The IRS actually explains this on their website. After e-filing, it can take up to 3 weeks before your return appears in their system. This is totally normal. TaxSlayer has already done their part by transmitting it, but the IRS processing times are beyond their control.

I work as a tax preparer and can shed some light on this. The "Sent to IRS" status in TaxSlayer (and most tax software) doesn't mean your return has actually reached the IRS yet. It means it's been queued for transmission in their batch processing system. Most tax software companies batch their e-filed returns and send them to the IRS in large groups at specific times during the day. TaxSlayer typically does this 2-3 times per day, but during peak season they can get backlogged. After transmission, the IRS still needs 24-72 hours to process and acknowledge receipt. Your 10-day timeframe is getting into the territory where I'd recommend calling TaxSlayer customer service to verify the actual transmission date. They should be able to tell you exactly when your return left their servers and provide a confirmation number from the IRS. If it's been transmitted but still not showing up after 2 weeks, then it might be worth using one of those services others mentioned to check your transcript directly.

Has anyone successfully submitted alternative documentation instead of the 1095-B to the IRS? I'm in a similar situation but worried they'll reject anything that's not the official form.

I went through this exact same situation last year with a different insurance company that discontinued their short-term plans. Here's what ultimately worked for me: 1. Request a "Certificate of Creditable Coverage" instead of asking for a 1095-B. This is a different type of document that insurance companies are required to provide when you lose coverage, and it serves as proof of insurance for tax purposes. 2. If BCBS still refuses, ask them to escalate to their compliance department. Short-term plans may not issue 1095-B forms, but they're still required to provide proof of coverage documentation upon request. 3. Document everything - keep records of your calls, reference numbers, and the names of representatives who told you they can't provide documentation. This creates a paper trail showing you made good faith efforts. 4. When you submit to the IRS, include a cover letter explaining that you maintained continuous coverage but the insurance company cannot provide the standard form due to the plan type being discontinued. Attach your payment records, policy documents, and any correspondence from BCBS. The IRS is generally reasonable when you can demonstrate continuous coverage and show you've made legitimate attempts to get the proper documentation. They're more concerned with whether you had qualifying coverage than the specific form number.

Heads up - you might also want to check if your current car insurance covers delivery driving. Most standard policies don't, and if you get in an accident while delivering, they might deny your claim. I found out the hard way unfortunately.

Great question! I was in a similar situation last year - working part-time and picked up DoorDash to make ends meet. Here's what I learned: You're right to be thinking about taxes early! Since DoorDash classifies you as an independent contractor (not an employee), you won't get a W-4 from them. Instead, you'll receive a 1099-NEC if you earn $600+ in a year. For your primary job's W-4, I'd recommend updating it to account for the extra income. A good rule of thumb is to set aside about 25-30% of your DoorDash earnings for taxes (this covers both income tax and self-employment tax). You can have your main employer withhold extra from each paycheck by putting an additional amount in line 4(c) of your W-4. Also, start tracking your mileage from day one! It's your biggest potential deduction. I use a mileage tracking app and it saved me hundreds last tax season. One more tip - if you think you'll make more than $1,000 from DoorDash this year, you might need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties. The IRS has worksheets to help calculate this. Good luck with the side gig! It definitely helped me get through some tight months.

I wonder if ur tax sofrware is the problem?? I used TurboTax last year for my foster-adopt situation and it did everything correct with the adoption credit. Maybe try a different program this year???

I'm a CPA who has handled many adoption tax credit cases, and I can confirm what others have said - the adoption credit should NEVER reduce your AGI. This is a significant error that needs to be corrected. The adoption credit works like this: - Year 1: Report total qualified expenses on Form 8839, use credit up to your tax liability - Years 2-6: Use carryforward amounts on Schedule 3 until exhausted Your AGI should remain the same regardless of adoption credits. The credit reduces taxes owed, not income. If Line 1f showed -$40,000 last year affecting your AGI calculation, that's definitely wrong and explains why this year's refund is smaller. You absolutely should file Form 1040-X to amend last year's return. The corrected AGI will likely affect other calculations on your return (EITC, child tax credit, etc.), so review everything carefully. Include a clear explanation that you're correcting the improper application of the adoption credit. Don't wait - you have 3 years from the original filing date to amend, and it's better to fix this proactively than have the IRS catch it later.

Check early morning around 3-4am EST. Thats when they usually update the system

I feel your pain! Same thing happened to me last year - blank transcript for what felt like forever. The key thing to remember is that no transcript data usually means they haven't even started processing your return yet, so there won't be any cycle code to see. Once they do start, you'll see a 202X#### code appear at the top. In the meantime, try checking at different times of day since the system updates sporadically. Also make sure you're looking at the right tax year transcript. Hang tight - it's frustrating but totally normal during busy season!