I'm going through this right now too... verified my identity about three weeks ago and still waiting. My friends told me not to worry too much about the 9-week estimate, they said most people get their refunds much sooner. I've been checking WMR every morning but it still just says "processing" with no bars. This community has been so helpful with all the information... I'm trying to be patient but it's hard when you're waiting for your first big refund.

I completely understand your concern about the 9-week timeframe - it does sound excessive compared to normal processing times! From what I've seen in this community and my own experience, the IRS tends to give very conservative estimates for identity verification cases. Most people seem to get their refunds within 2-4 weeks after verification, not the full 9 weeks they quote. Since you mentioned you're not desperate for the funds but like to plan accordingly, I'd suggest checking your tax transcript weekly rather than daily. That's where you'll see the real movement first - look for transaction code 846 which indicates your refund has been approved and scheduled. The "Where's My Refund" tool usually updates after the transcript shows movement. Given that your previous experience with identity verification (even by mail) only took about 4 weeks, I'd expect this online verification to be similar or faster. The 9-week estimate is likely just their way of managing expectations and reducing follow-up calls. Keep monitoring your transcript and try not to stress too much about the timeline - it sounds like you'll probably see your refund much sooner than 9 weeks!

Has anyone tried turbotax self-employed for tracking expenses throughout the year? Is it worth the subscription cost?

As someone who's been doing 1099 work for about 3 years now, I'd definitely recommend using a combination approach. The 30% rule is a good starting point, but tracking your actual expenses can really help you optimize that percentage over time. For mileage tracking, I've found that consistency is key - whatever app you choose, make sure you actually use it religiously. I started with a simple spreadsheet but quickly realized I was forgetting to log trips. Now I use an automated app and it's saved me thousands in deductions. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started: keep ALL your receipts, even for small expenses. Coffee with a potential client, parking meters when visiting client sites, even a portion of your internet bill if you work from home. These little things add up significantly over the year. Also, consider setting up a separate business checking account if you haven't already. It makes tracking business expenses so much easier come tax time, and it looks more professional when dealing with clients.

You need to stop checking it every day or you'll drive yourself crazy. I was in the same boat, checking 10x a day for weeks on end. Finally just forgot about it and then one day randomly got a deposit in my account. Try to forget about it - obsessing won't make it come any faster.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed in early March, got accepted immediately, but have been stuck on "still being processed" for about 8 weeks now. Also claimed the child tax credit for my first baby. It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening or when to expect the money. I've been checking the transcript but those codes are like reading hieroglyphics. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone! Definitely going to try some of the suggestions people mentioned here, especially the early morning calling strategy and maybe checking out that transcript analyzer tool.

Warning from personal experience: be careful with subscription deductions! I tried deducting Netflix because I "watch it for inspiration for my design work" and got flagged for an audit. The IRS agent basically laughed at that justification. The difference with your Spotify situation seems to be that you have a much clearer connection to revenue. I couldn't really prove Netflix was "ordinary and necessary" for my graphic design business, but you can show how Spotify directly contributes to your creative process and final products. If you do deduct it, just make sure you can clearly demonstrate the business purpose. Maybe keep screenshots of playlists you create for work, notes about which songs inspired which projects, etc. Anything that shows a direct line between Spotify and your income-generating activities.

Based on your description, you have a really strong case for deducting your Spotify Premium subscription! The key is that you can clearly demonstrate it's "ordinary and necessary" for your specific business operations. What makes your situation particularly solid: 1. You have a documented creative process that directly relies on Spotify (finding lyrical inspiration) 2. You can show business growth tied to this process (increased client base from your lyric-art style) 3. You use it for marketing purposes (promoting playlists on business social media) 4. You can quantify the business use (20+ hours weekly for inspiration hunting) To protect yourself if questioned, I'd recommend: - Keep a simple log of projects inspired by songs you discovered on Spotify - Save screenshots of your business-related playlists - Document any client collaborations involving music features - Track the time spent using Spotify for business vs personal use Since you're using it almost exclusively for business purposes, you should be able to deduct the full subscription cost. Just make sure to maintain good records showing the direct connection between your Spotify use and your revenue-generating activities. The IRS looks for that clear business purpose, and yours is much stronger than someone who just says "music helps me focus while I work." You're actually using the platform as a research tool for your creative process.

This is possibly related to the amended return you submitted, which might, in some cases, cause temporary verification issues. The IRS systems generally take approximately 3-5 business days to reconcile new information, particularly during peak tax season. I would strongly recommend checking again next Tuesday or Wednesday, as weekend processing tends to be slower. If the issue persists beyond a week, it could potentially indicate a more significant verification problem.

I experienced this exact same issue about 2 months ago! The "information doesn't match" error appeared right after I filed an amended return, just like yours. What helped me was checking my IRS account transcript online - it showed my amended return was actually being processed even though WMR was throwing errors. The whole thing resolved in about 8 days, and my refund was deposited without any further issues. The amended return definitely seems to confuse their systems temporarily. Don't stress too much - your return is likely still in the system and being processed normally.