took exactly 17 days for mine to show up last month. hang in there

Been waiting for my refund check since Feb 3rd mail date, so I totally feel your pain! From what I've experienced and heard from others, it really depends on your local postal service. Some areas are getting them in 7-10 days while others are taking 3+ weeks. The IRS customer service line is pretty backed up right now, but if you hit the 4 week mark definitely call to start a trace. In the meantime, try not to stress too much - they will get it to you eventually! 🤞

Just to give another perspective - my wife and I file separately EVERY year even though we pay more in taxes. I'm self-employed with some complicated investments, and she's a w2 employee who's very risk-averse. Filing separately gives her peace of mind that she's not liable for any potential issues with my business reporting. For us, the extra ~$3,200 we pay in additional tax is worth the relationship harmony and her peace of mind. Sometimes the financial cost isn't the only factor to consider.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My spouse has been doing some freelance work and I'm not entirely confident in how he's handling the tax reporting. From what I've learned, you might still have a narrow window to withdraw your return if it hasn't been processed yet, but you'll need both spouses to agree to the withdrawal. One thing I'd suggest is calling the IRS practitioner priority line (if you're working with a tax pro) or the regular taxpayer assistance line as early as possible - like right when they open at 7 AM. The wait times are usually shorter in the morning. You'll want to ask specifically about withdrawing an electronically filed return that's still being processed. Also, make sure you understand exactly what liability protection you'd actually get from filing separately. It's not a magic shield - you're still jointly liable for taxes on joint income and assets. The protection mainly applies to situations where one spouse has unreported income or fraudulent deductions that the other spouse genuinely didn't know about. If you're just worried about aggressive but legitimate business deductions, filing separately might cost you thousands without providing meaningful protection.

Same here! My as of date has been all over the place - went from Feb 10th to March 1st then back to Feb 20th. It's so confusing and stressful when you're waiting for your refund. Thanks everyone for clarifying that it doesn't actually indicate refund timing. I wish the IRS would make this stuff clearer instead of having us all guess what these dates mean!

This is so helpful! I've been checking my transcript daily and getting anxious every time that "as of" date changes. Mine went from Feb 28th to March 10th then back to March 3rd this week and I thought something was wrong with my return. Really appreciate everyone explaining that it's just their internal processing date and not related to when I'll actually get my refund. Definitely going to stop obsessing over it now and just wait for the actual refund codes to show up instead!

For student loan tax credit issues specifically, you might want to try the Education Credits line at 1-800-829-8815. I had a similar situation last semester with my American Opportunity Tax Credit and this number got me to someone who actually understood education credits instead of bouncing between departments. Also, make sure you have Form 8863 or your 1098-T handy when you call - they'll need those details right away. The wait was still about 45 minutes when I called at 7:15 AM, but at least I talked to someone who knew what they were doing! Good luck with finals week! 📚

I feel your pain! Been there with the endless phone loops. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration: Try calling 1-800-829-1040 and when you get to the automated menu, press 2 for "Personal Income Tax" then 1 for "Form 1040" then 3 for "All other tax questions" then 2 again. This bypasses some of the initial screening and gets you into the queue faster. Also, if you're dealing with education credits specifically, definitely try that Education Credits line at 1-800-829-8815 that Mateo mentioned - that's gold! I learned the hard way that having your Social Security card, tax return, and any relevant forms (like 1098-T for student loans) ready before you even dial makes a huge difference. The agents move much faster when you're prepared. Hang in there - you'll get through eventually! 💪

Also check your state requirements! My state requires an additional form filed with the Secretary of State when switching from sole prop to LLC, plus I had to get a business license. The tax stuff is just one piece of the puzzle.

Great question! I went through this same transition last year. You'll definitely want to submit a new W-9 form (not 1099 - that's what they send you) with your LLC's EIN and business name. One thing to consider is the timing - if you want all your 2025 income to be reported under your LLC, make sure to get that new W-9 to them ASAP and specify an effective date. Otherwise you might end up with income split between your SSN and EIN on different 1099s, which creates extra paperwork at tax time. Also, don't forget to update your invoices to reflect your new business name and EIN. It helps keep everything consistent and professional. The company's accounting department will appreciate the clear documentation of when the change took effect.