Sales tax is so random too! In my state clothes are tax free but only if they cost less than $175 per item. And basic groceries aren't taxed but prepared foods are. And don't get me started on digital purchases and subscription services - the rules are all over the place depending on where you live. Pro tip: keep track of all the sales tax you pay throughout the year - you can deduct either your state income tax OR your sales tax on your federal return, whichever is higher. If you make big purchases in a year like a car or major appliances, the sales tax deduction can sometimes be better!

I totally understand your frustration! This is one of those things that seems unfair until you understand how the system works. Think of it this way - income tax is like paying for your "membership" in society (funding federal programs, defense, etc.), while sales tax is more like paying for the specific services in your community each time you use them. The $43 in sales tax you paid is actually going toward local things like maintaining the roads you drove on to get to the mall, the police who keep that area safe, and the fire department that would respond if there was an emergency. It's not the same money being taxed twice - it's different taxes for different purposes. That said, there are definitely ways to be smarter about sales tax! Many states don't tax necessities like groceries and prescription drugs. And if you're buying work clothes, some states have special exemptions for uniforms or work-related clothing. You might also want to time big purchases around your state's tax-free weekends if they have them.

Has anyone calculated approximately how much tax might be owed on a forgotten W2? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth amending my return for about $2400 in forgotten wages or just waiting to see if I get a letter.

I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago - forgot a W2 from a part-time job I had early in the year for about $1,600. I was terrified when I realized my mistake after already getting my refund. Here's what I learned: the IRS WILL find it eventually. Their matching system is really good at catching these things, even for smaller amounts. I initially thought about waiting it out, but I'm so glad I didn't. I filed the 1040-X about 6 weeks after I realized my mistake. The process was actually much less painful than I expected. I ended up owing about $320 in additional taxes, plus a small penalty (around $40) and minimal interest since I caught it early. The whole amendment was processed in about 12 weeks and I just sent them a check for the difference. My advice: bite the bullet and file the amendment now. The peace of mind alone is worth it, and you'll save money compared to waiting for them to find it. Plus, being proactive shows good faith which can sometimes help with penalty reduction.

DDD bros! Mine's the same date but with Current bank. Will update when it hits my account. Hoping for early like you Chime people seem to get!

Same DDD 4/2/25 with Chime here! Just saw some people already got theirs today - checking my account obsessively now lol. Filed 2/15, got accepted same day, had a brief scare with a 971 code but that cleared up quick. My transcript shows the 846 with 4/2 date and refund amount matches what I calculated. Really hoping mine hits tomorrow since it seems like Chime is pretty good about releasing early! This whole process is so stressful every year but at least we're almost at the finish line. Will definitely update when mine comes through!

I'm going through the exact same situation! Filed on April 8th through TurboTax, IRS accepted same day, and they sent my $2,100 refund to my Karma Money account on May 7th. Still waiting and it's been 4 business days now. Reading through all these responses is actually making me feel a lot better - seems like 4-6 business days is pretty normal for Karma Money. I was starting to think my money disappeared into the void! Going to try calling their customer service tomorrow if it doesn't show up, but sounds like I should probably just be patient a bit longer. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful during tax season stress! 🙏

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Filed my return on April 12th through FreeTaxUSA, got accepted the same day, and the IRS shows my $1,875 refund was sent to my Karma Money account on May 9th. It's now May 12th and still nothing showing up. I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong, but after reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 3-5 business days is totally normal for Karma Money deposits. The tax professional's advice about waiting until May 15th before taking action makes a lot of sense. I think I'm just going to try to be patient and stop obsessively checking my account every hour! It's good to know that even if there are delays, people are eventually getting their refunds. This is my first year using Karma Money for tax purposes too, so next year I'll know to expect a few extra days compared to traditional banks. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - definitely helps with the anxiety when you're waiting on your own money! 😅

I went through the CP63 verification process about 6 weeks ago and I completely understand your anxiety! Here's what really helped me succeed on the first try: **Call at exactly 10:00am** - I cannot stress this enough. I tried calling at 10:15am on my first attempt and got the "too busy" message. Called right at 10am the next day and waited only 19 minutes. **Have everything organized beforehand**: Current and last year's tax returns, Social Security card, driver's license, and your CP63 notice. I also wrote down all my addresses from the past 5 years and previous employers - this preparation was clutch. **The questions they asked**: My previous address from 2022, my employer from last year, and the balance on a credit card I opened in 2019. When I wasn't exact on the credit card limit, I said "I believe it was around $X but I'm not completely certain" and they moved to a different question. **Timeline**: They said 6-9 weeks but my refund was deposited exactly 18 days later. The agent was actually really understanding and professional. Don't guess if you're not sure - just be honest about your uncertainty and they'll ask different verification questions. This process happens thousands of times per day, so it's totally routine for them even though it feels nerve-wracking for us. You've got this! Set that alarm for 9:55am and call right at 10. Good luck tomorrow!

I went through this exact same thing about 2 months ago and totally get your nerves! The CP63 verification is actually pretty straightforward once you're prepared. Here's what worked for me: **Call RIGHT at 10:00am** - not 10:01, not 9:59, but exactly when they open. I learned this the hard way after trying to call at 10:30am and getting the busy signal. When I called at exactly 10am, I only waited about 22 minutes. **Have these documents ready**: Your current tax return, previous year's return, Social Security card, driver's license, and definitely the CP63 notice with your reference number. They'll ask for that reference number right when you get connected. **Questions they asked me**: Previous addresses going back about 3 years, my employer from 2022, and the approximate amount of a student loan I had in 2019. When I wasn't exactly right on the loan amount, I said "I think it was around $X but I'm not completely sure" and they were fine with that. The whole call took about 25 minutes including wait time. The agent was actually really patient and helpful. They told me 6-9 weeks for the refund but I got mine in just over 2 weeks. Pro tip: If you're not certain about an answer, don't guess - just be honest that you're not sure and they'll ask different questions. They understand people don't memorize every financial detail from years ago. You've got this! Set that alarm and call right at 10am tomorrow morning. Good luck!