I have been in tax hell for MONTHS trying to get my refund from last year. my transcript made no sense to me with all those random codes. I was about to give up when someone told me about taxr.ai. uploaded my transcript and it explained everything perfectly. turns out i had a simple issue that was easy to fix once i knew what was happening. definitely check it out if youre still having issues.

I've been through this exact same situation multiple times! Republic Bank typically takes 3-5 business days once they send the funds to your bank, which sounds like exactly what you're experiencing. Since they sent it on 3/15 (which was a Friday), you're looking at Monday 3/18, Tuesday 3/19, Wednesday 3/20 as your business days. Many banks process ACH deposits overnight, so definitely check your account first thing in the morning - sometimes they show up between 12am-6am. If it's not there by end of business today, I'd call your bank tomorrow to see if there's a pending deposit they can see on their end. The timing you're experiencing is totally normal, even though the stress is real when you're counting on that money!

Great question @Sofia! Unfortunately, once your refund shows "funded" status, the IRS has already initiated the ACH transfer and you can't change the banking information at that point. If there's an error in your account number, the deposit will likely be rejected by the bank and returned to the IRS. This process usually takes 5-10 business days. Once the IRS receives the returned funds, they'll automatically issue a paper check to your mailing address on file, which typically takes 3-4 weeks to arrive. For future reference, you can update your direct deposit info for next year's refund by filing Form 8888 with your return or calling the IRS before your refund is processed. If you're worried about your account details, you might want to contact your bank now to verify they have the correct account info on file - they can at least tell you if a deposit would be accepted or rejected.

As someone who just went through this process for the first time, I can share what I learned! The trace number is basically your refund's "passport" through the banking system. When your status changes to "funded," the IRS releases your money with this unique 15-digit identifier that helps track it from the Treasury through the Federal Reserve to your bank. I was panicking when my refund showed funded on a Friday but didn't hit my account until the following Wednesday - turns out that's totally normal! Most people never actually need to know their trace number because the money just arrives as expected. But if your refund goes missing after showing "funded" for more than 5-7 business days, that's when you'd call the IRS to get the trace number and then give it to your bank to help locate the deposit. Think of it as a backup plan rather than something you actively need to worry about. The whole system is designed to work smoothly in the background, and the trace number is just there for troubleshooting if needed!

Just to add one more perspective - if you file a return claiming the kids (which it sounds like you're entitled to do), the IRS will initially process both returns. Then they'll send notices to both you and your ex. Often at this point, the person who incorrectly claimed them will just concede rather than going through an audit. If neither party backs down, the IRS will audit both returns and request documentation proving who provided support, where the kids lived, etc. Since you were living together, make sure you have documentation showing you paid the bills.

Something missing from this discussion - the tiebreaker rules when both parents live together! When parents who aren't married live together with their children, the IRS has specific tiebreaker rules: 1. First, the parent who provides more than 50% support 2. If that's unclear, then the parent with the higher AGI gets to claim Since you mentioned having the higher AGI and paying "just about everything," you clearly qualify under both criteria. Your ex definitely incorrectly claimed them.

As someone who made the transition from Jackson Hewitt to a regional accounting firm, I can tell you that the experience absolutely can help your career - but success depends heavily on how you approach it. The reality is that JH will give you high-volume experience with basic returns, which teaches you efficiency and client interaction skills. However, the real value comes from what you do beyond their minimum requirements. I made it a point to: 1. Study every tax code section I encountered, even for simple issues 2. Research complex situations thoroughly rather than just following software prompts 3. Build relationships with more experienced preparers who could mentor me 4. Keep detailed notes on unusual scenarios for future reference When I interviewed at my current firm, I didn't hide that I worked at JH - I emphasized the problem-solving skills I developed and specific tax knowledge I gained. The managing partner actually said my practical client experience gave me an advantage over candidates who only had academic knowledge. One season is usually enough to gain credibility, but make sure you're learning something new every day. Start networking with local firms in March/April when they're planning for the next year. Focus your resume on tax concepts you've mastered rather than just the volume of returns you processed. The key is treating JH as tax school with a paycheck, not just a job. Good luck!

As someone who recently transitioned from Jackson Hewitt to a mid-size CPA firm after one season, I can definitely say the experience was worthwhile - but you need to be strategic about it. The training at JH is pretty basic, but what you'll get is real-world client experience that textbooks can't teach you. You'll learn how to handle difficult clients, explain tax concepts in plain English, and work efficiently under pressure during busy season. These soft skills are just as valuable as technical knowledge when interviewing at better firms. My biggest piece of advice: Don't just rely on their training materials. When you encounter something you don't fully understand, research it on your own time. I spent evenings reading IRS publications and tax court cases related to issues I saw during the day. This deeper knowledge really impressed interviewers later. Also, network while you're there! Many JH locations have preparers who previously worked at local CPA firms or have connections in the industry. I got my current job through a referral from someone I worked with at JH who had moved on to a regional firm. The experience will definitely help your career if you approach it as a learning opportunity rather than just a paycheck. One season of practical experience plus your master's degree should make you competitive for positions at smaller firms. Just make sure to emphasize the tax knowledge you gained and client skills you developed rather than focusing on the workplace itself.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed in early March, accepted immediately, but still getting that "Your Information Is Not Available" message when I try to check my balance. One thing that helped me was checking my account transcript instead of just the balance page - go to "Get Transcript" and look at your Account Transcript for 2023. Mine actually showed the return was processed even though the balance page was still showing the error message. Also, if you know you owe $3,800, you can absolutely make a payment now through IRS Direct Pay without waiting for the balance to show up. Just select "Form 1040" and "2023" as the tax year. The system will accept payments even when your balance isn't displaying properly. I did this last week and got a confirmation number, so at least I know my payment went through. The waiting is nerve-wracking but from what I've read, this seems to be happening to a lot of people this year. Hopefully both our accounts update soon!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my 2023 return in mid-February, got the acceptance confirmation within 24 hours, but I've been getting that same "Your Information Is Not Available at This Time" message for over 6 weeks now. What's really frustrating is that I can see on my Account Transcript that the return was actually posted to my account about 10 days ago, but the balance page still won't load properly. It's like their systems aren't talking to each other. I ended up calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778) after getting nowhere with the regular IRS lines. They told me this is a known system issue affecting thousands of taxpayers this season, particularly those who filed early. The representative said the balance pages should start updating properly over the next 2-3 weeks as they work through their backlog. In the meantime, I went ahead and made my payment through IRS Direct Pay like others have suggested. At least I have peace of mind knowing I won't accrue interest while waiting for their technology to catch up. Definitely check your Account Transcript though - it might show more current information than the balance page.