I'm in a similar situation - filed my extension return via mail in early May and still waiting on my refund. Reading through these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It sounds like 4-6 months is becoming the new normal for paper returns. Has anyone had success checking their transcript through the IRS online account to get more detailed status info? I'm wondering if that shows anything beyond what the Where's My Refund tool displays. Also curious if anyone knows whether the IRS sends any kind of acknowledgment that they've actually received your mailed return, or if you just have to wait and hope it didn't get lost in the mail. The waiting game is definitely stressful when you're counting on that money!

Yes, checking your transcript through your IRS online account can definitely provide more detailed information than the Where's My Refund tool! The transcript will show if your return has been received and is in the system, plus any processing codes that might indicate what stage it's at or if there are any issues. Unfortunately, the IRS doesn't send any acknowledgment for mailed returns - they only do that for certified mail. So you really are just waiting and hoping it didn't get lost, which I know is super stressful. The transcript is your best bet to confirm they actually have it. One thing that might give you some peace of mind: if your return was going to be lost in the mail, you'd typically know by now since most mail issues happen within the first few weeks. The fact that you're just waiting likely means it's sitting in their processing queue, which is unfortunately massive right now. Hang in there - the 4-6 month timeline others mentioned seems to be pretty accurate based on what I'm seeing in the community lately.

Connor, you've got the right idea with Scenario 2! As others have mentioned, you can definitely aggregate your gambling activities across all platforms. Your net taxable gambling income would be $3,200 ($24,500 total winnings minus $21,300 total losses). However, there's an important catch that I want to emphasize: you can only deduct those gambling losses if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A. If your total itemized deductions (including the $21,300 in gambling losses plus things like mortgage interest, state taxes, charitable contributions, etc.) don't exceed the standard deduction for your filing status, you might be better off taking the standard deduction - but then you lose the ability to deduct any gambling losses. This means you could end up paying taxes on the full $24,500 in winnings even though your actual profit was only $3,200. It's a harsh reality of the tax code that catches many casual gamblers off guard. I'd strongly recommend running the numbers both ways or consulting with a tax professional to see which approach saves you more money overall. Also, make sure to download and save all your transaction histories and year-end statements from both platforms before they potentially become unavailable. Good record keeping now will save you headaches later!

Connor, just wanted to add one more consideration to what everyone else has shared - timing matters for your record keeping going forward. Since you're dealing with this for the first time, I'd suggest setting up a simple tracking system now for next year's betting activity. I use a basic spreadsheet that automatically calculates running totals, and I update it weekly rather than trying to reconstruct everything at year-end. This makes it much easier to make informed decisions about whether to itemize deductions as the year progresses. Also, since you're right on the edge where the itemization decision could go either way, you might want to consider timing other deductible expenses (like charitable contributions or medical procedures) to bunch them into years when you're already itemizing for gambling losses. This strategy can help you alternate between years where you itemize and years where you take the standard deduction, maximizing your tax benefits over time. The $3,200 net profit you calculated is correct assuming you itemize - just make sure you're comparing the total tax impact of itemizing versus taking the standard deduction before you file.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for a few years now and ran into this exact same issue with K-1 forms. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple mapping between my K-1 and the software fields before I started entering data. For Box 20 Code Z, here's what I do: I lay out my K-1 next to the FreeTaxUSA screen and match each number to its corresponding field by reading the field labels carefully. The three main categories are usually pretty clear once you know what to look for - your share of business income, wages the business paid to employees, and the cost basis of business property. Also, don't stress too much about getting it perfect on the first try. FreeTaxUSA lets you go back and edit these entries multiple times, and they have a pretty good error-checking system that will flag obvious mistakes. The 199A deduction can definitely be worth several thousand dollars, so it's worth taking the time to get it right!

