Another thing to check - make sure you're looking at the right numbers on TurboTax. Sometimes people look at the total tax WITHHELD (what came out of your paychecks) and mistake that for their expected refund. Your refund is just the difference between what you owed and what was already withheld. Double-check your TurboTax summary to make sure you're looking at the "refund" line and not something else.

Don't panic - this is actually pretty common! The $2,500+ difference between what TurboTax calculated and what you received suggests the IRS made adjustments to your return. Since this is your first time filing, there are a few likely culprits: 1. **Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)** - If TurboTax calculated this credit but you didn't actually qualify based on your specific situation, the IRS would remove it 2. **Education credits** - These have strict eligibility requirements that software sometimes misses 3. **Filing status** - If there was any confusion about whether you can file as independent vs. dependent The good news is that you should receive a detailed notice (CP2000 or similar) explaining exactly what they changed and why. Since you moved, definitely contact USPS about mail forwarding ASAP, or create an online IRS account to access your records digitally. Your state refund will come separately - that part is totally normal. Each state processes at their own pace, so don't worry if it takes several more weeks. Focus on getting that IRS explanation letter first to understand the federal adjustment!

I've been preparing taxes for friends and family for over 10 years, and this is a very common misunderstanding. Your federal and state returns are completely separate systems. Many people don't realize that the IRS (federal) and your state's department of revenue are entirely different agencies with different rules, forms, and processing systems. They do share information eventually, but an error on one doesn't automatically affect the other. If your federal return was accepted, it's in process regardless of what happens with your state return. The only time you'd need to worry is if the information you provided on both returns contradicts each other significantly.

Hey Muhammad! I totally get the stress - tax season as a new grad is already overwhelming enough! 😅 Just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying: your federal return is completely safe! Think of it this way - the IRS and your state tax agency are like two different companies that don't share the same computer system. Your federal acceptance has nothing to do with your state error. Since you're just starting out with taxes, here's a pro tip for the future: always double-check your state info before hitting submit, especially things like state ID numbers or addresses. TurboTax is usually pretty good about catching errors, but it can't catch everything. While you're waiting for that state letter, you can track your federal refund progress using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. It should show up there within a few days of acceptance. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

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!