I'm a new member here but have been following this discussion closely since I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My DDD is also 5/22 and like everyone else, there's absolutely nothing showing as pending in my Navy Fed account. This is my first year banking with Navy Federal after switching from Bank of America, so I had no idea this was their new policy. I was genuinely starting to panic thinking my direct deposit information was wrong or that my return got flagged for some reason. The complete silence from their system is so different from what I experienced with my previous bank. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear this is a widespread policy change and not an issue with individual accounts. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to call customer service and share the details about why they made this change. While I understand their reasoning about reducing confusion, it definitely creates more anxiety when you're counting on that refund! I'm going to follow the advice about setting up account alerts and try to be patient until Thursday morning. Thanks to this amazing community for helping me understand what's really going on behind the scenes - I would have been a nervous wreck without finding this thread!

I'm a new member here and this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with a DDD of 5/22 and the same frustrating situation with Navy Fed showing absolutely nothing pending. This is my third year with them, and the change from their previous policy of showing pending deposits 2-3 days early has definitely caught me off guard. What's been particularly stressful is that I'm a single parent and was counting on this refund to cover some unexpected car repairs that came up last week. The complete lack of visibility into whether the deposit is even in their system has had me questioning everything from my return accuracy to my direct deposit information. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it's clear this is a bank-wide policy change and not an issue with individual returns. I really appreciate all the members who took the time to call customer service and share what they learned about Navy Fed's reasoning behind this change. While I understand they want to reduce confusion, the uncertainty is definitely more stressful than helpful from a customer perspective. I'm going to set up those account alerts that several people mentioned and try to be patient until Thursday morning. Based on all the shared experiences here, it sounds like the deposits are still hitting reliably on the actual DDD despite the lack of advance notice. Thanks to this community for helping me stay calm - without finding this thread, I would have probably spent the next two days calling both Navy Fed and the IRS unnecessarily!

Dont forget about the standard mileage deduction!!! Its 67 cents per mile for 2024 i think which adds up FAST. I drove about 5000 miles for doordash last year and it saved me thousands in taxes. Make sure you track EVERY mile from when you turn the app on until you turn it off.

Great question, Lily! I've been doing gig work alongside my full-time job for about two years now, and the tax situation definitely takes some getting used to. Here are a few key things I wish someone had told me when I started: First, open a separate checking account just for your Doordash earnings. Deposit everything there and immediately transfer your tax savings (I do 30% to be safe) to a separate savings account. This makes tracking so much easier and ensures you're not accidentally spending your tax money. Second, start tracking expenses from day one - not just mileage, but also things like phone accessories (car mounts, chargers), insulated bags, and even a portion of your phone bill since you're using it for work. These add up more than you'd think. The quarterly payment thing sounds scary, but it's really not that bad once you get into the rhythm. Just remember the dates: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. You can make payments online at irs.gov/payments - super easy. One last tip: consider adjusting your W-4 at your regular job to have extra taxes withheld. Sometimes that's easier than making quarterly payments, especially if your Doordash income isn't huge. Good luck with saving for that truck!

Has anyone had success deducting UPF sun protective clothing for outdoor work? My dermatologist actually wrote me a note recommending specialty sun protective gear including hats and shirts since I work on boats all day. Wondering if the same "specialized equipment" rule might apply?

As someone who's been through multiple IRS audits for my marine equipment rental business, I can tell you that documentation is absolutely critical for these types of deductions. For your polarized sunglasses, I'd recommend creating a simple business use log - just date, hours worked, and brief description of conditions (like "8-hour charter, bright sun, open water"). The fact that you have separate personal sunglasses is huge in your favor. I also keep photos of my business-specific gear alongside receipts to show the difference between work and personal items. For sunglasses specifically, polarized lenses for water work have a much stronger case than regular tinted glasses since they serve a specific anti-glare function that's directly tied to safety and job performance. One thing that helped me was getting a brief letter from my insurance company acknowledging that proper eye protection is recommended for marine work - it adds another layer of documentation showing these aren't just personal preferences but legitimate business necessities.

I think you're underestimating the IRS's ability to track related transactions, especially with larger amounts like $22,000. The IRS has sophisticated data matching systems that can connect 1099-B forms (showing your stock sale) with gift tax returns (if you file Form 709) and your children's brokerage accounts. Even if you stay under the annual gift tax exclusion and don't file Form 709, brokerage firms report all transactions. If your kids buy the same stock shortly after you sell it, especially if they're using accounts at the same brokerage, that creates a clear paper trail. The audit risk might be low, but the consequences of having your loss deduction disallowed plus potential penalties make it worth being careful. A safer approach might be to wait the full 30 days before gifting the money, or have your kids invest in genuinely different securities that aren't substantially identical to what you sold.

One important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet is the gift tax implications. While you mentioned the $22,000 gift, remember that the 2024 annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000 per recipient. If you're gifting $22,000 to each of your three children ($66,000 total), you'll exceed the annual exclusion limits and need to file Form 709. This actually creates additional documentation that could make it easier for the IRS to connect your stock sale to your children's subsequent purchases. The gift tax return would show the timing and amounts of your gifts, which could be cross-referenced with their brokerage activity. Consider splitting the gifts between you and your spouse (if married) to stay within the annual exclusion limits, or spacing the gifts across tax years. This reduces both the gift tax filing requirements and the paper trail that might trigger IRS scrutiny of the overall transaction sequence. Also, make sure your children understand they should make their own independent investment decisions with the gifted funds, and document that the gifts are unconditional with no expectation about how the money will be used.

Has anyone used the IRS withholding calculator for this? I tried but it seems more designed for W-2 income than retirement accounts. Is there a better calculator specifically for retirees with IRA distributions?

Brady, congratulations on reaching retirement! This is such an important question and you're smart to think about it upfront. I went through this exact same situation about 2 years ago when I started my IRA withdrawals. The 10% default is rarely the right amount for most people. What really matters is your total tax picture - not just the IRA withdrawal itself. You'll want to consider: 1. Your other retirement income (Social Security, pensions, part-time work) 2. Your filing status and standard deduction 3. Any other taxable income or capital gains 4. Your state's tax treatment of retirement income I ended up needing to withhold 20% because I had Social Security and some rental income that pushed me into a higher bracket than I expected. The key is to think about your total annual income, not just the IRA portion. One practical tip: Start conservative your first year. You can always adjust the withholding percentage for future distributions based on how your first tax season goes. It's better to get a refund than owe penalties for underpayment. Have you calculated what your total retirement income will be for the year? That's really the starting point for figuring out the right withholding rate.