Another option to consider if your employer is hesitant about the formal processes - you could suggest they simply agree not to contest your unemployment claim when you file. Even if they don't want to deal with reclassification paperwork right now, this would at least solve your immediate need for unemployment benefits. Most state unemployment offices will investigate worker classification when there's a dispute between a 1099 filing and an unemployment claim. If your work situation clearly shows you were functioning as an employee (set schedule, company equipment, integrated into their business operations, etc.), the state will often rule in your favor regardless of how you were originally classified for tax purposes. This approach gives your boss an easy "yes" that doesn't require him to admit fault or deal with IRS paperwork immediately, while still getting you the unemployment benefits you need. You can always pursue the tax classification issues separately later, but at least you'll have some income while job hunting. Just make sure to document your work arrangement thoroughly before you leave - save emails about schedules, screenshots of company systems you used, records of any training they provided, etc. This documentation will be valuable whether you're dealing with unemployment claims or potential IRS forms later.

This is a really comprehensive discussion with lots of great advice! I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - timing your conversation strategically within your remaining time at the company. Since you mentioned you're getting laid off at the end of the month, I'd suggest having this conversation as soon as possible, but also being prepared for the possibility that your employer might accelerate your departure if they feel threatened by potential liability issues. Some employers unfortunately react to these conversations by immediately terminating the relationship to avoid further exposure. That said, since you're already being laid off anyway, you don't have much to lose by bringing this up now rather than waiting until after you leave when you'll have much less leverage. I'd also suggest keeping detailed records of your current work arrangement before you have the conversation - things like emails showing you report to a supervisor, any company handbook materials you received, records of using company equipment or software, etc. Having this documentation ready will be valuable whether your employer is cooperative or if you end up needing to file formal complaints later. The unemployment benefits angle really is the best starting point since it's immediate and doesn't require your employer to admit fault or navigate complex tax procedures. Good luck with your conversation - you've got a lot of good strategies to work with here!

Great question! I went through the same confusion a few months ago. The trace number is basically the IRS's internal tracking ID for your specific refund payment. When you see "funded to you" with a trace number, it means your refund has been fully approved and is now in the payment pipeline. You should see your money within 3-5 business days for direct deposit or 1-2 weeks for a mailed check. The hardest part is over - your return cleared all their checks and reviews. Now it's just a matter of the payment system doing its thing. Hang in there, you're almost done!

I see you're getting great answers here! Just wanted to add that you can also check your bank account for any pending deposits - sometimes the money shows up there before the IRS website updates to "refund sent" status. I've noticed with my credit union that refunds often appear as pending a day or two before they actually clear. The trace number is definitely your green light though - you're in the final stretch! Fingers crossed it hits your account soon. 🤞

Just got my Green Dot deposit this morning! My DDD was 2/26 but the funds were available at 4:38am today. The Early Access feature they advertise actually worked as promised. I set up account alerts so I got a text notification as soon as it posted. Such a relief after checking my account practically every hour for the past three days!

Green Dot usually releases funds 1-2 days before the official DDD when the IRS batch releases come through! Since your transcript shows 2/24 as the deposit date, you might see it hit your Green Dot account as early as 2/22 or 2/23. I've been using Green Dot for tax refunds for 3 years now and they're pretty consistent with early access - usually get a notification between 3-6am when it posts. Make sure you have push notifications enabled in the Green Dot app so you don't miss it! The waiting game is rough but Green Dot has been reliable in my experience. Good luck! 🤞

I've seen this happen with TurboTax plenty of times. The software is just following the tax code, which says you need to pay throughout the year. What most people dont know is that your inheritance itself isnt taxable income! But if you sold investments or property that you inherited, the gains are taxable. And there's something called "step-up in basis" where inherited assets get valued at the date of death, not the original purchase price. So only gains after that point are taxable. Check if maybe you sold some stocks or something after inheriting them? That would explain the capital gains tax. But either way, the penalty is about WHEN you paid, not IF you paid enough total.

Great thread everyone! I'm dealing with a similar situation and this has been super helpful. One thing I want to add is that you can also use Form 2210 to request a waiver of the underpayment penalty if you had reasonable cause - like a sudden change in income, casualty loss, or other circumstances beyond your control. Also, for anyone making estimated payments, remember that the IRS allows you to pay online through EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) or IRS Direct Pay. Just make sure to keep records of when you made each payment since the timing is so important for avoiding penalties. The safe harbor rules mentioned earlier are really key - if your AGI last year was under $150k, you just need to pay 100% of last year's tax liability through withholding and estimated payments to avoid any penalty, regardless of how much you actually owe this year.

Anyone else notice the IRS has been taking longer to process CAA-submitted W7 applications lately? Last year I was telling clients 4-6 weeks, but now I'm seeing 8-10 weeks minimum.

Thanks for bringing up this processing time issue - I've definitely noticed the same trend. I'm also a newer CAA (about 8 months now) and I've been tracking my application timelines. My first few submissions in September/October were processed in about 5-6 weeks, but everything I've submitted since January has been taking 9-12 weeks. I think part of the issue is that the IRS is still catching up from the pandemic backlog, plus they've had budget constraints affecting staffing levels. What I've started doing is being very upfront with clients about current processing times and explaining that while CAA applications don't get lost in the mail like regular submissions can, the review process itself is just taking longer right now. I also make sure to emphasize the other benefits - like not having to mail original documents and generally having fewer rejections due to documentation issues since we verify everything upfront. It's not ideal, but at least clients appreciate the transparency about realistic timelines.