Just checked my NetSpend app after seeing Mikayla's update and mine hit too! Got my deposit at 2:47pm EST today (3/17). For anyone still waiting, it looks like NetSpend is releasing them in batches throughout the afternoon. I've noticed they usually do deposits in waves - early morning (12am-6am) for some people, then afternoon batches like this one. Don't panic if you haven't seen yours yet - there might be another wave later today or early tomorrow morning. The important thing is that your transcript shows the 3/17 date, which means the IRS has already sent the payment to NetSpend.

Still waiting here with a 3/17 DDD on my NetSpend account. It's now 4:30pm EST and nothing yet, but reading through everyone's experiences is actually pretty reassuring! Sounds like NetSpend really does process these in multiple waves throughout the day. I've been a NetSpend customer for about 3 years and this is exactly how it went last year - got mine around 6pm even though others got theirs much earlier. For anyone else still waiting, it seems like the key thing is having that 846 code with the 3/17 date on your transcript, which means the IRS has definitely sent the payment. NetSpend's batch processing just takes time to work through all the deposits. Going to try to be patient for a few more hours before I start worrying!

Just want to add that I'm in a similar production business with an S-corp and I DO file Schedules L and M-1 even though I'm under the threshold. My reasoning is that these schedules create a paper trail of your business's financial position over time. If you ever get audited or need to show financial history for loans/investors, having these forms consistently filed gives a more complete picture.

Based on your situation, you're absolutely correct that Schedules L and M-1 aren't required since you're well under the $250k threshold. However, I'd strongly recommend addressing the salary issue that Dmitry mentioned - the IRS can be quite strict about S-corp owners taking reasonable compensation when the business is profitable, even if it's just $1,270. For the schedules themselves, since you're a small one-person operation, I'd suggest keeping it simple and only filing what's required unless you have a specific reason to include them (like establishing a financial history for future lending). Your time is probably better spent on growing the business back to full operations. One practical tip: if you do decide to include the optional schedules in future years as your business grows, start maintaining the books now in a way that makes completing them easier later. This gives you flexibility without extra work this year.

FYI - your former employer is breaking the law. Employers are required to provide W2s by January 31st, and they must respond to requests for replacement W2s in a reasonable timeframe. You can actually file a complaint with your state's labor department as well as with the IRS.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and honestly, your former employer is being completely unprofessional. From what I've learned through my own research, you have several solid options that don't require your ex-boss to cooperate. The IRS wage transcript route is definitely your best bet for speed - you can get it online immediately through irs.gov if you create an account. This will have all the same info as your W2 and is completely legitimate documentation that state tax departments regularly accept. You should also absolutely report your former employer to the IRS at 800-829-1040. They're legally required to provide your W2 and the IRS takes this seriously. Even if it doesn't help you immediately, it might prevent them from doing this to other former employees. One thing I'd add is to document everything - save those texts where you asked for the W2, keep records of your calls to ADP, etc. This creates a paper trail showing you made good faith efforts to get your W2, which strengthens your case if there are any questions from tax authorities later.

My brother had this happen back in 2022 and ignored it since the money arrived. Then six months later he got a CP14 notice saying he owed additional taxes plus interest! Turns out the refund was correct but the IRS hadn't properly closed out his return in their system. If your WMR doesn't update within a week after getting your refund, I'd recommend keeping documentation of everything just in case. Better safe than sorry based on our family's experience.

I can relate to this situation completely! Just went through the same thing last month - my refund showed up in my account on a Wednesday but the WMR tool didn't budge from "Processing" for another 6 days. It's definitely nerve-wracking when you're not sure if everything is working correctly. From what I've learned reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like this is just how their systems work (or don't work together, more accurately). I ended up calling the IRS directly after 5 days just to confirm everything was processed correctly, and they assured me this delay between payment and status updates is totally normal. Still frustrating though - you'd think in 2024 they could sync their systems better!

This has been an incredibly informative thread! I'm in a similar situation with twins starting daycare next year, and this discussion has really helped clarify the FSA vs. tax credit strategy. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - when calculating your potential tax savings, don't forget to factor in state income taxes if you live in a state that has them. The FSA contributions reduce your state taxable income too, which can add another 4-6% in savings depending on your state's tax rate. Also, for those worried about the FSA "use it or lose it" rule, many employers now offer a $610 carryover option (increased from $550 for 2025) or a grace period through March 15th of the following year. This gives you a little buffer if your actual expenses end up being slightly less than projected. @Wesley - given your situation with $5,800 in expected costs, the FSA + credit combination definitely seems optimal. Just make sure to confirm your spouse's part-time income will support the full benefit amount as others mentioned. The math really does work out better than using either option alone at your income level. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with documentation and record-keeping too - those practical tips are just as valuable as the tax strategy advice!

Great question about the timing and tax software handling! From my experience, the timing of payments doesn't matter as much as how you allocate them for tax purposes. You can pay your preschool monthly throughout the year and then decide at tax time which expenses to claim through which benefit. For documentation, I create a simple spreadsheet tracking all childcare payments with columns for date, amount, provider, and then two additional columns marked "FSA" and "Tax Credit" where I allocate each expense. This makes it crystal clear which dollars are going toward which benefit and ensures no overlap. Regarding tax software - most programs like TurboTax will walk you through both the FSA reporting and the dependent care credit, but YOU need to make sure you're not double-counting. The software won't automatically catch if you're claiming the same $1,000 expense in both places. It relies on you to input accurate numbers for each section. One tip: I always total up my FSA reimbursements first (your employer should provide a summary), then subtract that amount from my total childcare expenses before entering anything into the dependent care credit section. This prevents any accidental overlap. @Wesley - this systematic approach will serve you well, especially with $5,800 in expenses to track across two different tax benefits. The key is being methodical about the allocation from day one.