I'm in a very similar boat - filed in early February, got slapped with an 810 freeze, received my 12C letter in late February, and sent in my amended return about a month ago. My transcript still shows nothing but that original 810 code from February. The waiting is absolutely killing me because I really needed this refund to cover some unexpected medical bills. I've been checking my transcript obsessively hoping to see some movement, but it's like watching paint dry. From what I've gathered reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key is just confirming they actually received the amended return, since the transcripts are so slow to update. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and try one of those callback services to get through to an actual agent. The most frustrating part is not knowing if you're in week 1 of a 20-week wait or if your paperwork got lost somewhere in their system. At least if I can confirm they have it, I can stop obsessing over whether I need to resubmit everything. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know this nightmare timeline is unfortunately normal and not just something wrong with my specific case!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed in mid-February, got hit with the 810 freeze a few days later, received my 12C letter early March, and submitted my amended return about 2 weeks ago. Still just showing that same 810 code on my transcript with no updates. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part - not knowing if they even received your amended return or if you're officially in the queue somewhere. I've been debating whether to call but hearing everyone's experiences with the phone lines being impossible makes me hesitant. One thing that's been helpful is reading through all these responses and realizing this timeline is unfortunately completely normal. It sounds like 16-20 weeks total is realistic for amended returns with freeze codes, which is brutal but at least sets expectations. I think I'm going to try calling just to confirm they have my paperwork, then try to forget about it for a few months. The waiting game is stressful but seems unavoidable with these cases. Thanks for posting this - it's really reassuring to know so many others are dealing with the exact same situation and timeline!

Just a heads up - make sure you're also considering any potential late filing penalties for these prior year 1099 NECs. The penalty ranges from $50 to $280 per form depending on how late they are and whether the IRS considers it intentional disregard. If you have a reasonable cause for filing late, include a statement explaining the circumstances. The IRS can waive penalties if you can show reasonable cause for not filing on time.

For the 1099 NEC forms, you can also check with local office supply stores like Staples or OfficeDepot - they sometimes carry prior year tax forms in stock, especially during tax season. I found 2021 forms at my local Staples last year when I was in a similar situation. Regarding penalties, if you're filing these 1099s now for 2021 and 2022, you're definitely looking at late filing penalties. However, since your contractor already reported the income on their tax returns, this works in your favor for penalty abatement. The IRS is more lenient when the income was properly reported by the recipient even if the 1099 was filed late. When you submit the forms, include a letter explaining that this is your first time filing 1099s as a small business owner, you've been working to get compliant, and the recipients have already properly reported the income. This reasonable cause explanation can help reduce or eliminate penalties. Also, double-check that you actually need to issue 1099 NECs - you only need them if you paid $600 or more to non-corporate contractors during the tax year. If your contractor was incorporated, you generally don't need to issue a 1099 NEC at all.

Has anyone considered that removing trees in a wildfire zone could potentially be classified as a casualty loss prevention measure? I read something about this where the IRS sometimes allows deductions for preventative measures against disasters, especially in designated high-risk zones.

Just wanted to add another perspective on the documentation side - make sure you keep really detailed records of everything. For my rental properties, I learned the hard way that the IRS wants to see not just receipts, but also documentation of WHY the work was necessary. For tree removal specifically, I'd recommend getting written estimates from certified arborists that explain the safety concerns or property risks. If your insurance company made recommendations, keep those letters. For the wildfire zone situation, see if your local fire department or county has any written guidance about defensible space requirements - that could really strengthen your case for the business deduction. Also, take before and after photos. I had a tree removal situation where the IRS questioned whether it was truly necessary maintenance versus cosmetic improvement. Having photos showing the trees were dead, leaning dangerously, or otherwise problematic really helped my case. The $4,800 total you mentioned is significant enough that you'll want bulletproof documentation if you get audited. Better to over-document now than scramble later!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say thank you all for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm in the exact same situation with my first paper check refund - my transcript shows 3/17 and I had no clue what that date actually meant. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful in understanding that it's the "issued" date, not the mailing date. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like I should expect my check to be mailed around 3/20-3/21 and arrive sometime between 3/27-4/2. The tip about having the post office hold IRS mail for pickup is genius - I'm definitely calling them tomorrow to set that up. It's honestly frustrating that the IRS doesn't explain this distinction anywhere, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. Lesson learned for next year: direct deposit all the way! Thanks again everyone for taking the time to share your knowledge with us newcomers.

Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through this same confusion a few weeks ago, I can definitely relate to your frustration. My transcript showed a date of 2/28, and after reading through similar threads here, I learned that this is when the IRS "issues" the refund internally - not when they actually mail it. In my case, the check was mailed on 3/3 (3 business days later) and arrived on 3/10. So from transcript date to receiving it was about 8 business days total. For your 3/15 date, I'd expect the check to be mailed around 3/18-3/19 and arrive sometime between 3/25-3/28. I know the waiting is nerve-wracking, but based on everyone's experiences here, your timeline seems completely normal. Definitely echoing what others have said about direct deposit for next year - it's so much less stressful than this guessing game with paper checks!

Has anyone here used QuickBooks Self-Employed for tracking mixed income like this? I'm wondering if it's worth the monthly fee or if I should just use a spreadsheet. The tax filing confusion is giving me major anxiety.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation as a new freelancer! One thing that helped me was setting up a simple system right away - I opened a separate business checking account and now all client payments go there, while personal reimbursements stay in my personal account. For this tax year though, since everything's already mixed, I'd recommend creating a detailed spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Amount, Source/Description, and Category (Business Income vs Personal). For the reimbursements like your dad's medical expenses, save any text messages or emails that show the context - even something like "Thanks for covering my prescriptions, here's the $200 back" can be helpful documentation. The key thing I learned is that the IRS cares more about you reporting all your actual business income accurately than about minor discrepancies from personal deposits. As long as you can explain what the non-business deposits were for and have some basic records, you should be fine. Don't let the anxiety paralyze you - just be thorough and honest with your reporting.