After dealing with this exact situation last year and nearly having a breakdown over it, I can tell you it worked out fine. My business had its best year ever in 2022, and I was counting on that refund for equipment upgrades. Transcript showed nothing for almost a month while other people who filed after me were getting their money. So frustrating compared to how quickly banks process transactions! But the transcript suddenly updated on day 26, and I had my deposit 2 days later. The waiting is awful but hang in there.

I completely understand your frustration! I went through this exact same thing last year with my LLC taxes. Filed early February, got the acceptance confirmation, then watched my transcript say "no return filed" for what felt like forever while I kept refreshing it obsessively. What helped me stay sane was understanding that there are actually multiple IRS databases that don't sync in real-time. Your e-filed return goes through several processing stages before it hits the transcript system. Since you mentioned having a good business year with Schedule C, your return might be getting additional review - not because anything's wrong, but because business returns with certain income thresholds get routed through extra validation steps. The acceptance email is really the key indicator that you're in good shape. I'd resist the urge to check daily (easier said than done, I know!) and give it the full 21-day processing window. If it's still showing "no return filed" after 30 days, then it might be worth calling the IRS. But based on my experience and what I've seen with other small business owners, you should see movement soon. Hang in there!

If the original Roth owner had the account less than 5 years before passing away, things get more complicated. The earnings portion could be taxable while the contributions remain tax-free. Did your 1099-R break down how much was contributions vs earnings?

This is a really comprehensive discussion already! One additional point to consider - if you're working with a tax professional this year, make sure to bring both the 1099-R and any documentation from the bank showing the direct transfer to the inherited Roth IRA account. Even though this should be straightforward (especially with distribution code "Q"), having that paper trail can be invaluable if the IRS ever questions the transaction later. The bank statement or transfer confirmation showing the money went directly from one Roth account to another without touching your personal accounts helps establish that this was a proper trustee-to-trustee transfer. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time dealing with inherited retirement accounts, you might want to ask the bank if they have any educational materials about inherited Roth IRA rules. Many financial institutions have gotten much better about explaining the SECURE Act changes and what they mean for beneficiaries.

Has anyone used TurboTax's import feature with their broker for 1256 contracts? My broker is TD Ameritrade and I'm wondering if direct import will correctly categorize my SPX options as 1256 contracts or if I still need to manually enter them in Form 6781.

I went through this exact same process last year with my SPX options and futures trading! The confusion is totally understandable - TurboTax's interface for 1256 contracts isn't very intuitive. Here's what worked for me: After searching for "Form 6781" and selecting "Yes" for having 1256 contracts, the key is to use the summary amounts from your 1099-B rather than trying to enter individual trades. Your broker should have a specific section for 1256 contracts that shows your total gains/losses. One thing that tripped me up initially was making sure I didn't double-enter these amounts in both the regular capital gains section AND Form 6781. The 1256 contracts should ONLY go in Form 6781, not in the regular stock trading sections. With $14,500 in realized profits, you'll benefit from that 60/40 split (60% long-term, 40% short-term) regardless of how long you held the positions. TurboTax will calculate this automatically once you enter your totals correctly. The "marked to market" question should be "No" unless you've made a special trader election with the IRS, which most retail traders haven't done.

Did u verify ur identity on id.me? That's usually step 1 for these freezes

Code 810 freezes are frustrating but usually resolve within 9-16 weeks from the freeze date. Since yours was placed March 2nd, you're getting close to that timeframe. The good news is your transcript shows no math errors or adjustments - just the freeze preventing release of your $10,712 refund. With self-employment income that high and such a large refund, they're likely doing income verification or checking for potential fraud patterns. The fact that you already completed ID.me verification is good, but sometimes they need additional documentation. I'd recommend calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service number mentioned above, but also try calling the regular IRS line early morning (7-8am) for better chances of getting through. Ask specifically about timeline for code 810 resolution and if they need any additional docs from you. Keep checking your transcript weekly - when it updates you'll see a code 846 (refund issued) with your direct deposit date. Hang in there, the money is definitely there waiting for you!

I think you might want to check with neighbors to see if perhaps the mail carrier delivered to the wrong address. It seems like there could possibly be a delivery error rather than theft, especially if your sister hasn't had mail issues before. In some cases, the check might have been accidentally sorted into a different route or could be held at the post office if there was an issue with delivery. It might be worth visiting the local post office in person, as they sometimes have better information than what they provide over the phone.

I went through this exact situation last month! My refund check showed up in Informed Delivery on February 14th but didn't actually arrive until February 26th - that's 12 days later. I was panicking thinking it was stolen too, but it turns out USPS has been having major delays with government mail this year. Here's what I learned from calling both USPS and the IRS: • Informed Delivery scans happen at sorting facilities, not your local post office • Government checks often get extra security handling which adds 3-5 days • Tax season creates huge mail volume delays My advice: Give it until April 1st (that's 10 days from the Informed Delivery notification). If it still hasn't arrived by then, file a missing mail report with USPS online and call the IRS. The IRS won't even start investigating until it's been missing for at least 2 weeks from the Informed Delivery date. I know the wait is stressful, but in most cases it's just slow delivery, not theft. Hang in there!