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One thing nobody's mentioned yet is that Republic, Pathward, and SBTPG are all third-party processors that only handle refunds if you've chosen to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund. If you pay for tax preparation upfront, your refund comes directly from the IRS to your bank, which is typically faster and avoids those processing fees mentioned above. Direct IRS deposits usually arrive on the exact DDD or the next business day. Those third-party processors are essentially giving you a short-term loan for your preparation fees, and they're charging you for it.
This is such a helpful initiative! As someone who's been through the refund waiting game multiple times, I think tracking all this data will really benefit the community. One additional column I'd suggest adding is "Return Complexity" - like whether you itemized deductions, had multiple W-2s, or reported self-employment income. In my experience, simpler returns (standard deduction, single W-2) tend to process faster than complex ones. Also, for those mentioning trace numbers - you typically only get one if your refund is more than 28 days late and you call to initiate a refund trace. It's not something that's automatically generated for every return. Looking forward to seeing what patterns emerge from this data! It's always reassuring to know we're not alone in this waiting process.
Anyone know if Cash App's tax documents are usually accurate? Last year I had issues with Robinhood where their 1099 had some incorrect cost basis info and it created a huge headache.
Great question about Cash App's tax document accuracy! I've been using Cash App for trading for about 2 years now and generally find their 1099-B forms to be reliable, but like Diego mentioned, it's always worth double-checking. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to keep your own records throughout the year rather than relying solely on their year-end documents. I use a simple spreadsheet to track each trade with the date, symbol, shares, buy/sell price, and any fees. This makes it much easier to spot any discrepancies when the 1099-B arrives. Also, if you do find errors on your 1099-B, Cash App's customer support can usually provide corrected forms, but it can take a few weeks during tax season. So the earlier you review your documents, the better! The wash sale tracking seems to be where most platforms struggle, so that's definitely worth paying extra attention to if you've done any frequent trading in the same stocks.
This is really helpful advice! I'm definitely going to start tracking my trades in a spreadsheet going forward. Quick question - when you say "any fees," are you referring to the fees Cash App charges for trades, or are there other fees I should be tracking? I haven't noticed Cash App charging me trading fees, but maybe I'm missing something? Also, do you include dividends in your spreadsheet tracking, or just the buy/sell transactions? I've received a few small dividend payments this year but wasn't sure if those needed to be tracked separately for tax purposes.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my own mother who turns 72 in November this year. Her advisor at Edward Jones was also pushing for RMDs to start in 2023, but after doing my own research and getting a second opinion, I confirmed she doesn't need to start until 2024. What really helped me was getting everything in writing from the IRS. I called their retirement plans hotline (though it took forever to get through) and had them confirm the timeline in writing. The key thing the agent emphasized is that the RMD requirement is based on the tax year you turn 72, not the calendar year - so since your mom turns 72 in December 2023, her first RMD year is 2024. I'd suggest having your mom ask her advisor to provide written documentation of their recommendation and the specific IRS regulation they're citing. A legitimate advisor should be able to back up their advice with official sources. If they can't or won't, that's a red flag that they might not be giving accurate guidance.
That's excellent advice about getting everything in writing! I'm definitely going to ask mom's advisor to provide the specific IRS regulation they're citing. It's concerning that multiple people here have had similar experiences with advisors pushing for early RMDs when it's not required. The point about it being based on the tax year you turn 72 versus the calendar year is really helpful clarification. I feel much more confident now that we're interpreting the rules correctly. Thank you for sharing your experience with Edward Jones - it's reassuring to know we're not the only ones dealing with this situation. I think I'm going to have mom get a second opinion from a fee-only advisor who doesn't earn commissions on transactions, just to be absolutely sure we're getting unbiased advice.
I'm actually a tax professional who specializes in retirement planning, and I want to emphasize that everyone here giving advice about waiting until 2024 is absolutely correct. Your mother's advisor is wrong, and unfortunately this kind of misinformation is more common than it should be. Since your mom turns 72 in December 2023, her "required beginning date" for RMDs is April 1, 2025 (the April 1st following the calendar year in which she turns 72). This means her first RMD year is 2024, and she has until April 1, 2025 to take that first distribution if she chooses to delay it. The fact that her advisor is being "pushy" about this is concerning. I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion from a fee-only financial planner or tax professional who doesn't have any financial incentive to encourage unnecessary distributions. Taking an RMD early when it's not required can have significant tax implications and reduce the growth potential of her retirement savings. You might also want to file a complaint with FINRA if the advisor continues to provide incorrect information about federal tax requirements, especially if they're pressuring your mother into unnecessary transactions.
Warning about the red ink forms - order them NOW from the IRS if you're going that route! I waited until January last year and they were completely out of stock. Ended up having to buy them at an office supply store for like $50 which was highway robbery but I was desperate. The IRS sends them for free but they run out every year during tax season.
You can also sometimes find the red forms at the local IRS office if you have one nearby. I got mine there last year when they were out of stock online. Just call ahead to make sure they have them!
I went through this exact same confusion last year! Here's what worked for me after making some mistakes: First, yes you absolutely need Form 1096 - it's like a cover sheet that tells the IRS "hey, I'm sending you these 1099 forms." You attach it to Copy A of your 1099-NEC when mailing to the IRS. For the red ink issue - if you're only dealing with one or two forms, honestly just order the official ones from the IRS website (they're free but take 7-10 days). If you need them faster, most FedEx Office locations carry the official red ink versions for about $3-4 per form. BUT here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: since you're dealing with attorney fees on a 1099-NEC, double-check that you actually owe more than $600 to this lawyer in the tax year. If it's under $600, you don't need to file the 1099-NEC at all (though you can still deduct the expense on your business taxes). Also, make sure you have the lawyer's correct TIN/SSN on the form - the IRS gets really cranky about mismatched taxpayer identification numbers. I learned that one the hard way! The electronic filing through FIRE is honestly easier once you get past the initial setup, but for just one form, paper might be simpler for a first-timer.
Ian Armstrong
Those codes are definitely concerning! Code 810 (refund freeze) combined with 971/977 (amended return codes) when you didn't file an amended return suggests the IRS may have made an adjustment to your return. The 570 code with 07-30-2024 date likely means no action will be taken until then. I'd recommend calling the IRS again and specifically asking about the refund freeze and why an amended return shows when you didn't file one. You might also want to request they send you a copy of any correspondence or notices that should have been mailed to you. Don't wait until July - be proactive!
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Raul Neal
ā¢This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with something similar and didn't realize I could ask for copies of correspondence. How do you specifically ask for that when you call? Do you need to reference a particular form number or just explain what you're looking for?
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Omar Zaki
Those transcript codes are definitely red flags! Code 810 (refund freeze) usually means the IRS flagged something for review, and the 971/977 codes appearing when you didn't file an amended return could indicate the IRS made adjustments on their end. The July 30th date on code 570 might be a review deadline, but I wouldn't wait that long. I'd suggest calling back and asking specifically: 1) Why is there a refund freeze? 2) What triggered the amended return codes when you didn't file one? 3) Request they check for any undelivered notices. Also consider visiting your local Taxpayer Assistance Center if phone calls aren't getting results - sometimes face-to-face gets better answers.
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