Yo another option nobody mentioned - the Lifetime Learning Credit on your personal taxes! It's worth up to 20% of the first $10k in qualified education expenses (so max $2k credit). Unlike business deductions which just reduce taxable income, credits directly reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar. This works even if the education is completely unrelated to your current job/business. Might be way simpler than trying to justify business deductions.

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who's been through multiple IRS audits with my LLC. The education expense question comes up a lot, and here's what I've learned the hard way: The IRS is super strict about the "ordinary and necessary" test for business expenses. College tuition almost never passes this test because they view it as personal investment in your future earning capacity, not maintaining current business skills. Even when courses seem directly related to your business, they'll often argue that college-level education is preparing you for a career rather than improving existing skills. I tried to deduct some MBA courses that were directly applicable to my consulting business and got pushback during audit. The safest approach is exactly what others mentioned - use the education tax credits on your personal return. The American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit are specifically designed for college expenses and don't have the same scrutiny. You'll get real tax savings without the audit risk. If you really think some courses qualify as business expenses, document EVERYTHING - how each course directly improves skills you're currently using, not future skills. But honestly, the personal tax credits are probably your best bet here.

I'm so relieved to have found this community! The IRS phone system makes me want to scream into a pillow! It feels like they've intentionally created a labyrinth with no exit. I've learned that early morning calls (7-8am ET) work better than afternoon attempts. Also, mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) tends to have slightly lower call volumes. Hang in there - we're all navigating this frustrating system together! 💪

I completely understand your frustration! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed 2/3 and still waiting with no updates. From reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like the 800-829-0582 ext 652 number at 7am ET is getting the best results. I'm planning to try that approach tomorrow morning. One thing that's helped me stay sane is checking my transcript weekly instead of daily - it prevents me from obsessing over it. Also, since you mentioned needing the refund for your mom's medical supplies, you might want to document that hardship in case you need to escalate through the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They seem to prioritize cases involving medical needs. Stay strong - it sounds like many people here eventually got through and received their refunds. The system is clearly overwhelmed this year, but persistence does seem to pay off based on these success stories! 🤞

Under Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, normal processing time for electronically filed returns is 21 calendar days. However, returns filed during peak season (mid-February through March) often experience extended timeframes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 mandated additional verification procedures for certain returns, further extending processing times. I'd advise against making financial commitments based on anticipated refund dates, as the IRS explicitly states that refund timeframes are not guaranteed.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed 2/25 with Chase and still waiting. My transcript finally updated yesterday showing cycle code 20250705 which means weekly processing, and I saw a 766 credit code but no 846 deposit date yet. The waiting is absolutely brutal especially when you have bills due. I've been checking at 3am, 6am, and throughout the day like a maniac. From what I've read on other threads, late February filers are hitting the 4-5 week mark before seeing movement. Hang in there - we should be seeing updates soon based on the patterns others have shared!

Just a warning to track everything super carefully. My cousins both tried to claim my grandma in the same year without telling each other. The IRS flagged both returns and they both got audited. Total disaster and caused a huge family fight lol.

One thing to consider that I don't see mentioned much - if your mom ever needs to apply for Medicaid or other means-tested benefits in the future, being claimed as your dependent could potentially affect her eligibility. Some programs consider the income and resources of the person claiming her as a dependent when determining benefit eligibility. This probably won't be an issue given her current situation, but it's worth keeping in mind for long-term planning. You might want to check with a benefits counselor or elder law attorney if she's likely to need additional assistance programs down the road. Also, make sure you understand the "tie-breaker rules" if anyone else in your family is also providing support. The IRS has specific rules about who gets to claim a dependent when multiple people are eligible, and it's not always the person providing the most support.

Just FYI - MI Treasury has diff processing times based on whether u verified online or by mail. Online verification = ~2-3 wks. Mail verification = 4-6 wks min. Also matters if u had credits like EITC or property tax credit. Those take longer to process even after verification. Check ur status at michigan.gov/mytaxes for most accurate info.

I went through ID verification for my Michigan state return on February 25th and received my refund on March 12th - so about 15 days total. I did the online verification through the MI Treasury website where I had to answer some personal questions about my credit history and previous addresses. The process itself only took about 10 minutes, and then it was just a waiting game. I checked the status on michigan.gov/mytaxes probably every other day until I saw it switch from "under review" to "refund issued." One thing I noticed is that the refund showed up in my bank account about 2 days after the website showed it was issued. Hope this helps with your planning!