I can totally relate to your frustration with the "pending processing" status! I went through this exact same thing last year with my amended return. What I learned is that "pending processing" basically means your return passed the initial computer checks but is now waiting in a queue for a human examiner to review it. The IRS processes amended returns in the order they receive them, but they don't assign them to specific examiners until they're ready to work on them. The good news is that if the tax advocate said nothing is wrong, you're likely just waiting your turn in line. I'd suggest checking your online account transcript every few weeks - when they actually start working on it, you'll see new transaction codes appear. Hang in there, the waiting is the hardest part but it does eventually move forward!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my amended return in late January and I've been stuck on "pending processing" for about 9 weeks. It's so frustrating because every time I call, I get a different representative who gives me slightly different information. One person told me 16 weeks, another said 20 weeks, and the tax advocate I spoke with yesterday said "up to 20 weeks but could be sooner." What's really driving me crazy is that they can see my return in their system but can't tell me anything meaningful about where it actually is in the process. I asked the advocate if there was ANY way to get more specific information about timing and she basically said no - that amended returns are just processed "in order" but they don't have visibility into queue position or expected timeframes. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're waiting on a refund and getting zero transparency about the process. At least it sounds like yours is moving in the right direction if they confirmed nothing is wrong with it!

One more suggestion - don't forget to check your online IRS account if you have one. Sometimes adjustments are being processed that you don't know about. When I had a similar issue with an excess contribution correction, I noticed that my account showed an adjustment in process before I even contacted them. Turns out their automated systems had flagged the discrepancy and they were already working on it. It just hadn't been completed yet.

I went through this exact same situation last year with my excess Roth contribution. The frustration is real - it feels like the IRS just completely ignored your Line 26 payment! What worked for me was calling the IRS with very specific documentation ready. Before calling, I prepared a simple timeline showing: 1) Original excess contribution date, 2) Date I corrected it with my brokerage, 3) Date I filed amended 2022 return and made the $258 payment, 4) The 2023 1099-R with code 8J. When I finally got through to an agent, having this timeline made the conversation much smoother. The agent could see my 2022 payment in their system and understood immediately that this was a double taxation issue. They processed an adjustment for the full amount I was owed. The key is being very clear about the sequence of events - that you already paid tax on those earnings in 2022, but the 1099-R is trying to tax them again in 2023. Line 26 exists specifically to prevent this double taxation. Don't give up - you're absolutely entitled to that credit!

After dealing with this exact situation for three consecutive tax seasons, I've noticed a pattern. The cycle code change from 05 to 04 typically indicates your return has moved from weekly batch processing to daily processing for final disbursement. It's actually a positive sign! In my experience, refunds with the 04 cycle code at the end tend to arrive slightly faster than projected—often 1-2 days before the date listed with the 846 code. I was pleasantly surprised when mine arrived early this year despite the cycle code change that initially had me worried.

I'm in the exact same boat right now! My cycle code just switched from 05 to 04 this week and I see the 846 code on my transcript dated for March 14th. I've been stressing about when the money will actually hit my account because I have some urgent expenses coming up. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like the cycle code change is actually a good thing and means my refund is in the final stage. I'm hoping it follows the 3-5 day pattern that others have mentioned. Has anyone noticed if the day of the week matters for when banks process IRS deposits? My 846 date falls on a Friday so I'm wondering if that might delay things over the weekend.

One more thing to consider - if your main employer offers any kind of reimbursement for mileage (even partially), make sure you're taking advantage of that too. Its not double dipping to get reimbursed from your employer AND deduct your self-employment miles separately. Just don't claim the same miles twice. Also, don't forget about potential home office deduction if you have a dedicated space for your consulting business. That can also increase the deductible miles since you'd count trips from your home office to clients as business miles rather than commuting.

Great question about vehicle expenses! As others have mentioned, you're absolutely fine to deduct mileage for your consulting business as long as you keep proper records. This is completely legitimate and not double dipping at all. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're aware of the updated 2024 standard mileage rate, which is 67 cents per mile for business use (up from 65.5 cents in 2023). With 8,700 miles for your consulting work, that's a potential deduction of $5,829, which is definitely worth claiming properly. Also, since you're driving 50k miles annually, make sure you're factoring in the increased depreciation on your vehicle. Even though you can't deduct your W-2 job mileage, that heavy usage does affect your vehicle's value, so maximizing legitimate business deductions becomes even more important. Keep detailed logs with date, destination, business purpose, and odometer readings for each consulting trip. A simple spreadsheet or mileage tracking app works great for this. The IRS just wants to see that you can substantiate the business purpose of each mile claimed.

Here's what worked for me: I contacted our HR department directly instead of my boss. Turns out my boss hadn't forwarded my request to payroll. HR had my W-2 sent out the same day. If that doesn't work, call the IRS. They'll contact your employer. Most businesses straighten up fast when the IRS comes knocking.

I went through this exact nightmare last year! My previous employer kept giving me the runaround for weeks. Here's what finally got results: Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, who you spoke with, what they said. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate. Try bypassing your boss and go straight to HR or payroll. Sometimes the issue is just that your request isn't making it to the right department. If you're still getting nowhere after a week, don't wait - start the IRS process. You can request your wage and income transcript online at irs.gov (Account > Tax Records > Get Transcript). This shows exactly what your employer reported to the IRS. The key thing everyone's mentioned but I want to emphasize: DO NOT let this drag past the filing deadline! File with Form 4852 if you have to. You can always amend later when you get the actual W-2, but missing the deadline creates way bigger headaches. Also, your employer can face a $50 penalty for each W-2 they fail to provide - might be worth mentioning that to light a fire under them! 🔥