I'm also new to this community and dealing with my first Illinois tax filing experience after moving here from another state last year! Filed my return on March 10th and have been watching that "received being processed" status for about 6 weeks now. This entire thread has been such a relief to find - I was genuinely starting to panic that I had made some critical error on my return, especially since my federal refund was deposited within days while Illinois seems to take forever. Reading about the additional verification steps for first-time filers and learning that 6-8 weeks is actually normal processing time has been incredibly reassuring. In my previous state, tax refunds typically came within 2-3 weeks, so this has definitely been an adjustment! The MyTax Illinois portal suggestion sounds like a great next step to try for more detailed status information. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's amazing how much better I feel knowing this delay is completely standard rather than an issue with my specific filing. This community discussion has been invaluable for a newcomer trying to navigate the Illinois tax system!

I'm also new to this community and experiencing my first Illinois tax season after moving here from Canada last year! Filed my return on March 7th and have been stuck on that dreaded "received being processed" status for about 7 weeks now. This entire discussion has been such a lifeline - I was genuinely worried I had made some mistake since my federal refund arrived so quickly while Illinois seems to move at a snail's pace. Learning about the additional verification procedures for first-time filers and that 6-8 weeks is actually considered normal has been incredibly reassuring! The Canadian tax system worked so differently, so I'm still adjusting to how things operate here. I'm definitely going to try the MyTax Illinois portal that multiple people have recommended to see if I can get more detailed status information than just that generic message we've all been staring at. Thank you to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - it's amazing how this community discussion has transformed my anxiety into patience. It's so comforting to know this delay is completely standard rather than something being wrong with my filing!

As someone who's been filing taxes for over 15 years, I completely agree with the consensus here - $1,100 for a simple W-2 return is absolutely ridiculous! I started filing online about 8 years ago after getting tired of paying hundreds for what was essentially data entry. The biggest fear most people have is making a mistake, but honestly, the IRS error-checking systems are pretty good at catching common errors, and if you do make a mistake, you can always file an amended return. For your situation Katherine, I'd definitely recommend going the online route. Start with the IRS Free File program if your income qualifies, or try FreeTaxUSA which has a great reputation for simple returns. The step-by-step guidance really does make it foolproof for straightforward situations. The money you save can go toward something much more useful than paying someone to input numbers you could easily enter yourself! Plus, once you do it online once, you'll have the confidence to keep doing it in future years.

I've been filing my own taxes online for about 5 years now after initially being intimidated by the process. What really helped me make the switch was starting with the IRS's own Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program one year - it's free tax help for people earning under $64,000, and I got to see exactly how straightforward the process was when the volunteer walked me through it. The key insight I gained was that for simple returns like yours Katherine, you're literally just transferring numbers from boxes on your W-2 to corresponding boxes in the software. The programs do all the calculations and form selections automatically. My advice: try FreeTaxUSA or the IRS Free File this year, and keep all your documents handy while you work through it. Take your time, and don't rush. Most software lets you save your progress, so you can come back to it if you need a break. The peace of mind from saving $1,000+ is definitely worth the small learning curve! And honestly, even if you did make a minor error, the IRS usually just sends a letter with the correction - it's not the end of the world like many people think.

At 42, you're actually in a great position to make some serious progress on retirement savings! I'd suggest a hybrid approach based on your numbers: First priority: Get that full employer match in your 401(k) - that's $2,340 in free money annually (50% of 6% of $78k). Then build your emergency fund to about $20,000-25,000 (3-4 months of expenses assuming your monthly costs are around $5,000-6,000). Once you hit that emergency fund target, I'd aggressively ramp up 401(k) contributions. At your income level, the tax savings are substantial - every $1,000 you contribute saves you about $220-240 in federal taxes (22% bracket), plus state taxes if applicable. Don't forget about catch-up contributions either - once you hit 50, you can contribute an additional $7,500 annually to your 401(k) beyond the standard limit. That will be crucial for making up lost time. The key is finding the right balance where you have adequate liquidity for emergencies but aren't leaving tax-advantaged growth on the table. Your HYSA earning 4.2% is decent, but tax-deferred compound growth in your 401(k) over 20+ years will likely far outpace that, especially with the employer match.

