Pro tip: dont waste time checking multiple times a day. cycle 5 is strictly a thursday night update schedule

Cycle 5 updates are typically Thursday nights/early Friday mornings around 2-6am EST. Since you're on cycle code 20250505, you should check your transcript Friday mornings for any updates. Your transcript looks pretty straightforward - processed on 2/18 with a decent refund amount. The waiting is definitely the hardest part! Just remember that cycle 5 filers usually see movement on Fridays, so try not to stress about checking throughout the week. Good luck! 🤞

If u do get ur 2020 refund this late will they pay interest on it? Just wondering cuz I might be in the same boat for my 2020 taxes.

Just want to add a crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're filing your 2020 return this late and you OWE money instead of getting a refund, you'll face penalties and interest charges. The failure-to-file penalty is typically 5% of unpaid taxes for each month (or part of a month) that your return is late, up to 25%. Plus interest on the unpaid amount. However, if you're confident you're owed a refund (like the original poster), there's no penalty for filing late - you just risk losing that refund money if you miss the 3-year deadline. So definitely get that paperwork together ASAP! The clock is really ticking with that May 17, 2024 deadline.

22 Has anyone used FreeTaxUSA for prior year returns? Their website says they support 2021 tax filing and it's free for federal (state is $15). Just wondering if it's user-friendly for past years.

Just wanted to add my experience - I filed my 2020 taxes late and it took about 10 weeks to get my refund, but I did get every penny I was owed! The key things that helped me were: 1) Making sure I had all my documents organized before starting, 2) Double-checking all the math since manual processing means they catch errors more easily, and 3) Sending it certified mail so I had proof it was delivered. The IRS processed it without any issues. You're definitely not too late for 2021 - just be patient with the processing time since paper returns take longer. Good luck!

Just went through this exact situation! I verified my identity on March 2nd and got my refund deposited on March 18th - so 16 days total. Like others mentioned, my WMR bars completely disappeared for about 10 days which had me panicking, but then it suddenly jumped to "approved" with a deposit date. The transcript codes were super helpful to track - I saw the 971 notice code first, then 846 refund issued about 3 days before the actual deposit. Definitely check your transcript if you haven't already, it gives you way more info than WMR. Fingers crossed yours processes soon since you're already a week in! 🤞

I just went through this same nightmare! Verified my identity on February 28th and finally got my refund deposited yesterday (March 14th) - so exactly 14 days. The waiting was absolutely brutal, especially since I also had bills depending on that money. My experience was similar to what others are describing: WMR went completely blank for about 8 days after verification, which made me think something went wrong. Then boom - suddenly updated to "approved" with a DDD. The transcript was definitely more helpful than WMR during the wait. I saw the 971 code appear about 5 days before my refund actually hit my account. Stay strong - you're probably closer than you think! Most people here seem to be getting theirs in the 2-3 week range after verification.

How do you know if you "materially participated" for sure? I resell stuff on Poshmark and Mercari like maybe 5-6 hours a week. Is that enough to count?

This is such a common mistake - you're definitely not alone in this! The material participation question is honestly one of the most confusing parts of self-employment taxes, especially for people doing online selling as a side hustle. From what you described (taking photos, writing listings, shipping items), you absolutely materially participated in your eBay/PayPal business. The IRS considers activities like sourcing inventory, marketing, customer service, and fulfillment as clear signs of material participation. You were running the business, not just passively collecting income. Definitely file that amendment (Form 1040-X) to correct this. It's actually likely to work in your favor since business income where you materially participate gets better tax treatment than passive income. The good news is that this type of mistake usually results in getting money back rather than owing more. Don't stress too much about getting flagged - this is a legitimate correction of an honest mistake, and the IRS sees these kinds of amendments all the time. Just make sure to clearly explain the correction on the amendment form and keep records of your business activities in case you ever need to demonstrate your level of participation.