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I just wanted to share my experience from last year to help set expectations. I filed my extended return by mail in July and it took exactly 11 weeks to get my refund. The most frustrating part was that the "Where's My Refund" tool didn't update at all until week 9, then suddenly showed "approved" and I had the money within 3 days. For what it's worth, I called the IRS around week 8 (waited 2.5 hours on hold) and the agent confirmed they had received my return but said it was in the "normal processing queue" with no way to expedite. She told me paper returns were taking 10-16 weeks at that time due to backlogs. Since you mailed yours in mid-June, you're probably looking at late August or early September based on current processing times. I know it's tough when you're counting on that money, but hang in there - it will come! The IRS transcript tip mentioned above is definitely worth checking too.
Thanks for sharing your timeline! 11 weeks is definitely on the longer side but it's helpful to know what to expect. I'm curious - when you called the IRS, did they give you any specific advice on what to do if it goes beyond 16 weeks? I'm at about 7 weeks now since mailing mine and starting to get antsy. The transcript suggestion sounds like a good middle ground to at least confirm they have it without having to endure those brutal hold times.
I'm dealing with the exact same situation - filed my extended return by mail in late June and it's been radio silence from the IRS ever since. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the IRS account transcript option, that's definitely something I'm going to check today. The processing timeline estimates people are sharing (6-16 weeks for paper returns) are both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time. At least now I know what to expect instead of just wondering if my return got lost in the mail somewhere. Has anyone here had experience with amended returns after using those analysis tools mentioned? I'm wondering if it's worth double-checking my return for missed deductions while I'm waiting anyway. Might as well make the most of this frustrating wait time!
@TommyKapitz I'm in almost the exact same boat! Filed my extended return by mail in early July and the waiting is killing me. The IRS transcript tip from this thread was a game-changer - I checked mine yesterday and it actually showed they received my return even though "Where's My Refund" still shows nothing. About the analysis tools people mentioned - I was skeptical at first but ended up trying one of them while waiting. It's definitely worth checking your return for missed deductions since you're stuck waiting anyway. I found a few things I overlooked that could increase my refund by around $800. Even if it means filing an amendment later, that extra money would be worth the hassle. The timeline estimates here have really helped set my expectations. Based on what others shared, looks like we're probably looking at September for our refunds if we mailed in late June/July. Not ideal but at least now I can plan around that instead of hoping it shows up any day!
This is such a helpful discussion! I've been confused about the same thing - seeing all these articles about 2025 changes but not understanding the actual mechanics of how tax laws can be modified. The explanation about budget reconciliation rules really clarifies why we're seeing this specific timeline. I had no idea that the 2017 tax cuts were designed to expire to comply with Senate procedures rather than because there was some legal requirement for how long tax laws can stay in effect. It's actually somewhat reassuring to know that while Congress *could* theoretically change tax laws constantly, the political reality creates more stability than the legal framework would suggest. I was worried we might see constant changes that would make financial planning impossible. Does anyone know if there are any proposals to change how this process works, or if we'll likely see the same pattern of temporary provisions in future tax legislation?
Great question about future patterns! From what I understand, as long as the current Senate filibuster rules remain in place, we'll likely continue seeing this cycle of temporary tax provisions. There have been discussions about reforming budget reconciliation rules or eliminating the filibuster for tax legislation, but those are major procedural changes that would require significant political consensus. Some lawmakers have proposed making certain popular provisions (like the child tax credit expansions) permanent through regular legislation, but that would require bipartisan support to get 60 Senate votes. The temporary nature creates this recurring "fiscal cliff" situation every 10-15 years where Congress has to decide whether to extend, modify, or let provisions expire. It's definitely not ideal for long-term planning, but it seems like the political reality we're stuck with unless there are major changes to Senate rules.
This thread has been incredibly enlightening! As someone who works in tax preparation, I can confirm that the uncertainty around these expiring provisions is causing a lot of anxiety for both preparers and taxpayers. One thing I'd add is that even when Congress does act on these expiring provisions, they often wait until the very last minute - sometimes even retroactively. For example, many tax extenders have been renewed in December for the tax year that's already ending. This creates a nightmare for tax software companies and preparers who have to scramble to update everything. The political reality is that lawmakers often use these expiring provisions as leverage in broader negotiations, which is why we rarely get early clarity on what will actually happen. It's frustrating from a planning perspective, but it's become the norm. For anyone trying to plan ahead, I'd recommend preparing scenarios for both outcomes - what your taxes would look like if the provisions expire versus if they're extended. At least then you're not caught completely off guard either way.
