Does anyone know if the IRS is processing refunds faster or slower this year compared to last? I filed on February 1st last year and got my refund by Valentine's Day. Wondering what to expect this time.

I'm in a very similar boat to you, Connor! Filed early last year and got around $2,600 back, but this year I'm honestly not sure what to expect. I did get a small raise too (about 3%), but I also started contributing to an HSA mid-year which should help lower my taxable income. One thing I noticed when I started preparing my taxes is that the standard deduction increase is nice, but it's not as dramatic as some years. The real wildcard for me is that my employer switched payroll systems last year and I'm not 100% confident they adjusted withholdings correctly when they migrated everything over. I'm planning to file within the next week or two. Might be worth both of us comparing notes once we see our actual numbers! The uncertainty is definitely stressing me out more than usual this year.

23 Pro tip: Ask for Schedule B of the 1040 specifically. That's where interest and dividends are reported AND there's a section that asks about foreign accounts. If your ex checked "yes" but you never knew about foreign accounts, that's a red flag to investigate further. I discovered my ex had an offshore account this way.

25 This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my ex provided minimal financial documentation. One thing I learned from my attorney is that you can also request Schedule K-1 forms if your ex was involved in any partnerships, S-corporations, or LLCs. These show income from business partnerships that wouldn't appear on a W2. Also, don't forget about Schedule D for capital gains/losses from stock sales or property transactions. My ex "forgot" to mention he sold some rental property during our separation year, and this is where it showed up. The 1040 really is the complete picture - the W2 is just one piece of the puzzle. For anyone going through this, document everything and be persistent about requesting complete tax returns through your attorney. The difference between what's on a W2 versus the full 1040 can be substantial.

Here's what actually happens: The IRS sends the payment to your bank on the DDD. Then it's up to your bank when they post it to your account. Some banks post as soon as they receive the ACH transfer, others wait until the next business day. For TurboTax specifically - if you had fees taken out of your refund, that adds an extra step because it goes through Santa Barbara Tax Products Group first, which can add 1-2 days.

Chase typically processes refunds pretty quickly in my experience. I've been filing with TurboTax for years and banking with Chase, and I'd say about 70% of the time my refund hits on the actual DDD, usually early morning around 2-4am. The other 30% it's the next business day. Since tomorrow is your DDD, I'd check your account first thing in the morning and if it's not there, definitely check Friday morning. Good luck with the car repairs!

Has anyone tried just showing up in person at their offices? I looked them up and Rebate Gateway has physical offices. I wonder if demanding answers face-to-face would work better than calls and emails that they can ignore.

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately more common than it should be. I went through something very similar last year with a different rebate company that somehow got hold of my details. The key thing to remember is that even if they have some form of authorization, you still have rights. Under consumer protection laws, any agreement made without your knowledge or through misleading practices can be challenged. Here's what worked for me: 1. Immediately contact Rebate Gateway in writing (email AND post) demanding they provide evidence of your explicit consent 2. Request a full breakdown of their fees and when the authorization was supposedly given 3. If they can't provide clear evidence, file a complaint with your local Trading Standards office - they handle unfair commercial practices 4. Also contact the Information Commissioner's Office if you believe your personal data was obtained improperly Don't let them keep YOUR money. These companies rely on people giving up, but you have more power than they want you to know. Keep pushing and document everything. The fact that you have zero recollection of ever dealing with them is actually in your favor.

This is why the whole system is broken fr. They make it impossible for working parents AND care providers to do the right thing without fear of losing benefits smh

I went through this exact same situation last year with NYS. The good news is that you can absolutely satisfy their verification requirements without the provider's SSN. Here's what worked for me: 1. Compile ALL your payment records - bank statements, canceled checks, receipts, anything showing money going to your provider 2. Create a simple spreadsheet listing dates, amounts, and payment methods 3. Write a brief letter explaining that your provider is unable to provide SSN due to disability benefit concerns, but attach all payment documentation I submitted everything online through the NYS tax portal (much faster than mailing) and they accepted it within 2 weeks. The key is showing a clear paper trail of legitimate childcare payments. They're really just trying to verify you actually spent the money you claimed. Don't stress too much - as long as you have solid payment records and submit before March 10th, you should be fine. The SSN requirement seems to be more of a "preferred" documentation rather than absolutely mandatory when you can prove the expenses through other means.