I went through this same confusion last year! "Accepted" definitely just means the IRS received your return and it passed their basic automated checks - like your SSN matches their records, the math is correct, and there are no obvious formatting errors. It's basically confirmation that your return made it into their system successfully. The actual review of your deductions, credits, and eligibility happens during the "processing" stage, which comes after accepted. Since you filed as head of household with dependent care credits, those will need to be verified during processing, which typically adds a few extra days to the timeline. I filed with similar credits last year and went from "accepted" to "approved with DDD" after about 21 days total. The IRS tends to batch process returns with certain credits together, so don't worry if it seems to sit in "accepted" status for a while - that's completely normal!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm what everyone else has said - "accepted" just means the IRS successfully received your return and it passed their initial automated validation checks. Think of it like dropping a package at the post office - they've confirmed they have it, but they haven't actually opened it and examined the contents yet. That examination happens during the "processing" stage, which is where they'll verify your head of household status and dependent care credits. Given that you filed on March 7th with credits that require verification, you're probably looking at the standard 21-day processing window. Most people with similar situations see their status jump from "accepted" directly to "approved" with a DDD all at once, usually somewhere between days 18-23. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you're well within the normal timeframe!

Does anyone know if there are any specific deductions we can take as survey takers? Like can I write off my internet bill or part of my cell phone if I use it for mobile surveys?

Great question! I went through this exact same situation last year. You're absolutely right to be tracking everything - that spreadsheet will be your best friend come tax time. To add to what others have mentioned, there's actually a good online calculator that can help estimate your self-employment tax burden based on your survey income. Since you're looking at potentially $1200-1500, you'd be well over the $400 threshold for self-employment tax, so you'll owe both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax on that amount. One thing I learned the hard way - if you expect to owe more than $1000 in taxes for the year (including on your survey income), you might need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid an underpayment penalty. Since you're already at $780 and expecting more, this could apply to you depending on your regular job's withholding. The good news is that once you get the hang of reporting this income, it becomes pretty routine. Just make sure to save those spreadsheet records - the IRS can ask for documentation even if the survey companies don't send you 1099 forms.

Has anyone used TurboTax Self-Employed for their LLC? I'm wondering how picky it is about the comma in the business name field and if it matches that format to all the forms it generates.

I went through this exact same confusion when I first started my LLC! After dealing with multiple tax forms and even getting a notice from the IRS about a name mismatch (turned out to be unrelated), here's what I learned: The key is to use your business name exactly as it appears on your EIN confirmation letter from the IRS. This is the "official" version they have in their system. If your state registration has the comma but your EIN letter doesn't (or vice versa), go with the EIN letter format for all federal tax documents. I keep a copy of my EIN letter handy whenever I'm filling out tax forms so I can reference the exact spelling and punctuation. It's saved me from second-guessing myself every tax season. The IRS matching systems are looking for consistency with what's in their database, not necessarily what your state has on file. For what it's worth, I've never heard of anyone getting into trouble specifically over comma placement - it's usually bigger discrepancies like completely different business names or missing the LLC designation entirely.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I've been using the online TurboTax for years but am considering switching to desktop for better investment handling. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - does the desktop version handle employee stock purchase plans (ESPP) well? I participate in my company's ESPP and always struggle with the disqualifying vs qualifying disposition calculations. The online version makes me manually figure out the ordinary income vs capital gains portions, which is confusing. Also curious about state tax filing - I know you mentioned the $10 federal e-file credit, but do both Deluxe and Premier desktop versions charge the same for state e-filing? I file in California which always seems to have extra complications. Thanks for all the detailed comparisons everyone has shared - this is exactly the kind of real-world experience that's impossible to find in the official product descriptions!

As someone who's been through this exact decision process, I can confirm that TurboTax Desktop Deluxe is absolutely sufficient for basic investment reporting! I made the switch from online to desktop last year and was pleasantly surprised by how much more comprehensive the desktop Deluxe version is compared to its online counterpart. The desktop Deluxe handles all the standard investment forms you'll need: Schedule D for capital gains/losses, dividend reporting, and even more complex scenarios like stock splits and dividend reinvestments. The key difference from online is that desktop versions include ALL IRS forms, whereas online versions artificially limit features to push upgrades. I'd only recommend upgrading to Premier if you have rental properties, significant cryptocurrency trading, stock options/RSUs, or foreign investments. For regular brokerage accounts with stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, Deluxe desktop will save you money and handle everything perfectly. Pro tip: Buy from Costco if you're a member - they usually have the best prices and their return policy applies to software, so you can exchange if you realize you need a different version later. The $10 federal e-file credit is automatic when you e-file through the software, making federal filing essentially free.

Has anyone ever had any luck getting a company to pay for the cost of filing an amended return? It seems unfair that their mistake becomes our problem and expense!

This is exactly why I always wait until mid-February to file my taxes, even though I'm usually ready in January. I've been burned too many times by late forms showing up after I've already filed! For reporting the company, definitely call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 like others mentioned. I'd also suggest reaching out to the company directly - sometimes they'll reimburse you for the cost of filing an amended return, especially if you explain how their late filing created additional work and expenses for you. One tip: when you file your amended return, make sure to include a clear cover letter explaining that you received the 1099-DIV after the January 31 deadline and that's why it wasn't included in your original filing. This documentation can help you avoid penalties and shows the IRS that the late filing wasn't due to negligence on your part. The good news is that nondividend distributions are often treated more favorably tax-wise than regular dividends, so depending on your situation, the tax impact might not be as bad as you think!