Ugh this is so frustrating! I filed on 1/20 too and got accepted the same day but still no advance. The whole "minutes after acceptance" thing feels like false advertising at this point. Really considering switching to a different service next year if they can't get their act together 😤

Been dealing with the exact same thing! Filed 1/19, accepted 1/21, and still waiting on my advance. Called CK support twice and got different answers each time - first they said "technical issues" then "additional verification needed." Really wish they'd be more transparent about what's actually causing these delays instead of keeping us in the dark. At this point I'm just hoping it shows up before the weekend 🤞

Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in other comments: Cycle code 0505 means your account is on a weekly processing cycle (05) that updates on Thursdays, and the 05 at the end indicates the year (2025 for 2024 tax returns). In my experience working with tax clients, PATH Act returns (with EITC/ACTC) filed in January typically complete processing by mid-March, but this year we're seeing longer delays across the board. The lack of an 846 code simply means your refund hasn't been scheduled yet - it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

I'm in a very similar situation! Filed on January 23rd with the same 0505 cycle code and PATH message. What I've learned from researching this is that the IRS is required by law to hold refunds with EITC or ACTC until at least February 15th, but this year they seem to be taking much longer than usual. I've been checking my transcript every Thursday night (that's when 0505 cycles typically update) and finally saw some movement last week - got a 766 credit code but still no 846. From what I understand, once you see the 846 code with a date, your refund should be deposited within 1-5 business days. The waiting is definitely frustrating, especially when you're counting on that money, but it sounds like we're both still within the realm of "normal" processing times for this year, unfortunately.

As a radiologist who's been doing contract work for several years, I can confirm you should definitely be eligible for the QBI deduction! The key thing to understand is that while radiology is considered a "specified service trade or business," you're not automatically disqualified - it just means there are income thresholds that apply. With your total income around $230,000, you'll likely qualify for at least a partial deduction depending on your filing status and final taxable income after all deductions. The phase-out for single filers starts at $182,100 and completely phases out at $232,100 for 2024 tax year. A few practical tips: Make sure you're tracking all your business expenses related to the contractor work (professional licenses, malpractice insurance, continuing education, etc.) as these reduce your taxable income. Also consider the home office deduction if you're doing reads from home - it's separate from QBI but helps reduce your overall tax burden. Don't let TurboTax's confusing interface discourage you from claiming what you're entitled to. The software sometimes makes it seem more complicated than it actually is for healthcare professionals.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider making estimated quarterly payments for next year if you plan to continue the contractor work. Since you made $42,000 in 1099 income, you'll likely owe both income tax and self-employment tax on that amount. The IRS generally wants you to pay as you go, so if you're planning to do similar contract work in 2025, calculate roughly 25-30% of your expected contractor income and make quarterly payments. This will help you avoid underpayment penalties and make tax time much less stressful. Also, keep detailed records of when you started and stopped work sessions for your home office deduction - the IRS likes to see that you're using the space regularly and exclusively for business purposes. A simple log showing dates and hours worked from home can be valuable documentation.

Has anyone considered pet insurance instead of trying to find tax deductions? I pay about $45/month for my lab mix, and when she needed knee surgery last year, they covered 90% after my $250 deductible. Saved me thousands! Not tax advice but might help with the financial burden next year.

I totally feel your pain with those unexpected vet bills! Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, regular veterinary expenses for pets aren't deductible as medical expenses on your tax return. The IRS is pretty clear that these deductions only apply to humans, not our furry family members. However, I noticed you mentioned Lucy appears in photos for your handmade dog accessories business - that could actually open up some possibilities! If you're legitimately using her as part of your business operations (product modeling, social media marketing, etc.), you might be able to deduct a portion of her expenses as business costs rather than trying to claim them as medical expenses. You'd need to keep detailed records of her business use versus personal time, document how her images generate business income, and track all expenses separately. It's definitely more complex than a standard medical deduction, but it could be a legitimate way to recover some of those costs. I'd suggest consulting with a tax professional who has experience with small business deductions to make sure you handle it properly. Also, definitely consider pet insurance going forward - it won't help with this year's taxes, but it could save you thousands on future vet bills!

Before you make any moves, I'd strongly recommend getting a clear understanding of your annuity's surrender schedule. That 8% surrender fee you mentioned could vary significantly depending on how long you've held the contract and what year you're in. Some annuities have declining surrender charges that drop each year, so waiting even 6-12 months might save you thousands. Others have "free withdrawal" provisions that let you take out 10-15% annually without surrender charges - you could potentially do partial rollovers over a few years to minimize fees. Also, double-check if your annuity qualifies for any exceptions to surrender charges, like financial hardship or unemployment. Some contracts have escape clauses that aren't well-publicized. The tax-free rollover strategy everyone's discussing is solid, but make sure the math still works after factoring in those surrender fees. Sometimes it's worth staying put a bit longer if the charges are going to drop significantly.

Just want to add one more consideration that's helped me with similar decisions - don't forget to factor in the "lost time" cost of staying in the underperforming annuity. Even if waiting a year saves you 2% in surrender charges, if your annuity is earning 2-3% while the market could potentially earn 7-10%, you might actually lose more money by waiting. I created a simple break-even analysis when I was in a similar spot: I calculated how much the surrender charge savings would be versus the potential opportunity cost of keeping money in the low-performing investment for another year. In my case, even with a 6% surrender charge, moving the money immediately to index funds came out ahead over any timeline longer than 18 months. Of course, this assumes market performance, which isn't guaranteed. But at your age, you have decades for compound growth to work in your favor. Sometimes paying the exit fee is worth it just to stop the bleeding and get your money working harder for your future. The partial withdrawal strategy Miguel mentioned is definitely worth exploring though - best of both worlds if your contract allows it!