I filed with FreeTaxUSA on February 20th and just got my refund deposited yesterday (March 12th) - so about 3 weeks total. I was getting worried too because the WMR tool showed "processing" for what felt like forever, then suddenly jumped to "refund approved" and "refund sent" within the same day. For what it's worth, I'm also a first-time filer (just turned 20) and only had a W-2 from my retail job. No special credits or anything complicated. The waiting was definitely nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you're still well within the normal timeframe since you filed on Feb 23rd. FreeTaxUSA itself was super easy to use - way better than paying TurboTax's crazy fees. The actual filing process went smoothly, it's just the IRS processing that takes forever during tax season. Hang in there!

I filed with FreeTaxUSA on February 25th (just two days after you) and I'm in the exact same boat - still stuck on "return received" with no movement on WMR. Also 19 and a first-time filer with just a simple W-2 return. It's honestly been driving me crazy checking that tool every single day! But reading through all these responses is really reassuring. Sounds like we're both still well within the normal processing window, especially during peak season. The fact that so many people here had similar wait times and eventually got their refunds gives me hope. I think I might try one of those services mentioned above if I don't see any movement by next week, just to get some peace of mind about whether everything looks okay with my return. But for now, sounds like we just need to practice patience - easier said than done when you're counting on that money though!

Does anyone know if Robinhood gives you any warning when you're buying an MLP? I feel like they should tell you that you're buying something that's going to complicate your taxes before you purchase it.

I had this exact same situation happen to me! Bought what I thought were regular oil stocks on Robinhood and got blindsided by K-1 forms. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. Yes, select "Partnership/LLC" in TurboTax - that's correct for the 1065 K-1 you received 2. MLPs (Master Limited Partnerships) are common in the oil/pipeline sector and they're taxed differently than regular stocks 3. Keep ALL your K-1 forms - you'll need them when you sell because the tax basis gets adjusted each year One tip that saved me a lot of headache: if the amounts are small (like under $1000 in income), the multi-state filing requirements others mentioned usually don't apply. TurboTax will calculate this automatically. Also, consider moving these investments to an IRA if you plan to keep them long-term. MLPs in retirement accounts avoid the K-1 hassle entirely (though there are some other considerations with UBTI if the amounts get large). Don't feel bad about not knowing - Robinhood really should warn people about this before purchase!

One thing I'd add that might be helpful - make sure you understand the frequency limitation too. You can only use the Section 121 exclusion once every two years. So if either you or your husband used this exclusion on a previous home sale within the past 2 years, you wouldn't be eligible this time around. But assuming this is your first time using the exclusion (or it's been more than 2 years since either of you last used it), you're all set. The fact that you've lived there continuously since 2019 makes this a very straightforward case. Also, while you don't need to reinvest the proceeds to get the exclusion, you might want to consider the timing of your sale relative to when you plan to buy your next home for cash flow purposes. Having that $130k gain tax-free gives you nice flexibility for your next purchase!

Great question about Section 121! I went through this exact situation when I sold my home last year. You're absolutely right that married couples can exclude up to $500,000 in capital gains, and it sounds like you're in a perfect position to take advantage of this. Just to reinforce what others have said - the 2-year ownership and use requirement is very straightforward in your case. Since you've been living there continuously since November 2019, you've got over 3 years of both ownership and primary residence use, which far exceeds the minimum requirement. One small tip I'd add: when you do your taxes next year, you'll report the sale on Form 8949 and Schedule D, but if your gain is fully excluded under Section 121, you won't owe any tax on it. Keep all your closing documents and any improvement receipts in a safe place - you'll need them for your records even though you probably won't owe taxes on the gain. The fact that you can rent for as long as you want without affecting the exclusion is such a relief, isn't it? We ended up renting for 8 months after our sale and it was great to have that flexibility to find exactly what we wanted. Best of luck with your sale and house hunting!

Another quick tip - consider using an expense tracking app specifically for vacation rentals throughout the year. I use one called Stessa that connects to my credit cards and bank accounts. When I buy something, I immediately categorize it in the app as either an operating expense or a capital improvement/depreciable asset. Takes seconds and saves massive headaches at tax time!

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my vacation rental startup costs! One thing that might help is looking into Section 195 startup expense deductions. You can elect to deduct up to $5,000 in startup costs immediately (with the remainder amortized over 15 years), but this phases out if your total startup costs exceed $50,000. Since you mentioned spending $75k, you might not qualify for the immediate deduction, but understanding how startup costs vs. ongoing operating expenses are treated could help you categorize things properly. Items purchased to get the property "ready for guests" might fall under startup costs rather than regular rental expenses. Also, don't forget about the passive activity loss rules - even though you mentioned losses will carry forward, make sure you understand the $25,000 annual rental loss allowance if your AGI is under $100k. This could impact whether immediate expensing vs. depreciation matters more in your specific situation.

You absolutely did the right thing filing that amended return! I know it feels overwhelming having both processes running simultaneously, but you caught the missing 1099-B and corrected it - that's exactly what you're supposed to do. The CP05 notice can be nerve-wracking, but it really is just the IRS saying "we need more time to review" - not "you're in trouble." Now that you've filed the 1040-X with the missing income information, you've essentially solved the problem that likely triggered the review in the first place. Yes, it might take longer to process everything, but you've protected yourself from potential accuracy penalties by being proactive. The IRS deals with situations like this regularly - original returns under review while amended returns are in queue. Their systems can handle it. Just keep checking the "Where's My Refund" tool for your original return status and "Where's My Amended Return" for the 1040-X. Stay organized with all your paperwork, and try not to stress. You handled this exactly right once you realized the error!

I went through this exact scenario two years ago - CP05 notice followed by filing an amended return about a week later when I realized I'd missed a 1099-INT. I was terrified I'd made things worse, but it actually worked out perfectly fine. What happened in my case was that the IRS completed their original review first (took about 6 weeks from the CP05 date), and then a few weeks later they processed my amended return. The agent I eventually spoke to said having the amended return already in the system actually helped because it showed I was being proactive about correcting the error rather than trying to hide anything. My advice: Don't second-guess yourself. You did exactly what you should have done when you discovered the missing 1099-B. The worst thing would have been to know about the error and do nothing. Processing might take a bit longer, but you're on the right track.