I totally understand your frustration! I went through the exact same thing last year - had a deposit date and nothing showed up in my account. The anxiety of waiting for money you really need is the worst. From my experience and what I've learned, the IRS "deposit date" is really when they send the payment to your bank, not when it actually hits your account. Most banks take 1-2 business days to process it after receiving it from the IRS. Since tomorrow is your scheduled date, I'd give it until Thursday or Friday before worrying. Also, smaller banks often don't show pending deposits at all until they actually post. If you still don't see anything by Friday, that's when I'd start making calls or checking your transcript for any issues. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same anxiety last year! The waiting is brutal when you really need that money. Here's what I learned: the IRS "deposit date" is actually when they release the funds to your bank, not when it hits your account. Your bank then needs 1-3 business days to process and post it. Since you're with a smaller bank and they told you they don't see anything pending, that's actually pretty normal - many banks don't show IRS deposits as pending until they're ready to post. I'd definitely wait until Friday before getting worried. If nothing shows up by then, check your transcript on the IRS website (irs.gov) - it will show if there are any holds or issues with your refund that the Where's My Refund tool doesn't display. The transcript codes can be confusing, but there are tools that can help interpret them if needed. Try to hang in there - in most cases, the money shows up within a day or two of the scheduled date!

Just want to add another perspective here - I went through this exact situation two years ago when I returned to school at 29. My dad paid my tuition directly to the university, and I was able to successfully claim the American Opportunity Credit. The key things that helped me were: 1) Making sure I wasn't claimed as a dependent on my dad's return, 2) Getting written documentation from my dad stating the payments were a gift to me for educational purposes, and 3) Keeping all the university payment records showing the amounts and dates. One thing to watch out for - if any part of your tuition was paid with tax-free funds (like scholarships, grants, or employer tuition assistance), you'll need to subtract those amounts from what you can claim for the credit. Only out-of-pocket qualified expenses count. Also, since you're working part-time, make sure your income doesn't exceed the phase-out limits. For 2024, the American Opportunity Credit phases out between $80,000-$90,000 for single filers, and Lifetime Learning Credit has the same phase-out range. With part-time work you're probably well under that, but good to double-check. The fact that you're 36 doesn't disqualify you from AOTC as long as you haven't already used it for four previous tax years. Good luck!

I'm in a very similar situation - 28 years old, back in school for nursing, and my parents have been covering my tuition. This thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add that might be useful for others: if you're unsure about your dependency status, you can check IRS Publication 501. The key tests are support (did you provide more than half your own support), age (over 24 for students), and residency. Since you're 36 and working, you're almost certainly not a dependent. Also, keep in mind that if you do qualify for education credits, you might want to consider whether it's better to take the credit or deduct the tuition. Credits are usually more valuable since they reduce your tax dollar-for-dollar, while deductions just reduce your taxable income. Has anyone here had experience with the IRS questioning third-party payments during an audit? I'm wondering how common that is and what kind of documentation they typically want to see beyond the 1098-T and payment records.

Another way to verify is to look at your actual tax return form - specifically Form 1040. On line 22b, it should show the total refund amount you were entitled to. Then compare that to what you actually received in your bank account. The difference should match your advance amount. If the math adds up, you're all good! I learned this the hard way after panicking about the same thing last year 😅

Pro tip: if you're still worried about it, you can also check your credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com to make sure there's no outstanding debt from H&R Block showing up. But honestly, if you got your refund deposited, the advance was definitely paid back automatically - that's literally how their system works. They can't send you money without first taking what you owe them!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with my growing Instagram account and had no idea about the tax implications. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to start tracking all PR packages I receive with their retail values. Quick question though - for those who've been through audits or dealt with the IRS on this, how detailed do the records need to be? Should I be taking photos of everything I receive, keeping the original packaging, or is just a spreadsheet with dates and estimated values enough? I want to make sure I'm documenting everything properly from the start. Also, does anyone know if there's a minimum threshold? Like if a brand sends me a $5 lip balm, do I really need to report that too or is there some kind of de minimis rule for small items?

This is exactly the kind of confusion that trips up so many new influencers! The key thing to understand is that the IRS looks at the intent behind why you received the items, not whether there's a formal agreement. Even those "hope you enjoy" packages are sent because you have influence and a following - that's why they found you in the first place. I'd recommend starting a simple spreadsheet right now to track everything: date received, brand, products, retail value. Don't stress about small items under $25, but definitely track anything substantial. The $300 beauty box you mentioned absolutely needs to be reported as miscellaneous income. One helpful tip: if you do end up featuring any of these products in your content later, you may be able to deduct them as business expenses, which can offset some of the tax burden. But you'll need good records to support both the income reporting and any potential deductions. Better to be safe and report everything than deal with an audit later - the penalties and interest can be brutal!

Just went through this nightmare myself! Filed Form 8822 back in November when I moved and STILL had issues with my refund going to the old address in January 🤦‍♀️ The IRS systems don't talk to each other apparently. Had to call that hotline like 5 times before someone finally noted my case and reissued the check. Definitely file the form ASAP but also call them directly - sometimes the form takes weeks to process and your refund could get sent out before they update your address in their system. So frustrating but you'll get through it! The reissued check only took about 3 weeks once they actually processed my address change.

This is such a common issue and it's so stressful when you're already waiting months! 😫 Everyone's advice here is spot on - definitely file Form 8822 immediately and call the IRS hotline. I went through something similar when I moved during tax season last year. What really helped me was doing BOTH the form AND calling on the same day, then following up with another call about a week later to make sure they actually processed the address change in their system. The representatives can see if your address update went through and flag your refund case specifically. Also keep records of when you filed the form and any confirmation numbers from your calls - you might need them later. The whole process sucks but you'll get your money eventually! Hang in there! 💪