I filed on January 28th with complicated taxes (self-employed, multi-state income, investments) and STILL waiting for my refund. The IRS tool just says "still processing" and it's been almost 4 weeks now. Called twice and got nowhere. This happens to me EVERY SINGLE YEAR and it's so frustrating!!!

Filed my taxes on February 15th through FreeTaxUSA with just W-2 income and standard deduction. Got accepted the same day, and my direct deposit hit my account exactly 12 days later on February 27th. The "Where's My Refund" tool was actually pretty accurate - it moved from "received" to "approved" on day 9, then to "sent" on day 11. One thing I learned from previous years is to make sure your bank routing and account numbers are 100% correct when you enter them. A single digit mistake can add weeks to the process while they mail you a paper check instead. Also, if you're using a tax prep service, double-check that they're using YOUR bank info and not some weird temporary account setup. Logan, since you just filed, I'd give it at least a week before obsessively checking. The first few days after acceptance nothing usually happens status-wise anyway!

I'm really sorry this happened to you - losing $14,100 in your Roth IRA is incredibly painful, especially when you were trying to do the right thing by saving for retirement. Unfortunately, as others have confirmed, Roth IRA losses cannot be deducted on your taxes under current law. What you experienced is actually more common than you might think. Many people who started investing during the 2021 market highs faced similar losses when everything crashed in 2022. The timing was just brutal for new investors. Since you mentioned you're planning to start over with a more conservative approach, here are a few things that might help: First, consider using a "core-satellite" strategy where you put most of your money in boring, stable index funds (the "core") and only allocate a small percentage to riskier investments (the "satellites"). This can help you participate in market growth while limiting downside risk. Second, when you do restart your Roth IRA, you might want to implement a "circuit breaker" rule for yourself - like promising never to check your balance more than once per quarter, or setting up automatic investments so you're not tempted to time the market. The silver lining is that you learned this lesson relatively early in your investing journey. Many people don't discover their true risk tolerance until they're much closer to retirement, when they have less time to recover. You still have decades to build wealth, and the discipline you develop from this experience will serve you well. Hang in there - this setback doesn't define your financial future.

I feel for you - losing over $14,000 in your Roth IRA is incredibly frustrating, especially when you were trying to do the right thing by catching up on retirement savings. Everyone here is correct that Roth IRA losses aren't tax-deductible under current law. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much is the psychological aspect of what you went through. Investment losses in retirement accounts can feel different from regular investment losses because you know you can't touch that money for decades anyway. This can create a sense of helplessness that makes emotional decisions more likely. When you do decide to start again, consider setting up your new Roth IRA with a different brokerage than before - sometimes a fresh start with new login credentials and a clean slate can help psychologically. Also, many brokerages now offer "paper trading" or simulation accounts where you can practice your investment strategy with fake money before committing real funds. The education you're doing now is invaluable. Consider reading "The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing" or similar books that focus on simple, long-term strategies rather than trying to beat the market. Your future self will thank you for taking time to build a solid foundation of knowledge before jumping back in. You're still young and have plenty of time to recover. This expensive lesson in risk tolerance and market psychology will likely make you a much better investor in the long run.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if you're buying the X5 45e plug-in hybrid, the $7,500 credit might be reduced soon depending on how many units BMW has sold. These EV credits start phasing out after a manufacturer sells 200,000 qualifying vehicles. Last I checked BMW hadn't hit that threshold yet, but they're getting close. Might want to check the latest numbers before making your decision.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact decision last year. I'm also a realtor and was torn between similar vehicles. One thing that really helped me was tracking my actual business mileage for a few months before making the purchase. I thought I was driving about 75% for business, but when I actually logged everything, it was closer to 65%. That changed the math significantly on the Section 179 benefits. Also consider the practical side - the X5 is noticeably larger and can be harder to park at some properties, especially older neighborhoods with tight driveways. But it's much better for client transport when showing multiple properties in a day, and the extra cargo space is great for open house materials and signs. The fuel savings with the 45e hybrid are real if you can charge regularly. I have a home charger and rarely use gas for local showings anymore. Just make sure to factor in the cost of installing a Level 2 charger at home if you don't have one already - that's about $1,200-2,000 depending on your electrical setup. From a client impression standpoint, the X5 definitely projects more success, which can matter in higher-end markets. Not the most important factor, but worth considering if you work with luxury properties.

4 Don't forget about state taxes! The IRS payment deadline applies to federal taxes, but your state might have different rules and deadlines for payment. Make sure you check your state's tax website too.

Hey Marcus! I just went through this exact situation last month and wanted to share what I learned. You're absolutely right to stress about this, but there are good options available. First, you do have until April 15, 2025 to pay without the failure-to-pay penalty, even though you filed early. But here's what I wish someone had told me - even if you can't pay the full amount by April 15, you should still file your return on time (which you already did!) because the failure-to-file penalty is way worse than the failure-to-pay penalty. If you can't pay by April 15, definitely set up an installment agreement ASAP. The IRS is actually pretty reasonable about payment plans. For amounts under $50k, you can usually get approved online instantly. The setup fee is only $31 if you do it online with direct debit, and you can choose a payment plan that works with your budget. One thing that really helped me was calculating exactly what each option would cost. Interest starts April 15 at about 8% annually, plus there's a 0.5% monthly penalty on unpaid balances. So if you owe $3,000 and set up a 12-month payment plan, you're looking at maybe $150-200 total in interest and fees, which isn't terrible spread over a year. Don't let the stress eat at you - the IRS deals with this situation constantly and they have systems in place to help. You've got options!

your in for a wait fam. they tried sending mine to closed account twice b4 getting it right 💀

Ugh this is my biggest fear! I'm still waiting for my 846 code but my bank account situation is sketchy too. How did you get through to the IRS to update your info? Every time I call it's like a 2 hour wait and then they hang up on me 😤 Hopefully the new DD info processes quick for you!