I feel your pain! I'm also going through my first tax season after a major life change (moved states for work), and everything feels so much more uncertain when your usual routine gets disrupted. I've been with SoFi for two years, and they definitely used to be more reliable with early deposits. This year I had a 2/19 deposit date and it didn't show up until exactly 2/19 at around 5:30am - no early deposit at all. What helped me was setting up account alerts so I'd get notified the moment anything posted, rather than obsessively checking throughout the day. Also, I learned that SoFi processes ACH deposits in batches, usually between 3-6am EST. Since your WMR shows approved with 2/26, I'd expect to see it hit your account tomorrow morning in that window. The waiting is the worst part, but you're so close! Hope it shows up bright and early for you! ✨

I'm experiencing the exact same thing with SoFi! My refund has a 2/26 deposit date and I've been checking my account obsessively since yesterday. Reading through all these comments has been such a relief - it sounds like SoFi really did change their early deposit policy this year, which explains why we're not seeing the usual 1-2 day early deposits. For anyone still waiting, it seems like the consensus is that deposits typically hit between 3-6am on the official date. I'm going to take the advice about setting up account alerts and try to get some sleep instead of refreshing my app every 20 minutes! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating these stressful tax season moments. Fingers crossed we all wake up to good news tomorrow morning! 🤞

I went through this same nightmare last year! Put in the wrong routing number and spent weeks worrying about where my refund went. Here's what I learned from the experience: The IRS system is actually pretty good at handling this - when the bank rejects the deposit (which happens within 3-5 business days), it triggers an automatic process to mail you a paper check. The whole thing took about 3 weeks from my original deposit date. One thing that really helped my anxiety was calling my bank to confirm they would reject any deposits to incorrect routing numbers. They explained that even if someone had the same routing number I accidentally used, the account number wouldn't match their records, so the deposit would bounce back to the IRS anyway. Also, if you're really stressed about timing, you might want to consider setting up informed delivery with USPS (it's free). That way you'll get an email preview of what mail is coming each day, so you'll know when your refund check is about to arrive. It definitely helped me stop checking my mailbox obsessively! The waiting is brutal, but this is honestly one of the most common tax filing mistakes and the IRS has it down to a science. Your money isn't lost - it's just taking the scenic route to get to you!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my taxes about 3 weeks ago and just realized I used my wire transfer routing number instead of the ACH routing number. My bank has different numbers for different transaction types, and I grabbed the wrong one from my online banking. I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool daily and it still shows "refund sent" from last Friday, so I'm assuming the rejection hasn't processed through the system yet. Reading all these comments is honestly such a relief - I was worried my refund was going to disappear into some banking black hole! I'm definitely going to sign up for that informed delivery service someone mentioned and stop panicking every time I check my mailbox. It sounds like the 3-week timeline is pretty standard, so I just need to be patient and let the IRS do their thing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the IRS website!

As someone new to tax compliance, this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm currently working in vendor management and we've been struggling with similar W-9 issues. What really helps is seeing how widespread this misconception is - it makes me feel less alone in dealing with resistant internal teams. The consensus here is crystal clear: sole proprietors can absolutely use their EIN on Form W-9, and the IRS actually encourages this for identity protection reasons. I love how everyone has provided specific IRS publication references rather than just opinions. What I'm taking away from this thread is that the key to success is persistence combined with official documentation. I'm going to compile all the IRS citations mentioned here (W-9 instructions, Publication 1779) and present them to our finance team. The security angle is particularly compelling - we should be supporting contractors who want to protect their personal information, not penalizing them for following best practices. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This community is such a great resource for navigating these compliance challenges!

As someone who recently joined the accounts payable team at my company, this thread has been absolutely essential reading! We're currently facing this exact same W-9 dilemma with multiple sole proprietor contractors, and our finance department has been automatically rejecting any forms that use EINs instead of SSNs. What's been most helpful is seeing the overwhelming consensus here backed up by specific IRS citations. The consistency of responses from experienced professionals really reinforces that this isn't a matter of interpretation - the regulations clearly allow sole proprietors to use either their SSN or EIN on Form W-9. I'm particularly struck by the security considerations that several people have mentioned. In today's environment with increasing identity theft concerns, it seems counterproductive to force contractors to share their SSNs when they have a perfectly valid EIN they can use instead. We should be applauding contractors who are taking proactive steps to protect their personal information. I'm planning to present this information to our finance team using the IRS Publication 1779 and W-9 instruction references mentioned throughout this thread. Having these authoritative sources combined with real-world examples of how other companies handle this issue should hopefully update our outdated policies. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their expertise and experiences - this community has been invaluable for a newcomer like me trying to navigate tax compliance requirements!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process twice now. First amendment took 5 months, second one took 8 months - so yeah, the timeline is super unpredictable like everyone's saying. One thing I learned is to screenshot your transcript whenever you check it, because sometimes the IRS will add and remove codes and you'll want that record. Also, if you're getting a refund, don't spend it mentally until that check is actually in your hands - I've seen them reverse adjustments even after issuing refunds in rare cases. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but at least you filed electronically which should help speed things up a bit. Hang in there!

As a tax preparer who's handled hundreds of amendments over the years, I can confirm what most people are saying here - the timeline is frustratingly unpredictable. The IRS officially says 16 weeks but with their current staffing issues, I'm seeing 6-8 months regularly. One thing I tell all my clients: if you're amending because you forgot income (like a 1099), expect it to take longer since they need to verify the information with third parties. Simple math corrections or missed deductions usually process faster. Also, pro tip - if you don't see that 971 code on your transcript within 4-6 weeks, something might be wrong with your filing and you should call to verify they received it properly.

I'd like to share some additional information about the trace process that might help you understand what's happening: Step 1: When you initiate a trace, the IRS first verifies whether your refund was already issued. Step 2: If it was issued but not received, they start an actual trace through the Treasury. Step 3: If the refund was never issued, they investigate why (which could be an unrelated review). Step 4: Once they determine the status, they either reissue the refund or send you a notice explaining the hold. Are you certain your refund was actually issued and not just approved? These are different statuses, and many business owners confuse them. If your WMR status never said "Refund Sent," then you might be waiting for an initial issuance rather than a trace resolution.

I'm experiencing something very similar with my business refund! Filed early February, got acceptance confirmation, but my refund has been missing for weeks now. I also use Navy Federal and they're usually lightning-fast with deposits, so I know the issue is definitely on the IRS side. What's really frustrating is that I initiated a trace about 2.5 weeks ago and got a confirmation number, but absolutely nothing has happened since then. Like you, I need these funds for upcoming business expenses and the uncertainty is stressful. One thing I'm wondering - when you check "Where's My Refund," does it still show the original status or has it changed since you started the trace? Mine still shows "refund approved" with the original deposit date, which makes me think the money was never actually sent out in the first place despite what the system says. Have you tried checking your tax transcript to see if there are any additional codes or holds that might explain the delay? I'm planning to do that next if I don't hear something soon.