Slightly off topic but make sure you're checking the official IRS "Where's My Refund" tool and not some scam site!!! There are tons of fake ones that look almost identical to the real thing. The real one is at irs.gov/refunds or through the IRS2Go app. I got tricked last year by googling "where's my refund" and clicking the first link, which asked for way more info than the IRS actually needs. Ended up with my identity stolen and had to freeze my credit. Just a warning since it's tax season and the scammers are out in full force!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can tell you that Monday-issued refunds are processed the same way as any other day - it depends on what you selected when filing. If you chose direct deposit, that's what you'll get. If you didn't provide bank info or there's an issue with your account, they'll send a check. For direct deposit on Monday issues, I've typically seen the money hit accounts by Wednesday or Thursday. My bank (Chase) usually shows it as pending Tuesday night and available Wednesday morning. However, some banks like credit unions can take until Friday. One thing to keep in mind - if there are any flags or issues with your return (like identity verification needed), the IRS might switch to paper check even if you requested direct deposit. This happened to my neighbor last year and caused a lot of confusion when the deposit never showed up. Since you need the money ASAP for car repairs, I'd suggest checking your bank account daily starting Tuesday and also keeping an eye on your mail just in case. The IRS customer service line is pretty backed up right now, but if nothing shows up by Friday, it might be worth trying to call them to verify the payment method.

Has anyone actually had success using a General Durable POA with the IRS? I've heard they ONLY accept their own Form 2848, period.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my father who's in memory care. One thing that helped me was contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) - they're an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems. You can reach them at 1-877-777-4778 or apply online at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov. In cases involving elderly taxpayers in care facilities and significant hardship, TAS can sometimes intervene and find alternative solutions to the standard in-person verification requirement. They specifically look for situations where following normal procedures would cause undue burden. You'll need to explain your mother's condition, the distance involved, and your own health issues. While there's no guarantee, TAS has more flexibility than regular IRS customer service and might be able to work out something like accepting additional documentation or allowing a third party (like the facility's social worker) to assist with verification. It's worth trying this route before assuming you have no choice but to make that trip to the IRS office.

This is exactly why I still do paper returns. Everyone thinks I'm crazy but computers fail, software glitches, systems crash, and suddenly hours of work vanish. With paper, what you write stays written.

I feel your pain - losing hours of tax work is absolutely maddening! I had a similar experience with different software a few years back and it taught me to be paranoid about backups. Beyond what others have suggested about contacting TaxAct support, I'd recommend checking if your browser has any cached data that might help. Sometimes going to your browser history and finding the TaxAct pages you were on can reveal temporary files or cached forms that might have some of your data. Also, if you used any browser autofill features while entering information, check your browser's saved form data - you might be able to recover some of the basic info like names, addresses, and employer information that way. For next time (with any software), I learned to take a screenshot after completing each major section AND save a PDF of the return in progress every 30 minutes or so. It's a bit tedious but saves so much heartache when things go wrong. The tax software companies really need to do better with their autosave and recovery features - this shouldn't be something taxpayers have to worry about!

Anyone using Shopify for their online store? I just realized they calculate sales tax automatically but I'm not sure if I still need to file reports with my state. Their help docs are confusing me.

Nina, I totally understand your confusion! I went through the same thing when I started my small business last year. At your current sales level of $1,800/month, you're definitely below the economic nexus thresholds for other states, so you only need to worry about Colorado for now. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you understand Colorado's local tax rates too. Colorado has some of the most complex local tax structures in the country with state, county, city, and special district taxes that can vary significantly even within the same zip code. Don't just charge a flat state rate! For quarterly reporting to Colorado, you'll report your total taxable sales and the amount of tax you collected. Keep detailed records of where each sale shipped to - this will be crucial as you grow and potentially hit nexus thresholds in other states. Good luck with your jewelry business!

Just wanted to add something important - make sure you're using the correct tax forms for each specific year! The 1040 form and tax laws change slightly each year, and using the wrong year's form will cause your return to be rejected. You can download prior year forms directly from the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. They keep forms going back many years. Each year will have its own instruction booklet too, which is super helpful since tax laws change.

Don't feel overwhelmed - you're taking the right steps to get everything sorted out! I was in a similar boat a few years ago and can share what worked for me. For your back filing (2021-2023), you're correct that you'll need to mail paper forms since e-filing deadlines have passed. Download the specific year's forms from the IRS website - don't use current year forms for past years as they change annually. You absolutely CAN file your 2024 return now while working on back taxes - there's no requirement to complete prior years first. Go ahead and e-file 2024 to get that refund! For the back filing process: gather all your W-2s, any 1099s you might have received, and documentation for potential deductions (student loan interest, charitable donations, etc.). Complete each year's return using that year's forms and mail them separately. One thing that really helped me was starting with the oldest year first (2021) since there's a 3-year deadline to claim refunds. If you're owed money for 2021, you need to file by April 15, 2025 to claim it. The good news is that if you're due refunds, there are typically no penalties for filing late. If you owe money, there will be some penalties and interest, but filing voluntarily is always better than waiting for the IRS to find you! You've got this - taking action now puts you way ahead of where you were before!