Has anyone used QuickBooks to handle this Schedule L balancing issue? We're in a similar situation (4-member LLC, 3 years behind) and I've been told we should just start with QB to reconstruct everything.
I went through almost the exact same situation with our 3-partner LLC last year - multiple years behind on taxes and a completely messed up Schedule L. Here's what finally worked for me: First, don't stress too much about having perfect inventory numbers from 2020. The IRS understands that small businesses sometimes have incomplete records, especially when catching up on back filings. What matters is that your methodology is reasonable and documented. For the Schedule L balance, I found it helpful to work through it step by step: 1. Start with your cash accounts - these are usually the most accurate 2. Work through your fixed assets (equipment, furniture, etc.) - use purchase receipts or reasonable depreciated values 3. For inventory, since yours stays consistent, using current levels adjusted for any major changes is totally acceptable 4. Then tackle liabilities - loans, credit cards, accounts payable 5. Finally, capital accounts should reflect what each partner actually contributed The key thing that saved me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track each partner's contributions and distributions year by year. This helped me figure out the correct capital account balances. Also, once you get Schedule L sorted, definitely deal with the IRS sooner rather than later about the late filing penalties. They're surprisingly reasonable if you're proactive about catching up, and there are penalty relief options for first-time filers who are behind. You've got this - the hardest part is just getting started!
This is incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my 2-partner LLC and the step-by-step approach you outlined makes so much sense. One question about the capital accounts - when you say "what each partner actually contributed," does this include both initial cash contributions AND any additional money we put in over the years to cover expenses? We've had several instances where we each chipped in extra cash when business was slow, but we never really tracked it formally as capital contributions. Also, how detailed did you get with the spreadsheet? Did you track every small contribution or just the major ones?
This is such a timely discussion! I've been dealing with this exact scenario and wanted to add a practical perspective. I've been moving between Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs strategically for tax-loss harvesting, and so far it's worked well under current rules. One thing I'd emphasize is keeping meticulous records. Even though the current guidance suggests these swaps don't trigger wash sale rules, you want to be able to demonstrate to the IRS (if ever audited) that you understand the distinction between holding actual cryptocurrency versus securities that track cryptocurrency. I also set up separate tracking for my crypto transactions vs my ETF transactions in my portfolio management system. This makes it much easier come tax time to identify which losses are subject to wash sale rules and which aren't. The key is being prepared for potential rule changes. I'm continuing to use this strategy while it's available, but I'm also not going overboard with it since the regulatory landscape could shift pretty quickly in this space.
This is really helpful advice about record keeping! I'm new to crypto trading and just starting to understand these tax implications. Can you recommend any specific portfolio management systems that work well for tracking crypto vs ETF transactions separately? I'm currently just using a basic spreadsheet but I can already see it's going to get messy once I have more transactions to track.
I've been using a combination of CoinTracker for my crypto transactions and just the built-in tools from my brokerage (Schwab) for ETF tracking. CoinTracker automatically imports from most major exchanges and categorizes everything properly. For the ETF side, most brokerages now have decent tax reporting that separates out wash sales automatically. The key is making sure you can easily cross-reference between the two systems when tax time comes. I export reports from both and keep them in the same folder with clear naming conventions like "2024_Crypto_Transactions" and "2024_ETF_Transactions." This way if there's ever a question about whether a particular trade sequence triggered wash sale rules, I can quickly show the IRS that one was crypto property and the other was securities. Also worth noting - if you're doing a lot of trading, consider keeping a simple log of your strategy. Just a note like "Sold BTC at loss, bought BITO next day for continued Bitcoin exposure without wash sale" can be really helpful documentation if you ever need to explain your reasoning.
Great discussion everyone! As someone who's been navigating this space for a while, I wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help others. One thing to keep in mind is the timing aspect - even though crypto-to-ETF swaps currently don't trigger wash sale rules, you still want to be strategic about when you make these moves. I've found it helpful to batch my transactions rather than constantly switching back and forth, both for record-keeping simplicity and to avoid any potential gray areas if the rules change. Also, don't forget about state tax implications! While the federal wash sale rules are what we've been discussing, some states have their own quirks around cryptocurrency taxation. I learned this the hard way when I moved from California to Texas mid-year. For those using the strategy actively, I'd suggest setting up a simple calendar reminder to review any pending legislation around crypto taxation quarterly. The regulatory environment is moving fast, and you want to stay ahead of any changes that might affect your approach. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with the various tools and services - really helpful to hear real-world feedback rather than just theoretical tax advice!