I'm in a really similar situation - 39 years old and just getting serious about retirement planning after years of thinking I'd "figure it out later." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned much is the psychological benefit of having that emergency fund fully funded first. I know the math says to prioritize the 401(k) match, but for me personally, having 6 months of expenses saved gave me the confidence to be more aggressive with retirement contributions afterward. The stress of not having an adequate safety net was actually preventing me from committing more to long-term investments. Once I hit my emergency fund target, I was able to bump my 401(k) contribution up to 15% without constantly worrying about "what if I need that money." Also, at 42, you still have 25+ years until traditional retirement age - that's plenty of time for compound growth to work in your favor, especially if you can gradually increase contributions as your income grows. Don't let the "starting late" mindset discourage you from being aggressive with your savings rate once you get your foundation in place.

Based on what you've described, your camper trailer should definitely qualify for the mortgage interest deduction as a second home! Since you're living in it 8 months out of the year and it has all the basic living facilities (kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area), you meet the IRS requirements. A few key things to keep in mind: Make sure your loan is secured by the camper itself - it sounds like it is since you mentioned a camper loan. You'll want to get documentation of the interest paid from your lender (Form 1098 if they issue one, or at least a year-end statement). Also, don't forget that any personal property taxes you pay on the camper may be deductible too. Since you're using this for work travel, you might also want to explore whether any portion could qualify for business deductions if you're self-employed or an independent contractor. Just make sure to keep detailed records of your work-related travel versus personal use. The documentation will be crucial if the IRS ever has questions about your deductions.

Great question about mobile living tax deductions! From what you've described, your camper trailer should absolutely qualify as a second home for mortgage interest deduction purposes. The IRS requirements are pretty straightforward - it needs sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities (which you have), and you need to use it as a residence for at least 14 days per year or 10% of rental days. Living in it 8 months definitely exceeds this threshold. A few important points to consider: Make sure your loan is secured by the camper itself, keep all documentation of interest payments (request Form 1098 from your lender or at least a year-end interest statement), and remember that personal property taxes on the camper may also be deductible. Since you're doing seasonal contracting work, you might want to explore whether any portion could qualify for business deductions depending on your employment classification. If you're an independent contractor rather than a W-2 employee, there could be additional opportunities there. Either way, keep detailed records of work-related travel versus personal use - this documentation will be crucial for supporting your deductions. The key is that your camper functions as a legitimate residence, which it clearly does given your living situation. Just make sure to itemize deductions on Schedule A to claim the mortgage interest, and consider consulting with a tax professional who understands mobile living situations if you have complex circumstances.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about the distinction between "care" vs "education" costs or that our pre-k program might qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit. I'm going to contact our school's finance office tomorrow to ask them to break down our monthly $1,250 payment into care vs educational components. Since both my wife and I work full-time and our daughter is there from 8am-3pm, it sounds like a good portion should qualify as dependent care. I'm also going to look into whether my employer offers a Dependent Care FSA for next year - that could be a huge tax saver if we can set aside $5,000 pre-tax. For this year's taxes, I'll definitely explore using one of those AI tax tools mentioned to make sure I'm not missing anything. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Great advice from everyone here! One additional thing to consider is timing - if you're planning to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit, make sure you have all your documentation ready early in tax season. The IRS has been requesting more supporting documents for childcare credits lately. Also, don't forget that if your child turns 13 during the tax year, they only qualify for the dependent care credit for the months they were under 13. Since your daughter just turned 4, you're good for several more years, but it's something to keep in mind for future planning. Another tip: if your pre-k program offers summer care or extended year programs, those expenses can also qualify for the credit as long as they meet the same "care while you work" requirements. We used our school's summer program last year and were able to include those costs too.