My return got stuck in errors this year. Same message as you. No explanation why. It sat there for 18 days. Then suddenly approved. Got my deposit three days later. Total wait time: 39 days from filing. The system is backlogged. Nothing you can do but wait. The transcript will update before WMR does. Check that instead.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 22 days ago and just got the delayed message yesterday. Called the IRS this morning and they told me it's been in the error department for 18 days but "no action needed on my part." It's so frustrating not knowing what's actually wrong or how much longer this will take. Reading everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring though. It sounds like this is more common than I thought and most people eventually get their refunds without having to do anything. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're counting on that money. Thanks for sharing your situation - it helps to know I'm not alone in this!

I went through this exact situation back in 2023. Won $8k on a scratch-off and had a bunch of losing tickets. I claimed about $4k in losses and got audited. It was mostly a mail audit where they asked for documentation. I sent them all my physical tickets plus bank statements showing ATM withdrawals near the stores where I bought tickets. I also created a spreadsheet estimating when I bought each ticket based on the game numbers and when those games were active in my state (you can find this info on most state lottery websites). They accepted about 80% of my claimed losses. They disallowed some because I couldn't reasonably prove they were purchased during the tax year in question. I had to pay a bit more tax, but there were no penalties because they determined I made a good faith effort.

Based on my experience as a tax preparer, I'd recommend taking a conservative approach here. While you can legally deduct gambling losses up to your winnings, the lack of contemporaneous records does increase your audit risk. Here's what I typically advise clients in your situation: 1. Create a detailed log now, even if after-the-fact. List ticket types, approximate purchase dates/locations, and organize them chronologically as best you can. 2. Gather supporting evidence: bank/credit card statements showing withdrawals or purchases near lottery retailers, any photos you might have of yourself with tickets, etc. 3. Consider the risk vs. reward. If your refund is already decent without claiming these losses, you might want to skip it this year and start keeping proper records going forward. If you do decide to claim them, be prepared to defend the deduction. Keep everything organized and easily accessible. The IRS typically looks for patterns of gambling activity that support your claimed losses. One more thing - make sure you're not double-counting. Only claim losses for which you have actual losing tickets, and don't estimate beyond what you can reasonably document.

Has anyone here actually moved states for tax reasons? Did it work out the way you expected? i've been thinking about leaving California for years but worried i'll save on income tax but end up paying more for other stuff.

I moved from New York to Texas two years ago specifically for tax reasons and it's been mostly positive! Saved around $18k annually on state income taxes, but @Isaac Wright is absolutely right about property taxes - they're brutal here. My property taxes in suburban Dallas are about $12k/year on a $400k home, compared to $8k I was paying in upstate NY on a similar value house. The hidden costs that caught me off guard were vehicle registration (much higher in Texas) and the lack of state tax deductions I was used to claiming in NY. But even factoring in all the additional expenses, I'm still coming out about $10k ahead annually. One thing I'd recommend is actually living in your target state for a few months before making the permanent move if possible. The tax savings look great on paper, but quality of life factors like cost of healthcare, utilities, and general living expenses can vary dramatically and impact your overall financial picture.

Is anyone else annoyed that the IRS can't give clear guidance on crypto? I tried reading their FAQ and still have questions. Like are airdrops considered income even if I didn't ask for them? And how am i supposed to keep track of the exact value of each coin at the exact time of each transaction??

For someone new to crypto taxes like yourself, here are the key points to remember: 1. **Yes, you need to report your crypto activity.** There's no minimum threshold - even $1 in gains needs to be reported. The IRS asks about crypto transactions right on Form 1040. 2. **What matters is your actual gains/losses, not withdrawal amounts.** If you invested $2700 and withdrew $1250, you need to calculate the difference between what you paid for the crypto you sold versus what you sold it for. 3. **For tax withholding,** I'd recommend setting aside 25-30% of any gains if you're actively trading (short-term rates). If you held for over a year, long-term capital gains rates are much lower (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). 4. **Start tracking everything now.** Every crypto-to-crypto trade, every sale, every purchase - it all needs to be documented. Your exchange should have transaction histories you can download. The good news is that if you had losses on some trades, those can offset your gains. But you absolutely need to report everything to stay compliant with the IRS.

Thanks for sharing this! As someone who's been checking WMR obsessively, this is really reassuring. I've had 152 showing for about 10 days now and was starting to worry something was wrong. Good to know it's actually a positive sign that things are moving along normally. The waiting is still nerve-wracking but at least now I know I'm not in some kind of error limbo 😅

This is super helpful, thank you! I've been seeing 152 for about a week and was starting to panic thinking I messed something up on my return. It's such a relief to know this is actually normal processing and not an error code. The IRS website could definitely do a better job explaining what these codes mean - would save a lot of people unnecessary stress. Appreciate you taking the time to break this down for everyone! 🙏