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OMG I went through this EXACT same situation in February!! I was so stressed about it but it actually worked out fine! š I filed on Feb 2nd and got a surprise W2 on Feb 9th for a small job I'd completely forgotten about. I freaked out thinking I'd get in trouble, but I called TurboTax support and they were super helpful. They told me to wait until my original refund came through (took 14 days) and then do the amendment. The amended return was actually pretty simple through TurboTax - it pulled all my original info automatically. I did end up owing $127 but at least there were no penalties since I fixed it right away!
My cousin thought amending was no big deal and just ignored a missing 1099 last year. It's like thinking you can ignore a small leak in your roof - eventually it causes major damage. The IRS caught it during their automatic matching process and he ended up with a $2,200 tax bill that included the original tax plus penalties and interest. He also got flagged for extra scrutiny on this year's return. I'd recommend your boyfriend handle this ASAP, especially with a military move coming up. The last thing he needs is mail from the IRS going to an old address while he's in the middle of a PCS.
I've tracked PATH release patterns for the past four tax seasons (I know, I need better hobbies š). When Feb 15th falls on a weekend, the IRS actually begins processing the backlog Friday night around 11pm EST. Their mainframe batch processing runs overnight, with most transcript updates appearing between 3-6am Saturday. The first direct deposits typically hit credit unions and online banks Tuesday, with major banks following Wednesday. The funny part? WMR often doesn't update until days after your money is already in your account - it's like getting a notification that your pizza has been delivered after you've already eaten it.
Based on previous years' patterns, the IRS will begin processing PATH Act returns on February 15, 2025, regardless of it being a Saturday. Their systems operate 24/7 even when staff aren't present. Most transcripts will update between February 15-17, with the first batch of direct deposits hitting accounts by February 19-20. I'd recommend checking your transcript daily starting February 15, specifically looking for Transaction Code 846 which indicates your refund has been scheduled. The processing date attached to that code will be your deposit date.
I'm a tattoo artist too. Filed my taxes last year. Got the Child Tax Credit. Claimed my business expenses. Received a nice refund. Used TurboTax Self-Employed. It walked me through everything. Wasn't that complicated. Just needed my 1099s and expense receipts. Definitely worth doing.
Would your friend possibly qualify for the Earned Income Credit as well? I believe the income thresholds are somewhat higher for those with qualifying children, aren't they?
I had no idea the income limits were that high! I thought EIC was only for people making under $25,000 exactly. I've been missing out on claiming this for my 4-year-old for the past 2 years! š±
Same boat here. Filed February 5th. Waited three weeks for acceptance. Need my refund bad. Planning home repairs. Every day checking WMR. Nothing changes. Called IRS twice. No help. Just told to wait.
OMG I'M FREAKING OUT waiting for my refund too!!! But the community wisdom here is that we ALL need to chill out! Every year people panic about slow processing, and every year 99% of returns eventually process fine. The IRS is dealing with outdated systems, budget cuts, and millions of returns. Unless you get an actual letter from them, assume everything is fine but slow. I've been filing for 15+ years and NEVER had a return not process eventually!
Jeremiah Brown
Is this rly true tho? My tax guy told me ANY return w/ kids gets delayed bc of PATH. Been waiting 24 days now and WMR still says processing. Claimed my 2 kids but def didn't get EITC cuz I make too much $$$. Starting to think my preparer doesn't know what he's talking about tbh.
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Royal_GM_Mark
There's significant misinformation regarding PATH Act parameters. The legislation specifically targets EITC and ACTC claims, not dependent claims generally. According to Internal Revenue Code Section 6402(m), the IRS cannot issue refunds for returns claiming these credits before February 15th annually. Many preparers incorrectly generalize this to all dependent claims, creating unnecessary anxiety. Your preparer's information is technically inaccurate. Non-EITC/ACTC returns with dependents aren't subject to the mandatory holding period, though they may experience delays for other verification reasons.
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