dont worry about it too much this happened to me last year. my company suddenly doubled my withholding for like 3 paychecks. turned out someone in HR entered something wrong in the system. i did get all the extra $$ back on my refund but it was annoying to wait.

This exact thing happened to me about 6 months ago! The sudden jump in withholding is definitely alarming when you're not expecting it. As others have mentioned, you absolutely will get back any excess withholding when you file your taxes - it's calculated automatically based on your total tax liability for the year versus what was withheld. But definitely don't wait to address this with HR. In my case, it turned out someone had accidentally changed my filing status in the payroll system from "Married Filing Jointly" to "Single" which dramatically increased my withholding. Once we caught it and fixed it, my next paycheck went back to normal. The good news is that even if a few more paychecks go out with the wrong withholding, you're not losing that money permanently. But why give the government an interest-free loan of your hard-earned cash when you could be using it now? Get it sorted ASAP!

Its wild how everyone in the same batch gets different timeline. feels like playing the lottery at this point smh

Same boat here - batch 05 with codes showing for almost 3 weeks now. The inconsistency is frustrating but at least we're not alone in this. Hoping tomorrow brings some good news for all of us! 🤞

For your first year with Uber income, make sure you're keeping all your receipts and tracking expenses properly going forward. I started driving last year and wish someone had told me this sooner. The Uber tax summary doesn't include a lot of deductions you're entitled to. Track EVERYTHING - car washes, portion of phone bill, mileage between passengers (not just with passengers), snacks/water for riders, car repairs, etc. I use a separate credit card just for Uber-related expenses to make it easier to track.

Don't forget about quarterly estimated taxes! This was my big mistake my first year as an Uber driver. Since there's no withholding on your Uber income like there is with your W-2 job, you might need to make quarterly payments to avoid penalties.

At your income level, you should really look into establishing a Defined Benefit Plan (cash balance pension) in addition to a Solo 401k. For someone earning over $600k, this combination can allow you to defer $200k+ in taxes annually in some cases. With a cash balance plan, contribution limits are based on age and income, with older individuals able to contribute more. It's more complex than a standard 401k but the tax savings can be enormous at your income level. The administrative costs are higher (expect $2-3k annually), but the tax savings typically dwarf these expenses. It's surprising how many high-income freelancers aren't aware of this option!

Your situation is unfortunately very normal for high-income freelancers in NYC. That 37% you're seeing isn't just federal income tax - it's the combination of federal income tax PLUS self-employment tax that's hitting you so hard. Here's the breakdown of what you're likely paying: - Federal income tax: Your marginal rate is 37% on income over $609,350 (2025 rates) - Self-employment tax: 15.3% on the first $168,600, then 2.9% Medicare tax continues on all income above that, PLUS an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on income over $200,000 - NY State tax: Up to 10.9% - NYC local tax: Up to 3.876% When you add it all up, a total effective rate of 45-50% isn't uncommon at your income level. The good news is there are strategies to reduce this burden. Priority #1 should be discussing S-Corp election with your accountant - at your income level, this could save you $15-25k annually in self-employment taxes. You'd pay yourself a reasonable salary (subject to employment taxes) and take the rest as distributions. Also maximize retirement contributions through a Solo 401k ($70k limit for 2025) and consider a SEP-IRA if you haven't already. At your income level, you might even qualify for a defined benefit plan which could allow much higher tax-deferred contributions. The pain is real, but there are legitimate ways to reduce it significantly!

Not sure if this will help you, but make sure your suitability check is complete. I had a delay with my EFIN because my fingerprint cards weren't properly processed. If you submitted fingerprints, call and specifically ask if they were received and processed correctly. This is often a bottleneck. Also, have you considered using ProSeries or another tax software that might allow you to use their EFIN temporarily while yours is being processed? Some have programs for new preparers that might help you get through this tax season without losing clients.

I feel your pain - EFIN delays are incredibly frustrating when you're trying to build a business! In addition to the great suggestions already mentioned, here are a few more things that helped me when I was stuck in EFIN limbo: 1. Document EVERYTHING - Keep a detailed log of every phone call (date, time, representative name if they give it, what they told you). This creates a paper trail that can be helpful if you escalate. 2. Ask specifically about your "suitability determination" status. This is often where applications get stuck, and many phone reps don't volunteer this information unless you ask directly. 3. If you haven't already, make sure you have your Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) active and up to date. EFIN processing sometimes gets delayed if there are issues with your PTIN. 4. Consider reaching out to your local VITA/TCE coordinator if you've done volunteer work with them before. They sometimes have direct contacts within the IRS e-file department. The combination of TAS (as Ava mentioned) and having detailed documentation of your hardship should definitely help move things along. Don't give up - once it's resolved, you'll have your EFIN for future seasons too!