Back in 2022, I had almost the exact same timeline as you, and I remember how the status changed from "STILL being processed" to "IS being processed" right before I got my DDD. Instead of constantly checking WMR, I found it more helpful to set up alerts with my bank for any incoming deposits. That way I wasn't driving myself crazy checking multiple times a day. Another thing that helped was checking my transcript around 3-4am EST on Fridays when the weekly updates typically happen. Most people who verified their identity like you did end up getting their refunds, it just takes a bit longer than the advertised 21 days.

The wording change from "STILL being processed" to "IS being processed" is definitely meaningful! I went through this exact same thing last month. "Still being processed" usually indicates your return is in some kind of review queue or on hold, while "is being processed" means it's moved into active processing. Since you completed identity verification on 2/15 and it's now been over a week, you're probably in the final stages. The transcripts often don't update until the very last minute - I've seen people get their DDD on transcripts that were showing N/A just the day before. One thing to keep in mind is that the 21-day window resets after identity verification, so you're really only about 10 days into your processing time from verification completion. I know it's frustrating when you see others getting their refunds faster, but everyone's situation is slightly different depending on what triggered the verification and what other reviews might be happening. Try checking your transcript early Friday morning (around 3-6am EST) - that's typically when the weekly batch updates happen. Your refund is likely coming very soon!

Watch out for SBTPG's timing! Last year on April 12th, 2023, my status changed to 'funded' on a Friday afternoon, but the money didn't hit my account until Wednesday, April 17th. Their website claimed 1-2 business days, but it took 3 full business days. If your tuition deadline is coming up soon (like before April 30th), I'd recommend having a backup plan just in case. The timing is never guaranteed, especially this close to the tax deadline when their systems are overloaded.

I've been through this exact situation twice now! SBTPG does receive funds from the IRS on weekends - I've personally seen my status change from 'unfunded' to 'funded' on both Saturday and Sunday. However, the transfer to your actual bank account almost always follows standard banking business days. For your tuition deadline situation, here's what I'd suggest: check your WMR (Where's My Refund) tool to see if it shows "sent" - that's usually a good indicator that the IRS has already released your funds. If it shows sent and SBTPG is still showing unfunded, the money is likely in transit and should update within 24-48 hours. Given your tight timeline, you might also want to contact your school's financial aid office to explain the situation. Many schools will give a brief extension (like 2-3 days) if you can show proof that your refund is in process. Screenshot your SBTPG status and WMR tool as documentation. Fingers crossed it updates over the weekend for you! The waiting game is the absolute worst part of tax season.

we're all in the same boat waiting on these refunds. irs making us jump through hoops fr fr

I went through this exact same thing last year and it was nerve-wracking! The BFS debt warning is basically just a standard disclaimer they show everyone - it's like those "side effects may include..." warnings on medicine commercials. If you truly don't have any debts, your refund should come through in full on March 6th. The system can't tell the difference between people who actually have debts vs those who don't, so everyone gets the same scary message. Just keep checking WMR after the 6th if it doesn't hit your account, but honestly you're probably fine. The fact that it says "Refund Sent" is the important part!

Has anyone compared the audit protection features between these options? That's one thing that always makes me nervous with a small business. TurboTax's audit protection seemed decent but not sure about the others.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Started an LLC last year for a small consulting side business and TurboTax hit me with that ridiculous $1,300 fee. I ended up going with TaxAct and paid around $90 total. The interface definitely isn't as sleek as TurboTax, but it handled my Schedule C perfectly fine and walked me through all the business deductions step by step. For a straightforward LLC situation like yours (pass-through entity, basic expenses), any of these alternatives should work great. One tip - make sure you have all your business expense receipts organized before you start. The cheaper software options don't have as much hand-holding when it comes to suggesting deductions you might have missed, so you need to be a bit more proactive about knowing what you can deduct.

Quick question related to this - does it matter if I pay my sitter in cash vs. Venmo? We usually just Venmo her after each sitting job. Does that create some kind of paper trail I need to worry about for tax purposes?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation with our part-time sitter. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - keep detailed records even if you're under the threshold. I track dates, hours, and amounts paid in a simple spreadsheet throughout the year. This helps in two ways: 1) You'll know exactly where you stand relative to that $2,600 threshold, and 2) You'll have all the documentation organized when it's time to file Form 2441 for the childcare credit. Also, don't forget that the childcare credit has income limits and phases out at higher income levels. The tool that was mentioned earlier (taxr.ai) actually helped me figure out that we were above the income threshold for the credit, so even though we needed our sitter's SSN for reporting, we couldn't actually claim the expenses. Would have been nice to know that before I awkwardly asked for her social security number!