Make sure you set aside money for state taxes too! Federal underpayment penalties are bad, but some states are even worse. I'm in California and learned this the hard way last year.

I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago with a consulting gig. Here's what I learned that might help you: First, don't panic - the underpayment penalty isn't as scary as it sounds. It's calculated quarterly and the current rate is around 8% annually, so you're looking at roughly 2% per quarter on the amount you should have paid. Since you mentioned making $7,800/month, you're probably looking at owing around $25,000-30,000 in federal taxes (rough estimate). The penalty would be calculated on what you should have paid each quarter vs. what you actually paid (zero). Here's what you can do RIGHT NOW to minimize damage: 1. Make a large estimated payment by January 15th for Q4 2024 2. Calculate 25-30% of your total earnings and set that aside immediately 3. Look into business deductions - home office, equipment, internet, phone, etc. The key is that January payment. Even though you missed the first three quarters, paying a substantial amount for Q4 will reduce your overall penalty significantly. I ended up paying about $400 in penalties on a $28k tax bill, which was much less than I feared. Also consider opening a SEP-IRA before year-end - you can contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment income, which will reduce your taxable income substantially.

Has anyone here actually moved states for tax reasons? Did it work out the way you expected? i've been thinking about leaving California for years but worried i'll save on income tax but end up paying more for other stuff.

I moved from New York to Texas two years ago specifically for tax reasons and it's been mostly positive! Saved around $18k annually on state income taxes, but @Isaac Wright is absolutely right about property taxes - they're brutal here. My property taxes in suburban Dallas are about $12k/year on a $400k home, compared to $8k I was paying in upstate NY on a similar value house. The hidden costs that caught me off guard were vehicle registration (much higher in Texas) and the lack of state tax deductions I was used to claiming in NY. But even factoring in all the additional expenses, I'm still coming out about $10k ahead annually. One thing I'd recommend is actually living in your target state for a few months before making the permanent move if possible. The tax savings look great on paper, but quality of life factors like cost of healthcare, utilities, and general living expenses can vary dramatically and impact your overall financial picture.

Did you claim any credits like EIC or CTC? Those usually take longer to process

Totally normal! Federal refunds almost always take longer than state - the IRS processes millions more returns than any individual state tax agency. Your California refund timeline is pretty standard (they're usually one of the faster states), but federal can take anywhere from 21 days to 6-8 weeks depending on how busy they are. Since we're right in peak tax season, I'd give it at least another 2-3 weeks before worrying. The lack of detailed tracking from IRS is frustrating but unfortunately typical - they don't provide nearly as much transparency as state systems do.

Hey OP, which state are you in? Some states have free tax prep services for low-income filers. Might be worth checking out!

I totally understand the frustration with the 1040! When I first started doing my own taxes, I felt completely overwhelmed too. One thing that really helped me was breaking it down section by section and using the IRS's own interactive tax assistant tool on their website - it walks you through each line with plain English explanations. Also, don't feel bad about taking your time with it. Better to go slow and get it right than rush and make mistakes. You've got this! 💪

What finally worked for me after 11 months of waiting was using taxr.ai to identify the exact issue (missing 1099 info) and then using claimyr.com to get through to an IRS agent. The combo of knowing exactly what was wrong and being able to talk to a human solved my problem in less than a week after almost a year of waiting. Don't waste time like I did!

The As Of date changing to June 2025 is definitely a positive sign - it means your account is being actively reviewed again after being stuck for so long. However, the amended return you filed last week could complicate things significantly. When an original return is still processing and you file an amended one, it can create confusion in their system and potentially delay things even further. I'd strongly recommend calling the IRS ASAP to explain that you filed an amended return while the original was still processing. If you can reach an agent quickly (try the callback services people mentioned), they might be able to flag your account or provide guidance on how to proceed. The sooner you address this, the better chance you have of minimizing additional delays. Keep monitoring your transcript for codes like 570 (additional account action pending) or 971 (notice issued) - these will give you clues about what's actually happening behind the scenes. After 13+ months, you definitely deserve answers about why your refund has been held up for so long.