anyone else notice the processing is slower this year or is it just me?

Filed my NYS return on 2/3, accepted same day. Still showing "processing" status as of today. This is my first time filing in NY so wasn't sure what to expect for timing. Seeing some of you got yours in 10 days while others are waiting weeks - seems pretty inconsistent! Will keep checking and update when I get movement.

For marriage penalty/bonus calculations specifically, I'd recommend using the IRS's own tax tables to get the most accurate comparison. What you want to do is calculate your taxes as two single filers, then calculate them as married filing jointly with your combined income. Here's the key thing most people miss: the marriage penalty/bonus isn't just about tax rates - it's also about how deductions and credits phase out at different income levels. For example, if one of you makes significantly more than the other, filing jointly often results in a bonus because you're effectively income-averaging. I actually built a simple spreadsheet for this when my wife and I were planning our wedding. Happy to share the template if you want - it uses the current tax brackets and standard deductions to give you a pretty accurate estimate without needing to buy software. The math isn't too complicated once you understand the brackets. For the deduction scenarios, honestly nothing beats actually starting a return in real tax software like others mentioned. But for the marriage question specifically, you can get a solid estimate with just the tax tables and a calculator.

Another option to consider is using Excel or Google Sheets with the IRS tax tables to build your own calculator. I did this when I was trying to decide between traditional and Roth IRA contributions and wanted to see exactly how different scenarios would play out. The advantage is complete control over your calculations - you can model exactly the situations you care about without being limited by what a particular software includes. I built mine to handle federal taxes, state taxes (I'm in California), and even factor in things like how different AGI levels affect my student loan payments under income-driven repayment. It takes some initial setup time, but once you have the formulas working, you can easily adjust any variable and see the ripple effects immediately. Plus you're not locked into any particular tax software's assumptions or paying subscription fees just to run scenarios. For the marriage penalty/bonus calculation, this approach is actually ideal because you can model both spouses' situations separately and then combine them in different ways (joint vs separate filing) to see the exact dollar differences. The IRS publishes all the tax brackets and standard deductions you need - it's just a matter of setting up the formulas correctly.

My neighbor is a tax preparer and she said some parents try to deduct this as a medical expense if their child has an IEP or 504 plan, claiming it's necessary transportation for medical/educational services. But she strongly warned against this unless the transportation is specifically for medical treatment or special education services explicitly required in the IEP. Regular transportation to standard schooling doesn't qualify, even with an IEP. The IRS apparently flags these kinds of questionable deductions often. Just FYI before anyone goes down that path!

I went through this exact same frustration last year when our district cut bus routes! After researching extensively and even consulting with a CPA, I can confirm that unfortunately there's no federal tax deduction for mandatory school transportation costs. However, don't give up entirely - here are a few things that might help your situation: 1. **Check your state tax code** - Some states offer education expense credits that are more generous than federal rules. A few states actually do provide small credits for transportation-related educational expenses. 2. **Document everything anyway** - Keep detailed records of your mileage, gas receipts, and any vehicle maintenance costs related to school transportation. While not deductible now, tax laws can change, and having good records never hurts. 3. **Look into other education deductions** - Make sure you're not missing any legitimate education-related tax benefits like the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you're paying for before/after school care due to your work schedule. 4. **Consider the bigger picture** - If you're doing any work-from-home or side business, make sure you're maximizing those vehicle deductions for legitimate business use. It's genuinely unfair that we're legally required to get our kids to school but can't deduct the forced expense, especially when districts cut transportation. Hopefully future tax reform will address this gap!

Has anyone actually gotten their refund before Feb 15 with PATH? Starting to think its impossible lol

As someone who's been through this exact situation before, I can confirm what others are saying - PATH Act means waiting until Feb 15th regardless of when you were accepted. The "test batch" just helps them work out processing kinks, but the law is the law. Your transcripts being updated is actually a good sign though! It means you'll likely be in that first wave of refunds once the PATH restrictions lift. I know the waiting sucks but at least you know everything is processing correctly on their end.

idk why they make this stuff so complicated. like why cant they just tell us straight up?

Pro tip: if youre weekly, transcripts usually update thursday night around 12am EST. Sometimes as late as 6am friday morning. Set your alarm lol