I went through this nightmare last year and it was so stressful! My deposit got rejected in late March and I didn't get my check until mid-April - about 3 weeks total. The worst part is SBTPG's terrible communication - their website barely updates and calling them is like trying to reach aliens on Mars. Here's what actually helped me: I kept a daily log of checking their website status, made sure my tax preparer confirmed my address was current with SBTPG, and most importantly - I watched my mail like a hawk because that check really does look like total junk mail when it arrives. Almost threw mine in the trash! The fees they deduct are annoying but expected. Just hang in there - I know $3,450 tied up when you have bills due is absolutely anxiety-inducing, but it WILL come through. This system is broken but it does eventually work. Next year I'm definitely paying my prep fees upfront to skip this whole SBTPG mess entirely!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in March and just discovered my refund went to an account I closed in January. The anxiety of not knowing where your money is or when you'll get it is terrible, especially when you're counting on it for bills like you are. From everything I've read here and my own research, it sounds like you're looking at about 2-3 weeks total once the bank rejects the deposit. The most frustrating part is SBTPG's terrible communication - their website updates are super slow and their phone system is basically useless. I've been checking their website daily since finding out, and like others mentioned, make sure your tax preparer has your current address on file. Also definitely keep an eye out for that plain envelope everyone's warning about - I would have totally thrown that away thinking it was junk mail! This whole situation has convinced me to pay prep fees upfront next year to avoid SBTPG entirely. The IRS direct deposit system isn't perfect but at least you're not dealing with a third party middleman. Hang in there - sounds like the money does eventually come through, it's just a stressful waiting game!

Have you checked your bank account for deposits? If they paid you by direct deposit or you deposited checks, you should be able to see exactly how much you made there.

If they paid you cash and you're trying to reconstruct the exact amount, another approach is to look at your work schedule if you kept any record of it. Even something as simple as text messages to friends about your work shifts or calendar entries can help you calculate the total. Since you mentioned working "about three weekends" as a hostess, try to remember your hourly rate and approximate hours per shift. Most hostess positions pay minimum wage plus tips. If you can recall your hourly wage, multiply that by your estimated hours worked to get your base pay, then add any tips you remember receiving. The IRS cares more about you making a good faith effort to report all income accurately than having perfect documentation, especially in situations like this where the employer is no longer available to provide proper forms.

what about streaming royalties? thats where most of my artist income comes from these days not physical sales. do those get treated different for tax purposes when your also a label owner??

This is a really complex area that trips up a lot of music industry folks! One thing I'd add to the great advice already given is to make sure you're documenting everything properly from the start. Since you're both the artist AND a label owner, the IRS will want to see clear evidence that these are truly separate transactions. Keep detailed records showing market-rate royalty payments to yourself as the artist, just like you would pay any other artist on your label. Also consider having written agreements in place (even though you're paying yourself) that outline the royalty rates and terms. This helps establish that the payments are legitimate business expenses for the label and proper income for you as the songwriter/artist. The partnership vs individual income distinction is crucial - your royalties as a creator are active income subject to self-employment tax, while your 25% partnership share comes through on your K-1. Getting this right from the beginning will save you headaches if the IRS ever has questions about your income classification.

The commission income definitely adds complexity to your W4 setup! Here's what's worked for me in a similar situation: Since your wife has the higher, more stable income at $78k, I'd recommend having her claim both kids on her W4 in Step 3. This keeps things simpler and more predictable for withholding calculations. For your commission income, here's the key: estimate your total annual commission and divide by your number of paychecks, then use that amount in the IRS withholding calculator. The calculator will tell you exactly how much extra to withhold on line 4(c) of your W4. One trick that's helped me - I actually slightly overestimate my commission income when doing these calculations. Better to get a small refund than owe money! You can always adjust mid-year if your commission patterns change significantly. Also, since commission income can push you into higher tax brackets unexpectedly, consider having a flat extra amount withheld from each of your paychecks (like $100-200) just as a buffer. This has saved me from surprise tax bills multiple times. The bottom line: use the IRS withholding calculator quarterly to stay on track, especially with variable income in the mix.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when you update your W4s during the year. Since you have commission income that varies, I'd suggest reviewing your withholding after each quarter, especially if you have a particularly high or low commission quarter. Also, with two kids, make sure you're taking advantage of the Child Tax Credit properly. The current credit is $2,000 per qualifying child, and this gets factored into your withholding calculations when you claim them in Step 3 of the W4. A tip from my own experience with variable income: I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my year-to-date commission versus what I estimated when I last updated my W4. If I'm running significantly higher or lower than projected by mid-year, I'll run the IRS calculator again and adjust my withholding for the remaining months. The key is staying proactive rather than waiting until tax time to discover you're off target. With your combined income levels and two kids, you're probably in a sweet spot where small adjustments can make a big difference in getting your withholding just right.

I work at a volunteer tax prep site, and we've dealt with this issue a lot. The solution depends on which stimulus payment we're talking about: 1st & 2nd payments (2020): You'd need to amend your 2020 return if you haven't already claimed them 3rd payment (2021): You'd need to amend your 2021 return The easiest approach now would be to file the amended returns using Form 1040-X and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the payments you never cashed. Keep those expired checks though! The IRS might request documentation later. Also, there's a time limit to claim these credits - generally 3 years from the original filing deadline. So for 2020 returns (1st & 2nd stimulus), you have until April 15, 2024. For 2021 returns (3rd stimulus), you have until April 15, 2025.

I went through this exact situation last year! I had two expired stimulus checks from when I was deployed overseas. Here's what worked for me: First, try calling the IRS at 800-919-9835 and ask specifically for the "Economic Impact Payment" department. When you get through (which can take forever), tell them you have expired stimulus checks and need to request a payment trace. They'll ask for the check numbers, amounts, and issue dates if you have them. The agent will initiate a trace to confirm the checks were never cashed, then they can reissue new payments. This took about 8-10 weeks for me, but I did get replacement checks for the full amounts. One tip: if you decide to go the amended return route instead, make sure you're claiming the right tax year for each payment. The first two stimulus payments go on your 2020 return, and the third one goes on your 2021 return. You can't mix them up or it'll delay processing. Either way, definitely keep those expired checks as proof - the IRS may ask for copies during their review process. Good luck getting your money back!