The IRS is slower than my grandma using the internet rn ngl 🐌

Same situation here in NJ - filed in early February and still stuck on "not processed." I've been checking the Where's My Refund tool daily and it hasn't budged. Really hoping this gets resolved soon since I'm counting on that money for some bills. Thanks for posting this, at least I know I'm not alone!

As someone who just went through their first year dealing with referral income, I can relate to the confusion! One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned yet is to keep copies of the actual referral agreements you sign with other agents or brokerages. These documents often specify the percentage you'll receive and when payments are due, which becomes crucial if there are any disputes later. Also, if you're working completely independently without a brokerage, make sure you understand your state's licensing requirements for referral payments. Some states require that referral fees only be paid to licensed agents through their supervising broker, not directly. Since you mentioned you're independent, you might want to double-check that your referral arrangements comply with your state's real estate commission rules. I'd also suggest setting up a separate business bank account just for referral income if you haven't already. It makes tracking so much easier come tax time, and having that clean separation helps if you ever face an audit. Plus, it gives you a clearer picture of how much you're actually earning from referrals versus your regular sales commissions.

Great question! I went through this exact same situation last year as an independent agent. Here's what I learned: Yes, any agent or company that paid you $600+ in referral fees during 2024 should send you a 1099-NEC by January 31st. However, don't rely solely on waiting for these forms - start tracking everything yourself now. Create a simple record-keeping system with: - Date of each referral payment - Amount received - Who paid you (agent/company name) - Copy of the payment (check, wire transfer confirmation, etc.) Even if you don't receive a 1099 for payments under $600, you're still required to report ALL referral income on your tax return. This goes on Schedule C as self-employment income, and you'll owe self-employment taxes on it (usually around 15.3% plus regular income tax). Pro tip: Set aside 25-30% of each referral payment for taxes. Since you're independent, you might also need to make quarterly estimated tax payments if your referral income is substantial. Also, keep copies of those W-9s you sent out and any referral agreements you signed. These will be important for your records and could be needed if there are any payment disputes or during an audit.

NJ filer here too and honestly this whole situation is a nightmare. Filed in late January and I'm still showing "return received" with zero movement. At this point I've given up checking daily because it just makes me more frustrated. The worst part is not knowing if there's actually an issue or if it's just the normal backlog everyone keeps talking about.

NJ filer here as well - filed early February and still stuck on "return received" status! It's so frustrating because I really need that refund right now. I've been checking the WMR tool obsessively but it never changes. Reading through these comments makes me feel a bit better knowing it's not just me, but man this delay is brutal. Might have to try that transcript checking method someone mentioned above since clearly the regular tracker isn't giving us any useful info 😫

I'm confused about something - if the employer took the money pre-tax but then only reported half of it as Cafe 125, wouldn't that mean her W-2 wages are wrong? Like they reduced her pay by the full amount but only gave her tax benefit for half?

This is a frustrating situation that unfortunately happens more often than it should. Based on what you've described, there are really two separate issues here that need to be addressed: 1. **The W-2 reporting**: If your sister-in-law's paystubs show the full double amount was deducted pre-tax, but her W-2 only shows half in the Cafe 125 box, then her taxable wages are likely incorrect. She's essentially being taxed on money she never actually received. 2. **The refund**: The employer owes her a refund for the excess premiums they incorrectly withheld. Since it's already February and they've been unresponsive since October, I'd suggest a multi-pronged approach: - Document everything: Keep copies of all paystubs, communications with HR, and the current W-2 - File her taxes based on the W-2 she received (the IRS matches returns to W-2s) - Continue pursuing the employer for both the refund AND a corrected W-2 if needed - Consider escalating within the company (beyond HR to senior management) - If they remain unresponsive, file a wage complaint with your state's Department of Labor The key thing to remember is that this isn't really a tax deduction issue - it's an employer payroll error that needs correction at the source.

Filed March 4th and still stuck in processing! Thanks so much @Annabel Kimball for explaining about the fraud prevention delays - that really puts my mind at ease knowing there's an actual reason behind the wait rather than something being wrong with my return. 8-12 weeks is brutal but I guess it's better than having fraudulent returns slip through. Really hoping we early March filers start seeing some movement in the next week or two since we're hitting that 8-10 week timeline. This thread has been a lifesaver - was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this!

Filed March 9th and yep, still waiting too! This thread has been so helpful - I was getting really anxious thinking something was wrong with my return. Big thanks to @Annabel Kimball for explaining the fraud prevention delays, that context makes such a difference knowing there's an actual reason behind the 8-12 week timeline. It's definitely frustrating but I appreciate that they're being thorough to catch fraud. Seems like all us early March filers are hitting that sweet spot where we should hopefully see some movement soon. Really grateful for this community keeping everyone informed during this stressful waiting period!