I went through this exact same headache last year with FreeTaxUSA and my K-1 from a rental property LLC! The Section 199A stuff is definitely confusing at first, but once you understand the basics it's not too bad. Here's what worked for me: First, ignore all the complex rules about income thresholds and SSTB classifications for now - at your income level ($95k) and with a food manufacturing business, you'll qualify for the full 20% deduction. The three numbers FreeTaxUSA is asking for are: 1) Your share of qualified business income (this should be the main number under Code Z), 2) Your allocated share of W-2 wages the business paid (multiply the total business W-2 wages by your 15% ownership), and 3) Your share of qualified property basis (again, multiply by 15%). One tip that saved me time: if any of the boxes seem to have weird numbers or don't make sense, call the business accountant directly instead of going through your brother. Most CPAs are happy to spend 5 minutes explaining what goes where, especially during tax season when they know partners are struggling with this stuff. The QBI deduction ended up saving me about $2,800 last year, so definitely worth getting right!

I went through this exact situation in 2023 with a state tax offset from an old business debt. The frustrating part is that the Treasury Offset Program operates like a one-way street - they can grab your refund instantly, but tracking where it goes requires playing detective across multiple systems. Here's what finally worked for me: Check your IRS account transcript online for Transaction Code 898 (that's your offset being processed) and note the cycle date. Then, create an account on your state's Department of Revenue website if you haven't already. The offset payment typically shows up in the state system 10-14 business days after the TC 898 date, usually labeled as "Federal Offset Payment Applied" or similar. The 1-800-304-3107 number is basically worthless for timing - I called it dozens of times and it just robotically repeats WHO is taking your money. What you really need is confirmation that your state has actually received and applied the payment, which only their system can tell you. In my case, once I saw the offset payment posted in my state account, my remaining federal refund (TC 846) was issued exactly 6 business days later. Total time from filing to getting the remainder was 4 weeks and 2 days. It's a painful wait, but the money does eventually show up. The key is being able to track it through both systems so you're not just staring at "processing" status indefinitely.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed on Feb 14th expecting my usual quick refund, then got hit with an offset for some old state taxes I completely forgot about from a side business that failed in 2020. It's been 3.5 weeks now and the uncertainty is killing me. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the different IRS transcript codes or that I should be checking my state's online portal separately. I've been obsessively refreshing "Where's My Refund" like a crazy person, but it sounds like that's basically useless for offset situations. The most frustrating part is how the IRS can instantly grab your money but then you're left playing detective across multiple government agencies just to figure out if they've actually processed it. It's 2025 - how is there not a unified tracking system for this? Going to pull my account transcript today and look for that TC 898 code, then set up an account with my state's Department of Revenue. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I'm probably looking at another 1-2 weeks before I see any movement. The wait is brutal when you're expecting that refund to hit your account, but at least now I have a realistic timeline and actual steps to track progress instead of just sitting here wondering if my money disappeared into a black hole. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than any official government resource I've found!

Don't overthink this! The IRS isn't going to come after small-time bloggers about QBI classification. They have bigger fish to fry.

I've been dealing with this exact issue for my personal finance blog. After extensive research and consulting with my CPA, here's what I've learned: The critical factor is whether your blog's revenue depends on your personal reputation and skill, or on the platform/audience itself. For most successful blogs, even if you write all the content, the primary asset is actually the audience and the platform you've built. Consider this test: If you sold your blog tomorrow, what would the buyer be purchasing? If it's primarily the domain, audience, revenue streams, and content library rather than access to YOU personally, then you're likely not an SSTB. For my finance blog, even though I create content about financial topics, I'm not providing personalized financial advice or services. I'm creating general educational content and monetizing through ads, affiliates, and course sales. The IRS guidance suggests this falls outside the SSTB definition. One thing I'd add to your analysis - document your reasoning thoroughly. Keep records of your revenue sources, business model, and how your blog operates independently of your daily involvement. This documentation will be crucial if you're ever questioned about your QBI position. The 21% corporate rate is interesting, but remember you'll still face double taxation when you eventually distribute profits. For most bloggers, the QBI deduction on pass-through income is still more beneficial.