Does anyone else's WMR still say processing? Filed 2/1 and nothing has changed smh

pro tip: check your transcript instead of WMR. WMR is always behind

Great question! I went through this exact same situation when I started my outdoor event business. After consulting with my CPA and doing some research, I can confirm that porta potties are indeed 7-year property under MACRS asset class 00.28. A few key points that helped me: - They're considered tangible personal property, not real property, since they're mobile - You can absolutely use Section 179 expensing if you want to deduct the full cost in year one (subject to income limitations) - If you purchase them late in the year, you might also qualify for bonus depreciation One tip: make sure to keep good records of the business use percentage if you ever use them for personal events. The IRS likes to see clear documentation that they're primarily for business purposes. Also, don't forget to factor in any delivery/setup costs - those can usually be added to the basis of the equipment rather than expensed separately.

Just wanted to add another perspective from someone who's been through multiple IRS audits with rental equipment. The 7-year classification for porta potties is solid, but make sure you're documenting the "placed in service" date correctly. The IRS can be picky about when depreciation actually starts - it's not necessarily the purchase date, but when you first make the equipment available for rent or use in your business. If you bought them in December but didn't start renting them until February, your depreciation should start in February. Also, if you're planning to expand your fleet, consider the timing of purchases for tax planning. Bunching purchases in high-income years can maximize the benefit of Section 179 expensing or bonus depreciation. I learned this the hard way when I spread purchases across multiple years and couldn't take full advantage of the deductions. One last tip: keep photos and maintenance records. If the IRS ever questions the business use or condition of the equipment, having documentation showing regular commercial maintenance and cleaning helps support your depreciation claims.

For anyone wondering about timing - I filed an amended return for a similar issue (wrong 1099) in February last year. It took about 14 weeks to process. The IRS says to allow up to 16 weeks, but it could take longer during busy periods. Just make sure you pay any additional tax owed when you submit the amendment to avoid extra interest and penalties. The IRS will charge interest from the original due date until you pay.

This is exactly why I keep all my tax documents in separate folders by year now! Made a similar mistake a few years back with my 1099s and it was such a pain to fix. One thing I learned from that experience - when you file the 1040-X amendment, make sure to write a clear explanation in Part III about what happened. Something like "Used incorrect W-2 form from tax year 2022 instead of 2023" helps the IRS processor understand the situation quickly. Also, since you mentioned you haven't received your refund yet, the IRS will automatically adjust your refund amount once they process the amendment. If you end up owing more (which sounds likely given the raise), they'll reduce your refund accordingly. If you end up owing significantly more than your refund amount, you'll get a bill for the difference. The update in your post is really helpful for others - thanks for sharing how it worked out! That $4 refund check is probably just the remaining balance after they applied your original refund to the additional tax owed.

Hey Norman! Congrats on getting through the in-person verification - that's definitely the hardest part! I'm actually going through something similar right now (verified about 6 days ago) so this thread is super helpful. From what I'm seeing in everyone's responses, it sounds like 9-14 days is pretty typical for transcript updates after in-person verification. The Monday/Thursday check schedule that others mentioned is genius - I've been refreshing way too often and driving myself crazy! Since you mentioned you're newlyweds filing jointly for the first time, I'm curious if the agent mentioned anything about that potentially affecting processing time? My tax preparer warned me that sometimes first-time joint filers can take a few extra days for the system to cross-reference both SSNs, but nothing major. Really appreciate you starting this discussion - it's so reassuring to know others are in the same boat and that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully we'll both see some movement on our transcripts soon! 🤞

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just verified my identity in person at my local IRS office 3 days ago and have been anxiously checking my transcript every few hours since then (I know, I know, not helpful but I can't help myself!). Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - sounds like the 9-14 day timeframe is pretty standard for transcript updates after in-person verification. I love the Monday/Thursday checking schedule suggestion - definitely going to try that to preserve what's left of my sanity! Also really appreciate the detailed breakdown of the codes to look for (971/571 then 846). As a newcomer to all this, the IRS transcript system feels like trying to decode hieroglyphics, so having a roadmap of what to expect is amazing. Norman, thanks for starting this thread! It's so helpful to know we're not alone in this waiting game. Fingers crossed we all see movement on our transcripts soon! 🤞

Another thing to consider with your lease situation - since you're doing two different types of contractor work, you might want to look into whether either of your clients require specific vehicle standards or insurance coverage. Some real estate agencies have requirements about the condition/appearance of vehicles used for client meetings, and sports leagues sometimes have insurance minimums for officials. This could influence whether leasing vs buying makes more sense, and it might also affect your deduction calculations. Also, don't forget that if you use the actual expenses method, you can deduct more than just the lease payments - insurance, gas, maintenance, registration fees, etc. all count toward your business vehicle expenses. With two income streams requiring lots of driving, those costs can really add up. Keep all your receipts organized from day one. I learned this the hard way when I got audited - having everything documented properly made the difference between keeping my deductions and losing them.

I work as a tax preparer and see this situation a lot with contractors who have multiple income streams. A few additional points that might help: First, consider keeping a separate credit card just for vehicle expenses if you go the actual expenses route. This makes tracking and documentation much cleaner, especially come tax time. Second, since you mentioned your current vehicle is falling apart, factor in the reliability benefit of leasing when comparing costs. Missing referee assignments or photo shoots due to car trouble could cost you more than the difference between deduction methods. Third, remember that the business use percentage applies to ALL vehicle expenses - not just lease payments. So if you determine you use the car 80% for business, that percentage applies to insurance, gas, maintenance, everything. Make sure your business use calculation is realistic and defensible. Finally, start that mileage log immediately when you get the new vehicle, even for a few weeks before you officially start the lease. This establishes your actual driving patterns and makes your business use percentage more credible to the IRS. Good luck with your decision! Both referee work and real estate photography are solid contractor gigs that definitely justify vehicle deductions.