Oh my gosh, I'm dealing with this RIGHT NOW and it's SO frustrating!!! 😤 My DDD was yesterday (2/25) and nothing in my account! Called Tax Act and they basically said "wait 1-5 business days after your DDD" which feels like FOREVER when you're counting on that money! I wish I had just paid the stupid fees upfront instead of trying to save a few bucks. Now I'm checking my account every hour like a crazy person. Never doing this again!

I went through this exact situation two years ago and learned some helpful tricks! While you're waiting for your refund to come through the Tax Act processing, here are a few things that might help: 1. Set up account alerts with your bank so you get notified the moment any deposit hits (saves you from constantly checking) 2. Tax Act usually sends an email when they release funds to your account - watch for that confirmation 3. The processing typically happens during business hours, so don't expect weekend movement For future reference, some tax prep companies offer a "pay with refund" option that's faster than the traditional refund transfer. TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA both have versions that cut the delay down to about 1 day instead of 2-3. The good news is that once it's in the system, the money will definitely come through. It's just the waiting that's brutal when you need those funds! Hang in there - you should see movement by early next week given your 2/26 DDD.

Just wanted to add - whatever you do, KEEP DETAILED RECORDS of every interaction. Note the date, time, who you spoke with, and what was said. This saved me when I had a similar issue. I ended up having to go through a formal appeal process for a state tax issue, and they tried claiming I never responded to their initial notice. I had documentation of three phone calls and two written responses that proved otherwise, and that's what ultimately got the penalties waived.

I went through something very similar a few months ago and it was absolutely nerve-wracking! Here's what I learned from my experience: First, definitely verify this is legitimate by calling the Department of Revenue using the number from their official website, not the letter. Once you confirm it's real, gather ALL your documentation - TurboTax confirmations, bank statements showing any tax payments, and screenshots of your filing status. The most important thing is to act quickly but don't panic-pay. I made the mistake of waiting too long thinking it would resolve itself, and the penalties kept growing. Call them ASAP and explain you believe there's been an error. Many states will put a temporary hold on penalties while investigating if you can show reasonable cause for disputing. In my case, it turned out TurboTax had a glitch where my state payment didn't process even though I got a confirmation. The state was very understanding once I provided my bank statements showing the payment attempt and TurboTax records. Also, send everything certified mail if you need to submit documents - that way you have proof they received it. Don't just rely on phone calls for important communications. You've got this! Most of these issues are processing errors that can be resolved with persistence and good documentation.

Has anyone used any particular inventory tracking software that works well for collectibles? I need something that can track purchase price, date acquired, condition details, and ideally help me determine if something should be schedule C or D.

This is a great question that trips up a lot of people starting collectibles businesses! The distinction between dealer and collector status is crucial for tax reporting. Since you're planning to operate as a business (regularly buying and selling for profit), you'll likely be considered a dealer, which means Schedule C reporting. Your coins would be treated as inventory, and profits would be ordinary business income rather than capital gains. However, there's an important nuance: you can potentially have both dealer AND collector activities. If you clearly segregate certain coins as personal investments (not for resale), those specific items could qualify for Schedule D treatment when sold. The key is documentation - you need to establish your intent at the time of purchase and maintain clear records. For your eBay business setup, I'd recommend: 1. Keep detailed records of all purchases with dates, costs, and intent (business inventory vs personal investment) 2. Use separate storage/tracking for any coins you designate as investments 3. Consider consulting with a tax professional familiar with collectibles businesses before you start The IRS looks at factors like frequency of sales, time spent on the activity, expertise in the field, and profit motive to determine dealer vs collector status. Starting with proper documentation will save you headaches later!

Before you spend hours on IRS hold, use the automated "Where's My Refund" at https://www.irs.gov/refunds or download the IRS2Go app. Sometimes that will give you status info without having to talk to anyone. Also check the Return Transcript not just Account Transcript - sometimes one shows info the other doesn't.

This is such a frustrating situation and you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar last year. The "$0.00" display for 2023 while other years show "INFO" is actually a red flag that something is holding up your return processing. A few things to check immediately: 1. **Verify with your tax software first** - Log back into TurboTax and check if there were any rejection notices that might have been missed. Sometimes the initial "accepted" status can change. 2. **Try the Record of Account transcript** instead of just the Account transcript - it sometimes shows different information about processing status. 3. **Check for identity verification requirements** - Go to https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients and see if you can verify your identity even without receiving a letter. Many people are getting flagged for this without proper notification. 4. **Look for any mail from IRS** - Including stuff that looks like junk mail. They're notorious for sending important notices in generic envelopes. Given that it's been 3 months with zero movement, I'd definitely make that one phone call to confirm they actually have your return in their system, but don't expect much beyond "still processing." The congressional representative route that others mentioned is actually legit if you hit the 4-6 month mark with no progress. Keep us updated on what you find out!

My sister works at H&R Block and says you might qualify for a workaround. Even though job expenses aren't deductible anymore for W2 employees, if you have a legitimate side business (even something small), you might be able to allocate some of those expenses to that business on Schedule C. Like if you do any consulting or selling on the side, some of your phone bill or car expenses could potentially be allocated to that business.

I'm in a similar situation as a commissioned sales rep and want to share what I learned after going through this exact same confusion last year. The federal deduction elimination really stings, but there are still some legitimate strategies to explore. First, definitely look into state deductions if you're in a state that didn't conform to the federal changes. Second, consider having a conversation with your sales manager about expense reimbursement - many dealerships are willing to reimburse legitimate business expenses if you can make a case for it, especially if you're a solid performer. Also, make sure you're tracking everything meticulously even if you can't deduct it federally right now. The suspension of employee business expense deductions is scheduled to expire in 2026, so having good records could pay off when that deduction potentially returns. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: some training expenses might qualify for education credits instead of business deductions, which could still provide tax benefits even as a W2 employee. Worth looking into with a tax professional who understands sales compensation.