been waiting since january 15th... hrb dates mean nothing tbh

The Feb 24th date is basically an educated guess from H&R Block based on typical IRS processing times. I've seen it go both ways - sometimes you get it exactly on that date, sometimes a few days earlier or later. What's more concerning is that your federal refund amount isn't displaying properly (just showing "$"). That might be a glitch on their end, but I'd double-check your actual return to make sure everything was filed correctly. Since your return is already accepted, you're in the IRS system now. The real timeline depends on their processing queue and if there are any issues with your return. I'd recommend checking the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool directly - it updates more frequently than H&R Block's once-daily refresh and will give you the most accurate status. Don't stress too much about the exact date though. The 21-day window they mention is pretty standard, and Feb 24th falls within that timeframe if you filed recently.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's dealt with payroll issues before, I wanted to add one more thing to check - make sure your sister's W-4 wasn't accidentally processed under the old allowances system if HR is using outdated forms or procedures. Even though the W-4 was redesigned in 2020, some smaller companies or older payroll systems still try to convert the new format back to "allowances" for their calculations. If someone mistakenly entered a high number of allowances (like 8-10) when trying to interpret her W-4, that could result in extremely low withholding like the $78 you're seeing. Also, given that this is a new job, she should double-check that HR has her correct Social Security number in the system. I've seen cases where a single digit error in the SSN causes the payroll system to default to minimal withholding because it can't properly verify the employee's tax information with IRS databases. The fact that so many people in this thread have shared similar experiences and solutions really shows how common these issues are. The key is catching it early like you did - waiting until tax season would definitely have been painful! Hopefully between checking the W-4, verifying her SSN, and looking into potential system errors, she can get this resolved quickly.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly thorough! I'm impressed by how many different potential causes everyone has identified. As someone who works in tax preparation, I see these withholding issues ALL the time, especially with new employees. Based on everything discussed here, I'd recommend your sister take a three-step approach: 1) **Immediate action**: Get a copy of her W-4 from HR and verify it's filled out correctly. Pay special attention to whether she accidentally claimed exempt status or if there are any errors in her personal information. 2) **Verify payroll setup**: Ask HR to confirm her salary, filing status, start date, and SSN are all entered correctly in their system. As several people mentioned, new employee setup errors are incredibly common. 3) **Calculate catch-up withholding**: Once the issue is identified and fixed, use the IRS withholding calculator to determine if she needs additional withholding for the remaining pay periods to avoid owing a large amount in April. The $78 per paycheck is definitely a red flag for someone making $65k annually. For comparison, that's only about $2,000 in federal withholding for the entire year, which would likely result in owing several thousand dollars at tax time. Acting now could save her from both a huge tax bill and potential underpayment penalties. Good catch on spotting this early!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is liability protection. Since you're charging for tax prep services, you might want to consider getting some basic professional liability insurance. Even for simple returns, mistakes can happen and the IRS can impose penalties on both you and your clients. Also, make sure you understand the difference between being a "tax preparer" vs just "helping friends." Once you start charging, you're officially in business territory and need to follow all the rules - PTIN registration, proper record keeping, continuing education requirements if you do more than a few returns, etc. The IRS has pretty clear guidelines on their website about when you cross from casual help to professional services. I'd recommend starting small this year to get a feel for the workload and responsibilities before taking on more clients next season.

Great discussion here! As someone who's been preparing taxes professionally for a few years, I'd add that client management becomes just as important as the software choice when you're handling multiple returns. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple intake form for each client that includes all their basic info, what documents they need to provide, and their preferred communication method. This saves so much time during tax season when you're juggling multiple people's deadlines. Also, set clear expectations upfront about timelines and what happens if they're missing documents. I learned the hard way that "just helping friends" can quickly turn into stress if someone waits until April 14th to give you their W-2! Having a written agreement, even informal, protects both you and your clients. The PTIN requirement and liability insurance suggestions are spot-on. It might seem like overkill for a few returns, but you're protecting yourself and showing clients you take this seriously. Good luck with your side hustle - it can be really rewarding work!

I had a similar situation two years ago when our family daycare suddenly shut down mid-year. Here's what worked for me: 1. Check with your bank - if you paid by check, the canceled checks might have the EIN printed on them when they were processed by the daycare's bank. 2. Contact your state's Department of Social Services or equivalent agency that oversees childcare licensing. They maintain records of all licensed providers including their tax identification numbers. 3. Try reaching out to other parents who used the same daycare. Someone might have kept better records or received different paperwork that includes the EIN. 4. If the daycare was part of a larger organization or franchise, try contacting the parent company - they would have the EIN information. Don't give up on claiming this credit - $14,000 is a substantial amount and you're entitled to significant tax savings. Worst case, you can file your return and attach a statement explaining the situation. The IRS may follow up for more documentation, but they generally work with taxpayers in good faith when businesses close unexpectedly.

Another option to consider is checking with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office or SCORE mentoring chapter. Sometimes when small businesses close down abruptly, the owners reach out to these organizations for guidance, and they might have contact information for the former owner. You could also try searching for the business owner's name in your local court records - if the daycare closed due to financial issues, there might be bankruptcy filings or other legal documents that would list the EIN. If all else fails and you absolutely cannot locate the EIN, you can still file Form 2441 and write "Applied For" in the EIN field, then attach a detailed explanation of your efforts to obtain the information. The IRS has procedures for handling these situations, especially when a business has ceased operations. Just make sure to keep all your receipts and document every attempt you made to get the EIN - this shows good faith effort on your part. Don't let this discourage you from claiming the credit you're entitled to. The IRS deals with defunct business situations more often than you'd think!

I went through this exact same situation when I first started my single-member LLC! The key thing that helped me understand it was realizing that for tax purposes, your LLC is completely transparent to the IRS - they literally "disregard" it and treat all your business income as personal income. So even though you have an EIN and LLC name, and some of your 1099s might have your SSN instead, it doesn't create any filing issues. Everything should go in the business section of TurboTax just like you planned. The software will automatically flow your business profit through Schedule C to your personal return. What I learned from my accountant is that the IRS systems are specifically designed to handle these mixed identifier situations because they're incredibly common with single-member LLCs. Many clients don't know whether to use your SSN or EIN, so you end up with a mix. For next year, I'd definitely recommend sending updated W-9 forms to all your clients with your EIN and exact business name. It won't change your taxes, but it's better for privacy and helps establish your business identity for credit purposes. You're handling this correctly - don't overthink it! This is one of those situations that seems way more complicated than it actually is.

I just went through this exact same situation with my consulting LLC and wanted to share what worked for me! Like everyone else has mentioned, you're absolutely doing the right thing by entering everything in the business section of TurboTax, even with the SSN/EIN mismatch on your 1099s. What really helped me was understanding that as a single-member LLC, you're essentially invisible to the IRS for tax purposes - they call it a "disregarded entity" which means your business income flows directly to your personal return via Schedule C. So whether your 1099s show your SSN or EIN, you'll pay the exact same taxes and everything flows to the same place. I had a similar mix of 1099s - some clients used my SSN from when I was freelancing before the LLC, and newer clients used my EIN. I entered all of them in TurboTax's business section and had zero issues. The IRS systems are designed to match both identifiers to your return. For next year, I sent all my clients a simple email with my EIN and business name asking them to update their vendor records. Most were happy to switch - it just took a little proactive communication. The privacy benefits alone make it worth doing, plus it helps establish your business credit history. You're definitely overthinking this (I did too!). File everything under your business section and you'll be good to go. This is incredibly common with new LLC owners!