wait what does cycle 5 even mean? im new to all this tax stuff

Same situation here! Filed 1/25, accepted 1/27, cycle 20250605 with ACTC. My transcript looks almost identical to yours - processing date Feb 24, code 150 with $0.00, and those future April dates. The waiting game is brutal but at least we know PATH should lift soon. That long number you mentioned (70211-424-09595-5) is just an internal IRS reference number, totally normal. Hang in there, we're all in this together! 🤞

Be careful. I ignored offset notices. Big mistake. They took my entire refund last year. $4,782 gone. All for an old student loan. I didn't even know about. From 2008. The worst part? If I had responded to the letters, I could have set up a payment plan. Only needed $5 monthly payments. Would have kept most of my refund. Don't ignore any letters you get. Respond immediately.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and it was such a rollercoaster of emotions! The 846 code got my hopes up, then the offset reality hit hard. Here's what helped me get through it: First, don't panic - the 846 code is still good news because it means your return was processed correctly. The offsets are separate from IRS processing, which is why they don't show on your transcript. Second, when you call the Treasury Offset Program hotline (800-304-3107), ask them to break down each offset by amount and agency. This will help you calculate if there's anything left over. Third, and this is important - each agency handling an offset has different hardship programs. I had two student loan offsets and was able to get on an income-driven plan that reduced future offsets to almost nothing. The waiting is the hardest part. It took about 3 weeks after my original refund date to get the remaining amount (which was only about 30% of my original refund, but better than nothing). One silver lining: this experience forced me to tackle my old debts head-on, and I'm in a much better financial position now. Sometimes these setbacks push us toward solutions we've been avoiding. Hang in there!

Did you move during that time? Sometimes they sent paper checks that got lost in the mail

Check your 2020 and 2021 tax transcripts - they should show if the EIP was issued and when. If it shows as issued but you never got it, you'll need to request a payment trace. The IRS has been dealing with tons of these cases where the system shows payments went out but people never received them. Don't give up - you're entitled to that money!

Don't forget to check if you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit even with low self-employment income! If you're over 25 or have qualifying children, you might get money back even if you don't owe taxes.

You definitely need to file! The $400 threshold for 1099-NEC income applies regardless of your total income level. Since you received $3,000 as an independent contractor, you'll need to file Form 1040 with Schedule C (for business income/expenses) and Schedule SE (for self-employment tax). The self-employment tax will be about 15.3% on your net earnings, but don't panic - you can potentially reduce this by deducting legitimate business expenses. Keep receipts for anything you purchased specifically for the internship (software, equipment, transportation costs, etc.). Also, even though you'll owe self-employment tax, you likely won't owe any federal income tax due to your low total income. You might even qualify for a refund if you had any taxes withheld from other jobs during the year. The filing requirement exists mainly to ensure you pay into Social Security and Medicare through the self-employment tax.

Has anyone here actually received confirmation that their paper return was processed? I mailed mine 4 months ago to the Austin address (I'm in California) and the "Where's My Refund" tool still says "Return Not Processed" when I check. Getting really worried they lost it.

I feel your pain on this address confusion! I went through the same nightmare last year when I had to paper file. The key thing to remember is that the IRS has been consolidating processing centers, which is why you're getting conflicting info from different sources. For 2023 California returns, Sydney Torres gave you the correct addresses above. Just to reinforce: - NO payment: Austin, TX 73301-0002 - WITH payment: Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501 Pro tip: Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof it was delivered. The IRS can take 6-8 weeks just to acknowledge they received a paper return, so don't panic if you don't see it in their system right away. Also, double-check that you're looking at the 2023 Form 1040 instructions, not older versions. The IRS updates these addresses periodically, and outdated info floating around online is probably why your neighbor and others are giving you different addresses. Good luck with your filing!