 hours. The lesson I learned is that sometimes there ARE issues that need addressing but the IRS notification system doesn't always work properly.

Let's be clear - the PATH Act isn't some conspiracy. It was a bipartisan bill that made permanent several tax provisions while adding fraud prevention measures. The IRS processes over 150 million returns annually, and fraud in EITC/ACTC claims alone costs billions. The February 15th hold gives them time to match W-2 data with claimed credits. For investors, it's actually beneficial because it helps maintain the integrity of the tax system overall.

According to Internal Revenue Code §6402(m), as established by the PATH Act amendments, the IRS is prohibited from issuing refunds before February 15th for returns claiming EITC or ACTC. However, there is an alternative processing pathway for taxpayers with investment income who don't claim these credits. Have you considered filing Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) if only one spouse qualifies for the credits? This might allow partial refund processing outside the PATH Act restrictions.

According to the IRS.gov website FAQ section (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions), when a direct deposit is rejected, the standard timeframe is 4-6 weeks for a paper check to be issued. However, I've seen reports on r/IRS and other forums suggesting it can sometimes be faster (3 weeks) or slower (8+ weeks) depending on the time of year and current IRS workload. I'd suggest checking your tax transcript online if you have access - it will sometimes show a code indicating the refund has been reissued before the Where's My Refund tool updates.

I might be able to share my experience from just a few months ago, if that helps. I had a similar situation where my refund went to my old credit union account that I had closed. It took what seemed like forever - maybe about 6 weeks or so? - before I finally received my paper check. And that was after I spent probably, I don't know, 3 or 4 hours trying to get through to someone at the IRS to confirm they had my correct address. The system seems really inefficient, but I guess they have to process thousands of these situations.

Just a word of caution from someone who's been through this: make sure you're checking the official state website for your refund status. According to the IRS.gov site, there are several scam websites that mimic state tax department sites and try to collect your personal information. For Arizona specifically, you'll want to use https://www.aztaxes.gov and look for their "Where's My Refund" tool. You'll need your SSN, filing status, and refund amount to check. Also, be aware that many state systems only update once per day (usually overnight), so checking multiple times per day won't show different results. This is different from the federal system which can sometimes update throughout the day.

I actually just went through this exact PATH Act situation and got my refund last week! Filed January 18th, transcript showed nothing until February 21st, then suddenly everything updated at once. My refund was deposited exactly 8 days after my transcript updated. My state (California) processed completely separately and actually came through about 10 days before my federal refund. The systems are totally independent - I had to check two different websites to track each one. Have you checked your state tax agency's website yet? They should have their own tracker similar to the IRS Where's My Refund tool.

H&R Block takes their fees from federal returns. They do this because federal returns are usually larger and processed through their central system. State returns are handled differently and they avoid taking fees from them unless absolutely necessary. If you're concerned about this, you can always ask them directly before completing your filing. They should be able to tell you exactly how the fees will be handled in your specific case.

Most of us here have found that H&R Block takes fees from federal refunds, not state. In my 7 years using them, they've always taken exactly $139.99 from my federal return and left my state refund untouched. The consensus seems to be that this is their standard practice, though as others have mentioned, there might be exceptions if your federal refund is delayed or too small to cover their fees. The smartest approach is to just ask them directly when you're filing - they'll tell you exactly which refund will be affected.