I filed with FreeTaxUSA on February 20th and just got my refund deposited yesterday (March 12th) - so about 3 weeks total. I was getting worried too because the WMR tool showed "processing" for what felt like forever, then suddenly jumped to "refund approved" and "refund sent" within the same day. For what it's worth, I'm also a first-time filer (just turned 20) and only had a W-2 from my retail job. No special credits or anything complicated. The waiting was definitely nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you're still well within the normal timeframe since you filed on Feb 23rd. FreeTaxUSA itself was super easy to use - way better than paying TurboTax's crazy fees. The actual filing process went smoothly, it's just the IRS processing that takes forever during tax season. Hang in there!

I filed with FreeTaxUSA on February 25th (just two days after you) and I'm in the exact same boat - still stuck on "return received" with no movement on WMR. Also 19 and a first-time filer with just a simple W-2 return. It's honestly been driving me crazy checking that tool every single day! But reading through all these responses is really reassuring. Sounds like we're both still well within the normal processing window, especially during peak season. The fact that so many people here had similar wait times and eventually got their refunds gives me hope. I think I might try one of those services mentioned above if I don't see any movement by next week, just to get some peace of mind about whether everything looks okay with my return. But for now, sounds like we just need to practice patience - easier said than done when you're counting on that money though!

Does anyone know if Robinhood gives you any warning when you're buying an MLP? I feel like they should tell you that you're buying something that's going to complicate your taxes before you purchase it.

I had this exact same situation happen to me! Bought what I thought were regular oil stocks on Robinhood and got blindsided by K-1 forms. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. Yes, select "Partnership/LLC" in TurboTax - that's correct for the 1065 K-1 you received 2. MLPs (Master Limited Partnerships) are common in the oil/pipeline sector and they're taxed differently than regular stocks 3. Keep ALL your K-1 forms - you'll need them when you sell because the tax basis gets adjusted each year One tip that saved me a lot of headache: if the amounts are small (like under $1000 in income), the multi-state filing requirements others mentioned usually don't apply. TurboTax will calculate this automatically. Also, consider moving these investments to an IRA if you plan to keep them long-term. MLPs in retirement accounts avoid the K-1 hassle entirely (though there are some other considerations with UBTI if the amounts get large). Don't feel bad about not knowing - Robinhood really should warn people about this before purchase!

I'm SO confused by all this tax stuff. My H&R Block software says I need Form 8949 but my friend who uses TurboTax said she didn't have to fill it out at all??? We both have stocks with Fidelity. Does it depend on which tax software you use????

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was so stressful! The key thing to understand is that when your brokerage reports the cost basis to the IRS (which shows up as Box 3 being checked on your 1099-B), you generally don't need to fill out Form 8949 for those specific transactions. However, I'd recommend double-checking a few things: First, look at ALL your 1099-B forms and make sure Box 3 is checked for every single transaction. If even one transaction has Box 3 unchecked, you'll need Form 8949 for that one. Second, if you had any wash sales or made any adjustments to the cost basis that your brokerage didn't account for, you might still need Form 8949. The Form 8453 your software generated might just be a precautionary measure. Most modern tax software is pretty good about only requiring it when you actually have forms that can't be e-filed. Since you used the summary option and everything was reported by your brokerage, you're probably fine without it. One last tip - keep all your brokerage statements and 1099-B forms for your records, even if you don't need to submit detailed forms. The IRS occasionally sends notices asking for clarification on capital gains, and having those documents makes responding much easier!

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - the company might have had a reason for issuing a 1099-NEC. Was there any chance this was structured as a buyback with an additional premium? Sometimes companies will pay more than fair market value for shares as a form of severance or additional compensation, especially with early employees. If that's the case, you might need to split the reporting - part as capital gains (the actual FMV of the stock) and part as compensation (any premium above FMV). Worth double-checking your sale documents to confirm the valuation matched pure FMV.

Just a heads up - I dealt with this exact issue last year with QSBS stock. Make absolutely sure you have documentation proving it qualifies as QSBS! The requirements are strict: - Company must be a qualified small business when you acquired the stock - Must have held the stock for at least 5 years - Company assets must have been under $50 million when stock was issued - Must be original issue stock (bought from company, not secondary) The IRS scrutinizes QSBS claims carefully because of the huge tax advantage. If you're claiming the 50% exclusion, make sure you have rock-solid proof for every QSBS requirement.

Has anyone actually tried OLT.com like the OP mentioned? I'm in a similar boat with about $25 in foreign taxes and looking to switch from TurboTax.

This is exactly the kind of situation where tax software companies make their money on unnecessary upsells! The $300 threshold rule that others mentioned is spot-on - you absolutely do not need to file Form 1116 for $1.89 in foreign taxes. I've been doing my own taxes for over a decade and have dealt with this same issue multiple times. The IRS specifically created the Schedule 3 direct entry method because they recognized that requiring Form 1116 for tiny amounts was burdensome for taxpayers and created unnecessary complexity. Just to add some additional context: this rule applies to "qualified foreign taxes" which includes taxes withheld on dividends from foreign stocks or international mutual funds/ETFs. Make sure your $1.89 falls into this category (which it almost certainly does based on your description). You can literally save yourself $68 and claim that credit on any free tax software that includes Schedule 3. Don't let TurboTax guilt you into thinking you need their premium version for such a basic tax situation!