I've filed taxes for over 15 years now, and I've noticed a pattern - when I file in early February, I usually get my refund within 2 weeks. This year I filed on February 5th and had my refund by the 17th. But my sister filed on April 1st last year and didn't get her refund until mid-May. The earlier in the season you file, the faster the processing seems to be. The IRS gets absolutely slammed as the deadline approaches, so processing times tend to stretch out. If you filed recently, you might be in for a slightly longer wait than those early birds.

Congrats on filing your first return solo! 🎉 From what I've been seeing this season, the IRS is actually doing pretty well with processing times. Most people with straightforward returns (like yours sounds) are getting refunds in 10-14 days if they e-filed with direct deposit. The 21-day timeframe is more of a "worst case" estimate they give to manage expectations. Since you just filed and got accepted, I'd expect to see movement in the "Where's My Refund" tool within the next week or so. Keep checking every few days - once it shows "Refund Sent," you should see the deposit within 1-2 business days. The fact that you e-filed puts you way ahead of anyone still doing paper returns!

Has anyone noticed if the mileage rate changed this year? I'm trying to figure out if I should use standard mileage or actual expenses for my 1099 work.

Just wanted to share another tip for anyone still struggling with this - make sure you're keeping a detailed mileage log throughout the year, not just tracking total miles. The IRS wants to see date, destination, business purpose, and miles for each trip. I learned this the hard way during an audit a few years back. For H&R Block specifically, once you find that Car and Truck Expenses section (which everyone has helpfully pointed out the path to), you'll need to have your total business miles ready. The software will ask for your total miles driven during the year and your business miles - don't accidentally put the same number in both fields like I almost did! Also, if you're doing gig work like rideshare or delivery, those miles from picking up passengers/orders to drop-off definitely count as business miles. A lot of people miss those.

Has anyone successfully amended prior returns to add Form 8594 after the fact? I'm in the exact same situation (bought a business in 2022, didn't file 8594) and I'm terrified of triggering an audit by submitting an amendment now.

I went through something very similar last year with an intangible asset purchase. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet breaking down exactly what I was purchasing and how to classify each asset type before tackling Form 8594. For intangible assets, you'll typically be dealing with Class VI (goodwill and going concern value) and Class VII (Section 197 intangibles like customer lists, trademarks, etc.). The key is being able to justify your allocation if the IRS ever asks. Since you're doing seller financing, definitely make sure you understand the interest imputation rules mentioned by others. Even if your agreement doesn't explicitly state an interest rate, the IRS will assume one based on applicable federal rates. This affects both your deductible interest expense and the seller's taxable interest income. I ended up using a CPA for the first year just to make sure everything was set up correctly, then handled subsequent years myself once I understood the framework. The peace of mind was worth the extra cost, especially since asset purchases have multi-year tax implications through depreciation and amortization schedules.

Has anyone actually had their QBI deduction flagged or questioned by the IRS? I'm wondering how closely they scrutinize this, especially for consultants who are right below the threshold.

I can share some insight from my experience as a tax preparer. The QBI deduction for consultants below the income threshold is generally straightforward, but there are a few nuances worth mentioning: First, make sure you're calculating your taxable income correctly when determining if you're below the threshold. This includes all income sources minus your standard/itemized deduction - not just your business income. Second, keep detailed records of your consulting activities. While the IRS doesn't typically challenge QBI deductions for income below the threshold, having documentation that clearly shows you're operating a legitimate business (contracts, invoices, business expenses) is always wise. Finally, if you're planning to grow your consulting income, consider the timing of income recognition. Once you approach the threshold levels, the SSTB limitations become very punitive very quickly. Sometimes it makes sense to defer income to the following year or accelerate deductible expenses to stay below the phase-out range. Your $65k situation should definitely qualify for the full 20% deduction assuming your total taxable income stays below the threshold. Just make sure your tax software or preparer is properly identifying the QBI on your K-1.

Has anyone had this situation where the supplemental info on a zero 1099G actually DID affect their taxes? My tax software is asking me to enter this information even though the main fields are zero.

I've seen this exact scenario with my clients before. When your 1099-G shows zeros in all the main payment boxes but has data in the supplemental tax information section, it's typically showing adjustments or corrections that were processed in 2022 but relate to benefits from previous years. Since you didn't receive any unemployment compensation in 2022, you don't need to report any unemployment income on your 2022 tax return. The supplemental information is more for documentation and tracking purposes - it might show things like overpayment recoveries, interest adjustments, or corrections to previously reported amounts. You should definitely keep this form with your tax records, but it shouldn't impact your actual tax filing for 2022. If you want absolute certainty about what those specific numbers mean, you can contact your state unemployment office, but from a tax preparation standpoint, zero benefits received means zero to report on your return.