Pro tip: sign up for informed delivery with USPS. Sometimes refund checks come before the where's my refund tool even updates

I'm going through the same thing right now! Verified 3 weeks ago and still checking WMR obsessively every day. The uncertainty is the worst part - I wish they could just give us a realistic timeline instead of these generic "up to 9 weeks" responses. Has anyone found that calling back actually helps or do they just repeat the same script?

As someone who's completely new to this community and just starting my investment journey, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I opened my first Roth IRA about six months ago and was actually researching energy sector investments, including some of the MLPs mentioned here. I had no idea that certain investments could create tax complications even within what I thought was a completely tax-sheltered retirement account. The whole concept of UBTI being generated just from holding MLPs - not even selling them - was totally unknown to me. Reading everyone's real experiences with Form 990-T filings, confusing broker letters, and trying to reach IRS specialists really drives home how complex this can get. The consensus here around MLP ETFs being a much better choice for retirement accounts is really compelling. You still get the energy infrastructure exposure and income potential, but without all the administrative headaches that so many experienced investors have described dealing with. As a complete beginner, I'm definitely taking the advice to keep my retirement investments straightforward while I'm still learning the fundamentals. There's already so much to figure out with basic portfolio allocation and fund selection without adding complex tax situations that could create problems years down the road. I'm also bookmarking several of the practical resources people shared - those tax analysis tools and IRS contact services could be lifesavers if I ever need them. It's incredible how much actionable, real-world knowledge is packed into this discussion compared to generic beginner investment guides. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your actual experiences and lessons learned. This is exactly why I joined this community - getting practical wisdom from people who've navigated these situations firsthand is invaluable for building a solid investment foundation!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through this entire discussion with great interest! I just started my investment journey about 8 months ago and opened my first Roth IRA, so this thread has been incredibly educational. I was actually looking at some energy sector investments and had no clue about these UBTI complications that MLPs can create in retirement accounts. The idea that certain holdings can generate taxable income even within a tax-sheltered account was completely foreign to me. Learning that this happens from the MLP's ongoing operations - not just when you sell - really changes how I think about investment selection for retirement accounts. The overwhelming consensus here toward MLP ETFs instead of individual MLPs makes perfect sense now. You still get the energy infrastructure exposure and decent yields, but without all the Form 990-T headaches that so many people have shared experiencing firsthand. As someone just learning the investment basics, keeping my retirement account simple and avoiding unnecessary tax complications definitely feels like the right approach. I'm also bookmarking the practical tools people mentioned for tax document analysis and IRS communication. Having those resources available before you need them seems much smarter than scrambling to figure things out when complications arise. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge you can't find in generic investment guides, and it's why I'm so glad I joined this community!

My tax guy told me not to stress about tiny amounts like this. He said the IRS is focused on people hiding thousands, not a few hundred bucks. Just something to consider.

I had a similar situation with Cashapp income last year! The key thing to understand is that you're legally required to report ALL income, even if it's under $600 and you didn't get a 1099-K form. The $600 threshold just determines whether Cashapp has to send you tax documents - it doesn't change your obligation to report what you earned. For your $480 in side gig income, you'll need to report it as self-employment income on Schedule C. The good news is that you can also deduct legitimate business expenses (gas, supplies, etc.) which might reduce your tax liability. Even if you don't have perfect receipts, bank statements can serve as documentation. While the IRS may not catch small unreported amounts, it's not worth the risk of penalties and interest if you're ever audited. Better to be compliant from the start, especially since you're establishing a pattern of side income that might grow in the future.

Same thing happened to me last week! Filed on Feb 10th and my transcript was completely blank for like 3 days straight. I was panicking thinking I messed something up but then boom - everything showed up on day 4. The IRS processing system is just slow af during tax season. Your transcript looks totally normal for something that's still being processed. Just gotta be patient (easier said than done I know lol

Don't stress about it! I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now. Filed my return on Feb 12th and when I pulled my transcript yesterday it was showing the same "RETURN NOT PRESENT" message with everything blank except my filing status. The IRS is probably just swamped right now since we're in peak filing season. From what I've read, it can take anywhere from 24-72 hours for a return to even show up in their system initially, and then another 2-3 weeks for full processing. Your transcript actually looks completely normal for this stage - the fact that your filing status is showing as Head of Household means the system at least has some of your info on file. The $0.00 balances are also a good sign since it means there are no outstanding issues or penalties. I'd give it another day or two before checking again. The waiting game sucks but it's totally normal!

Quick tip from experience - make sure the Roth IRA is actually in your child's name with them as the owner (not beneficiary). I messed this up last year with my son's lawn mowing money. Also keep in mind they can only contribute what they actually earned - so if your child made $410, that's their max contribution for the year.

Just be aware there's also a Schedule H you might need if this is considered household employment. The rules are a bit different than for self-employment and the thresholds are different too. Might be worth double-checking which applies in your specific situation.