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The whole system is broken tbh. They take our money instantly but take forever to give refunds back smh
Facts š¤ they quick to collect but slow to pay
I'm in a similar situation - filed my MD return on 2/3 and still waiting. The processing times have definitely gotten longer this year. I've been checking the Maryland Taxpayer Service Division website and they updated their expected processing time to 6-8 weeks for most returns. Hang in there, it's frustrating but seems like we're all in the same boat with the delays.
@Jasmine Hancock I feel you! I m'going through the same thing right now. One thing that helped my stress was setting up email alerts through the Ohio tax portal so I get notified immediately when there s'any update. At least then you re'not constantly checking manually. Hang in there! šŖ
Quick tip: Download the Stride app to track your mileage automatically. I drive for multiple apps and it's been a lifesaver. Just hit "start work" when you begin and "end work" when you're done. At tax time, it gives you a report with all your business miles and the deduction amount.
Does it drain your battery? I tried another mileage app and it killed my phone within a few hours.
I haven't noticed any significant battery drain. It uses your phone's GPS but seems pretty efficient about it. I can usually go a full 8-hour shift with about 25-30% battery use from the app. Much better than the other ones I tried before. I keep my phone plugged in while driving anyway, so it's never been an issue. The accuracy is really good too - it doesn't count small movements when I'm parked waiting for orders.
I totally understand the frustration! I went through the same confusion with my gig work taxes last year. Here's what I learned that might help: Your W-2 income and 1099 gig work are reported separately - don't try to combine them. The W-2 goes on the main 1040 form, and your gig income goes on Schedule C where you can deduct your business expenses. For your mileage, you're on the right track! You can deduct either actual vehicle expenses OR the standard mileage rate (currently $0.655 per mile for 2023). Since you tracked 15,600 miles, that's about $10,218 in deductions, which is substantial. Don't stress too much about making mistakes - the IRS typically sends letters first if there are issues, not immediate bank account seizures. They actually want to help you get it right. One thing that saved me: keep detailed records of everything. Besides mileage, you might be able to deduct things like phone bills (business portion), car washes, parking fees, and even some supplies. The key is having documentation. Have you considered using tax software specifically designed for gig workers? It can walk you through Schedule C step-by-step and make sure you don't miss any deductions. Much less stressful than trying to figure out the forms manually!
This is really helpful, Jessica! I'm curious about the phone bill deduction you mentioned. How do you calculate the "business portion" of your phone bill? Is it based on the percentage of time you're actively driving for gig work, or do you use some other method? Also, when you say "supplies," what kinds of things qualify? I keep napkins and phone chargers in my car for gig work - would those count as deductible business expenses?
U can always amend if ur worried but honestly its probly fine
DON'T AMEND! That'll delay everything way more than a spelling error
Similar thing happened to me with my son's name - had a typo in the middle name but everything processed fine! The IRS system is pretty forgiving with minor spelling errors as long as the SSN matches. Your refund should come through normally, so try not to stress too much about it. Next year just double-check against the social security card before submitting š
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear. I'm definitely going to be extra careful next year and have that SS card right next to me when I'm entering everything š
Liam McConnell
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was absolutely maddening! What finally worked for me was actually calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Service line (855-562-5227) early in the morning around 7 AM. Even though it's technically for tax professionals, they were able to help me reset my account access. The key was being super persistent and explaining that I couldn't file my taxes because of the account lockout. They transferred me to someone who could manually verify my identity over the phone using information from my previous tax returns. It took about 45 minutes total, but I was back in my account the same day. Worth trying before you go through the whole ID.me verification process again!
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GalacticGuardian
ā¢Wow, that's amazing that you got through! I've been trying the regular IRS number for weeks with no luck. Quick question - when you called the Practitioner Priority line, did they ask you to prove you were a tax professional or did they just help you directly? I'm worried they might turn me away since I'm not actually a practitioner. Also, do you remember what specific information from your tax returns they used to verify your identity? Want to make sure I have everything ready before I try calling. Thanks so much for this tip!
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Nathaniel Stewart
I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been locked out for 2 weeks and it's so frustrating. The ID.me system is such a pain - I've submitted my documents three times and keep getting generic email responses that don't actually solve anything. Has anyone had luck with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service that someone mentioned earlier? I'm getting desperate at this point and wondering if I should just try calling them directly instead of dealing with ID.me. This whole system feels broken! š¤
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