I'm a bit confused by some of these responses. Does the time zone thing apply to all IRS deadlines or just the April filing deadline? What about estimated tax payments?

Don't panic! You're absolutely fine. The IRS operates on a "timely filed" principle based on your local time zone, not Eastern Time. Since you submitted at 11:23pm Pacific Time on April 15th, your return is considered filed on time according to IRS regulations. The April 16th date on your confirmation is likely just when the tax software's servers processed your return or when they transmitted it to the IRS - this can happen due to high traffic volumes on deadline day. What matters legally is when YOU hit submit in your time zone. You should receive an official IRS acceptance email within 24-48 hours that will show the correct filing date. Keep that email as your official record. I've seen this exact situation countless times and it's never been an issue. The IRS systems are designed to handle time zone differences properly. If you're still worried, you can always call the IRS to confirm (though expect long wait times), but based on your description, you're completely in the clear. No late penalties for you!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Filed my Colorado return on March 8th and it's been over 3 months now with just that useless "processing" status. My federal refund arrived in February while Colorado is still radio silent. After reading through all these comments, I'm definitely going to check my full DOR account online instead of just relying on the refund tracker - sounds like there might be messages or requests buried in there that the basic tool doesn't show. Also going to be extra careful checking my mail for any official notices that might look like junk mail. The fact that so many people are experiencing 12-16 week delays (or longer!) is really concerning. It seems like Colorado's tax department is completely overwhelmed this year. At least knowing it's not just me makes me feel slightly better, but still incredibly frustrating that we have to play detective just to get basic information about our own money! Has anyone had success with calling early in the morning right when they open? Might try that before exploring some of the other tools people have mentioned here.

Same exact situation here! Filed my Colorado return on March 14th and it's been radio silence ever since. The federal refund came through in early April but Colorado is still showing "processing" with zero useful details. After reading through all these experiences, I'm definitely going to log into my full DOR account instead of just checking the basic refund tool. Sounds like there could be important messages or requests hiding in there that the simple tracker doesn't display. Also going to go through my mail more carefully - apparently they send notices that look like junk mail which is ridiculous. It's somewhat reassuring to know this isn't just affecting me, but absolutely maddening that Colorado's system is this broken. 12-16+ week delays with no communication is completely unacceptable. We shouldn't have to become tax detectives just to get our own money back! Going to try calling right when they open at 8:30am tomorrow and see if I can actually get through to a human. If that doesn't work, I might look into some of the other solutions people have mentioned here. This is beyond frustrating.

This is such a helpful thread - I've been wondering about the same things! As someone who just started accepting payments through multiple channels (cash, Venmo, Square), I'm realizing I need to get much better organized about tracking everything. One thing I'm still confused about though - if I have a business checking account but occasionally deposit personal money into it (like when I need to cover a business expense from my personal funds), does that create red flags? I've been sloppy about keeping things separate and now I'm worried that mixed deposits might look suspicious to the IRS if they ever look at my account. Also, for those who mentioned keeping receipts for cash transactions - what's the best way to document cash sales? I've been just writing them in a notebook but wondering if there's a better system that would hold up if questioned.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my small business and had no idea about the $600 threshold for 1099-K reporting from payment processors. One thing I'm curious about - does the timing matter? Like if I receive payment in December but it doesn't clear/settle until January, which tax year does it count for? I've had some larger payments right around year-end that I'm not sure how to handle. Also, for those using separate business accounts - do you recommend having multiple business accounts (like one for operating expenses and another for tax savings), or does that just complicate things further when it comes to IRS visibility? I'm trying to get more organized for next year and want to set up the best system from the start. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really helping me understand what I need to be doing differently!

Has anyone checked to see if maybe some of this could be classified as non-taxable reimbursements? Like if u got paid back for business expenses or mileage or somethin? Those wouldn't show up in Box 1 wages but would still be money deposited in your account.

This is definitely concerning since your W-2 shows significantly less than what you were actually paid. A $7,170 discrepancy is substantial and needs to be resolved before you file your taxes. Here's what I'd recommend doing in order: 1. **Contact your former employer's payroll/HR department immediately** - Be polite but direct. Explain that you're preparing your taxes and noticed the W-2 shows $28,450 while your bank records show $35,620 in deposits from them. Ask them to review their records and explain the discrepancy. 2. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your communications with the employer, your bank statements showing the deposits, and any other proof of payment you have. 3. **Give them a reasonable timeframe** - Ask when you can expect a response or corrected W-2 if there was an error. Most payroll departments can investigate this pretty quickly. 4. **If they don't respond or refuse to correct it** - You can file Form 4852 (Substitute for Form W-2) with the IRS using your actual income figures. The IRS will then investigate and contact your employer directly about the discrepancy. The fact that they're underreporting your income could mean they're also not paying the correct employer taxes on your behalf, which is a problem for them with the IRS, not just you. Most employers will want to fix this quickly once they realize the issue. Don't file your taxes with the incorrect W-2 amount - always use your actual income figures.

Congratulations on your recent marriage! I totally understand the stress of waiting for funds you really need. As someone who's been through this exact situation, here's what I've learned: H&R Block generally doesn't deposit earlier than your DDD - that April 12th date is pretty firm. The only exception might be if your bank has an early direct deposit policy (some credit unions and online banks like Chime release funds 1-2 days early), but that would be your bank's decision, not H&R Block's. A few things that might help ease your anxiety: • Your refund is already approved if you have a DDD - that's the good news! • Set up account alerts so you're notified when it hits rather than checking constantly • The deposit usually happens very early morning (often between midnight-6am) Since you mentioned this is for your first apartment together, maybe use this week to finalize other moving preparations? The money will be there on the 12th. Hang in there - I know those 7 days feel like forever when you're waiting for something important! 💙

Hey Jordan! First off, congratulations on your marriage! 🎉 I totally get the stress you're feeling right now - waiting for money you desperately need is nerve-wracking. From my experience with H&R Block over the past few years, they're pretty strict about sticking to the DDD the IRS gives them. I've never seen them release funds early - that April 12th date is most likely when you'll see it hit your account, usually in the early morning hours. The silver lining is that having a DDD means your refund has already been approved and processed by the IRS! That's the hardest part done. Now it's just the waiting game. A few things that helped me when I was in a similar situation: • Stop checking your account every 3 hours - set up mobile alerts instead so your bank will notify you when it hits • The deposit typically posts between midnight and 6am on your DDD • Use this week to handle other apartment prep stuff - utility setup, address changes, etc. I know those 7 days feel like an eternity, but your money is coming! Try to stay busy with wedding thank-you notes or apartment planning. You've got this! 💪