Wow, I had no idea about the suspension of unreimbursed employee business expenses either! This is a perfect example of why tax law changes can catch people off guard. I'm curious though - are there any other common deductions that people assume are still available but actually aren't? It seems like a lot of us are operating on outdated information from before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Also, @fd802658100b, since you mentioned you're already itemizing, you might want to double-check if you're actually getting more benefit from itemizing versus taking the standard deduction now that your unreimbursed expenses don't count. The standard deduction amounts increased significantly with the same tax law changes that suspended these business expense deductions.

This thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea about the suspension of unreimbursed employee business expenses through 2025. As someone who frequently travels for work (though my employer reimburses most expenses), I've been assuming the old rules were still in place. @fd802658100b, I'm sorry your upgrade isn't deductible, but at least you found out before filing! This is a great reminder for all of us to stay current on tax law changes. The TCJA really did reshape a lot of common deductions that people took for granted. One follow-up question for the group: if someone is self-employed or an independent contractor rather than a W-2 employee, would the upgrade fee potentially be deductible as a business expense on Schedule C? I'm thinking the rules might be different for business owners versus employees when it comes to mixed personal/business travel expenses.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My DDD is also 3/25 and SBTPG has been showing "funded" since Sunday. It's now 3:45pm and still nothing in my Credit Karma account. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful - I didn't realize Credit Karma processes in specific batches throughout the day. I'm going to wait until after that 5pm Eastern batch that Hannah mentioned before I start really worrying. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money! Has anyone else noticed if the time your return was accepted affects when during the day the deposit hits?

I totally feel your pain on this! I went through the exact same anxiety last year with my refund. Here's what I learned from my experience: when SBTPG shows "funded" for multiple days before your actual DDD, it usually means they've prepared the transfer but are waiting for the official release date to send it to your bank. Since today IS your DDD (3/25), the fact that it's been showing as funded for 3 days is actually a good sign - it means everything is ready to go. Based on my tracking from previous years, Credit Karma typically receives and processes these deposits between 2pm-6pm Eastern on the DDD. I know the waiting is brutal, especially when you keep refreshing and seeing nothing, but try to hang in there until at least 6pm today before worrying. The banking system can be frustratingly slow even when everything is working perfectly. One thing that helped my anxiety was remembering that the IRS, SBTPG, and Credit Karma all have different systems that don't always sync up in real-time. Your money is definitely on its way - it's just moving through the banking pipeline. Keep us updated on when it hits!

One thing nobody mentioned - the support test is key here. If you provide more than half of your own support from EARNED income (your campus job), then kiddie tax doesn't apply regardless of age. Calculate all your expenses (portion of housing, food, tuition not covered by scholarships, books, clothing, medical, etc.) and compare to what you earned from working. If your $4,200 job income is more than half your total support costs, you might escape the kiddie tax entirely!

Great question Leo! Since you're 19, a full-time student, and claimed as a dependent, you'll likely need to deal with kiddie tax rules. However, there might be some good news in your situation. First, the kiddie tax only applies to unearned income (your $3,800 in investment gains) above $2,300. So roughly $1,500 of your investment income could be taxed at your parents' higher rate. But here's the key point that Amaya mentioned - if you can prove you provided more than half of your own support through earned income, the kiddie tax won't apply at all! You need to calculate ALL your expenses for the year: your share of room/board, tuition not covered by scholarships/financial aid, books, clothing, food, transportation, medical expenses, etc. If your total support costs are less than $8,400 ($4,200 × 2), then your campus job income covers more than half your support and you'd escape the kiddie tax entirely. This could save you hundreds of dollars compared to having that $1,500 taxed at your parents' rate. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your expenses - this is something the IRS might want to see documented if questioned. Even if you don't meet the support test this year, understanding this rule can help you plan for future years!

Welcome to the DDD club! 🎉

Congrats on finally getting your DDD! That identity verification wait can be nerve-wracking but sounds like everything worked out. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it really helps those of us still waiting to know what to expect. Enjoy that refund when it hits! 🙌

Been here since January waiting on last years refund, these new codes are nothing to worry about tbh. Just part of the process

Don't panic! I had the exact same codes (570 and 971) last year with $0.00 amounts and got my refund about 10 days after the PATH Act date. The 570 is just a temporary hold while they verify your EITC eligibility - it's completely automated and routine. The 971 notice will probably just be a standard letter explaining the delay. Keep checking your transcript every few days for an 846 code (refund issued) - that's when you'll know your money is coming! The timing actually looks normal for PATH Act processing.