One option nobody's mentioned yet is TaxHawk - it's basically the same company as FreeTaxUSA but with a slightly different interface. Federal is free and state is $14.99 just like FreeTaxUSA. I've used it for 3 years with multiple 1099s and Schedule C. I like that they don't constantly try to upsell you on stuff you don't need. The interface is basic but gets the job done, and their help content is actually really clear for self-employment questions.

Watch out for the Free File income limits! I got burned last year thinking I qualified but my AGI was like $200 over the limit and ended up having to pay. The 2024 filing limit should be around $73k but check the IRS site to be sure. Also, if you go with FreeTaxUSA, search for coupons! I found a 25% off code that brought the state filing down to about $11. Every little bit helps when you're on a tight budget.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that if you paid through Direct Pay, you can actually look up your payment confirmation online at IRS.gov/payments even if you don't remember your confirmation number. You just need your SSN, payment amount, and the date you made the payment. I found my confirmation there and it showed that my payment was processed but somehow got applied to the wrong form type (they put it toward estimated taxes instead of my 1040 balance due). The confirmation page actually has a "Print" option that gives you an official-looking document with all the payment details that you can include with your response. One thing I learned from calling (after waiting 2 hours) is that if you respond in writing to the CP14, they're supposed to put a hold on any collection activity while they investigate. The agent told me to write "PAYMENT INQUIRY" at the top of my response letter in big letters so it gets routed to the right department faster. Also, if you're really stuck and the online account doesn't show your payment, try calling the automated payment line at 1-888-353-4537. You can check if your payment was processed without having to wait for a human agent.

This is incredibly stressful but you're definitely not alone in dealing with this! Based on all the great advice here, I'd recommend a multi-pronged approach to get this resolved quickly. First, definitely create that online account at IRS.gov if you haven't already - you might be able to see exactly where your payment ended up. Sometimes it's as simple as it being applied to the wrong tax year or form type. Second, gather ALL your documentation now - bank statement showing the withdrawal, any confirmation emails or numbers, screenshots of your online banking, everything. Make copies (never send originals) and respond to that CP14 notice in writing within their deadline. Write "PAYMENT INQUIRY" at the top like Mateo suggested. Third, try that automated payment line at 1-888-353-4537 to verify your payment was processed before trying to reach a human agent. The most important thing is to respond within their timeframe even if it's just to say "I already paid, here's my proof" - this should put a hold on any collection activity while they investigate. I know it's frustrating when you KNOW you paid, but based on everyone's experiences here, this does get resolved once they locate your payment in their system. The IRS processing systems clearly have issues matching payments correctly, especially around filing deadlines. Hang in there!

That's fantastic news about finally getting your 846 code! I can totally relate to the stress of waiting months for an amended return to process. Based on my experience and what I've seen others post here, paper checks typically arrive 5-7 business days after the 846 date appears on your transcript. Since yours shows 01-07-2025, you should hopefully see it by this Friday or early next week at the latest. The progression from your 811 "refund freeze removed" on 12-21 to the 846 on 01-07 looks perfect - everything is finally moving through the system properly! And that 776 interest code is awesome - at least you're getting compensated for all the delays. Definitely sign up for USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already so you can track when it's actually coming to your mailbox. Keep us posted when it arrives!

That's such great news about finally getting your 846 code! After all that waiting with the amended return and refund freeze, you must be so relieved. From what I've seen in this community, paper checks typically arrive 5-7 business days after the 846 date shows up on your transcript. Since yours is dated 01-07-2025, you should hopefully see it by this Friday or early next week. The sequence of codes you have looks really promising - that 811 "refund freeze removed" on 12-21 followed by the 846 on 01-07 shows everything is finally processing through the system properly. And getting interest with that 776 code is a nice bonus after all the delays! I'd definitely recommend signing up for USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already - you'll get photos of your mail each morning so you'll know exactly when that check is coming. Fingers crossed it arrives soon! 🤞

Direct deposit to credit union accounts is another option. Many credit unions post ACH deposits early too. Mine consistently posts tax refunds 1 day before the official date. Less fees than prepaid cards. More consumer protections too.

I've been using Chime for my tax refunds for the past 3 years and can confirm they're pretty reliable with early deposits. Usually get mine 1-2 days before the DDD. With your April 18th date, I'd expect to see it around the 16th or 17th if the pattern holds. The key thing to remember is that it depends on when the IRS actually sends the payment - sometimes they batch process earlier in the week, sometimes later. I've found that checking your account first thing in the morning (around 6-7 AM) is when deposits typically show up if they're coming early. Good luck with your first prepaid card experience!

This is exactly why I always tell people to avoid prepaid cards for tax refunds! I work as a tax preparer and see this happen every year. The problem is that prepaid card companies often have undisclosed deposit limits, fraud detection systems that flag large government deposits, or they simply don't want to deal with the liability of holding large amounts. Your GreenDot situation with the $5,000 limit is unfortunately very common - they should absolutely disclose that upfront. The good news is that once the IRS processes the rejection and issues a paper check, it's usually pretty reliable. Keep checking your transcript for the 846 code that others mentioned, and definitely sign up for USPS Informed Delivery so you'll know when it's coming. For next year, even a basic checking account at a credit union will save you all this hassle. Most credit unions have very low or no minimum balance requirements and won't play games with your refund deposits like these prepaid cards do.

Oh man, this exact same thing happened to my sister last year! She used some prepaid card from Walmart and they rejected her $4,200 refund without any warning. She didn't find out for weeks because nobody bothered to tell her. The whole paper check process took forever - I think it was like 6 weeks total. The really frustrating part is these prepaid card companies market themselves as being perfect for tax refunds, but then they have all these hidden limits and restrictions. It's almost like they want to collect the fees but don't actually want to handle the deposits. At least you know what's happening now though! Once that paper check gets issued, it should be pretty reliable. Just keep an eye on your transcript for updates. And yeah, definitely get a real bank account before next tax season - even the most basic checking account will be way better than dealing with prepaid card nonsense again.