Definitely just endorse it over to your mom. I do this with my roommate all the time - we just write "Pay to the order of [other person's name]" and then sign it. Super simple and totally legal. Most banks are fine with it if you both have ID.

Yes, you can definitely deposit your tax refund check into your mom's account! This is actually pretty common for people who don't have their own bank accounts yet. The key is proper endorsement - you'll need to sign the back of the check and write "Pay to the order of [your mom's full name]" above your signature. Your mom will then need to sign below your signature. Most banks will accept this as long as you both have valid ID and can explain the situation if asked. Some banks are stricter than others, so it might help if you both go to the bank together for the deposit. This won't cause any issues with the IRS at all - once they issue the refund check to you, they don't track where you deposit or cash it. If for some reason the bank gives you trouble, you have other options like check cashing services, loading it onto a prepaid debit card, or mobile deposit through your mom's banking app. But honestly, most banks handle endorsed checks like this routinely. Just make sure both signatures are clear and legible!

Here's a step-by-step of what to expect with IRS identity verification: 1. Determine your verification method - online through ID.me or by phone/in-person 2. For online verification: Create an ID.me account if you don't have one 3. Have ready: government ID, smartphone for photos, and social security number 4. Complete facial recognition step (usually a selfie or short video) 5. Answer knowledge-based questions about your financial history 6. Once verified, your return processing will resume 7. Check your tax transcript about 7-10 days after verification 8. Expect your refund approximately 2-3 weeks after successful verification The IRS is currently processing these verification cases within about 21 days after verification is complete, though it can sometimes be faster. The key is to respond promptly to avoid further delays.

I went through identity verification just two months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing is to be prepared before you start - don't try to wing it. I gathered all my documents first: driver's license, SSN card, last year's tax return, and had my phone ready for the selfie portion. The ID.me process took about 25 minutes total. The knowledge-based questions were pretty specific - they asked about my mortgage payment amount, a car loan I had 3 years ago, and previous addresses. Having my credit report handy helped me answer accurately. One tip: if you wear glasses normally, wear them for the selfie verification. The system flagged me initially because my driver's license photo shows me with glasses but I took the selfie without them. Had to redo that part. My timeline was: verified on January 15th, transcript updated January 23rd, refund deposited January 28th. So about 13 days total, which was faster than I expected based on what I'd read online.

I'm going through this exact nightmare right now too! Filed my paper return in late February via certified mail and it's been complete radio silence from the IRS ever since. My situation is almost identical - my computer died right before tax season and took all my TurboTax files with it, leaving me no choice but to file on paper. This thread has been such a lifesaver to find. I had no idea that 2-6 months was actually normal processing time for paper returns - that seems absolutely insane in 2024 but at least now I know I'm not losing my mind. The constant checking of "Where's My Refund" and seeing "no record found" has been driving me crazy, but knowing so many others are in the same boat really helps. That certified mail receipt has been my only comfort through this whole ordeal. It's good to know that really does protect us from late filing penalties even if the IRS takes forever to actually process our returns. I'm definitely going to use that tax transcript tip for next year - wish I had known about that option sooner! Would have saved me months of stress and anxiety. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. It really helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating waiting game!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Filed my paper return via certified mail back in February and have been checking "Where's My Refund" obsessively with absolutely no results. My laptop died right before tax season too and I lost all my previous year's tax files - it's like technology conspires against us at the worst possible times! This thread has been incredibly reassuring though. I had no idea that 2-6 months was actually considered normal processing time for paper returns. It seems completely absurd in 2024, but at least now I know I'm not going insane and that my return didn't actually vanish into some IRS black hole. That certified mail receipt has been my only source of comfort through this whole ordeal - it's good to know that really does protect us from late filing penalties even if the IRS takes forever to process everything. And I'm definitely saving that tax transcript advice for next year! Wish I had known about that option before going through all this stress. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines. It really helps to know we're not alone in this agonizing waiting game. Hopefully we'll all start seeing some movement in our cases soon!

Something else to consider - you mentioned your trip is 4-6 months long. The IRS has specific rules about deducting expenses for travel away from your "tax home" that lasts longer than a year (they generally don't allow it), but shorter trips can qualify if they meet certain criteria. Look into the "temporary vs. indefinite" assignment rules. Since your trip is under a year, it could qualify as temporary, which is more favorable for deductions. BUT you have to demonstrate a clear business purpose. The fact that you're also generating income from car rentals and credit card tradelines during this time actually helps your case that this is a legitimate business endeavor and not just a vacation.

One practical tip that might help establish business legitimacy - consider setting up a separate business bank account and credit card for all your blog-related expenses before you leave. This creates a clear paper trail and demonstrates you're treating this as a real business venture, not just a personal trip with some content creation on the side. Also, since you're planning to monetize through multiple channels (blog, YouTube, affiliate marketing presumably), document your monetization strategy early. Create accounts with affiliate programs, ad networks, or sponsorship platforms before your trip begins. Even if you don't earn much initially, having these business relationships established shows genuine commercial intent. The IRS likes to see that you're operating like other businesses in your industry. Research what successful travel bloggers do - many start building their audience and revenue streams months before their major trips. Consider publishing some local content first to establish your business operations, then your international travel becomes a business expansion rather than the entire foundation of your venture.

I filed on March 15th and got my refund exactly 16 days later via direct deposit. The "Where's My Refund" tool was pretty accurate - it went from "received" to "approved" to "sent" over about 2 weeks, then the money hit my account 2 days after it showed "sent". One thing that helped me was making sure all my information was 100% accurate before submitting. I double-checked every number from my W-2s and 1099s against what I entered. I also filed relatively late in the season (mid-March) when the initial rush had died down, which might have helped with processing times. For a $2,300 refund, you should definitely use direct deposit if you haven't already - it's significantly faster than waiting for a paper check. Just try not to stress too much about checking constantly. The IRS systems are pretty reliable, and as long as your return doesn't get flagged for review, you should see your money within that 21-day window they promise.

I filed my return on February 28th this year and got my refund deposited on March 18th - so about 18 days total. I used TurboTax with direct deposit just like you. One thing I learned from previous years is that the "Where's My Refund" tool typically updates overnight, usually between midnight and 6 AM. So checking it multiple times during the day won't show any changes - once per day in the morning is really all you need to do. Since you filed last week and your return is already showing as accepted and processing, you're in good shape. The fact that it went through the initial automated screening without any flags is a positive sign. Most returns like yours (straightforward e-filed returns) get processed within 2-3 weeks. Try to resist the urge to check your bank account every few hours - I know it's tempting with a larger refund! The IRS will update the status to "refund sent" about 1-2 days before the money actually hits your account, so that'll give you a heads up when it's imminent.