Based on Pathward's Refund Advance Service Terms (Section 4.3 of their service agreement), "processing notification dates do not guarantee same-day deposit, as final transmission depends on recipient financial institution's processing protocols." I processed over 200 tax returns last year, and approximately 35% of my clients who used Chime with Refund Advantage experienced a 24-hour delay between Pathward's stated processing date and actual deposit. Another 50% saw funds appear within 48 hours, while 15% experienced delays of 3+ business days. The timing appears to be affected by processing volume and the time of day when Pathward initiates the transfer.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got the same confusing message about them receiving it on a future date. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like this is just how their system communicates processing vs. deposit dates. I've been refreshing my Chime account way too often today, but based on what Victoria and Hassan shared about their timelines, it seems like I should expect to see the funds within 24-48 hours of their actual processing date. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is so much more helpful than the vague official FAQs!

We filed ours Feb. 4 electronically and it's still processing. Getting really annoyed. Last year it took 4 months because "they lost it

I filed mine electronically on January 28th and just got my direct deposit yesterday! So about 4 weeks total. The MN website tracker was pretty accurate - it showed "processing" for most of the time then switched to "approved" about 3 days before the money hit my account. Hang in there, electronic filers usually get theirs within that 3-4 week window!

One important thing no one mentioned: you need to make quarterly estimated tax payments on your DoorDash income! When you have a W-2 job, taxes are withheld automatically, but with 1099 work, nothing is withheld. If you wait until tax time to pay, you might get hit with underpayment penalties. I found this out the hard way last year and had to pay extra. You can either increase withholdings at your regular job to cover the additional income or make quarterly payments directly to the IRS.

I did doordash last year and messed up my taxes by not tracking my miles properly. KEEP A MILEAGE LOG starting today!! The standard mileage deduction was worth waaaaay more than itemizing all my other expenses. Download a mileage tracking app that records your trips automatically. I use Stride and it saved me over $1800 in taxes last year just from mileage deductions alone.

Has anyone done the math on whether it makes more sense to lease vs buy from a tax perspective when it comes to luxury SUVs like the X7? I've heard different opinions from different accountants.

Great question about the BMW X7! I just went through this exact process last month with my X7 xDrive40i that I purchased for my marketing consultancy. Since the X7 has a GVWR over 6,000 pounds (mine is 7,394 lbs), it qualifies as a heavy SUV which opens up much better depreciation options than regular passenger cars. Here's what I learned: For 2023, you can potentially combine Section 179 (up to $27,000 for heavy SUVs) with 80% bonus depreciation on the remaining basis. This could let you deduct a significant portion of your $128,000 purchase price in year one, assuming you use it primarily for business. A few critical things to keep in mind: - You MUST maintain detailed mileage logs showing business vs personal use - The business use percentage determines how much depreciation you can claim - If business use drops below 50% in future years, you may have to recapture some depreciation I'd strongly recommend running the numbers with a tax professional who can model different scenarios based on your specific business income and tax situation. The financing terms don't affect depreciation calculations, but you can separately deduct the business portion of interest payments. The key is getting your documentation right from day one - the IRS scrutinizes luxury vehicle deductions closely!

Make sure you explore all benefits you might be eligible for as a widower with children. If your children are eligible for Social Security survivor benefits, those are generally tax-free to the children. You might also be entitled to a $255 lump-sum death benefit from Social Security.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sunny. Dealing with taxes while grieving is incredibly difficult, and you're asking exactly the right questions. Yes, you can file as Head of Household for the year your wife passed away since she died before July 1st. The IRS considers you unmarried for the entire tax year in this situation, and since you're supporting your children who live with you, you meet the HOH requirements. A few additional things to keep in mind: - When filing your wife's final return, write "DECEASED" and the date of death across the top - You'll sign her return as "Filing as surviving spouse" - Make sure to claim any income she earned up to her date of death on her final return - Consider whether any of her medical expenses paid after death might be deductible on either return The separate filing approach you're considering is completely valid - her final return as married filing separately, and yours as HOH. This gives you flexibility with deduction choices too. Don't hesitate to consult a tax professional who has experience with widower situations if you need additional guidance. There are often overlooked deductions and credits that can help during this transition. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.