I work for the IRS and can confirm that prepaid cards like Green Dot are absolutely accepted for direct deposit of tax refunds. We process millions of refunds to prepaid cards every year without issues. The key things to remember: 1. Make sure your name on the tax return matches the name on your Green Dot account exactly 2. Double-check that you entered the correct routing and account numbers 3. Ensure your card can accept the deposit amount (most prepaid cards have high limits, but worth verifying) If there's any issue with the direct deposit, the system will automatically generate a paper check and mail it to your address on file - you don't need to do anything. However, this is rare when the account information is correct. You can track your refund status using the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov. Once we send the deposit, it typically appears on prepaid cards within 1-2 business days, often faster than traditional banks. Since you've already filed, I'd recommend staying with your Green Dot information rather than trying to change it now, as that could cause delays. You should be fine!

I used my Green Dot card for my refund two years ago and it worked perfectly! The deposit actually showed up faster than I expected - within 24 hours of the IRS showing "refund sent" on their tracking tool. One thing I learned is that Green Dot sends you a text notification as soon as the deposit hits your account, which is really helpful for knowing exactly when your money arrives. Make sure your phone number is updated in your Green Dot account settings so you don't miss it. Also, just to put your mind at ease - the IRS doesn't distinguish between "real" bank accounts and prepaid cards when processing refunds. As long as the routing and account numbers are valid (which yours are if Green Dot issued them), the deposit will go through just fine. The only time there are issues is with incorrect numbers or mismatched names. You made the right choice going with direct deposit. Even if there were somehow an issue, you'd know much sooner than if you were just waiting for a paper check to show up in the mail.

don't forget you might need to register for a sales tax permit in your state if youre selling things regularly! each state has different rules about who needs to collect sales tax. i learned this the hard way when my state sent me a nasty letter about back taxes they thought i owed lol

This is such a helpful thread! I'm just starting out with reselling and had no idea about the sales tax being part of cost of goods sold. I've been tracking everything wrong. One thing I'm curious about - do you need to keep physical receipts for everything or are digital photos/screenshots enough? I buy a lot of stuff from garage sales and thrift stores where they don't always give proper receipts. Sometimes it's just a handwritten note or I pay cash and get nothing. How do you document those purchases for tax purposes? Also, when you're calculating business use of your car (driving to garage sales, post office, etc.), do you track actual expenses or just use the standard mileage rate? I'm trying to figure out which method would be better for my situation.

I've been preparing taxes for friends and family for over 10 years, and this is a very common misunderstanding. Your federal and state returns are completely separate systems. Many people don't realize that the IRS (federal) and your state's department of revenue are entirely different agencies with different rules, forms, and processing systems. They do share information eventually, but an error on one doesn't automatically affect the other. If your federal return was accepted, it's in process regardless of what happens with your state return. The only time you'd need to worry is if the information you provided on both returns contradicts each other significantly.

Hey Muhammad! I totally get the stress - tax season as a new grad is already overwhelming enough! 😅 Just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying: your federal return is completely safe! Think of it this way - the IRS and your state tax agency are like two different companies that don't share the same computer system. Your federal acceptance has nothing to do with your state error. Since you're just starting out with taxes, here's a pro tip for the future: always double-check your state info before hitting submit, especially things like state ID numbers or addresses. TurboTax is usually pretty good about catching errors, but it can't catch everything. While you're waiting for that state letter, you can track your federal refund progress using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. It should show up there within a few days of acceptance. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

For anyone filing internationally, ALWAYS keep copies of EVERYTHING you send to the IRS! I learned this the hard way when my return got "lost" after being delivered. When I finally got through to the IRS, they had no record of receiving it even though tracking showed delivery. I had to resend all my documents with proof of the original delivery date. The whole process took 5 months before I got my refund. Paper returns from overseas are definitely not processed with any urgency.

International returns are definitely a headache! I had a similar experience filing from the UK last year. The Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov is 100% legitimate and safe - it's the official IRS website and they absolutely need your SSN to verify your identity before showing your refund status. One thing I learned: the tracking updates for international returns are really sparse. Mine showed "Return Received" for literally 10 weeks before suddenly jumping to "Refund Approved." Don't panic if you don't see movement for months - that's unfortunately normal for paper returns from abroad. Also, make sure you're checking the tool with the exact refund amount you claimed on your return. Even being off by a dollar will prevent it from finding your information. The system is pretty picky about matching all three pieces: SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. Hang in there - $3,800 is definitely worth the wait, even if the process is frustrating!

anyone else notice the treasury checks coming faster this year? Got mine in 3 days flat

Same situation here! April 1st mail date on my transcript too. From what I've seen in this community, most people get their checks 3-5 days after the mail date. The USPS informed delivery tip from @Javier Torres is clutch - you'll literally see a photo of your check in the mail before it arrives. Takes some of the anxiety away knowing it's actually coming!