Guys I'm telling you, the real move is to just become a corporation. Then you don't gotta pay taxes at all! 🧠🤑

I feel your frustration! I had a similar situation last year - filed in March and didn't hear back until August. What really helped me was calling the IRS first thing in the morning (like 7 AM when they open) and having all my documents ready. The wait times are brutal but worth it. Also, make sure to check if the IRS has your correct address on file - sometimes returns get held up because of address mismatches. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 💪

I filed on March 15th and got my refund exactly 16 days later via direct deposit. The "Where's My Refund" tool was pretty accurate - it went from "received" to "approved" to "sent" over about 2 weeks, then the money hit my account 2 days after it showed "sent". One thing that helped me was making sure all my information was 100% accurate before submitting. I double-checked every number from my W-2s and 1099s against what I entered. I also filed relatively late in the season (mid-March) when the initial rush had died down, which might have helped with processing times. For a $2,300 refund, you should definitely use direct deposit if you haven't already - it's significantly faster than waiting for a paper check. Just try not to stress too much about checking constantly. The IRS systems are pretty reliable, and as long as your return doesn't get flagged for review, you should see your money within that 21-day window they promise.

I filed my return on February 28th this year and got my refund deposited on March 18th - so about 18 days total. I used TurboTax with direct deposit just like you. One thing I learned from previous years is that the "Where's My Refund" tool typically updates overnight, usually between midnight and 6 AM. So checking it multiple times during the day won't show any changes - once per day in the morning is really all you need to do. Since you filed last week and your return is already showing as accepted and processing, you're in good shape. The fact that it went through the initial automated screening without any flags is a positive sign. Most returns like yours (straightforward e-filed returns) get processed within 2-3 weeks. Try to resist the urge to check your bank account every few hours - I know it's tempting with a larger refund! The IRS will update the status to "refund sent" about 1-2 days before the money actually hits your account, so that'll give you a heads up when it's imminent.

Does anyone know how this works with HSA contributions? My employer contributes $1500 to my HSA annually on top of paying part of my health insurance premium.

As someone who just went through this same confusion last month, I can confirm what others have said - employer-paid health insurance premiums are NOT included in your gross income. I was in a similar situation where I was right at the edge of a tax credit threshold. What really helped me was looking at my pay stub vs. my W-2. My gross pay on my final pay stub was higher than Box 1 on my W-2 because Box 1 already excludes pre-tax deductions like health insurance premiums I pay, while employer-paid portions never show up as income at all. The IRS treats employer-paid health benefits as a tax-free fringe benefit under Section 106 of the tax code. So your $73,500 salary is what counts toward your AGI calculation - not the additional $7,200 your employer pays for insurance. You should be comfortably under the $75,000 threshold for your tax credit!

I've seen this happen more times than you'd think. Most people don't realize employers sometimes do this deliberately hoping you'll just give up. Last year, someone in my tax prep group had THREE employers pull this stunt. The community wisdom here is: document everything, be persistent with the IRS, and don't let tax deadlines pass. File for an extension if needed, but don't skip filing altogether because of your employer's actions - that only hurts you in the long run with potential penalties and interest.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and it was incredibly stressful. Here's what worked for me: First, I'd recommend trying the online transcript method that @Lola Perez mentioned - it's honestly the fastest route if your employer actually filed the forms with the IRS. You can get your Wage & Income transcript from IRS.gov and use that to file Form 4852. If that doesn't work, I had success with calling the IRS early in the morning (right at 7am) to avoid the worst hold times. When I finally got through, the agent was actually very understanding about the situation and initiated contact with my employer within a week. One thing I wish someone had told me: keep detailed records of every attempt you make to contact your employer. The IRS agent asked me for dates, times, and methods of contact when I called. Having that documentation ready made the process much smoother. Also, don't feel bad about escalating this - employers who refuse to provide tax documents are breaking federal law. You're not being difficult by pursuing this through proper channels. Good luck, and I hope you get this resolved quickly!

Submitted mine last Sunday and it got accepted within an hour but transcript didn't update till Wednesday

I filed through TurboTax last Friday evening and got my acceptance email around 11 PM the same night. The IRS definitely accepts returns 24/7, but like others mentioned, the real processing happens during business hours. My "Where's My Refund" tool didn't show any updates until Tuesday morning. So you'll probably get that acceptance notification pretty quickly, but don't stress if nothing else moves until the weekdays!