That $0.00 balance update is definitely a great sign! I went through the same thing last month - account showed "still processing" for weeks, then suddenly switched to $0.00 owed on a Friday afternoon. My transcript updated that same night with an 846 code and DDD for the following Wednesday. The key thing to watch for is that 846 code on your transcript - that's when you'll see your actual direct deposit date. Based on your timeline (balance changing at 11:28 today), I'd expect your transcript to update tonight or tomorrow morning during their usual overnight processing window. Pro tip: if you're using the IRS2Go app, it sometimes shows transcript updates a few hours before the website does. Also, don't worry about those "Make a payment" buttons - they show up for everyone regardless of refund status. You're definitely in the home stretch now! 🎉

Just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been lurking and learning from everyone's experiences! I'm about 18 days into waiting and seeing all these success stories with the $0.00 balance change is giving me so much hope. I've been checking my account obsessively (probably multiple times a day - not my proudest moment 😅) and mine is still showing "still processing" but reading through all these timelines helps me understand I'm probably still within the normal range. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you say "transcript updates overnight," is there a specific time window that's most common? I've been checking around 6am but wondering if I should be looking earlier or later. Also, is the sa.www4.irs.gov site the same as what everyone else is using to check their account status? Thanks for creating such a supportive community here - it really makes this waiting period so much more bearable when you can see that others are going through the exact same thing! 🙏

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been super educational. I had no idea about the direct donation requirement or the itemization issue. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I can't deduct the 1-800-GOT-JUNK pickup, but I'm definitely going to look into those charity pickup services for future donations. The "donation bunching" strategy that Max mentioned is really interesting too - maybe I should plan my donations more strategically. One follow-up question: if I have items that are too worn for charity donation but still have some value, is there any tax benefit at all? Or is it just a loss either way? I'm thinking about some older electronics and appliances that work fine but have cosmetic issues.

Great question! Unfortunately, you cannot claim a tax deduction for items picked up by 1-800-GOT-JUNK, even if they eventually donate them to charity. The IRS requires that you donate directly to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization to claim any deduction - you can't use a middleman service. Here's what you need to know for future donations: - Donate directly to qualified charities like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat ReStore - Get proper documentation from the charity (written acknowledgment for donations over $250) - Items must be in "good used condition or better" - You can only deduct if you itemize deductions on Schedule A Since your furniture was in good condition, you might want to consider charity pickup services next time. Many legitimate charities offer free pickup and provide proper tax documentation. This way you'd get the same convenience as 1-800-GOT-JUNK but with the added benefit of a potential tax deduction. For your current situation, keep that receipt from 1-800-GOT-JUNK for your records, but unfortunately it won't help with your taxes.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar boat trying to optimize my ACA subsidies for 2025. One question I have - when you make traditional IRA contributions to reduce your MAGI, do you need to report those on your healthcare.gov application right away, or can you wait until tax time? I'm wondering about the timing because I might not know my exact income until later in the year, and I want to make sure I don't accidentally get too much in advance premium tax credits that I'd have to pay back. Has anyone dealt with this situation where your IRA contributions changed your subsidy eligibility after you'd already enrolled?

This is such a smart strategy for maximizing your ACA subsidies! I've been doing something similar for the past couple years. One additional tip I'd add - if you're really trying to dial in your MAGI to hit the sweet spot for subsidies, consider making your IRA contributions in smaller chunks throughout the year rather than all at once. This gives you more flexibility to adjust based on how your actual income is tracking. Also, don't forget that if you're married, both spouses can potentially make IRA contributions (up to the annual limit each), which could give you even more MAGI reduction if you're both eligible for the deduction. Just make sure you're staying within the income limits for deductibility that others mentioned. The fact that you're already maxing out your 401k shows you're thinking strategically about this. The combination of 401k + traditional IRA contributions can really help optimize both your retirement savings and your healthcare costs!

One more thing to consider: if your friends are paying below-market rent, the IRS might consider this a "shared living arrangement" rather than a rental business. This can affect which deductions you're allowed to take. For example, if you're charging significantly less than market rates, the IRS might view this as a personal arrangement, not a profit-seeking activity, and limit your ability to claim losses. This is especially important if your expenses exceed your rental income. Just something to keep in mind if you're giving your friends a "good deal" on rent!

Great question! I went through this exact situation when I started renting out rooms in my home. A few additional tips that helped me: 1. **Keep meticulous records from day one** - I created a simple spreadsheet tracking all rental income, expenses, and the dates rooms were occupied. This made tax time so much easier. 2. **Consider setting up a separate bank account** for rental income and expenses. It's not required, but it makes tracking everything cleaner and shows the IRS you're treating this as a legitimate business activity. 3. **Don't forget about depreciation** - You can depreciate the rental portion of your home over 27.5 years. This is often overlooked but can be a significant deduction. Just remember you'll have to recapture this when you sell. 4. **Track vacancy periods** - If a room sits empty for a month between tenants, you can't deduct expenses for that room during the vacant period (though you can still deduct your portion of shared expenses). The square footage method you mentioned is definitely the way to go. At $750 each for two rooms, you're generating good income that should more than cover your allocated expenses. Just make sure you're consistent with your allocation method year after year!

I'm an accountant and just want to clarify something here - you absolutely CANNOT deduct CDL training on your taxes as a W-2 employee anymore. That was eliminated in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Education credits are your only option, and even then you need to make sure the school qualifies and your income isn't too high.

@Rajiv Kumar - I went through this exact same situation with my CDL training expenses last year. Since you're a W-2 employee, the Lifetime Learning Credit is really your only option now. The key thing is making sure your CDL school is eligible - they need to have a Federal School Code and be able to receive federal student aid. I'd recommend calling your CDL school directly and asking if they're eligible for federal financial aid programs. If they are, you can claim up to 20% of your qualified education expenses (up to $10,000 in expenses, so max $2,000 credit). Just make sure your adjusted gross income is under the phase-out limits - it starts phasing out at $59,000 for single filers. Also keep all your loan documents and receipts from the school. The IRS may want to see proof that the expenses were for qualified education that maintained or improved your job skills. Good luck!