Data point for you. Filed 2/1. Accepted same day. Refund received 2/23. No special credits. Direct deposit. Married filing jointly. Standard deduction. Just W-2 income. No state refund yet. Checked WMR daily. No status change until suddenly showing approved. Transcript updated two days before WMR. Received text from bank about pending deposit. Amount matched exactly what was expected. No communication from IRS during process.

Thanks for sharing your experience! As someone who's been through this process a few times, I can add that the "accepted" vs "approved" distinction is crucial. When the IRS accepts your return, they're basically saying "we received it and it passed basic validation checks." The real work happens during processing, where they verify everything matches up with third-party documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.). For married filing jointly returns, processing times can vary depending on whether both spouses' information is easily verifiable. If there are any discrepancies or if either spouse's income information needs additional verification, that can add time. My advice: Set up account access on IRS.gov to check your transcript directly. The codes there will give you much more insight than the Where's My Refund tool. And honestly, try to resist checking daily - it just adds stress and the status rarely changes that frequently. Good luck with your first joint return!

Just want to point out that this arrangement could also affect your in-laws' taxes in ways they might not realize. When they eventually transfer the property to you, they might face capital gains tax implications depending on how the sale is structured. Also, if they're charging you below-market interest rates (which is common in family arrangements), there could be "imputed interest" issues where the IRS treats the transaction as if a market rate was charged, even if it wasn't. Your in-laws should definitely consult with a tax professional about this. My parents did something similar with my brother and ended up with unexpected tax consequences when they formally transferred the property years later.

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my parents and wanted to share what I learned from my CPA. The key issue is that for the IRS to recognize this as anything other than rent, you need to establish "equitable title" - basically proving you have a real ownership interest that goes beyond just a promise to sell later. My CPA explained that true rent-to-own arrangements for tax purposes require: 1) A clear purchase price stated upfront, 2) Specific allocation of each payment between rent and purchase equity, 3) A definite purchase timeline, and 4) evidence that you're building actual equity (not just credits toward a future purchase). Without these elements, the IRS typically treats it as a lease with an option to purchase, meaning no mortgage interest deduction for you. The tricky part is that even if you formalize the agreement now, the IRS looks at the substance of what actually happened during those past 2 years of payments. I'd strongly recommend getting both a real estate attorney AND a tax professional involved to review your situation. Family property deals can get messy fast if not done right, both legally and tax-wise.

Quick question - does anyone know if workers comp affects how much I can contribute to my IRA? Since it's not "earned income" I'm wondering if I can only use my regular job income to calculate my max contribution?

Just to add another perspective - I dealt with workers comp last year too and want to emphasize something important that might get overlooked. Even though workers comp isn't taxable, if you had any settlement or lump sum payment that included interest or punitive damages, THOSE portions might be taxable. Most basic workers comp payments for medical expenses and wage replacement are non-taxable, but if there was any legal settlement involved, make sure you get a breakdown of what each portion covers. I almost missed this detail and it could have caused issues later. Also, if you're in a state that has its own workers comp tax (which is rare but exists), that's separate from federal taxes. The IRS rules about non-taxable status still apply for your federal return regardless of state rules.

I had a similar panic moment last year when I accidentally transferred $3,000 to my son's 529 instead of paying off my credit card! The good news is that you caught it super early - 30 minutes is nothing in 529 time. Your plan administrator is absolutely right. As long as the money is still sitting in the cash position (which it almost certainly is after just 30 minutes), you can withdraw it without any tax implications. It's treated as an administrative correction rather than an actual 529 distribution. Most plans don't automatically invest until at least the next business day, and many wait 2-3 days to allow for exactly these kinds of corrections. Just make sure you follow up quickly to get the withdrawal processed before any automatic investment kicks in. One thing that helped me after my mistake was setting up a separate "staging" savings account that I use as an intermediate step for all large transfers. That extra step gives me time to double-check where the money is actually going before the final transfer. Might be worth considering once you get this sorted out!

I'm so relieved to see others have gone through this exact same panic! I just got off another call with my 529 plan administrator and they confirmed the withdrawal request is being processed. They said since it's still in cash and no investment transactions occurred, it should be back in my checking account within 1-2 business days with no tax reporting required. The whole experience has definitely been a wake-up call about being more careful with transfers. I'm already planning to implement several of the suggestions from this thread - the staging account idea sounds perfect, and I'm definitely setting up those transfer confirmation screens. Thanks everyone for the quick responses and reassurance! Sometimes you just need to hear from people who've actually been there. I'll update this thread once the money is back in my account in case anyone else finds themselves in this situation.

This is exactly why I always recommend people get fee estimates IN WRITING before any tax prep work begins. Most legitimate preparers will provide a written estimate based on your forms and complexity level. The fact that they didn't disclose their $575 fee upfront is a red flag. To add to what others have said about getting your documents back - if you're still having trouble, you can also contact your state's Attorney General's office. Many states have specific consumer protection laws regarding tax preparation services, and they take document retention issues very seriously. I've seen AG offices get involved and resolve these situations within 24 hours. Also, for future reference, never let a tax preparer start work without a signed engagement letter that clearly outlines fees, services, and your rights regarding your documents. Any reputable preparer should be happy to provide this.

I work at a state consumer protection office and see cases like this frequently. What your tax preparer is doing is definitely not legal and violates consumer protection laws in most states. They cannot hold your original documents hostage to force payment for services you haven't agreed to purchase. Here's my recommended escalation path: 1. Return to the office and ask to speak with the manager/owner (not just the preparer) 2. Clearly state that you are declining their services and need your original documents returned immediately 3. If they refuse, inform them you'll be filing complaints within 24 hours with multiple agencies The magic phrase to use is: "I am formally requesting the return of my personal property. These documents belong to me, not your business." Most tax offices will cave immediately when they realize you know your rights and are willing to escalate. They make money on volume, not on fighting individual battles. The bad publicity and regulatory scrutiny from complaints costs them far more than your $425 fee. If you need help identifying the right consumer protection office in your state, feel free to ask - I can point you in the right direction.