I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my 1040 about 12 days ago through H&R Block online, got the acceptance confirmation immediately, but have been stuck on "still being processed" ever since. My return is super straightforward too - just one W-2, standard deduction, no dependents or credits. Reading all these responses is honestly such a relief. I was starting to think something was wrong with my return, but it sounds like this is just the reality of tax season 2024. The 21-day timeline from acceptance seems to be the real benchmark to watch, not the "7-10 days" I was hoping for in my head. What's really helpful is learning that the "Where's My Refund" tool is basically useless this year. I've been checking it obsessively every morning, but based on everyone's experiences here, I should probably just be monitoring my bank account instead since refunds seem to show up randomly without any warning or status updates. @3889e6ce151f I hope your refund comes through soon, especially with the car repair situation adding pressure. At least we're all in this waiting game together and it's clearly a widespread issue rather than something specific to our individual returns!

I can definitely relate to this anxiety! I filed my 1040 about 16 days ago and have been in the exact same "still being processed" status with no updates. Like many others here, I have a straightforward return - just W-2 income from my job and standard deduction, nothing complicated that should trigger extra scrutiny. What's really helping me stay calm is reading everyone's experiences in this thread. It's clear that the 21-day processing window is much more realistic than what we might hope for, and the fact that so many people with simple returns are experiencing identical delays shows this is just how the system is working this season. The most valuable insight I'm taking away is to stop obsessively checking the "Where's My Refund" tool and instead monitor my bank account directly. Based on multiple stories here, it sounds like refunds are appearing randomly in people's accounts days before the IRS website even updates to reflect the status change. I know the waiting is especially stressful when you have specific plans for that money, but it seems like patience is really the only option right now. The IRS is clearly dealing with processing backlogs and system issues that are affecting pretty much everyone who filed in the past few weeks. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we're all in this together and the money will eventually show up, even if the timing is unpredictable!

Something no one mentioned - if this is your first year as a sole proprietor, you technically qualify for a safe harbor based on last year's taxes. If you had zero tax liability last year, you may not need to make estimated payments your first year.

As a fellow sole proprietor who went through this same confusion, here's what I wish someone had told me clearly: You need to make quarterly PAYMENTS (not file returns) if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes. The deadlines are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Your 20% savings rate might not be enough - I learned the hard way that you need to account for both regular income tax AND self-employment tax (15.3%). I typically set aside 25-30% to be safe. The easiest way to start is to use Form 1040-ES to calculate your first quarter payment, then you can just make payments online through IRS Direct Pay without mailing forms each time. Keep detailed records of all business income and expenses - you'll need them for your annual Schedule C filing. Don't stress too much about getting it perfect the first year. The IRS understands learning curves, and as long as you're making good faith efforts to pay what you owe, any small penalties are manageable. The key is to start now rather than wait!

I'm glad to see so many people helping out with this question! Just wanted to add that when I was in a similar situation, my credit union's customer service was actually really helpful too. If you're still feeling uncertain after reading all these great explanations, don't hesitate to call or visit your credit union and ask them to walk through the form with you. They deal with first-time account holders all the time and are usually very patient about explaining these questions. Most credit unions have a community-focused approach and genuinely want to help their members succeed financially. Sometimes it's nice to have that face-to-face reassurance, especially when you're taking this big step toward financial independence!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually a tax preparer and see this confusion all the time during tax season. Just wanted to reinforce what everyone has said - for 99% of people opening their first bank account, the answer to backup withholding is "No." The only time I've seen clients subject to backup withholding is when they've had serious ongoing issues with the IRS - like repeatedly providing wrong SSNs to banks or consistently failing to report investment income. The IRS doesn't just randomly put people on backup withholding. One thing I'll add that might be helpful: even if your account does earn interest (which is pretty minimal on most checking accounts these days), as long as it's under $10, the bank doesn't even have to send you a 1099-INT form. So for a new checking account holder, the backup withholding question is really just a formality. You're being smart by asking questions and taking your time with the application. That careful approach will serve you well as you navigate more financial decisions in the future!

Your son might have filled out the W-4 incorrectly. I'm a summer camp counselor and the first year I worked, I didn't understand what "exemption from withholding" meant, so I accidentally checked that box. No federal taxes were taken all summer and I had to pay it all at tax time. Make sure your son didn't check any exemption boxes on his W-4!

Great advice from everyone here! Just to add another perspective - this exact situation happened with my nephew last year. The no federal withholding was correct initially, but what caught us off guard was when he picked up extra shifts during Christmas break. His earnings jumped significantly in December and suddenly he was going to owe federal taxes. What we learned is that it's worth having a conversation with your son about tracking his total earnings throughout the year. Maybe set up a simple spreadsheet or even just a note on his phone where he logs his paychecks. That way if he's approaching that $15,000 threshold, you can proactively have him submit a new W-4 to start withholding before he gets too far over the limit. Also, even if no federal taxes are being withheld, he should still file a tax return to get back any overpaid Social Security/Medicare taxes if his total earnings end up being very low. A lot of teenagers don't realize they might be owed a refund!

5 Has anyone used TurboTax for this situation? Does it ask the right questions to figure out student status when you had different enrollment levels?

For anyone still confused about the 5-month rule, I wanted to share what I learned when I dealt with this exact situation. The key thing to remember is that you count ANY part of a calendar month where you were enrolled full-time. So if your fall semester ran from late August through mid-December, that's 5 months (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec) even if you weren't enrolled for complete months at the beginning and end. Also, don't forget that this 5-month rule applies to different tax benefits differently. For determining if you can be claimed as a dependent, it's about full-time student status. But for education credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit, you only need to be enrolled at least half-time for one academic period during the year. I'd recommend double-checking your school's definition of full-time vs half-time too - it can vary by institution, though 12+ credit hours is pretty standard for full-time.