Thanks for the tip! How long should I expect to wait for the amendment to process? I've heard they take forever now.

Currently, the IRS is taking approximately 16-20 weeks to process amended returns, sometimes longer. This is much longer than their pre-pandemic timeline. It's definitely not the quick 3-week turnaround we used to see years ago. Be prepared for a long wait, and don't be alarmed if you don't see any updates on the "Where's My Amended Return" tool for several weeks. Just make sure you keep copies of everything you send, including proof of mailing. I also recommend checking your IRS online account periodically, as sometimes that shows updates before the amendment tracker does.

This varies by state though. Some states want you to file the state amendment at the same time as the federal. Call your state tax department to confirm their process.

Not OP but I had this issue with them last year - they denied the refund advance/fee deduction because my refund was too small. They have some minimum threshold (I think around $500) where they don't think it's worth the risk to them. Seems like just another way they take advantage of lower-income filers who need their services most.

They weren't very clear about it! The person I spoke with just said something about my "refund profile" not qualifying. When I pressed for more details, they mentioned it might be because this is my first time filing with them and most of my refund is from the state rather than federal. It felt like they were being intentionally vague. After reading these comments though, I'm definitely going to try one of the free options instead. No point in paying Jackson Hewitt when I can file for free.

Thanks so much for this insight! So I should be keeping track of my actual tips received vs what my readings say? Should I be writing down the differences each shift?

Yes, absolutely keep detailed records of every shift. Write down what your reading shows for tips, what you actually take home after the split, and have your co-bartender verify if possible. Date everything and keep it in a dedicated notebook or spreadsheet. The best approach is to come with solid documentation when you speak to management. If they claim this is corporate policy, ask them to explain in writing how they're adjusting the tip reporting for tax purposes. Many managers don't fully understand the tax implications of tip pooling, so having everything documented gives you leverage to push for a proper solution.

I did the math on this for my situation which was similar. If you're overtaxed on just $40 per shift, working 4 shifts a week, that's $8,320 in falsely reported income over a year. At even a 15% tax rate, you're overpaying about $1,248 annually. And that doesn't include state taxes!

What firm did you use? I've been hesitant about some of these ERTC specialist companies because there seem to be so many pop-up firms just chasing these claims and I'm worried about getting aggressive advice that could cause problems later.

I used a regional accounting firm in our area that already handled our regular tax work, not one of the ERTC mills that appeared overnight. That's exactly why I suggested finding a professional - too many firms are pushing aggressive positions without considering the documentation needed to support them. If you already have a CPA or tax preparer, ask if they have ERTC experience or can refer you to someone reputable. The best protection is having a tax professional who will stand behind their work and be there if questions come up later. The firms that properly document reasonable basis positions are worth their weight in gold right now with all the ERTC scrutiny.

Yeah my claim from October is still "processing" even though the IRS cashed the check for the quarter I had to pay additional tax on. Feels like they're just sitting on these claims hoping people forget about them.

Do you know if Texas requires a separate form? I've got an LLC there but can't figure out if I need to do anything special for the state since they don't have personal income tax, but do have that franchise tax thing.

Texas is a bit different since they don't have personal income tax. For a single member LLC in Texas, you're right about the franchise tax. If your LLC's revenue is over the threshold (currently $1,230,000), you need to file a franchise tax report by the due date or request an extension. For the extension in Texas, you'd file Form 05-164 and make any required payment. Even if you're below the no-tax-due threshold, you may still need to file a "No Tax Due Report" by the deadline or request an extension. The Texas Comptroller's website has detailed information specific to your situation.

I tried TurboSelf last year for my LLC extension and it was okay but not great. It handled the basic Form 4868 fine, but wasn't very helpful with calculating a good estimated payment amount. I ended up overpaying by almost $2,000 because it used a very conservative calculation method. Their support was also really slow to respond when I had questions about how to properly categorize some business expenses that would affect my payment amount. I think there are better options out there specifically for small business owners.