I've been through this SBTPG nightmare three years running. Last year they held my refund for 7 days after receiving it from the IRS. The year before that, it was 5 days. This year I wised up and just paid my preparation fees upfront. My refund came direct from IRS to my bank account in 13 days total. No more SBTPG for me ever again!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! SBTPG told me they received my refund on 2/20 and won't release it until 2/26. It's so frustrating because I can see on my IRS transcript that they already sent the money, but now I'm stuck waiting another 6 days. At least we both have concrete dates - I was reading about people who don't even know when their funds will be released. Still doesn't make the wait any easier when you're expecting that money for bills and expenses.

Pro tip: check your transcript around 3am-6am EST on Wednesdays and Thursdays. That's when they usually do mass updates.

I'm in a similar situation - filed 2/14 and my 2023 transcripts are still showing N/A while all my previous years (2019-2022) are accessible. It's reassuring to see I'm not alone in this! The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially when you see others who filed later already getting their refunds. I've been checking every few days but might take the advice to check weekly instead. Thanks for sharing your exact transcript view - it helps to know what's normal during processing!

The job offer itself has tons of red flags beyond just asking for your IP-PIN: 1. Only 3 days of emails before job offer? No video interview? 2. Suspiciously high pay ($32/hr plus $45 overtime) for a job with flexible hours 3. Promising equipment before even properly verifying your identity 4. Vague job description with no clear responsibilities 5. No company website or online presence This follows the exact pattern of work-from-home scams I've seen before. They hook you with great pay and flexibility, then try to steal your identity or run check fraud schemes. Some will even send fake checks for "equipment purchases" then ask you to send money back, only for their check to bounce later.

This is absolutely a scam - do not provide your IP-PIN under any circumstances! As someone who works in tax preparation, I can tell you that legitimate employers NEVER need your IP-PIN during the hiring process. They only need your SSN and information from your W-4 for payroll setup. The IP-PIN is specifically designed to protect you from tax identity theft, and the IRS explicitly states it should only be shared with your tax preparer when filing your return. What these scammers are doing is collecting enough personal information to file fraudulent tax returns and steal refunds. Beyond the IP-PIN request, there are multiple red flags here: no legitimate company information, unrealistic pay for minimal vetting, vague job responsibilities, and the rushed timeline. This follows the classic pattern of employment scams targeting desperate job seekers. Please report this to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and forward the emails to phishing@irs.gov. Then block all communication with them. Your instincts were right to be suspicious - trust that feeling and keep looking for legitimate opportunities through verified job boards and company websites.

Has anyone used QuickBooks for tracking their home office reimbursements? I'm wondering if there's a special way to code these expenses so they flow through correctly without showing up on the W-2.

I've been through this exact situation with my S-Corp! You're right to be confused about Box 12 Code L - it's not the right place for home office reimbursements. That code is typically for other business expense reimbursements like travel and meals. For home office reimbursements as an owner-employee, you have two main options: 1. **Accountable Plan Approach** (recommended): Set up a written accountable plan policy, document your home office business use percentage, keep receipts, and treat these as business expense reimbursements. These don't go on your W-2 at all - they're purely business expenses for the S-Corp. 2. **Include in Wages**: Add the $2,800 to your regular wages in Box 1, then claim the home office deduction on your personal return. This is less favorable since miscellaneous itemized deductions are suspended until 2026. The accountable plan route is usually better tax-wise. You'll need to calculate what percentage of your home is used exclusively for business (square footage method works well) and maintain documentation showing the business purpose. Since this is your first year with S-Corp, I'd recommend getting this structure right early - it'll save you headaches down the road!

Something important that nobody has mentioned - if your NIL payment came directly from your university rather than an outside company, make sure they classified it correctly! My school initially misclassified my NIL as a scholarship on my 1098-T form, which would have made it tax-free if used for educational expenses. I had to get them to correct it and issue a 1099 instead. Definitely double-check whatever tax documents you receive from the school in January before filing. A friend of mine ended up getting audited because the university reported the income in two different ways.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider opening a business bank account for your NIL activities. Since NIL income is treated as self-employment income, keeping it separate from your personal finances makes record-keeping much easier come tax time. I made the mistake of mixing everything together and it was a nightmare trying to track business expenses like equipment, travel for appearances, and even the portion of my phone bill used for NIL social media content. Having separate accounts would have saved me hours of sorting through transactions. Also, don't forget that you can deduct legitimate business expenses against your NIL income on Schedule C. Things like equipment specifically for content creation, travel expenses for NIL events, and even a portion of your internet/phone bills if you use them for NIL activities. These deductions can significantly reduce your taxable income from the NIL deals. Start keeping detailed records now of any expenses related to your NIL activities - receipts, mileage logs, everything. The IRS expects good documentation if you're claiming business deductions.