I've been through this exact same situation with my freelance writing LLC! The confusion is totally understandable because the IRS guidance does seem to contradict why you'd get an EIN in the first place. What I learned after consulting with a tax professional is that while the IRS technically wants your SSN for a disregarded entity, there's a practical workaround that most single-member LLC owners use. You can use your EIN on W9 forms as long as you're consistent about it across all your business dealings. The key is making sure that when you file your taxes, you include your EIN on Schedule C in the business information section. This creates the official link between your EIN and your personal tax return that the IRS needs to properly track everything. I've been using my EIN on all W9 forms for over a year now, and I haven't had any issues with 1099 reporting or tax compliance. My clients' accounting departments have never questioned it, and the IRS has never reached out about it. The reality is that protecting your SSN privacy is a legitimate business concern, and using your EIN consistently is a widely accepted way to handle this situation. Just make sure whatever approach you choose (EIN or SSN), you stick with it consistently across all your business forms and tax filings.

I just went through this exact same process with my new LLC! The confusion is totally understandable - I spent hours reading IRS publications and getting more confused by the minute. Here's what I ended up learning: while the IRS guidance technically says to use your SSN for a single-member LLC that's disregarded, the practical reality is that most LLC owners use their EIN for privacy protection. The IRS already has the connection between your EIN and SSN from when you filed Form SS-4 to get your EIN in the first place. I decided to go with using my EIN consistently on all W9 forms. My reasoning was that I specifically got the EIN to avoid putting my SSN on business documents, and that seems like a legitimate business purpose. Plus, based on all the responses here, it's clear this is common practice without causing issues. The most important thing seems to be consistency - whatever number you use on W9s, make sure you use the same approach across all your business dealings and include your EIN properly on Schedule C when you file taxes. This creates the official link the IRS needs. I've submitted three W9 forms with my EIN so far and haven't had any pushback from clients. It's been a relief to keep my SSN private while still handling my tax obligations properly.

I'm also with Navy Federal and filed around the same time as you! The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking. From my experience and what I've seen from other Navy Fed members here, I'd recommend checking your IRS transcript online at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript rather than just relying on WMR. Look for transaction code 846 - that will show your actual direct deposit date even when WMR is still stuck on "processing." Navy Fed typically posts IRS refunds right at midnight EST on the scheduled date, and they're pretty good about showing pending deposits 1-2 days ahead of time. The WMR tool has been notoriously unreliable this tax season, but the transcript data is usually spot-on. Also, if you're expecting a larger refund (over $3-4K), consider giving Navy Fed a quick heads-up call about the incoming Treasury deposit to avoid any potential fraud alerts. Hang in there - once the IRS releases your refund, Navy Fed handles their end really well!

Navy Federal member here! I'm in the same exact situation - filed about 2 weeks ago and WMR has been showing "still processing" the entire time. It's so frustrating when you need that money! From my experience and what I've learned from other members here, definitely check your IRS transcript online at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript instead of relying on WMR. Look for transaction code 846 which will show your actual direct deposit date even when WMR hasn't updated. Navy Fed is usually really reliable about posting IRS refunds right at midnight EST on the scheduled date, and they often show pending deposits 24-48 hours beforehand. The WMR tool has been super unreliable this tax season, but the transcript is much more accurate. Hang in there - once the IRS actually releases your refund, Navy Fed typically handles their end smoothly and on time!

I just called FreeTaxUSA support about this exact issue. They told me there's a way to handle multiple localities even though the interface makes it seem impossible. After you enter your W-2 with the first locality, save it and go back to your W-2 list. Then click on "Edit" for that W-2, and you should see an option at the bottom for "Add another local tax withholding." It's super easy to miss, but it's there!

Great to see this got resolved! For anyone else dealing with similar multi-city tax situations, I'd also recommend double-checking your final tax calculations before submitting. Even when you enter multiple localities correctly in FreeTaxUSA, sometimes the software doesn't automatically apply available credits for taxes paid to multiple jurisdictions. I learned this the hard way last year - I was entitled to a credit for paying duplicate local taxes but had to manually add it in the "Other Credits" section. Your city tax departments (if you can reach them) or a local tax preparer can help verify if you qualify for any credits to avoid overpaying. The multiple locality feature in FreeTaxUSA works well once you find it, but it's definitely one of those hidden features that should be more prominent in the interface!

Have you tried logging into your H&R Block online account? Sometimes you can see the disbursement details there. Or maybe check your email for a receipt from when you filed? I need to figure this out too for next year. Did you specifically request the refund to be transferred to your bank after it hits the Emerald Card?

I had this exact same confusion with H&R Block two years ago! Here's what actually happens: when you pay that $42 refund transfer fee, your refund will definitely go to the Emerald Card first - that's how their system works. The IRS sends your refund to H&R Block's temporary account, they deduct their fees, then put the remainder on your Emerald Card. From there, if you set up a transfer to your bank account during filing, it should automatically move to your bank within 1-3 business days. But if you didn't specifically request that transfer, the money will just stay on the Emerald Card. Check your filing paperwork or log into your H&R Block account online to see what transfer option you selected. The automated system is telling you the truth - it goes to the card first, then potentially to your bank depending on your choices.

This is such a frustrating situation that so many people run into! I went through something similar when a company reimbursed me for parking expenses during interviews and then sent me a 1099-NEC months later. The key thing to remember is that just because they issued a 1099-NEC doesn't mean you automatically owe taxes on it. Since this was a legitimate reimbursement at the standard IRS mileage rate (not payment for services), you can absolutely offset it. I'd recommend going the "Other Income" route on Schedule 1 that others have mentioned, since your husband isn't actually running a business. Report the $650 as other income, then claim the exact same $650 as a deduction for unreimbursed business expenses (which technically these were, since you incurred the expense first and were then reimbursed). This way you avoid any self-employment tax issues. Make sure to keep all your documentation - the mileage log, any emails about the reimbursement arrangement, and records showing it was calculated at the standard rate. The IRS will see the 1099-NEC was properly reported on your return, but the net tax impact will be zero.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got a 1099-NEC from a company that reimbursed me for gas and hotel costs during a multi-day interview process last fall. Like your husband, I was just being reimbursed for actual expenses at reasonable rates - nothing excessive or profit-making. After reading through all these responses, I think the consensus is pretty clear: report it as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 line 8i, then offset it with the same amount on line 8j as "Other adjustments" to avoid any self-employment tax complications. The most important thing seems to be having good documentation. I kept all my receipts, the company's email explaining their reimbursement policy, and my mileage log. It sounds like your husband has similar documentation which should protect you both. It's really frustrating that companies don't understand how to handle these situations properly, but at least there's a clear path forward to report it correctly without owing taxes on money that was just covering your actual expenses.