I feel obligated to mention a cautionary note regarding verification timelines. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.9.1.3, identity verification should be processed within 9 weeks, but I've observed numerous cases where this timeline was exceeded without notification to the taxpayer. In one particularly concerning case from last tax season, a client submitted verification on February 3rd and received no updates until May 27th - nearly 16 weeks later. The IRS cited "exceptional processing circumstances" but provided no further explanation. According to Taxpayer Advocate Service Report 2023-1, approximately 18% of verification cases exceed standard processing times. I strongly recommend documenting all verification submission dates and following up proactively if the 9-week mark passes without resolution.

Thank you for sharing your timeline, Diego! As a fellow military family member, I completely understand the frustration of waiting on government processes. From what I've been reading in various tax forums and based on conversations with others who've gone through ID verification this season, your February 17th submission date puts you right in the thick of peak verification season. The IRS verification department seems to be processing in waves, and many people who submitted in mid-to-late February are just now starting to see movement. I'd suggest checking your online account transcript (if you haven't set one up yet) rather than relying solely on WMR - it tends to update faster and gives you more detailed information about where your return stands in the process. From what I've observed, once verification clears, the actual refund processing moves pretty quickly. Hoping you see some positive movement soon!

I may have some relevant information to share. My verification was completed on February 20th, and I received my refund on March 8th, which was approximately 16 days later. It seems the timeframe might be somewhat consistent based on what others have shared here. I checked my transcript every few days and noticed the 846 code appeared about 3 days before the deposit hit my account. I believe the system follows a fairly standard process unless there are additional complications with your return.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it looks like you're right in the normal timeframe window. I completed ID verification on February 25th and got my refund on March 15th - exactly 18 days later. The key thing I learned is that patience is really your only option during this phase. The IRS systems seem to process post-verification returns in batches, which explains why some people get theirs in 9 days while others wait the full 21. Since you're at day 15 and documented everything so well, I'd suggest checking your transcript one more time for any new codes, then waiting about 5-6 more days before calling. The fact that you completed verification online and got confirmation is a good sign - it means you're definitely in the queue.

Tax person here - some practical advice on statute of limitations: 1) Federal: 3 years normally, 6 years if you omit >25% of income, unlimited if fraud or no return filed when required 2) States vary widely! Some follow federal rules, others have different timeframes entirely 3) The "no requirement to file" situation: Technically true that there's no violation if you weren't required to file. BUT proving that years later can be challenging without documentation 4) Documentation is key - keep records of income for at least 7 years, especially for cash/1099 work 5) If you get notices like OP did, ALWAYS respond and keep copies of all correspondence The most practical approach is to file simple returns even when below thresholds, just for the paper trail. It's easier than explaining yourself years later.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat with state taxes - been under the filing threshold for a few years but always worried about getting notices. After reading everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to start filing simple returns even when not required, just for the documentation. The peace of mind seems worth the small effort, especially after hearing about people successfully using services like taxr.ai to get proper documentation of their filing requirements. One question for the tax professionals here - if I start filing now for previous years where I was under the threshold, is there any specific way I should note on the return that I'm filing voluntarily? Or do I just file normally and let the low income speak for itself? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with the various services too. It's reassuring to know there are options if I ever need to get through to the IRS or state tax office quickly.

I made the terrible mistake of not reporting a $2,200 freelance job on my 2022 taxes because I forgot I got a 1099 for it (it was literally one project). Got a letter from the IRS six months later saying I owed an additional $680 in taxes plus a $127 penalty. The worst part was sweating for weeks wondering if this would trigger a full audit where they'd go through everything!! Thankfully it didn't, but I now triple-check all my 1099s against my bank deposits before filing.

Great post! As someone who's been through an audit, I can confirm these red flags are spot on. One thing I'd add is the importance of keeping contemporaneous records - not just receipts, but actual documentation of when and why expenses occurred. I learned the hard way that you can't just reconstruct your records if you get audited. The IRS wants to see that you were tracking things as they happened, not piecing together a story months later. For business meals, I now write the business purpose and who attended right on the receipt when I pay. Also, if you're claiming education expenses or continuing education for your profession, make sure it's directly related to your current job, not training for a completely different career. That's another area where they look closely at the legitimacy of deductions.

I've analyzed hundreds of tax returns with side income like yours. The exact amounts matter here: With $2,500 in babysitting income, your self-employment tax will be approximately $353.16 (calculated as 15.3% of 92.35% of $2,500). For the 2023 tax year, the Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, so potentially $4,000 total. Your income tax liability on $2,500 would be determined by your overall tax bracket, but the CTC would likely eliminate it entirely. Keep in mind that if your total income is between $11,750 and $46,560 (for two children), you may qualify for EITC worth up to $6,604 depending on your filing status and other income.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation! I had $2,800 in babysitting income in 2022 with two kids. The self-employment tax was definitely a shock at first - I wasn't expecting to pay both sides of Social Security and Medicare taxes. But like others mentioned, the Child Tax Credit completely wiped out my income tax liability, and I actually got a decent refund. One thing I learned the hard way: keep track of ANY expenses related to your babysitting work. I wish I had saved receipts for gas driving to their house, snacks I bought for the kids, even a small first aid kit I purchased specifically for babysitting. Every little deduction helps reduce that self-employment income! Also, if you plan to continue babysitting this year and expect to make more than $1,000, you might want to look into making quarterly estimated payments to avoid owing a big chunk next year.