Been through this exact situation myself! The "RETURN NOT PRESENT" message combined with all those blank fields is the IRS's way of saying they have absolutely no record of your 2023 return being filed. The $0 balance isn't actually good news here - it just means there's nothing to calculate since they don't have your return data. Quick action items for you: 1. Log into whatever tax software you used and look for an "e-file history" or "transmission status" section 2. Check your email (including spam) for any IRS acceptance/rejection notifications 3. If you used a tax preparer, contact them immediately for filing confirmation The silver lining is that if you're owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late. But if you owe taxes, interest and penalties have been accumulating since the April deadline. Either way, you'll want to get this sorted ASAP. Most likely scenario is either the return was never transmitted or it was rejected for some reason and you missed the notification. Don't stress too much - this happens to more people than you'd think!

I went through something very similar last year and it was such a relief when I finally figured out what happened! That "RETURN NOT PRESENT" message is definitely the IRS telling you they have zero record of receiving your 2023 return. The confusing part is that some basic info like your filing status might carry over from previous years or other IRS records, which makes it seem like they have some of your data when they actually don't. Here's my suggestion for tracking down what went wrong: 1. If you used tax software, log in and look for an "e-file status" or "transmission history" section - this will show you if the return was actually sent 2. Check all your email folders (especially spam) for IRS acceptance/rejection notices 3. Look at your bank/card statements around when you thought you filed - most tax software charges a fee only after successful transmission In my case, I found out my return had been rejected due to a dependent's SSN being entered incorrectly, but the rejection email went to my spam folder and I never saw it. The IRS was basically waiting for me to fix and resubmit it the whole time! Once I corrected the error and refiled, everything processed normally. Don't panic - this is more common than you think, and it's totally fixable. Just get the correct return submitted as soon as possible!

Has anyone tried Cash App Taxes? I heard they're completely free for both federal AND state. My friend said they got a bigger refund there than TurboTax too?

Just to add another perspective - I've been doing this comparison shopping for years and it's definitely worth it! One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you're entering your information exactly the same way across all platforms. Sometimes a small difference in how you categorize something (like whether certain expenses go in one field vs another) can create artificial differences in your refund calculation. Also, if you do find significant differences between platforms, don't just go with the highest refund automatically. Take a closer look at what's different - sometimes the higher refund comes from a more aggressive interpretation of tax rules that might not hold up if you ever get audited. The sweet spot is finding legitimate deductions you missed, not wishful thinking about what might qualify. Good luck with your comparison shopping! With just W2 income and no major complications, you should have plenty of good free options to choose from.

The 846 code dated 03-13-2024 means your refund was officially issued on that date, but it can take 5-10 business days to actually hit your account depending on your bank. The 766/768 credits dated 04-15 are just IRS accounting entries - they don't affect when you get your money. Since it's been a while since 03-13, I'd definitely call your bank first to see if they received and processed a deposit from "IRS TREAS". Sometimes banks hold IRS deposits for verification or there could have been an issue with your account info. If your bank says no deposit was attempted, then call the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. Your transcript looks normal otherwise - the processing date of 03-25 and all the codes check out for a standard EIC refund. Hang in there! 🤞

I had almost the exact same situation last year! The 846 code with the March date is definitely when your refund was issued, but sometimes there can be delays especially with direct deposits. A few things to check: 1. Make sure your bank routing/account numbers on your return match exactly what's on your bank statements (even one wrong digit will cause issues) 2. Some banks (especially smaller ones or credit unions) can take longer to process IRS deposits 3. If you changed banks recently, the IRS might have sent it to your old account The 766/768 codes dated 04-15 are just how the IRS books the credits - it doesn't mean your refund is delayed until then. That's just their system showing when credits are "officially" applied for accounting purposes. I'd call your bank first thing Monday and ask specifically about any pending deposits from "IRS TREAS 310" or similar. If they say no deposit was attempted, then definitely call the IRS. Sometimes refunds get kicked back and they have to mail a paper check instead, which takes 3-4 weeks. Good luck! The waiting game with refunds is the worst part 😤

They might also ask about prior year returns if there's any discrepancy or if you're dealing with multiple tax years. Sometimes they'll verify your employer name from your W-2 or ask about dependents if you claimed any. Pro tip: have a pen ready to write down reference numbers and the rep's name/ID number - you'll need those if you have to call back later. Good luck getting through! 📞

Been through this recently and can confirm what others are saying. They'll definitely ask for your SSN, full name, date of birth, and address from your most recent return. The AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) from your last filing is a big one - they almost always ask for that. If you're married, they might ask about your spouse's info too. Also bring any notices or letters you've received from the IRS if that's what you're calling about. The whole verification usually takes 3-5 minutes once you actually get through to someone. Just stay calm and speak clearly - the reps are generally pretty patient if you need a second to find something in your paperwork.

Make sure you're setting aside money for taxes regularly! I learned this the hard way. First year as a 1099 bartender I didn't save anything and got hit with a $3800 tax bill I couldn't pay. Ended up on a payment plan with the IRS which added fees and interest. Now I automatically transfer 25% of all my cash into a separate "tax" savings account each time I deposit my tips. Come tax time, I usually have a little extra which becomes a nice bonus.

Just wanted to add some practical advice based on your situation. Since you're dealing with cash payments and potential misclassification, here are a few immediate steps: 1. Start documenting EVERYTHING now - not just tips, but your work schedule, who sets it, whether you can refuse shifts, if you use their equipment, etc. This documentation will be crucial if you decide to challenge the contractor classification. 2. For the withholding question - yes, you can absolutely increase withholding on your W-4 at your main job. Use the IRS withholding calculator online to get a better estimate than guessing. Input both your W-2 job income and estimated contractor income. 3. Consider opening a business checking account for your restaurant income, even if it's just a simple one. Mixing business and personal funds can create headaches during tax season, and having separate accounts makes record-keeping much cleaner. 4. Don't wait until year-end to address this. If you're earning significant money as a "contractor," you might need to make quarterly estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties, especially since your main job withholding was calculated before you had this second income. The misclassification issue others mentioned is real - most servers are legally employees, not contractors. But document everything first before making any moves.