Did you file by paper or electronically? Makes a huge difference these days

This is a classic case of a "ghost return" - where you think you filed but the IRS has no record. The $0 balance isn't necessarily good news here since there's literally nothing to balance against. A few things to check immediately: 1) Log into your tax software account and verify the return was actually transmitted (not just prepared), 2) Check your bank account for any fee charges from the tax prep company - if they didn't charge you, they probably didn't file, 3) Look for email confirmations with specific IRS acceptance numbers. If you can't find proof of filing, you'll need to file ASAP. The good news is if you're owed a refund, there's usually no penalty for late filing, but if you owe money, penalties and interest start accruing from the original due date.

Tbh I get the concern, but there's a huge diff between services that ask for your personal info vs ones that just help navigate systems. Claimyr doesn't need your SSN or anything - it just helps you skip the phone tree. And taxr.ai just helps interpret codes that are already on your transcript - you don't upload sensitive docs. I was super hesitant too until I realized they're just tools, kinda like using Waze instead of regular maps. They don't need your destination, just help you navigate the traffic.

This is super helpful info everyone! I'm dealing with the same situation - DDD was today but nothing in my USAA account yet. I had no idea about the SBTPG temporary account thing when I chose to pay fees from refund. Makes total sense now why there's an extra delay. @Kaitlyn Jenkins - have you gotten any updates since posting? I'm trying to decide if I should just wait it out or try calling the IRS. Sounds like 1-3 business days after DDD is normal for the TurboTax fee situation.

Just checking - have you contacted the original company that sponsored your H2B visa? They're the ones who are legally responsible for your employment, and they might not even know this "contractor" is handling things improperly. When I worked on an H2B at a resort, something similar happened, and when I contacted HR at the main company, they were horrified and fixed the situation immediately.

This situation is absolutely unacceptable and potentially illegal. As an H2B visa holder, you have specific legal protections that are being violated here. The fact that you're working through a "contractor" instead of your actual visa sponsor, receiving payments from various bank accounts, and getting payslips via WhatsApp are all major red flags indicating potential visa fraud and tax evasion. DO NOT provide your SSN for a 1099 - this would make you complicit in tax fraud since H2B workers must be W-2 employees with proper withholding. I'd recommend taking these immediate steps: 1) Contact the DOL's National H-2B Fraud Detection Unit at 1-866-4-USWAGE, 2) Report this to ICE since it involves visa fraud, and 3) Contact an immigration attorney who handles H2B cases. Document everything - those WhatsApp messages, payment records, and any communication about the 1099. This contractor setup is designed to avoid paying proper taxes and could jeopardize your visa status. Your sponsoring employer needs to be made aware immediately as they're legally responsible for ensuring you're properly employed and classified.

Has anyone used TurboTax to file with Sweater Ventures investments? I'm wondering if it handles the forms correctly or if I should use a CPA this year since I started investing.

As someone who just went through my first year of investment taxes, I can totally understand your nervousness! Here's what I wish I had known starting out: First, don't let tax fear keep you from investing - it's really manageable once you understand the basics. Sweater Ventures should provide you with all necessary tax documents (likely K-1 forms as others mentioned) by mid-March typically. My biggest piece of advice: start a simple spreadsheet right now to track your investments. Note the date, amount invested, and any distributions received. Even though the platform will provide documents, having your own records helps you double-check everything. Also consider opening your first investments through a Roth IRA if you're eligible - the tax implications are much simpler since you've already paid taxes on the money going in, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Many platforms including Sweater allow IRA investments. The tax complexity really isn't as bad as it seems from the outside. Take the leap - you can always start small and learn as you go!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation too! Filed my injured spouse form in May 2024 and I'm at 18 weeks now with minimal movement on my transcript. My husband has old student loan debt and they seized our entire $4,100 refund. What's been helpful for me is creating a spreadsheet to track all the transaction codes and dates - it helps me spot any small changes I might have missed. I've seen TC 971 AC 281 on my transcript which means they received my form, but still waiting for the AC 231 code that shows it's actually processed. One thing I learned from calling the IRS is that they're apparently backed up even more than usual this year. The agent told me that injured spouse claims filed with 2023 returns (for 2024 processing) are taking 20-26 weeks on average, not the 8-14 weeks they advertise. I know it's incredibly frustrating - we're basically giving the government an interest-free loan while they take their sweet time figuring out how to give us back our own money! But based on what I've read here and other forums, it does eventually process. Just wish there was better communication about realistic timelines. Hang in there - hopefully we'll both see movement soon! 🤞

I'm in a similar situation and feel your frustration! Filed my injured spouse form in March 2024 after my husband's old student loan debt caused them to offset our entire $4,500 refund. I'm now at 19 weeks with very minimal movement on my transcript. What I've learned through this painful process: 1. The 8-14 week timeframe is completely unrealistic. From everyone I've talked to and posts I've read, 18-25 weeks seems to be the actual reality right now. 2. Look for TC 971 AC 281 on your transcript - that shows they received your form. Then TC 971 AC 231 means it's processed and approved. Finally TC 846 is when they actually issue the refund. 3. The amount you get back depends on how you completed Part III of the form. If you earned 60% of the household income and had similar withholding percentages, you should get roughly 60% of the refund back. 4. Calling the IRS before 20+ weeks usually just gets you the standard "still processing" response and doesn't speed anything up. I know it's incredibly frustrating to wait this long for your own money, especially when you need it. Just try to stay patient - from what I've seen, these do eventually process, it just takes way longer than it should. Keep checking your transcript weekly and hopefully you'll see movement soon! The system is definitely broken when we have to wait 5+ months to get back money that was rightfully ours to begin with. Hang in there! 💪