Back in 2022, I had almost the exact same timeline as you, and I remember how the status changed from "STILL being processed" to "IS being processed" right before I got my DDD. Instead of constantly checking WMR, I found it more helpful to set up alerts with my bank for any incoming deposits. That way I wasn't driving myself crazy checking multiple times a day. Another thing that helped was checking my transcript around 3-4am EST on Fridays when the weekly updates typically happen. Most people who verified their identity like you did end up getting their refunds, it just takes a bit longer than the advertised 21 days.

The wording change from "STILL being processed" to "IS being processed" is definitely meaningful! I went through this exact same thing last month. "Still being processed" usually indicates your return is in some kind of review queue or on hold, while "is being processed" means it's moved into active processing. Since you completed identity verification on 2/15 and it's now been over a week, you're probably in the final stages. The transcripts often don't update until the very last minute - I've seen people get their DDD on transcripts that were showing N/A just the day before. One thing to keep in mind is that the 21-day window resets after identity verification, so you're really only about 10 days into your processing time from verification completion. I know it's frustrating when you see others getting their refunds faster, but everyone's situation is slightly different depending on what triggered the verification and what other reviews might be happening. Try checking your transcript early Friday morning (around 3-6am EST) - that's typically when the weekly batch updates happen. Your refund is likely coming very soon!

Watch out for SBTPG's timing! Last year on April 12th, 2023, my status changed to 'funded' on a Friday afternoon, but the money didn't hit my account until Wednesday, April 17th. Their website claimed 1-2 business days, but it took 3 full business days. If your tuition deadline is coming up soon (like before April 30th), I'd recommend having a backup plan just in case. The timing is never guaranteed, especially this close to the tax deadline when their systems are overloaded.

I've been through this exact situation twice now! SBTPG does receive funds from the IRS on weekends - I've personally seen my status change from 'unfunded' to 'funded' on both Saturday and Sunday. However, the transfer to your actual bank account almost always follows standard banking business days. For your tuition deadline situation, here's what I'd suggest: check your WMR (Where's My Refund) tool to see if it shows "sent" - that's usually a good indicator that the IRS has already released your funds. If it shows sent and SBTPG is still showing unfunded, the money is likely in transit and should update within 24-48 hours. Given your tight timeline, you might also want to contact your school's financial aid office to explain the situation. Many schools will give a brief extension (like 2-3 days) if you can show proof that your refund is in process. Screenshot your SBTPG status and WMR tool as documentation. Fingers crossed it updates over the weekend for you! The waiting game is the absolute worst part of tax season.

Has anyone compared the audit protection features between these options? That's one thing that always makes me nervous with a small business. TurboTax's audit protection seemed decent but not sure about the others.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Started an LLC last year for a small consulting side business and TurboTax hit me with that ridiculous $1,300 fee. I ended up going with TaxAct and paid around $90 total. The interface definitely isn't as sleek as TurboTax, but it handled my Schedule C perfectly fine and walked me through all the business deductions step by step. For a straightforward LLC situation like yours (pass-through entity, basic expenses), any of these alternatives should work great. One tip - make sure you have all your business expense receipts organized before you start. The cheaper software options don't have as much hand-holding when it comes to suggesting deductions you might have missed, so you need to be a bit more proactive about knowing what you can deduct.

we're all in the same boat waiting on these refunds. irs making us jump through hoops fr fr

I went through this exact same thing last year and it was nerve-wracking! The BFS debt warning is basically just a standard disclaimer they show everyone - it's like those "side effects may include..." warnings on medicine commercials. If you truly don't have any debts, your refund should come through in full on March 6th. The system can't tell the difference between people who actually have debts vs those who don't, so everyone gets the same scary message. Just keep checking WMR after the 6th if it doesn't hit your account, but honestly you're probably fine. The fact that it says "Refund Sent" is the important part!

Great thread with lots of helpful information! I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who went through this exact situation last year. The key thing that helped me was realizing that even though the tax forms seem complicated, the actual requirements when you're under $2,600 are pretty straightforward. You don't need to worry about employment taxes, workers' comp, or any of the complex household employer stuff. However, I'd strongly recommend having a conversation with your babysitter early about needing their SSN if you plan to claim the childcare credit. I waited until January to ask and it was super awkward - she thought I was trying to make her an official employee or something. If you explain upfront that it's just so you can claim your childcare expenses on your taxes and won't affect her at all, most people are totally fine with it. Also, one tip that saved me time - I set up a simple note in my phone to track each payment right after I pay her. Just date, amount, and hours. Takes 30 seconds but makes tax time so much easier than trying to dig through Venmo history or remember cash payments from months ago. The peace of mind of knowing you're handling everything correctly is definitely worth the small effort to stay organized!

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone who's been putting off dealing with our babysitter tax situation, this thread has given me the confidence to finally tackle it properly. I love how everyone has emphasized that being under the $2,600 threshold simplifies things significantly - no W-2s, no employment taxes, but still need proper documentation for the childcare credit. The practical tips about tracking payments in real-time and having upfront conversations about SSN requirements are gold. One thing I'm still wondering about - if our babysitter does other work (like she also babysits for neighbors), does that affect anything on our end? Or do we just worry about what we pay her, regardless of her total income from all sources? I assume it's just our portion that matters for our $2,600 threshold, but wanted to double-check since she mentioned she sits for a few other families too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to decipher IRS publications on my own!