Anyone else notice the -$1 and +$1 amounts? Thats kinda weird

Just wanted to add that if you haven't received your refund yet even though code 846 shows 02-13-2025, give it a few more business days. Sometimes there can be delays with direct deposit or mailing depending on your bank or address. The IRS typically says to wait 21 days from the filing date before inquiring about a missing refund. Since your return was filed on 02-24 according to code 150, you're still within that window. If you don't see it by mid-March, then definitely call the IRS hotline!

If you filed on April 15, 2020 (the extended deadline that year due to COVID), your tax transcript should be available until at least April 15, 2027, as the IRS maintains records for 7 years. If you filed earlier in 2020 for your 2019 taxes, you still have plenty of time before those records expire. One thing that hasn't been mentioned: if you've moved since 2019, make sure you're using your address from that year when requesting transcripts by mail. The IRS will only send sensitive information to the address they have on file from that tax year unless you've formally updated your address with them through Form 8822.

I feel your pain about losing track of important tax documents during stressful times - caring for family can definitely throw off our usual organization systems! Here's what I've learned works best for getting your 2019 AGI: **Try these in order:** 1. **Check your tax software account first** - If you used TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, etc. in 2019, log into that account. They usually keep your returns for 7+ years and it's instant access. 2. **Search your email thoroughly** - Look for "tax confirmation 2019", "e-file accepted", or your tax software's name. Many people save the PDF confirmation emails without realizing it. 3. **Contact your tax preparer** - If you used one, they're required to keep records and this is often the fastest route. 4. **IRS Get Transcript Online** - Go to IRS.gov/transcripts. You'll need to verify your identity with a credit card, mortgage, or auto loan info. 5. **Call the automated transcript line** - 800-908-9946 is less congested than the main number. **Only if all else fails:** Call 800-829-1040 right at 7am when they open. Have your SSN, filing status, and 2019 address ready. The online transcript is usually your best bet if you can get through the verification process. Good luck!

FreeTaxUSA utilizes what's called a Refund Transfer product through SBTPG (Santa Barbara Tax Products Group). When you select the option to pay your preparation fees from your refund, you're technically taking out a short-term loan against your anticipated refund amount. Per IRC §6695, this establishes a separate financial transaction requiring the refund to be deposited with the facilitating financial institution (SBTPG) before disbursement to your personal account, regardless of whether fees have been previously satisfied through another refund. Their system is programmed to process each tax year and jurisdiction (federal/state) as discrete transactions through their ACH network.

I'm in the exact same boat - first time using FreeTaxUSA and got confused about the SBTPG routing too! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like even though my state fees were already deducted, my federal refund will still go through SBTPG since I selected that payment option during filing. Just wanted to add that I found it helpful to create accounts on both the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool AND the SBTPG website so I can track it through both systems. That way I'll know when the IRS sends it and when SBTPG actually deposits it to my bank. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel less anxious about the whole process!

Does anyone know if this same approach works for other types of income? My 14yo son has a small YouTube channel that just started generating ad revenue, but they required my info since he's underage.

This is really helpful information! I had no idea there were specific exemptions for different types of work that minors do. My 17-year-old works as a camp counselor during summers and also does some pet-sitting through a neighborhood app. I'm wondering if there are other exemptions I should know about beyond the domestic service one that was mentioned for babysitting. It sounds like the type of work might make a difference in whether self-employment taxes apply or not. Does anyone know where I can find a comprehensive list of these exemptions for minors? Also, the Roth IRA idea is brilliant - I never thought about starting retirement savings this early but the compound growth potential is amazing. Definitely going to look into setting that up for my daughter once we get her tax situation sorted out.

I had to wait 11 weeks for mine this year. The most frustrating part was checking "Where's My Refund" every day and seeing the same "Your return is still being processed" message with zero additional info. Felt like screaming into the void.

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing - filed in early March and didn't get my refund until mid-August. The 9-week estimate they gave you is honestly pretty optimistic based on what I've seen this year. What helped me was actually getting my transcript analyzed to understand exactly what was holding things up. I used a service that broke down all those confusing codes and told me my return was stuck in identity verification. Once I knew what the actual issue was, I could address it directly instead of just waiting blindly. The "still being processed" message is basically useless - it tells you nothing about what's actually happening or when it might resolve. Your transcript will have way more detailed info about any holds or issues. Definitely worth checking if you haven't already! Hang in there - it's incredibly frustrating but you will eventually get your money. The system is just completely overwhelmed right now.