This is incredibly helpful information from everyone! I'm relieved to see such consistent timelines - it looks like 4-6 weeks is pretty standard across the board. I'm particularly grateful for the tip about checking the tax transcript for the specific codes (841 for rejection, 846 for check issuance). That's way more useful than just refreshing the Where's My Refund tool every day! @Aurora St.Pierre - your timeline is almost identical to what I'm expecting, and the post-divorce account closure situation is exactly what I'm dealing with. I'll definitely call to verify my address since I did move during the divorce proceedings. Better to spend an hour on hold now than wait an extra month for a check to go to the wrong address. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so much more helpful than the IRS website's vague "allow additional time" language!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process twice in the past few years. The 4-6 week timeline everyone's mentioning is pretty accurate, but here are a few additional things that might help: 1. If you have access to your tax transcript (which you can get for free on IRS.gov), look for these specific codes: - TC846 with a "DD" indicator = original direct deposit - TC841 = direct deposit returned/rejected - TC846 with "C" indicator = paper check issued 2. The IRS typically batches these rejected refund reissues, so your check might come faster if you're lucky enough to get into an earlier batch cycle. 3. One thing I learned the hard way: if you've recently moved OR changed banks, definitely call to verify both your mailing address AND remove the old direct deposit info from your account. Even though you can't use that bank anymore, having outdated info in their system can sometimes cause additional processing delays. The whole process is frustrating but fairly predictable once you know what to expect. Hang in there - your check will definitely arrive, it's just a matter of patience at this point!

Has anyone used CrossLink? My buddy uses it for his tax practice and says it's pretty good for the price. Apparently they have a pay-per-return option that might make sense for someone just starting out?

Another option to consider is TaxSlayer Pro - I've been using it for three years now and it's been solid for my practice. The pricing is reasonable (around $1,200 for unlimited federal returns), and they have good customer support during tax season. What I like about TaxSlayer Pro is that it has a clean interface that's not overwhelming for newer preparers, but still has all the professional features you need. They also include bank products if you want to offer refund advances to clients, which can be a nice revenue stream. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure whatever software you choose integrates well with client management. You'll want to track client information, documents received, appointment scheduling, etc. Some software includes basic client management, others require separate tools. This becomes really important once you get beyond 20-30 clients. Also, consider the learning curve timing. Tax season comes fast, so pick something you can get comfortable with quickly rather than the most feature-rich option that might take months to master.

One thing to check - make sure all the OTHER boxes on your W2 are filled in correctly! I once had a W2 with no control number (which is fine) but they also messed up my state ID number which caused my state return to be rejected. Double check that your SSN, all income boxes, and withholding amounts look right before filing.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who processes payroll for a small business - we actually do include control numbers on our W2s, but it's really just for our own record keeping. If we accidentally leave it blank one year, it wouldn't affect employees' ability to file at all. The IRS cares about the wage amounts, tax withholdings, and your SSN being correct - that's what they use to match your return against what we report to them. The control number is purely an employer convenience feature. You're totally fine to file without it!

Has anyone used TurboTax to report forex losses? I tried entering mine but the software keeps asking me for a 1099-B which I don't have for my forex trades.

For your $135 forex loss, you'll most likely report it on Schedule D and Form 8949 since you only made a few trades as a casual investor. You'll need to list each trade with the date acquired, date sold, proceeds, and cost basis. If your broker doesn't provide a 1099-B (which is common for forex), you'll need to track this yourself. The good news is that your loss can offset other capital gains, and if you don't have any gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 against ordinary income. Any excess carries forward to future years. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your trades including currency pairs, amounts, exchange rates, and dates. The IRS expects you to report all trading activity even without official broker forms.

PSA: ALWAYS get a copy of any tax document filed on your behalf, whether original or amended. Your preparer should have provided this automatically. The fact that she doesn't even know if an amendment was filed is incredibly unprofessional and potentially fraudulent. I'd be getting a new tax preparer ASAP.

Based on what you're describing, this sounds like the IRS initiated an internal adjustment to your return, not something your tax preparer filed. The 971/977 codes with a February 2025 date are typically system-generated when the IRS finds discrepancies between what was reported to them (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and what's on your filed return. Your tax preparer's vague response about "maybe her assistant did it" is definitely concerning though. Any professional tax preparer should have complete records of what was filed under your name and when. I'd strongly recommend: 1. Demanding copies of your original return AND any amended returns they may have filed 2. Getting a detailed explanation of any communications they've had with the IRS on your behalf 3. Consider finding a new preparer for future years The good news is that these IRS-initiated adjustments often result in refund releases, especially if they're correcting calculation errors in your favor. Keep monitoring your transcript weekly - you should see additional transaction codes appear that will show exactly what they're adjusting. If you want definitive answers, try calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 (though be prepared for long hold times). An agent can tell you exactly what triggered the review and what changes are being made.