This is really valuable advice about batching transactions and staying on top of regulatory changes! As someone new to both crypto and tax planning, I'm curious about the state tax angle you mentioned. Do you know if states like New York or Florida have any specific rules that might affect crypto-to-ETF strategies differently than federal rules? I'm planning a move next year and want to make sure I understand the implications before I relocate. Also, your point about quarterly reviews is smart - do you have any specific resources you follow for crypto tax legislation updates, or do you just check the usual government sites?
AstroAdventurer
This is exactly the kind of thread I needed to find! I'm currently on day 6 since my Michigan return moved to "completed" status, and I was starting to wonder if something had gone wrong with my direct deposit information or if there was an issue with my return. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - it's clear that this 7-14 day wait after "completed" status is just the reality this year, even though it's frustrating. The batch processing explanation makes total sense and explains why the timing seems so random from a taxpayer perspective. @QuantumQuasar - thanks for coming back to share your actual timeline! Getting your deposit on day 10 gives me hope that I should see movement soon. I'll definitely be watching for deposits on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday based on the processing patterns people have identified. @Barab'bas - I'm so sorry about your 69-day wait. That's completely unacceptable, especially when you're dealing with financial hardship. The disparity between e-filing and paper filing processing times this year seems extreme. For everyone still waiting - this community knowledge has been infinitely more valuable than anything on the Michigan Treasury website. It's reassuring to know we're all in the same boat and that the refunds do eventually come through, just with more patience required than usual this year. I'll make sure to update when mine processes to add another data point to our collective timeline tracking!
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Aisha Mahmood
ā¢Welcome to the waiting club! I'm actually a newcomer to this whole Michigan tax situation myself, but wow, reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that state tax processing could be this complex and unpredictable. As someone who's new to this community, I'm really impressed by how supportive everyone is being with sharing their timelines and strategies. @QuantumQuasar's success story on day 10 is definitely encouraging, and the pattern recognition that @Luca Esposito has been doing is fascinating - it s'like crowdsourced data analysis of the Michigan Treasury system! The batch processing explanation makes so much sense from a systems perspective, even though it s'frustrating as taxpayers. It sounds like Michigan Treasury is basically running their refund processing like a manufacturing assembly line rather than individual case processing. @Barab bas'- I m'so sorry about your situation. 69 days for such a simple return seems completely unreasonable, especially when you re'in a tough financial spot. The paper vs e-filing disparity this year sounds particularly harsh. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful resource here. As a newcomer, this thread has taught me more about Michigan tax processing than hours of trying to navigate their official website. Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting!
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Emma Bianchi
New to Michigan taxes this year and honestly had no idea what I was getting into! I moved here from Ohio where state refunds were pretty straightforward and quick. My Michigan return has been sitting at "completed" status for 4 days now, and I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong with my filing. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you to everyone sharing your experiences and timelines! The batch processing explanation makes so much sense, even though it's frustrating to be stuck in an invisible queue. It sounds like 7-14 days after "completed" status is the new reality this year. @QuantumQuasar - congrats on getting your deposit on day 10! That gives me hope I should see movement soon. @Luca Esposito - your tracking and analysis has been incredibly helpful for setting expectations. And @Barab'bas - I'm so sorry about your 69-day ordeal with the paper filing. That's completely unacceptable. I'll definitely update here when my refund processes to add another data point. This community knowledge is so much better than trying to decode the vague status messages on the official Michigan Treasury website! Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting. š¤
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Pedro Sawyer
ā¢Welcome to Michigan taxes! I'm actually pretty new to this whole situation too, having just moved here recently. It's really reassuring to find this community of people sharing their experiences - I had no idea state tax processing could be this complicated compared to other states. Your 4-day timeline puts you right at the beginning of what seems to be the typical waiting period. Based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like you're well within the normal range and should hopefully see movement in the next week or so. The batch processing system everyone's identified explains why it feels so random from our perspective - we're basically waiting for our invisible queue number to come up! I'm really impressed by how helpful everyone has been in this thread, especially @Luca Esposito s'data tracking and @QuantumQuasar coming back to share their successful timeline. It s'created such a valuable resource for those of us navigating this process. Thanks for sharing your Ohio comparison too - that s'really interesting context about how different states handle refund processing. Michigan definitely seems to have a more complex system, but at least now we know what to expect thanks to everyone s'shared experiences here! Looking forward to hearing when your refund comes through. This community knowledge-sharing has been such a lifesaver during the waiting game!
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