anyone else notice the treasury checks coming faster this year? Got mine in 3 days flat

Same situation here! April 1st mail date on my transcript too. From what I've seen in this community, most people get their checks 3-5 days after the mail date. The USPS informed delivery tip from @Javier Torres is clutch - you'll literally see a photo of your check in the mail before it arrives. Takes some of the anxiety away knowing it's actually coming!

For anyone filing internationally, ALWAYS keep copies of EVERYTHING you send to the IRS! I learned this the hard way when my return got "lost" after being delivered. When I finally got through to the IRS, they had no record of receiving it even though tracking showed delivery. I had to resend all my documents with proof of the original delivery date. The whole process took 5 months before I got my refund. Paper returns from overseas are definitely not processed with any urgency.

International returns are definitely a headache! I had a similar experience filing from the UK last year. The Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov is 100% legitimate and safe - it's the official IRS website and they absolutely need your SSN to verify your identity before showing your refund status. One thing I learned: the tracking updates for international returns are really sparse. Mine showed "Return Received" for literally 10 weeks before suddenly jumping to "Refund Approved." Don't panic if you don't see movement for months - that's unfortunately normal for paper returns from abroad. Also, make sure you're checking the tool with the exact refund amount you claimed on your return. Even being off by a dollar will prevent it from finding your information. The system is pretty picky about matching all three pieces: SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. Hang in there - $3,800 is definitely worth the wait, even if the process is frustrating!

You're absolutely on the right track! The negative account balance of -$1,789 is exactly what you'll be getting back as a refund. That code 291 reducing your tax by $2,592 means the IRS has accepted your amended return and adjusted your tax liability downward - which is great news! The internal amendment from November that you didn't file is completely normal. The IRS often processes complex amendments in multiple stages, so they'll create internal adjustments as they work through your changes. Nothing to worry about there. Now you're just waiting for the final step - code 846 "Refund Issued" to appear on your transcript with a specific date. Once that shows up, your money will be direct deposited on that exact date. Based on similar cases I've seen, this usually happens within 1-3 weeks after the 291 code appears. Keep checking your transcript weekly (daily checking will just drive you crazy!). After 5 months of waiting, you're finally in the home stretch. The hardest part is over - the IRS has processed your amendment and approved your refund. Now it's just a matter of the system generating that final 846 code.

That negative account balance is exactly what you want to see! The -$1,789 means the IRS owes you that amount. I went through something very similar last year with my amended return - saw the 291 code appear and then waited about 2.5 weeks before the 846 refund issued code showed up. The internal amendment from November is totally normal - the IRS often processes amendments in stages internally. Nothing you need to worry about there. One thing to keep in mind: even though your account shows the credit balance, there could still be systemic holds or reviews happening in the background. The 810 refund freeze from April might still need to be fully cleared, but often the amendment processing takes care of those automatically. Your next step is watching for code 846 with a specific date. Once that appears, you can count on getting your money on that exact date if you have direct deposit set up. The waiting is brutal but you're definitely in the final phase now!

One more tip for anyone filing last minute - make sure you save/print a copy of your return AND the confirmation page showing it was accepted. Screenshot the confirmation if using your phone. Last year I thought I filed on time but had no proof when the IRS claimed they never received it. Nightmare situation that took months to resolve!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're e-filing at the last minute, double-check that your software is actually submitting to the IRS and not just saving a draft. I made that mistake a few years ago - thought I had filed but just saved it locally on my computer. Also, if you're really cutting it close and worried about technical issues, consider having a backup plan. Some tax preparers offer same-day service, and while it's more expensive, it might be worth it for peace of mind if you're down to the wire. The October 15th deadline has been a lifesaver for me multiple times. Just remember - if you owe money, you should have already paid the estimated amount back in April to avoid interest charges, even with the extension!

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!