Plot twist: the IRS is using our refunds to fund a secret space program 👽🛸

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed in March and still waiting. One thing that helped me was setting up an online account on the IRS website - sometimes it shows more detailed status info than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Also, if you have a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center nearby, you might be able to walk in for help (though call first to check if appointments are needed). The wait times are brutal, but don't give up! Your refund is out there somewhere in the system.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation where I provide care for my elderly father and do a lot of driving for his medical needs. One thing I learned from my accountant that might be useful - if your partner is classified as self-employed for PCA work, she should also consider setting up a separate business bank account for all PCA-related expenses, including vehicle costs. This makes record-keeping much cleaner and provides better documentation if you're ever audited. Also, don't forget that if you do go the actual expense method route, you can deduct things like car washes if the vehicle is used primarily for business - my accountant said keeping the car clean and presentable is considered a legitimate business expense for client-facing services. Just make sure to keep receipts and note the business purpose!

One important thing to keep in mind - if your partner is receiving 1099s for PCA work, she'll also need to pay self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on that income, which is about 15.3% on top of regular income tax. The vehicle deductions can help offset some of this burden, but it's something to factor into your overall tax planning. Also, I'd suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet or notebook in the car specifically for logging business trips. Include date, starting location, destination, purpose of trip, and mileage for each business-related drive. The IRS likes to see contemporaneous records (meaning recorded at the time, not recreated later), so having this habit from the start will save you headaches if you're ever questioned about the deductions. If you do decide to purchase a new vehicle, consider looking at hybrids or electric vehicles - there may be additional tax credits available that could further offset your costs, especially if the vehicle qualifies for federal EV credits.

Has anyone taken the exams recently? I'm trying to decide whether to use Surgent or Fast Forward Academy. Also wondering about the best order to take the parts - I've heard mixed advice about starting with Part 1 vs. Part 3.

I just passed all three parts of the SEE exam in December and wanted to share my experience as someone who also came from a non-tax background. The key is definitely having a structured study plan and not trying to rush through the material. I used a combination of Gleim for the comprehensive coverage and supplemented with YouTube channels like "The Tax Geek" for visual explanations of complex concepts. What really helped me was creating my own summary notes for each major topic - the act of writing things down in my own words helped me retain the information better. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: don't skip the ethics and representation material in Part 3. It's easy to think it's just common sense, but there are very specific rules about client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and IRS procedures that you need to memorize exactly as written in Circular 230. Also, schedule your exams strategically - I took Part 1 in August, Part 2 in October, and Part 3 in December. This gave me time to really absorb each section without feeling overwhelmed. Good luck with your career change - it's totally doable with the right preparation!

I've been through the verification process three times over the years. In my experience, there's a pattern most don't realize. The time of year matters significantly. Early season verifications (January-February) typically process faster than mid-season (March-April). Last year, my February verification took 8 days for the refund to arrive. In 2019, my April verification took nearly 4 weeks. The system gets overwhelmed as tax season progresses. Don't count on the money until it's actually in your account.

I just went through this exact same process two months ago, so I can share my recent experience. After completing in-person identity verification on January 15th, I received my refund on January 28th - so exactly 13 days later. The IRS agent at the office told me to expect 2-3 weeks, which was pretty accurate. One thing that helped me track it was that my "Where's My Refund" tool updated about 3 days before the money actually hit my account, showing it had been approved and giving me a deposit date. Since you're dealing with mortgage payments, I'd definitely recommend checking that tool daily starting around day 7-8 after verification. Also, make sure your bank account info on file is correct - any issues there can add another week or two to the process.

Thank you all for this incredibly helpful discussion! As the original poster, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain the Zelle situation so thoroughly. It's crystal clear now that even though Zelle doesn't issue 1099-K forms, I absolutely need to report that $8,500 from my graphic design work. I was honestly hoping there might be some wiggle room, but after reading about Yuki's cousin's audit experience, I'm definitely not taking any chances. I think I'll check out that taxr.ai tool Giovanni mentioned to help organize my records, and maybe use Claimyr if I need to speak with an IRS agent directly about anything else. Better to be over-prepared than face penalties and interest later. You've all saved me from making a potentially very expensive mistake. Time to get my Schedule C properly filled out!

As a tax professional, I want to emphasize something that's been touched on but bears repeating: the burden of proof is always on the taxpayer. While Zelle doesn't issue 1099-K forms, you should be keeping meticulous records of all your business transactions regardless of the payment method. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet to track each Zelle payment you receive for your graphic design work - date, amount, client name, and description of services. Take screenshots of the Zelle transactions as backup documentation. If you're ever audited, having organized records will make the process much smoother and demonstrate good faith compliance. Also, don't forget that as a self-employed individual earning over $400, you'll likely need to pay self-employment taxes on that $8,500 in addition to regular income tax. Make sure to set aside approximately 25-30% of your freelance income throughout the year for taxes to avoid any surprises come filing time.