I went through this exact situation. The IRS website (irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed) has a whole section on self-employment tax obligations. According to TurboTax's estimator, with $18k and two dependents, you're looking at a decent refund if those are your only income sources. But don't count on others' situations - tax circumstances vary wildly. I've seen people with identical incomes get completely different refunds based on their specific deductions and credits.

Let me share my *totally hypothetical* 😉 experience from last year with similar numbers. Made about $19.5k in self-employment income, have two kids, and got back around $4,800. The key is keeping good records of all business expenses - mileage, home office (if applicable), supplies, insurance, phone bills, etc. I was worried about an audit too, but my accountant explained that the IRS is mostly looking for major discrepancies, not small businesses reporting reasonable income and deductions. Just don't claim your trip to Hawaii as a "business expense" and you should be fine!

I was just as methodical as you last year, trying to figure out the perfect time to check. I had my calendar marked with the PATH Act date and everything! Then I discovered that the IRS2Go app sends notifications when your return status changes. Saved me from constantly checking the website. I was surprised by how much more complex the whole process is than it needs to be - the app doesn't tell you about transcript updates specifically, but at least it alerts you when your refund status changes.

I think, maybe, you should be somewhat cautious about checking too early. Last year, I filed with EITC on January 25th, and my transcript didn't appear until around February 22nd or so, which was kind of frustrating. The PATH Act seems to create sort of a backlog that might take a while to clear, from what I've observed. The IRS probably, in my opinion, processes these returns in batches rather than immediately after the 15th, though I could be wrong about that.

The acceptance delay doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with your return. IRS processing occurs in batches, and early season returns often face variable timeframes. What matters is whether TurboTax shows a rejection notification. If not, your return is still in process. The transcript unavailability is expected until acceptance occurs. Most importantly, document your submission confirmation from TurboTax as proof of timely filing.

You might want to check your TurboTax account for any possible rejection notices that perhaps didn't get emailed to you correctly. I had a similar situation last year, and it turned out my return was rejected due to a minor AGI mismatch, but the notification went to my spam folder. If you don't see any rejection notices in your TurboTax account, it's probably still processing, which seems to be taking longer for many people this year from what I've read.

Watch out for the "kiddie tax"! My daughter didn't file when she made about $3000, but she had a small investment account I set up that earned $200 in dividends. The IRS sent us a notice a year later saying she should have filed and owed taxes on the unearned income! Had to pay the tax plus a small penalty. So frustrating because no one told us about this weird rule for dependents with investment income. 😡

I've been a volunteer tax preparer for years, and here's what I tell parents of first-time workers: While filing isn't required below $12,950 for 2023, it's still a good educational opportunity. I had my kids file their first returns regardless of the amount. Helps them understand withholding, tax brackets, and the whole process. Plus, if she plans to work more next year, she'll already be familiar with the process. Many free filing options available that make it pretty painless.

Matching info is good. Very good. Check for code 846. That's the refund code. Look for a date next to it. That's your payday. Military moves are expensive. Hope you get it soon. Try checking transcript again tomorrow. Sometimes updates overnight. Good luck with the PCS.

I was in the exact same situation last week! Matching transcript info is definitely a positive sign. My timeline was: • Feb 18: Return accepted • Mar 2: Transcript updated with matching info • Mar 6: Code 846 appeared with DDD • Mar 8: Money in my account I was so relieved when it finally came through. We're also military and had a PCS coming up, so I totally understand the stress of waiting for that refund to help with moving expenses. Hang in there!