Think of the IRS processing system like a crowded highway during rush hour. Your 2/23 return is like a car that entered the highway at a particularly busy on-ramp. Some cars (returns) filed earlier or later might move through faster because they hit less congestion at their particular entry point. I filed and was accepted on 2/24, just a day after you, and my transcript updated Saturday night with a DDD of 3/20. The seemingly random nature of processing is concerning because you never know if you're just in normal traffic or if there's an actual problem with your return that needs attention.

Filed and accepted 2/23 as well, and I'm seeing the same frustrating lack of updates. What's particularly annoying is that my friend filed on 2/25 (two days AFTER me) and got her DDD yesterday for 3/22. Meanwhile, I'm still checking WMR daily and getting the generic "your return is being processed" message. I've checked my transcript multiple times - no cycle codes, no TC codes, nothing. It's like my return disappeared into a black hole. The inconsistency in processing times this year is really concerning. Some people are getting their refunds in 10-14 days while others of us are stuck in limbo well past the 21-day mark with no explanation.

Wait until u see how long the federal refund takes 😂

Glad you got it sorted out! Virginia really needs to step up their notification game. I had a similar issue last year where they sent my verification letter to an old address even though I updated it with them. Had to wait weeks for them to resend it to the correct address. At least once you verify, they're pretty quick with processing the refund!

My biggest schedule C tip: track EVERYTHING throughout the year! I use a simple spreadsheet with categories that match Schedule C exactly. So much easier than trying to remember everything at tax time. Also make sure to save for quarterly estimated payments - I got hit with penalties my first year because I didn't realize I needed to make those.

I'm in a similar situation with my first year of self-employment! One thing that helped me was breaking down Schedule C into smaller chunks instead of trying to tackle it all at once. For equipment expenses, you can either deduct the full cost in the year you bought it (if under $2,500 per item) or depreciate it over several years. Most small photography businesses just deduct it all upfront since the amounts are usually manageable. Don't forget about some of the less obvious deductions like: - Professional development (photography courses, workshops) - Software subscriptions (Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.) - Insurance for your equipment - Business bank account fees - Professional memberships Also, keep receipts for everything! Even small purchases add up. I use a simple phone app to photograph receipts right when I make purchases so I don't lose them. One last tip - if FreeTaxUSA is overwhelming, their customer support is actually pretty helpful for walking through the Schedule C sections step by step. Much easier than trying to decode IRS publications on your own!

I used TT for years but switched to FreeTaxUSA after the guarantee fiasco and it's been so much better. Paid $15 total for what TurboTax wanted $129 for lol

I had the exact same experience with TurboTax's "satisfaction guarantee" last year! What really got me was how they plaster that guarantee all over their marketing but bury the exclusions in tiny print that you only see after you've already paid. I ended up having to escalate through multiple customer service reps before anyone would even acknowledge that their advertising was misleading. The worst part is they know exactly what they're doing - their customer service scripts are clearly designed to wear you down and make you give up. I finally got my refund after threatening to report them to my state's attorney general office, but it took weeks of back and forth. For anyone still dealing with this, document EVERYTHING. Screenshot every page that shows the guarantee without clear limitations, save all your chat transcripts, and don't let them transfer you around in circles. Ask to speak to a supervisor immediately and reference their own terms of service if they try to claim you don't qualify. It's ridiculous that we have to fight this hard just to get what they advertised, but unfortunately that seems to be TurboTax's business model now.

I'm also a student & dependent. My tax professor explained that there are actually TWO different filing requirements happening: 1. Self-employment tax filing threshold: $400 2. Income tax filing threshold: $12,950 (standard deduction for dependents in 2025) Even though you have to FILE because of the self-employment, the actual TAXABLE portion follows normal rules. You'll fill out Schedule SE for the self-employment tax on your DoorDash earnings, but your W-2 income still gets the standard deduction.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what others have said - you won't lose money doing DoorDash! Here's my real-world example: My DoorDash earnings: $1,200 My campus bookstore job: $7,500 Total income: $8,700 I had to file because of the $400 self-employment threshold, but here's what I actually paid: - Self-employment tax on DoorDash: ~$170 (15.3% on net earnings after deductions) - Federal income tax: $0 (total income was under $12,950 standard deduction) The key thing I learned is that filing a return doesn't automatically make all your income taxable - the standard deduction still protects your regular W-2 income. I actually saved money by tracking my mileage and other DoorDash expenses, which reduced the self-employment tax even more. Don't let tax fears stop you from earning extra money - you'll definitely come out ahead even after paying the self-employment taxes!