ngl these transcripts might as well be written in ancient egyptian hieroglyphics lmaooo

Code 570 with EIC is super common - they basically have to verify your income and dependents before releasing that $3,733 earned income credit. Since your return processed March 20th, you're probably looking at getting your refund around mid-April, maybe a week or two after the 15th. The good news is your transcript shows no red flags - just the standard review process. Hang tight! 💪

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! What worked for me was using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator mid-year to check if I was on track. Since you both have steady jobs and know your approximate incomes, I'd recommend: 1. Fill out new W-4s for both of you using the current 2020+ version (not the old allowances system) 2. Both check box 2(c) for the "spouse also works" option 3. Only claim the $4,000 child tax credit on ONE form (probably yours since you make less) 4. Run the IRS calculator quarterly to fine-tune One thing that really helped us was looking at our previous year's "total tax" line on our 1040 and dividing by total paychecks to see what we should be withholding per paycheck. Then we adjusted line 4(c) to get as close as possible to that target. With your combined $170k income, you'll definitely want to be careful about underwithholding since you're in a higher bracket. Better to owe a small amount than get hit with underpayment penalties!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing when you submit your updated W-4s. If you're making changes mid-year, try to do it early in a pay period so you get the full benefit of the adjustment. Also, keep in mind that with your husband's potential promotion and salary increase next year, you'll want to update your W-4s again once that goes into effect. A jump from $98k to potentially $110k+ could push you into different withholding territory. I'd also suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet throughout the year tracking your federal withholding from each paycheck. This makes it super easy to see if you're on track when you run those quarterly checks with the IRS calculator. Takes 2 minutes per pay period but gives you peace of mind that you won't have any surprises come April. The good news is that once you get this dialed in for your situation, it becomes much easier to maintain going forward!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I've learned so much about medical expense deductions that I never knew before! As someone who also faced unexpected dental costs recently, I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your situation. If you're still job hunting, don't overlook COBRA continuation coverage if it's still available from your previous employer. I know COBRA premiums are expensive, but if you're facing ongoing dental needs or potential complications from your recent work, having coverage for the remainder of the year might actually save money overall - especially if you need additional treatments. Also, some people don't realize that COBRA premiums themselves are deductible as medical expenses when you itemize. So even though COBRA is costly upfront, the premiums can add to your total medical expenses for tax deduction purposes. Given all the great advice about timing expenses strategically, if COBRA is still an option and you decide to elect it, the premiums you pay could help push your total medical expenses higher and make itemizing more worthwhile. Just another angle to consider as you're planning both your immediate dental care needs and your tax strategy. The interplay between insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and tax deductions can get complex, but it sounds like you're really thinking through all the options carefully.

This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing advice! I wanted to add one more resource that might help with your documentation and maximize your deductions. Since you mentioned struggling with the complexity of tracking everything, you might want to check out IRS Publication 502 - it's the official guide to medical and dental expense deductions. It lists specific examples of what qualifies, including some surprising items people often miss like special dietary foods prescribed by a doctor, certain home modifications, and even travel costs for medical care. One thing I noticed from your situation - since you had multiple procedures (root canals, crown, etc.), make sure you're not just tracking the procedure costs but also any related expenses. For example, if your dentist prescribed antibiotics or special mouth rinses, those prescription costs are deductible too. Even if you bought over-the-counter pain medication that your dentist specifically recommended in writing, that can qualify. Also, given that you lost your job and benefits, you might want to look into whether your state has a "hardship" provision for medical expenses. Some states offer additional tax relief for medical expenses when taxpayers face unemployment or significant financial hardship, though this varies widely by state. The fact that you're being so proactive about understanding all these rules puts you way ahead of most people facing similar situations. Medical emergencies are tough enough without having to become a tax expert overnight!

I switched to OLT three years ago after getting fed up with TurboTax's constant price increases and upsells. Your tax situation sounds very similar to mine - I have investment accounts with capital gains/losses, dividend income, and run a small consulting business on the side that requires Schedule C filing. OLT handled everything perfectly. The investment section imported my 1099-B and 1099-DIV forms without issues, and their Schedule C walkthrough for business income is actually more straightforward than TurboTax's version. No confusing upgrade prompts or surprise fees when you need "premium" forms. The interface definitely feels more bare-bones compared to TurboTax's polished design, but honestly that became a feature for me - less clutter, faster navigation, and no pushy marketing trying to sell me audit protection or other add-ons I don't need. My biggest piece of advice: take advantage of their comprehensive help section if you get stuck on anything. Their articles are well-written and cover most scenarios you'll encounter. I've only had to contact support once in three years, and they responded within a day with a detailed answer. The savings are substantial - I was paying $120+ annually with TurboTax for the same level of service that OLT provides completely free for federal filing. State returns are just $9.95. For someone with your tax complexity, that's probably $100+ back in your pocket each year. Definitely worth making the switch, especially since you can always fall back to TurboTax next year if you're not satisfied (though I doubt you will be).

I've been using OLT for the past two years after making the switch from TurboTax, and it's been a game-changer for my budget. Like many others here, I was getting tired of TurboTax's constant upsells and price increases. My situation is somewhat complex - W-2 income, multiple 1099s from freelance work, some stock trades, and rental income from a property I own. OLT handled everything without any issues. The Schedule E for rental income was particularly well-designed and walked me through all the depreciation calculations step by step. One thing I really appreciate about OLT is the transparency in their pricing model. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges when you add complexity to your return. Federal filing is completely free regardless of how many forms you need, which saved me about $130 compared to what I was paying TurboTax. The learning curve is minimal if you're already familiar with tax concepts. The interface is clean and logical, though definitely less hand-holdy than TurboTax. Their help documentation is excellent if you need guidance on specific topics. For your investments and side gig, you should be fine. I'd recommend gathering all your documents beforehand and maybe setting aside an extra hour your first time through just to get comfortable with their workflow. The time investment is definitely worth the money you'll save.

I went through this exact same thing last year and it was so confusing at first! What you received in Credit Karma is just the refund advance - basically TurboTax fronting you part of your expected refund while the IRS processes your actual return. The "accepted but not approved" status is totally normal right now. The IRS is super backed up this season and taking longer than usual. Your real refund is still in their processing queue. Once they approve it, the full amount goes to TurboTax first, they keep what they already advanced you plus their fees, then send you the rest. Based on current processing times, you're probably looking at another 1-2 weeks before seeing the remainder. Just keep checking Where's My Refund - once it switches to "approved" with a deposit date, that's when you'll know the rest is coming! The wait is annoying but completely normal this year.

I can totally understand the confusion! What you're experiencing is exactly how the TurboTax refund advance system works. The money in your Credit Karma account is just the advance portion - essentially a loan against your expected refund while the IRS processes your actual return. That "accepted but not approved" status on WMR is completely normal, especially this year when processing times are running longer than usual. Your real refund is still working through the IRS system. Once they approve it (typically takes 21+ days right now), the full refund amount gets sent to TurboTax first. They'll then subtract the advance they already gave you, take out their processing fees, and deposit the remaining balance to your Credit Karma account. So if your expected refund is $2000 and you got a $500 advance, you should see roughly $1400-1500 more once everything processes (after fees). The wait is frustrating but totally standard for this time of year. Just keep checking WMR periodically - once it shows "approved" with a deposit date, you'll know the rest is on its way!