The tax community wisdom on this is like weather forecasting - we can give you general patterns but not exact predictions! Think of the IRS like a giant ship turning - once you've filed that missing return, the ship has started to turn, but it takes time to complete the maneuver. Most folks I've helped see resolution in 4-6 weeks, but I've seen some lucky ones get through in 3 weeks and others wait 10+ weeks. The relief when that 846 code finally appears though... it's like finding water after crossing a desert! One tip: if you see a TC290 code appear on your account transcript, that's often a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now and it's so stressful! Filed my missing 2021 return in January and still waiting for my 2023 refund to release. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful - at least I know I'm not alone in this waiting game. @Monique Byrd thanks for the specific IRM reference, that's exactly the kind of official guidance I was looking for. @Jackie Martinez I'm going to start watching for that TC290 code you mentioned. Does anyone know if there's a way to tell if your prior year return has actually been processed vs just received? My transcript still shows "no record of return filed" for 2021 but I got a confirmation when I e-filed it 6 weeks ago.

Don't forget you can also deduct other expenses related to your gig work! I do DoorDash and deduct a portion of my cell phone bill since I need it for the app, insulated bags I bought for deliveries, and even a percentage of car insurance and maintenance based on business vs personal use. Those deductions really add up and help offset the self-employment tax mentioned above.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Main job plus two different gig apps, both under the 1099 threshold. Here's what I learned after doing a lot of research and talking to a tax preparer: You absolutely need to report ALL income, even without the 1099 forms. The $600 threshold is just for when companies are required to send you paperwork - it doesn't change your obligation to report every penny you earned. For your Schedule C, you can combine DoorDash and Instacart since they're both delivery services. I did the same thing with Uber Eats and DoorDash. Just report the total $850 income and any business expenses you had. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start tracking EVERYTHING now for next year! I used an app called MileIQ to automatically log my driving miles, and I kept receipts for things like phone chargers, insulated bags, and even some car maintenance. Those deductions really help offset the self-employment tax you'll owe on that $850. The self-employment tax is what caught me off guard - it's about 15.3% on your gig income over $400. But the business deductions help reduce that burden significantly. Good luck!

Just wanna add that if you do your own taxes this year, KEEP EVERYTHING. All receipts, mileage logs, payment records, etc. I mean literally everything related to income and expenses. First year I did my own taxes with 1099 income I got randomly selected for audit and it was brutal because I hadn't kept good records.

I made the switch from a CPA to self-filing two years ago and haven't looked back! Your situation sounds very similar to mine - my partner has a regular W-2 while I have multiple income streams including some cash payments from freelance work. The key is really good organization. I use a simple spreadsheet to track all income sources and expenses throughout the year, which makes tax time so much easier. For the theater work and cash payments, just make sure you're reporting everything - the IRS cares more about accuracy than the payment method. One tip that saved me: set aside about 25-30% of your 1099 and cash income throughout the year for taxes. This way you're not scrambling to pay a big bill in April. The self-employment tax portion can be a shock if you're not prepared for it. Most modern tax software really does walk you through everything step by step. I was nervous my first year too, but it ended up being much more manageable than I expected. Plus you'll save hundreds compared to CPA fees!

Have you thought about trying to sell some assets at a gain to balance out some of your income now? Might offset some of the tax hit.

I'm really sorry to hear about this situation - wash sale rules can be absolutely brutal for active traders who don't realize the implications until tax time. One thing that might help: if you're facing a large tax bill you can't pay immediately, the IRS does offer payment plans. You can apply online through their website for an installment agreement. There are fees involved, but it's better than facing penalties and interest on the full amount due at once. Also, definitely consider working with a CPA or enrolled agent who specializes in trading taxes. While they likely can't eliminate the wash sale issue entirely (since it's based on your actual trading activity), they can review your situation to make sure everything is calculated correctly and explore any available options. Sometimes there are errors in broker calculations or ways to optimize the timing of future sales. For next year, consider keeping better records of your trades and perhaps using tax-loss harvesting strategies that avoid wash sale violations. There are also some software tools that can help track this in real-time as you trade. The silver lining is that those disallowed losses aren't gone forever - they're added to your cost basis in replacement securities, so you'll eventually get the tax benefit when you sell those positions (without repurchasing).

Has anyone actually tried deducting retail clothes and gone through an audit? My roommate works at Hollister and says she's been deducting her work clothes for years with no issues. She says as long as you keep it reasonable (like under $1000) the IRS doesn't care.

Your manager is definitely giving you bad advice, and unfortunately this is super common in retail. The IRS is very clear that regular clothing can't be deducted even if your job requires you to wear it, because you can still wear those clothes outside of work. I learned this the hard way when I worked at a department store and thought I could deduct all my "work clothes." The key test is whether the clothing is suitable for everyday wear - and since retail clothing is literally designed for everyday wear, it fails that test every time. The only clothing retail employees can usually deduct is stuff like: - Uniforms with permanent company logos that you wouldn't wear elsewhere - Safety equipment (steel-toed shoes, etc.) - Specialty items that are truly work-only Save those receipts for your own records, but don't count on deducting that $780. Your manager might mean well, but she's setting you up for potential trouble with the IRS. When in doubt, consult a real tax professional rather than taking workplace tax advice!