Something important nobody's mentioned yet - if you're getting income through these apps that will now be reported on 1099-Ks, you probably need to be making quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, not just paying at tax time. I got hit with an underpayment penalty last year because I wasn't doing this with my side gig income. The IRS expects you to pay taxes as you earn income, not all at the end of the year. If you're going to owe more than $1,000 at tax time, you should be making quarterly payments. This whole $600 reporting change means a lot more people will need to be thinking about this!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat with my freelance graphic design work - been using Venmo and PayPal for client payments and had no idea about this $600 threshold change. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: if you're scrambling to get your records organized like I was, your bank statements can be a lifesaver for tracking business expenses. I went through mine and found tons of deductible purchases I'd forgotten about - Adobe subscription, stock photo purchases, even mileage to client meetings. Also, for anyone doing this kind of side work, consider opening a separate business checking account if you haven't already. Makes tracking so much easier and looks more professional to clients. Some banks even offer free business accounts for small operations. It's one of those things I wish I'd done from the start instead of mixing everything with my personal account. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this whole thread has been incredibly informative!

Pro tip: Watch for code 846 on your transcript every morning around 3am-6am EST. That's when they usually update. Also check your WMR tool - sometimes it updates before transcripts do.

Looking at your transcript, you're actually in a pretty good spot! The fact that you have codes 150, 806, and 768 already showing means your return has been accepted and is moving through the system. The $5 amount next to code 150 is totally normal - that's just how the IRS displays the tax liability line when you have a refund coming. Your cycle code 20250505 puts you in the 5th week processing cycle for 2025, which typically means updates happen on Fridays. Since your processing date shows 02-17-2025, you should keep checking your transcript for updates - especially watch for any 570/971 codes (which would indicate additional review) or hopefully the golden 846 code with your refund date! The April 15th dates on your 806 and 768 codes are just system placeholders, not actual processing dates. With your withholding ($1,795) and EIC ($6,930) totaling $8,725, you should see that full amount when the 846 code posts. Keep checking Friday mornings around 6am EST for transcript updates! 🤞

This is way less problematic than when people apply for an IP PIN during filing season but BEFORE filing and then forget to include it on their return! That's an automatic rejection. Your situation is like getting a new credit card after making a purchase - it doesn't affect the transaction that's already processing. The IP PIN system is surprisingly sophisticated compared to some other IRS systems that seem stuck in the 1990s.

Great question and totally understandable concern! You're absolutely fine - the IP PIN you received today is for tax year 2024 (which you'll file in 2025), not for the 2023 return you just submitted. The IRS systems are completely separate for this. Your return that was just e-filed won't be affected at all. I've seen this exact timing confusion happen to so many people, especially international filers who are extra cautious about getting everything right. Since you mentioned needing everything processed correctly before your May 1st departure, you might want to monitor your return status on the IRS website or set up informed delivery with USPS to track any correspondence, but the IP PIN timing definitely won't cause any rejection issues.

Just FYI - the IRS has free fillable forms for 1099-NEC that you can print and mail. You don't have to use a paid service unless you're filing more than 10 forms. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec

As someone who went through this exact situation when I started my landscaping business at 19, I totally understand your concerns about data security. Tax1099.com is indeed IRS-authorized and uses bank-level encryption, but here's what I wish someone had told me: Before you even worry about which service to use, make sure you understand the $600 threshold rule. You only need to file 1099-NECs for contractors you paid $600 or more during the tax year. If any of your three contractors received less than $600, you don't need to file for them (though it's still good practice to collect W-9s). For security, I'd recommend calling Tax1099.com directly to ask about their specific data protection measures. Any legitimate service should be transparent about their security protocols. You can also check if your business bank offers 1099 services - many do, and since you already trust them with your banking info, it might feel more secure. One last tip: when you contact your contractors for their W-9s, explain that this is standard business practice and required by law. Most understand once you explain it properly. Good luck with your window cleaning business!

Filed with H&R Block on February 3rd and just received my refund this morning via direct deposit! Total processing time was 19 days. My return was pretty straightforward - just W-2 income, standard deduction, no credits claimed. Based on what I'm seeing in this thread, it really does seem like the complexity of your return is the biggest factor in processing time this year, not necessarily which tax prep service you used. For those still waiting, hang in there - the IRS appears to be working through the backlog systematically.

Filed with H&R Block on January 31st and still waiting here too. Starting to think this year is just different across the board. I've been checking my transcript weekly and finally saw some movement - got a 971 notice code last Friday but still no 846 deposit date. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the IRS is just swamped this year regardless of which tax prep service people used. The fact that even CPA-filed returns are taking longer than usual tells me this isn't an H&R Block-specific problem. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and experiences - helps me feel less like I'm the only one stuck in limbo!