H&R Block is one of the most expensive options for a basic return like yours. I'm a married homeowner with W-2 income too, and I switched to TurboTax which was about $120 all in (federal + state). FreeTaxUSA is even cheaper at around $40-50 total. Unless you have some complicated situation you didn't mention, there's no reason to pay H&R Block prices. The mortgage interest deduction is super straightforward - you just enter the numbers from your Form 1098.

I went through this exact same situation last year! My wife and I both have W-2 jobs and we bought our first house in 2023. I called around to different H&R Block locations and got quotes ranging from $275-$350 for our return (married filing jointly with mortgage interest deduction). What really helped me was calling during their slower hours (mid-morning on weekdays) rather than evenings or weekends when they're swamped. I also asked specifically about any first-time homeowner discounts - one location offered $25 off. That said, after getting those quotes, I ended up using TurboTax Deluxe instead for about $100 total. The mortgage interest part was really straightforward - just had to enter the info from our 1098 form that the mortgage company sent us. Saved us almost $200 and I felt confident we did it correctly. If you're set on using H&R Block though, definitely call multiple locations in your area since pricing can vary between franchises.

In case anyone's interested in the technical reason this happened - the IRS computer systems actually do allow for early filing of future tax years in some circumstances (like military deployments or people leaving the country long-term). That's probably why the system didn't automatically reject the return.

This is definitely a stressful situation, but you're handling it the right way by trying to fix it proactively! I had a similar mix-up a few years ago (though not quite as dramatic as filing for a future tax year). From what I've seen in this thread, it sounds like you have a few good options - either calling the IRS directly or returning the refund with a detailed letter. If you're comfortable navigating phone systems, calling might give you the most clarity since they can put immediate notes on your account. But if you prefer the paper trail approach, Sean's suggestion about mailing a check with explanation seems solid too. The main thing is don't panic about this - the IRS really does understand that honest mistakes happen, especially during busy filing season when people are rushing to get everything submitted. The fact that you caught this yourself and are taking steps to correct it will work in your favor. Keep documentation of whatever method you choose to fix it, and you should be fine!

Anybody else notice how the transcripts usually update overnight on Thursdays/Fridays? might see something tomorrow

Same exact situation here! Filed 1/22 and my transcripts went to all zeros about 3 days ago. The disappearing code 152 freaked me out at first but seems like a lot of us early filers are hitting this stage right now. I'm hoping it means we're close to getting our DDDs since we've been waiting the longest 🤞

Compared to H&R Block's transparency, TurboTax is surprisingly vague about these fees. I found my refund advance info by downloading my complete tax return PDF from my TurboTax account and looking at the very last pages where they include the "Refund Authorization Form." It clearly showed I authorized a $39.99 fee for processing. Much easier than trying to decipher their online account interface or hunting through emails. It's crazy how much harder TurboTax makes this compared to other tax services!

I went through this same frustrating experience! Here's what finally worked for me: Log into your TurboTax account and go to "Tax Tools" then "View/Print Return." Download the complete PDF of your return and scroll all the way to the end - there should be a "Refund Authorization" or "8888" form that shows any fees deducted. Also check for Form 8879 which authorizes electronic filing fees. If you still can't find it, the nuclear option is to call your bank and ask them to pull up the exact transaction details from when you filed - they can usually see the merchant description that will say something like "TURBOTAX REFUND ADV" or "TURBOTAX PROCESSING FEE." This whole process shouldn't be this difficult, but TurboTax definitely doesn't make it easy to track these charges after the fact.

Does anyone use any good spreadsheets or apps to track all this? I'm making about $5,500/month freelancing and setting aside 25% for taxes but have no idea if that's right. Honestly tax time is so stressful every year.

Setting aside 25% might be close, but it really depends on your specific situation! With $5,500/month ($66k annually), you'll want to factor in the QBI deduction which can significantly reduce your income tax burden. Here's a rough breakdown for your income level: - Self-employment tax: ~15.3% of net income (after the 0.9235 adjustment) - Federal income tax: Varies by deductions/credits, but likely 12-22% bracket - State tax: Depends on your state I'd recommend using a more precise calculator or spreadsheet that accounts for the QBI deduction, standard deduction, and any business expenses you have. You might actually be over-saving, which means you're missing out on cash flow you could be using for business growth or personal expenses. The stress is real though - I used to lose sleep over whether I was setting aside enough. Having a more accurate system has been a game changer for my peace of mind.