I work with tax resolution cases, and this is more common than you might think. As of March 27, 2024, the IRS is still processing amendments filed in December 2023, so timing matters. File your 1040-X immediately with a clear explanation in Part III. Include any documentation showing you don't own this business. The IRS has specific internal procedures for handling preparer errors versus taxpayer errors, and the distinction matters significantly for penalty abatement. The automated systems will eventually catch this discrepancy if you don't correct it proactively.

I think I might have had something similar happen to me last year, possibly. My preparer added a small side business I mentioned in passing but that I hadn't actually started yet. I called the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, and they were somewhat helpful in guiding me through the amendment process. It took about 14 weeks or so for my amendment to process, but everything worked out okay in the end. You might want to consider getting a transcript of your return first, just to see exactly what was filed before you submit the amendment.

I've been dealing with PTC forms for 3 years now, and this year is definitely slower than usual! 🙃 After waiting 45 days with no updates, I finally decided to call the IRS directly. Spent two days trying to get through their phone system with no luck (seriously, who has time for that??). Finally used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent in about 15 minutes. Worth every penny! The agent confirmed my return was flagged for "income verification" because of the combination of PTC and EIC. Apparently, this is happening to a lot of returns with both credits. The agent was able to verify everything was in order and manually release my return for processing. Got my deposit 8 days later.

This is my third year filing with marketplace insurance and PTC, and each year has been progressively worse with delays. Last year I waited 28 days, the year before was 21 days, and this year I'm currently at day 49 with no refund in sight! I called the IRS hotline last week and after being on hold for 97 minutes, the agent told me there was a "discrepancy" between my reported PTC and what the marketplace reported. Turns out my insurance company reported a different monthly premium amount for December than what they showed on my 1095-A. The difference was only $12.43 but it triggered a full manual review of my entire return.

Don't use public wifi when accessing the IRS site. I did that at Starbucks last month and my account got locked for 72 hours. They flagged it as suspicious activity. Had to call and verify my identity all over again. Not worth the hassle.

The IRS website works best during off-peak hours. Try accessing between 6-8am Eastern. Fewer users online then. System response is faster. Browser matters too. Chrome works better than Firefox. Edge is surprisingly reliable. Make sure you're using the most current version. Old browsers get rejected by the security system.

NJ has been surprisingly efficient this year. I got mine in 18 days exactly. My federal took over 6 weeks though! Did you file electronically or paper?

Just a heads up - make sure the deposit actually hits your account. I had an approved date of 2/28 but it didn't show up until 3/4. Apparently there was some processing backlog at their end. But congrats on getting approved!

I noticed you mentioned filing on February 26th, which means you're approaching the 6-week mark. Did your tax preparer specifically say they would be printing the check themselves? I'm asking because on March 18th, the IRS announced they were experiencing delays with paper check processing for returns filed between February 15th and March 1st due to a printing facility issue. Have you created an account on the IRS website to view your transcript? That would show the exact status including whether a check has been mailed.

Have you verified if your preparer used a Refund Transfer product for your return? These products (sometimes called Refund Anticipation Checks or RACs) involve a temporary bank account that receives your refund, deducts the tax preparation fees, then issues you a new check. This adds significant processing time. Also, did you check if you have any offsets that might be reducing your refund amount? Student loans, child support, or other government debts can cause delays as the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service processes these adjustments before releasing funds.