Heads up - make sure to keep an eye out for a plain white envelope. Its not obviously from the IRS on the outside. I almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail lol

I got mine about 6 business days after the mail date showed up on WMR. I'm also in CA (Bay Area). The wait is definitely nerve-wracking but it should show up soon! Just keep checking your mail daily like you're doing.

Check your tax transcript for code 570! If you see that, it means there's a hold on your account. Mine was delayed for similar reasons and that's what was happening. You might also see code 971 which means they sent a notice (that you may not have received).

I went through something very similar last year - 8 month delay on what should have been a straightforward refund. The combination of approaches mentioned here is your best bet. Start with requesting your tax transcript online immediately. This will show you if there are any specific codes indicating why it's being held. If you see codes like 570, 971, or 424, at least you'll know there's an active review happening rather than your return just sitting in a pile somewhere. Then I'd recommend a two-pronged approach: contact both the Taxpayer Advocate Service AND your congressional representative's office. The TAS is great for systemic issues and they have more time to work on your case, while congressional offices have those direct IRS lines that can get faster answers. If those don't work within 2-3 weeks, the Claimyr service really does work for actually getting through to the IRS phone system. I was skeptical too but after months of busy signals, being able to talk to an actual agent made all the difference. Don't wait any longer - 9 months is well beyond any reasonable processing time and you have multiple legitimate avenues to escalate this. The key is being persistent and using multiple approaches simultaneously rather than trying one thing at a time.

Their website is showing maintenance issues rn might be why everythings moving slow af

Been waiting since 1/28 myself - same exact situation. Federal cleared in like 10 days but CO is just sitting there. Really frustrating when you're expecting that refund! At least it sounds like we're not alone in this mess. Gonna try calling Monday morning like @Ryder Greene suggested.

Don't forget to track your miles carefully this year! I got audited last year over my delivery driver deductions because I claimed miles but didn't have good records. The standard mileage deduction is pretty generous (I think it's like 65.5 cents per mile for 2025) so make sure you're tracking all your delivery driving. There are good apps like Stride or Everlance that can help with this.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! You're absolutely right to be concerned about reporting the income even without the 1099-NEC form. The IRS expects you to report all income regardless of whether you receive tax documents. For FreeTaxUSA, when you get to the income section, look for "Business Income" or "Self-Employment Income" rather than trying to enter it as a 1099-NEC. You'll use Schedule C to report your $2,780 in delivery earnings. The earnings summary from Uber Eats is perfectly acceptable documentation - just make sure to save a copy for your records. One thing I wish I had known earlier: you can deduct business expenses like the business use portion of your phone bill, insulated bags, and most importantly - mileage! The standard mileage deduction can significantly reduce your tax liability. Even if you didn't track miles perfectly, you can make reasonable estimates based on your delivery history. Also, don't forget you'll need to file Schedule SE for self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare). FreeTaxUSA should automatically prompt you for this once you enter your Schedule C information. Good luck with your filing!

After helping several people through this process, here's what you need to know about verifying a 5071C letter: • Real 5071C letters have your truncated SSN (last 4 digits only) • They reference a specific tax year • They direct you ONLY to IDVerify.irs.gov or 800-830-5084 • They never ask for direct payments • They contain specific information about your tax return • They have the official IRS letterhead and formatting If your letter doesn't have these elements, it's likely fraudulent. If you're still unsure, call the general IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040, not the number on the letter.

As someone who works in cybersecurity, I'd add that you should also check the physical characteristics of the letter itself. Legitimate IRS correspondence uses specific paper stock and printing quality that's difficult to replicate. Look for perforated edges if it's a multi-part form, consistent font spacing, and clear, high-resolution printing of the IRS seal. Scammers often use lower-quality paper or inkjet printing that looks slightly "off" compared to official government correspondence. Also, the mailing envelope should have official IRS return addresses and postmarks - never from generic PO boxes or private mailing services. When in doubt, take photos of both the letter and envelope and compare them to samples on the official IRS website before proceeding with any verification steps.