Did you claim EIC or CTC? Those usually trigger extra review

EIC claims definitely trigger additional review periods - it's one of the most common reasons for that "Action Required" status. The IRS has to verify income eligibility and dependent information for earned income credit, which can add 2-4 weeks to processing time. Since you mentioned claiming EIC, this is almost certainly just their standard verification process. The good news is that EIC reviews are routine and usually resolve without any action needed from you. Just keep an eye on your mailbox for the next few weeks, but most EIC reviews clear automatically once they verify your information matches their records.

Another option you could consider is FreeTaxUSA. I've used it for years with my self-employment income. They charge nothing for federal filing (even with Schedule C) and only $15 for state. Saved me a ton compared to TurboTax's $160+ pricing.

I do taxes for several barbers and I'll tell you what I tell them - if you're getting a 1099-NEC, you NEED the self-employed version of whatever tax software you choose. Here's why: 1) You have to file Schedule C to report your income properly 2) You're missing out on THOUSANDS in deductions if you don't track business expenses 3) You have self-employment tax to calculate (extra 15.3% on your profits) Most barbers I work with can deduct: - Chair rental - Supplies (clippers, scissors, products) - Continuing education - Uniforms/work clothes - Business percentage of phone - Mileage if you travel between locations Don't cheap out on the software and miss these deductions!

Just to add my two cents as someone who went through this exact situation - you're totally fine transferring money between you and your spouse if you're both resident aliens with green cards. The unlimited marital deduction applies to you. Here's where people get confused: there are different rules for: 1) US citizens (unlimited gifts to spouse) 2) Resident aliens with green cards (treated like citizens, unlimited gifts to spouse) 3) Non-citizen spouses (annual exclusion of $175,000 in 2024) Since you said you both have green cards, you fall into category 2, and can gift unlimited amounts to each other without tax consequences.

Remember that you should still keep good records of large transfers between spouses, even though they're not taxable. My tax preparer told me this after I gifted my wife (both resident aliens) about $45,000 last year. While the gift itself isn't taxable, having documentation of the transfer is important in case you ever get questioned about the source of funds or if you're audited for some other reason. A simple record showing the transfer was a gift between spouses can save headaches later.

I'm in the exact same boat - gig worker, weekly transcript cycle, and just saw my transcript update today with no DDD yet. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring! It sounds like there's a decent chance we could see our deposits before next Friday's transcript update. I'm definitely going to start checking my bank account daily now instead of just obsessing over the transcript. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful during tax season stress!

I went through this exact same situation last year! I was also a gig worker on the weekly cycle and my transcript updated on a Thursday with no DDD. I was so worried I'd have to wait another full week, but my refund actually hit my account that Tuesday - three days before my next transcript update. The IRS agent I eventually spoke to explained that their refund processing system runs daily while transcripts only update weekly for most people. My advice: definitely check your bank account every morning, not just your transcript. Also, try the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov since it updates more frequently than transcripts. The waiting is stressful when you're depending on that money for cash flow, but there's a good chance you'll see it before Friday!

Make sure you file your taxes ASAP! My ex's girlfriend tried claiming my kid a few years back, and because she filed before me, her return got accepted first. I had to paper file with documentation proving my case, and it took MONTHS to get resolved. The IRS basically treats it as first-come, first-served until someone contests it. If you have documentation showing your kid lived with you for more than half the year (school records showing your address, medical records, childcare receipts, etc.), keep all of that handy. Also, check your divorce decree - sometimes there's specific language about who can claim the child in which years that can help your case.

Make sure that if you do agree to let her boyfriend claim the child (which it sounds like you shouldn't), you DO NOT also claim the same child on your return. If two people claim the same dependent, it triggers automatic flags in the IRS system. When my brother and his ex both claimed their son one year (miscommunication), they both got audited, both returns were held up for 8+ months, and they had to provide extensive documentation. Both ended up getting hit with penalties even though it was unintentional. Also remember that if the boyfriend improperly claims your child and gets caught, he could be banned from claiming certain tax credits for up to 10 years. Might be worth mentioning that when you explain why he can't claim your kid.