What tax software are people using for old returns like 2021? Can you still use TurboTax or H&R Block for prior years? I'm in a similar situation and not sure which option is best.

I went through this exact same situation with my 2020 return! The panic is real but you're actually in a much better position than you think. Since you're owed a refund, you have zero penalties to worry about. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - gather ALL your documents first before you start filing. I made the mistake of starting with just my W-2 and then realized I was missing my 1099-MISC from that side gig income you mentioned. It delayed everything by weeks. For your $3,800 side gig income, you'll definitely need to file a Schedule C if it was freelance/contractor work, and don't forget about potential business deductions you might have had that year - home office, supplies, mileage, etc. Those can really add up and increase your refund. Also, double-check your bank records from 2021-2022 to see if you made any estimated tax payments that you might have forgotten about. I found I had made a small quarterly payment that I completely forgot about, which added another $400 to my refund. The whole process took me about 6 weeks from filing to receiving my refund, but that included the time I spent tracking down missing documents. You've got this!

Did you claim any recovery rebate credit, earned income credit, or child tax credit on your return? Those trigger automatic reviews this year and are causing major delays. Also check if there were any math errors on your return. The IRS has been overwhelmed with corrections for simple math mistakes that slow everything down.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - my refund has been delayed for 6 months now. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing there might be more options than I thought. For what it's worth, I did finally get through to the IRS using the early morning calling strategy someone mentioned. Called at exactly 7:00 AM on a Wednesday and got connected after about 2 hours on hold (which felt like a miracle compared to my previous attempts). The agent was actually very helpful and could see exactly what was holding up my return. In my case, it turned out to be an issue with my employer's reporting that didn't match my W-2. The agent explained that these discrepancies often aren't caught until months later in the process, which explains the long delay with no communication. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your documentation ready when you do get through to someone - your AGI from last year's return, exact refund amount, and any relevant tax documents. The agents can often resolve things on the spot if you have everything they need. Victoria, given that you're at 8 months now, you definitely qualify for Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance. That might be your best bet at this point, especially with the financial hardship from needing those home repairs.

Don't forget about state and local taxes too! Since you mentioned working in a different township than you live in, check if both places have local income taxes. Where I live, I have to pay both city and school district taxes for where I live AND a local tax for where I work. It adds up fast.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between being classified as an independent contractor versus an employee. The IRS has specific tests for this, and just because your boss says you're "independent" doesn't necessarily make it legally true. Key factors the IRS looks at include: Do you control HOW the work is done? Do you have your own tools? Can you work for other shops? Do you set your own schedule? If your boss controls most aspects of your work (when you work, how you do repairs, what jobs you take), you might actually be misclassified as a contractor when you should be an employee. This matters because if you're truly an employee, your boss should be paying half your Social Security/Medicare taxes and providing a W-2. Being misclassified can cost you thousands in extra self-employment taxes. If you think you might be misclassified, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to get an official determination, or Form 8919 when you file your taxes to only pay the employee portion of Social Security/Medicare taxes. Just something to consider as you navigate this situation!

Its such bs that they dont tell us this stuff upfront. Been waiting 4 months here

Been dealing with this exact same issue! Filed in February with Schedule H for my nanny and got caught in this verification mess. What worked for me was calling the dedicated Schedule H line (different from regular customer service) and they walked me through exactly what docs to send. Also keep calling back if you get conflicting info - some reps are way more knowledgeable than others. Hang in there!

Just wanted to add from an accounting perspective - this is considered a timing difference. You record the expense when the gift card is USED (not when purchased), but the amount of the expense is what you PAID. So in your example, you'd record an $80 expense for business meals when you actually order and use the pizza for employee meetings, not when you buy the gift card. The gift card purchase is just converting cash to another asset until used.

While everyone's focused on the deduction part, don't forget about the 50% limitation on business meals! Even though you can deduct the amount you actually paid ($80), remember that business meal expenses are generally only 50% deductible. So you'd only get to deduct $40 of that $80 expense in most cases.