Thanks for sharing this! I'm in a similar boat - filed in late January with EIC and just got my state refund yesterday. It's reassuring to hear that this is pretty normal. I've been checking my transcript obsessively and see the 570 code, so I guess I'm just playing the waiting game until mid-February. The anxiety is real when you're counting on that money for important expenses like tuition! Did you end up getting your federal refund right when the PATH Act lifted, or was there additional delay even after February 15th?

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed early with EIC and got my state refund two days ago, but still waiting on federal. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea that state and federal processing were completely separate systems. I've been checking my transcript and see the 570 code, so sounds like I'm just in the normal PATH Act holding pattern. It's frustrating when you know they've already processed everything but are making us wait until mid-February anyway! At least knowing this is normal helps with the anxiety. Going to try that Wednesday/Friday transcript checking schedule someone mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

What about when you take potential clients out to dinner? I do vending at trade shows and sometimes take potential booth renters out to discuss business. Is that still 50% or is it something else? Also, is there a limit to how much you can spend per person?

As someone who runs a mobile food business and travels to different events, I can share what I've learned through trial and error (and a few IRS notices!). The 50% rule applies to most of your personal meals while traveling for business. The key word here is "personal" - if you're buying food that you consume yourself, it's generally 50% deductible. One thing that caught me off guard: groceries CAN be deductible if you're traveling overnight for business and staying somewhere without restaurant access. I learned this when I was doing a week-long festival in a remote area and had to buy groceries because there were no restaurants nearby. Just document why restaurants weren't a reasonable option. For contractor meals, treat them the same as employee meals - 50% deductible in most cases. But if you're providing meals as part of their compensation package, that might be a different category entirely. My biggest lesson: when in doubt, document everything. Write on the receipt WHO was there, WHAT business was discussed, and WHY the expense was necessary. The IRS cares more about proper documentation than the actual dollar amount in most cases. Also, don't forget about incidental expenses like tips to restaurant staff - those follow the same percentage rules as the underlying meal expense.

I might be overreacting, but I would perhaps consider calling them if it doesn't update within about two weeks or so. My brother-in-law waited almost a month thinking it was processing normally, but it turned out his verification wasn't properly recorded in their system. The IRS representative told him it happens occasionally when they're overwhelmed with in-person verifications during peak season.

I went through this same situation last month. My in-person verification took 11 business days to clear from the system, which was frustrating since I needed my refund quickly too. What helped me was checking my account transcript on the IRS website every few days - you can see if your verification was actually processed even if the notification is still there. The transcript will show a code 971 when they receive your verification documents. Also, make sure you keep any paperwork they gave you at the IRS office - I had to reference my confirmation number when I called to check on the status. Hang in there, the gig economy struggles are real and that refund will come through!

Double check that your withholding from your paychecks was entered correctly. If TurboTax thinks you had way more tax withheld than you actually did, that could explain the large refund. Check line 25d on your draft 1040 - this should match the total federal tax withheld from all your W-2 boxes.

Your refund amount sounds completely legitimate! As a single parent with two kids in that income bracket, you're hitting the sweet spot for multiple tax benefits. The EITC alone can be worth up to $6,728 for someone with 2 qualifying children in your income range. Add the Child Tax Credit ($4,000 for two kids) and education credits (up to $2,500), and you're already at over $13,000 in potential credits. The key thing to remember is that these are refundable credits - meaning even if they exceed your actual tax liability, you still get the full refund. This is exactly how the tax system is designed to support working families like yours. I'd suggest keeping all your documentation organized (W-2s, education receipts, proof your kids live with you) just in case, but don't let fear of an audit stop you from claiming what you're entitled to. The IRS processes millions of returns with similar refund amounts for single parents every year.

I'm in the exact same boat - DDD 2/24 with H&R Block Emerald card and still waiting! Been checking my account obsessively since yesterday. Reading through these comments, it sounds like the timing can be pretty unpredictable. Some people got theirs early, others had delays. I'm going to follow the advice about checking my H&R Block account for any alerts and maybe give them a call if nothing shows up by tomorrow afternoon. Really hoping it comes through soon since I have bills due this week!

Same DDD here (2/24) with H&R Block Emerald card! Still waiting too, but after reading everyone's experiences I'm feeling a bit more patient. It sounds like the timing really varies - some got theirs the night before, some early morning, and others had to wait a few extra days. I'm going to check my H&R Block account online tonight for any alerts or notifications, and if nothing shows by Wednesday afternoon I'll call the number on the back of the card. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines - it's helpful to know this variation is normal and we're not alone in the waiting game!