As someone who's been through this confusion myself, I can confirm what everyone has said - you absolutely get $1,500 for EACH spouse over 65. So your calculation of $30,700 total ($27,700 + $1,500 + $1,500) is correct! The IRS really should make this clearer in their publications. I think the confusion comes from the way they phrase it as "additional standard deduction for taxpayers 65 and older" without explicitly stating it's per person on joint returns. But yes, each qualifying spouse gets their own additional amount. One tip: if you're using tax software, double-check that it calculated this correctly. Most do it automatically when you enter birth dates, but it's worth verifying the final numbers match what you expect. And as others mentioned, definitely review your prior year returns to make sure you didn't miss out on claiming the full amount you were entitled to.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm 66 and my husband is 68, and we've been filing jointly for years but I honestly wasn't sure if we were getting the full senior deduction we're entitled to. Reading through everyone's explanations really clarifies that we should be getting $30,700 total ($27,700 base + $1,500 for me + $1,500 for him). I'm definitely going to go back and check our last couple years' returns now. It sounds like a lot of people have discovered they weren't claiming the full amount they qualified for. Better late than never to figure this out! One thing I'm curious about - when does the "65 or older" qualification kick in exactly? Is it based on your age on December 31st of the tax year, or does it matter when during the year you turned 65?

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! SBTPG showed my refund as funded on 2/22/25 with a tracking number, and I've been checking my Cash App every few hours like it's going to magically appear. Reading through these responses is really reassuring - sounds like the 1-3 business day window is pretty standard. I'm definitely going to check my Activity tab in Cash App like Zainab mentioned, since I hadn't thought to look there. Really hoping it shows up by tomorrow since I need to pay some bills. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines!

I've been through this exact process multiple times over the past few years, and the SBTPG to Cash App timeline is pretty predictable once you understand the workflow. Since your funding date is 2/24/25, you're looking at Tuesday 2/25 or Wednesday 2/26 for the deposit to hit your Cash App. The tracking number confirms SBTPG has successfully transmitted the funds via ACH transfer. One thing I learned the hard way - Cash App sometimes processes these deposits overnight, so check first thing in the morning rather than constantly refreshing during business hours. Also, make sure your Cash App notifications are turned on because you'll get an instant alert when it posts. The home improvement projects sound exciting! My husband and I used our refund for kitchen renovations last year and it was totally worth the wait.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got my 5071C letter two weeks ago and have been losing sleep over it. Reading everyone's real experiences here is way more helpful than the generic IRS timelines. Quick question for those who've been through this - after you verified online, did you get any confirmation email or notice that it went through successfully? I completed the ID.me process but I'm paranoid I missed something. The website just said "verification complete" but I didn't get any follow-up documentation. Also seeing a lot of mentions about checking transcripts - is there a specific transcript type I should be looking at? I've never accessed mine before but sounds like it's crucial for tracking actual progress vs the useless WMR updates. Really hoping I can get on one of those faster timelines like Ava experienced rather than the horror stories of 12+ weeks!

I'm currently going through this same verification process and found this thread incredibly helpful! Got my 5071C letter last week and verified through ID.me on Monday. The real-world timelines you all shared (17-37 days) are so much more realistic than the generic "9 weeks" the IRS keeps throwing around. For anyone else in this boat - I called the IRS helpline yesterday (used the early morning trick, called right at 7am) and they confirmed that ID.me verifications are processing much faster than phone/mail verifications right now. The agent said they're seeing most online verifications clear within 3-4 weeks. Also wanted to add - if you're a student like the OP, definitely reach out to your school's financial aid office about the delay. Most universities have emergency loan programs or payment deferrals for exactly this situation. Mine gave me a 45-day extension when I explained the IRS verification delay, which takes a lot of pressure off while waiting. Checking my transcript daily now and hoping to see that TC 971 code appear soon. This community is a lifesaver for getting real info instead of the IRS runaround!

I've been lurking on this thread for a while and finally decided to jump in because the experiences shared here are so valuable! As someone who's been doing tax prep for about 2.5 years, I was really torn between EA and CPA until reading all these detailed responses. What really convinced me is the combination of factors everyone's mentioned: the specialized focus on tax work (which is what I love most about my job), the faster timeline to completion, and especially those salary progressions. Seeing multiple people go from the $50-60K range to $80-90K+ within a couple years of getting their EA is exactly the kind of career advancement I'm looking for. I'm particularly intrigued by the networking and referral opportunities that @a72b2d1c1916 mentioned. Moving beyond just return preparation to handling complex representation cases sounds like it would make the work much more engaging and rewarding. Based on everything I've read here, I'm planning to start with the free IRS study materials and aim to complete Part 1 within the next 2 months. The consistent advice to start there given my individual tax background makes perfect sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their journeys - this thread has been more helpful than any career counseling I've received! It's amazing how much real-world insight you can get from people who've actually walked this path.

I've been working in tax prep for about 18 months and this entire thread has been absolutely eye-opening! As someone relatively new to the field, I was feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out the best path for career advancement, but the detailed experiences everyone has shared here have really clarified things for me. What stands out most is how consistently everyone emphasizes that the EA is perfect for tax-focused careers. The salary progressions are impressive - seeing people go from the $50-60K range to $80-90K+ within just a few years of getting their EA shows there's real financial benefit to pursuing this credential. I'm particularly motivated by the timeline discussions. Knowing that it's possible to complete all three parts in 3-6 months while working full-time makes this feel achievable rather than overwhelming. The advice to start with Part 1 (Individual) makes perfect sense given my current experience level. The point about unlimited practice rights across all states is something I hadn't considered but could be huge for future opportunities. And the networking aspects that @a72b2d1c1916 mentioned - getting referrals through EA professional networks - sounds like it could really help build a practice over time. Based on everything I've read here, I'm convinced the EA is the right first step for my career goals. Planning to start with the free IRS study materials and aim to take Part 1 within the next 3 months. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences - this has been incredibly valuable for someone just starting to map out their career path!

Has anyone used TurboTax or similar software to handle these loss carryovers from closed businesses? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if the mainstream tax software can correctly handle these situations or if it's worth paying a CPA one last time.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with closed business entities, I'd strongly recommend getting professional help one more time to ensure you handle these carryovers correctly. The rules around passive loss disposition and QBI carryforwards can be tricky, and making mistakes could cost you significant tax benefits or trigger an audit. If you're determined to DIY, make sure you have all your prior year tax documents showing the original sources of these losses. You'll need to trace back to the Forms 8582, 8582-CR, and Form 8995-A from previous years to properly calculate what becomes deductible versus what carries forward. The passive losses should indeed become fully deductible in the year of complete disposition, but you'll need to prove the businesses were completely closed and disposed of. Keep documentation like final bank statements showing zero balances, state dissolution certificates, and any asset sale records. For the QBI loss carryforward, unfortunately that's likely going to remain unused unless you generate qualifying business income in the future. There's no mechanism to convert unused QBI losses to ordinary deductions when you permanently exit business activities.