I went through this exact situation two months ago with an offset for old federal student loans. The frustrating part is that WMR really is the last system to get updated - I think it took 8 days in my case before it finally showed my actual remaining amount instead of the original full refund. What helped me was setting up text alerts with my bank so I'd know immediately when the remainder hit my account (which happened 2 days before WMR even updated). The offset notice from BFS came about 5 days after my refund was initially approved, and it had all the details about exactly how much was taken and who got it. My advice is to focus more on watching your bank account than refreshing WMR - the money will likely arrive before the tool catches up with reality.

Based on my experience with offsets, WMR typically takes 5-10 business days to reflect the correct remaining amount after an offset is processed. The system seems to prioritize showing your refund status over updating the specific dollar amounts when there's an offset involved. I'd recommend checking your tax transcript on the IRS website - it usually shows the offset details (codes 898 and 776) within 1-2 days of processing, which gives you the exact breakdown while you wait for WMR to catch up. Also keep in mind that your remaining refund will likely be deposited before WMR updates to show the new amount, so don't panic if the tool still shows confusing information even after you receive your money.

This is why I switched to a small local CPA. I was paying H&R Block around $400-500 for my 1099 returns, and my local accountant now charges $275 for the same service with better advice. Those big chains prey on people who don't know better and add on unnecessary services.

$1,300 is definitely excessive for your situation! I've been doing 1099 work for several years and have never paid anywhere near that amount. Even with unemployment income added to the mix, you should be looking at maybe $200-400 per year maximum at most tax prep services. The fact that they didn't discuss pricing upfront is a huge red flag. Legitimate tax preparers should always provide a clear fee schedule before starting any work. Since you haven't signed anything, you absolutely can walk away and take your documents elsewhere. For future reference, if you decide to file yourself, TurboTax Self-Employed handles 1099 income really well and costs around $120 per year. It walks you through all the deductions you can claim as an independent contractor. For unemployment income, that's actually pretty straightforward to report - it's just additional income that gets added to your return. Don't let them pressure you into paying those outrageous fees. Get quotes from at least 2-3 other preparers or seriously consider doing it yourself with good tax software.

Has anyone actually tried just calling H&R Block's customer service? I've used them for years and they've always been pretty straightforward about cancellations.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - if you do decide to cancel with H&R Block, make sure you get confirmation in writing (email) that you've cancelled and won't be charged. I've heard stories of people thinking they cancelled but still getting billed later. Also, since you mentioned owing $13k, definitely look into setting up an IRS payment plan if you need it. The IRS actually has pretty reasonable payment plan options, and the fees are way lower than what you'd pay in credit card interest. You can set it up online at IRS.gov and it's much easier than people think. Just make sure to file your return on time even if you can't pay the full amount - the failure-to-file penalty is much worse than the failure-to-pay penalty.

FWIW, the Chime subreddit has a whole megathread about tax refunds rn. Seems like most ppl with DDDs between 2/20-2/24 are getting them 1-2 days early. But there's always exceptions. Some banks (esp credit unions) don't process on weekends, but Chime does. IMO it's better to assume it'll come on the actual DDD and then be pleasantly surprised if it shows up early. Don't make any financial commitments based on getting it early!

I'm in the exact same situation! My transcript shows DDD 2/24/2025 and this is also my first year with Chime. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like there's a good chance we'll see it tomorrow or Friday, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. I've been checking my account way too often already 😅 One thing I learned from reading through these comments is that it really depends on when the IRS actually sends the payment file to the banks. The transcript just shows the "official" date, but the actual timing can vary. I'm going to follow the advice about not planning any expenses around getting it early - better to be surprised than disappointed! Thanks for starting this thread, it's been super helpful to see everyone's experiences with Chime and tax refunds!

Might be too late for this year, but for future reference - identity theft protection with your tax software is actually worth it for situations like this. I had a similar issue and the protection service included having a tax pro work directly with the IRS to resolve the mismatch. Saved me so much headache for like $40.

This is such a frustrating situation! I went through something similar after my divorce and name change back to my maiden name. What finally worked for me was getting a letter from the SSA called a "Social Security Number Verification Letter" (SSNVL) that shows exactly how your name appears in their system. You can request this online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, and it's free. The letter shows the exact spelling, punctuation, and formatting of your name as it appears in the SSA database. Then make sure you file your return using the EXACT same format - including middle initials, hyphens, spaces, everything. The key is that both systems need to match character-for-character. Even something as small as "Mary J. Smith" vs "Mary Smith" can cause a rejection. Once I got that verification letter and matched the formatting exactly, my return went through without any issues. Also, if you're still having trouble, you might want to file a paper return this year with a copy of your SSA verification letter attached. That usually forces a manual review and gets your information updated in the IRS system for future years.