I believe I can share a specific example that might help illustrate the process. When I filed through TurboTax in February, my total refund was approximately $3,200. I chose to have my TurboTax fees ($89 for Deluxe) deducted from my refund. The IRS approved my return on February 12th and issued the full $3,200 to the temporary account at Santa Barbara Tax Products Group. From there, SBTPG took the $89 TurboTax fee plus their own $39 processing fee, leaving $3,072 which was deposited to my bank account on February 15th. The deposit showed as "SBTPG LLC TAX REFUND" on my bank statement, not from the IRS directly. You can actually track this whole process on the SBTPG website if you create an account.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in the exact same situation as Maria - chose to pay TurboTax fees from my refund and was confused about the process. Based on everyone's explanations, it sounds like the key things to know are: 1) Your refund goes to SBTPG first, not directly to your bank, 2) They deduct TurboTax fees PLUS an additional $39 processing fee, 3) This adds 2-5 business days to your timeline, and 4) You can track the process on the SBTPG website. I wish TurboTax made this clearer upfront, but at least now I know what to expect when my refund comes through!

I went through this exact issue last month! Don't panic about the 1099-SA. Here's what I learned - the HSA contribution limits for 2025 are $4,150 for individual coverage and $8,300 for family coverage. If you're over 55, you can add an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution. Make sure your combined contributions (yours + employer's) shown in W-2 boxes 12a and 12b don't exceed these limits. If they do, that's where the "Earnings on Excess Contributions" might come into play. One thing that tripped me up: you need Form 8889 to report both HSA contributions AND distributions. The 1099-SA info goes on this form, not directly on your 1040. Most tax software walks you through this pretty well once you have all your forms.

Hey Zoe! I went through this exact same situation when I switched jobs last year. The good news is that once you get your 1099-SA from your HSA provider, it's actually pretty straightforward to handle on your tax return. Since you mentioned you're between jobs and need to file ASAP, here's what I'd recommend: Log into your HSA provider's website immediately and look for a "Tax Documents" or "Forms" section. Most providers have 2024 tax forms available online already. If you can't find it or don't have online access, call them directly and explain your urgent financial situation - they're usually pretty helpful when you mention you need it for unemployment/assistance applications. One thing that really helped me was keeping track of exactly what each HSA withdrawal was for. Since you mentioned $780 for doctor visits and prescriptions, make sure you have receipts or documentation for those expenses. When you file, you'll report these as qualified medical expenses on Form 8889, which means they won't be taxable income. The process is much less scary than it seems once you have the right forms! The 1099-SA will show your total distributions in Box 1, and you'll use Form 8889 to show they were for qualified medical expenses. Most tax software walks you through this step by step. Hang in there - you've got this!

Just adding another perspective - while there's no limit on how MUCH you can convert from Traditional to Roth IRA, be careful about tax brackets when converting large amounts. Converting $14,500 might not push you into the next tax bracket, but larger amounts could. I converted $52,000 last year and it bumped me into a higher tax bracket, which I wasn't prepared for. Now I spread conversions across multiple years to manage the tax hit better.

Watch out for something called the "five-year rule" with Roth conversions! After you convert, you need to wait 5 tax years before withdrawing the CONVERTED AMOUNTS (not the earnings) penalty-free if you're under 59½. This tripped me up badly.

I swear watching these deposits is worse than tracking a package lmaooo refreshing my account every 5 mins

Same boat here! DDD 2/12 with Credit Karma and had fees taken out. Based on what everyone's saying, sounds like we should see it hit tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. The waiting game is brutal though - definitely feels like Christmas morning as a kid 😅

Got my trace # this AM! Filed 2/15, accepted same day, 846 code on 3/1, SBTPG got it 3/5, trace showed up today 3/7. BTW if ur using the app vs website they show diff info sometimes. App showed nothing but website had my trace when I checked. Might wanna try both if ur waiting. GL everyone!

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed on 3/2, accepted 3/3, got my 846 code on 3/5, but still no trace number from SBTPG. I've been checking both their website and app multiple times daily (thanks Gabriel Freeman for that tip - didn't know they could show different info!). Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like we're in the normal range for this year's delays. I'm going to try calling that direct number Debra Bai mentioned (800-901-6663, option 2, then option 4) if I don't see anything by Monday. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Will update if I get any movement on my trace number!