I'm in exactly the same situation! Filed my 2023 return three weeks ago and it's been stuck on "Return Received" ever since. The waiting is driving me crazy, especially when you need that refund money. From what I've researched, the IRS is really backed up this year. A lot of people are experiencing longer processing times than the usual 21 days they advertise. I've been trying to stay patient but it's hard when you see the same status message day after day. One thing that's helped my anxiety a bit is remembering that "Return Received" means they actually have it in their system and it's not lost somewhere. I know it doesn't feel like progress, but at least we're in the queue. Has anyone here actually had success getting useful information from calling the IRS line? I'm debating whether it's worth the hours on hold just to hear "your return is being processed" which is what the website already tells us.

Same exact situation here! Filed my 2023 return on January 28th and it's been stuck on "Return Received" for over two weeks now. The daily checking is becoming obsessive but I can't help myself 😅 What's really getting to me is that friends who filed after me have already gotten their refunds approved. Makes you wonder if there's something specific triggering the delays this year. I've triple-checked my return and everything looks correct. I did try calling that 1-800-829-1040 number last week but gave up after being on hold for 3 hours. Might try the early morning strategy someone mentioned. The uncertainty is the worst part - at least if they gave us a rough timeline we could plan accordingly. Thanks for posting this, it's oddly comforting to know so many of us are in the same boat right now!

Has anyone else had their ERC amended returns rejected? I filed mine with help from one of those ERC specialty firms, and the IRS rejected everything saying we didn't qualify. Now the firm is saying they don't provide audit support unless I pay additional fees! Total nightmare.

This is exactly the kind of situation that highlights why working with reputable ERC consultants is so important. Many of the "ERC mills" that popped up were more focused on volume than actually ensuring businesses qualified. If your amended returns were rejected, you'll want to carefully review the IRS notice to understand their specific objections. Common issues include: not meeting the required decline in gross receipts, failing to demonstrate a qualifying government shutdown order affected operations, or issues with the wage calculations. You should definitely push back on that consulting firm about audit support - any legitimate ERC consultant should stand behind their work, especially if they assured you that you qualified. Many states are also investigating these ERC companies for misleading practices. If you're dealing with an audit or rejection, consider getting a second opinion from a qualified tax professional who can review your original qualification determination. Don't pay additional fees to the same firm that may have gotten you into this mess in the first place.

Something similar happened to me last year and I finally got it resolved by filing a police report for theft. Sounds extreme but it worked! Once I had the police report, I sent it to both Chase and the IRS with a formal letter stating that I would be pursuing criminal charges against anyone withholding my rightfully owed tax refund. Magically, within 2 weeks my refund was reissued. Sometimes you have to play hardball when everyone is passing the buck. Just make sure you document EVERYTHING and keep all communications professional.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago with a $4,800 refund that went to the wrong account due to my tax preparer's mistake. Here's what finally worked for me: First, definitely contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service as mentioned earlier - they were crucial in my case. But also file a formal complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_waste_fraud.shtml. This creates an official investigation into the IRS's handling of your case. Second, send a certified letter to Chase's Executive Customer Relations department (not regular customer service) citing 12 CFR 210.28 - this is the federal regulation that governs erroneous ACH deposits. In your letter, state that under this regulation, they have an obligation to work with the originating depository financial institution (the Treasury) to resolve erroneous deposits. Third, contact your state's banking commissioner to file a complaint against Chase. Banks hate regulatory complaints and often resolve issues quickly to avoid further scrutiny. The key is creating multiple pressure points simultaneously. It took about 6 weeks, but I eventually got my full refund reissued. Don't give up - this money is legally yours and there are established procedures to get it back, even if everyone initially claims it's not their problem.

Has anyone here dealt with filing in PA and NJ as a married couple? We're in the same boat and curious if joint or separate is better for these specific states.

Great question! As someone who's been through this exact situation, I'd strongly recommend running both scenarios in TurboTax before deciding. Generally, married filing jointly tends to be better for most couples because you get access to higher standard deductions ($29,200 for 2024), better tax brackets, and credits that aren't available when filing separately. However, your two-state situation does add complexity. Some states handle joint vs. separate filing differently, so what's better federally might not be optimal for your state returns. The good news is TurboTax will let you compare both options and show you the total refund difference (federal + both states combined) before you file. Given that you only worked 6 months last year, your lower income combined with your spouse's income might actually put you in a better position filing jointly this year. The key things to compare are: total tax owed, available credits (like Earned Income Credit if applicable), and any deduction limitations that kick in with separate filing. Definitely take advantage of TurboTax's comparison feature - it's designed exactly for situations like yours!

Does anyone know if the employee retention credit can still be claimed on Form 3800 for 2023? I'm getting conflicting information. Some places say it ended in 2021, others say there were extensions.

I've been dealing with Form 3800 for my small marketing agency and wanted to share a few things that helped me get through it successfully. The biggest breakthrough was realizing that Form 3800 is really just a summary form - you have to complete all the underlying credit forms first. For Sofia's situation with R&D expenses, definitely start with Form 6765 (Research Credit) before touching Form 3800. The key is documenting that your software development involved genuine technical uncertainty and experimentation. Keep detailed records of problems you encountered, different approaches you tried, and how you tested solutions. One tip that saved me hours: create a simple spreadsheet listing all potential business credits and check which ones apply to your business type and activities. Common ones for small businesses include the Small Employer Health Insurance Credit, Work Opportunity Credit, and Research Credit. Don't assume you don't qualify - I missed out on credits for two years because I thought my business was "too small." Also, if this is your first time claiming significant credits, consider getting a consultation with a tax professional just to review your work before filing. The documentation requirements can be tricky, and an audit on business credits is much more intensive than a regular tax audit.