Have you tried logging into your H&R Block online account? Sometimes you can see the disbursement details there. Or maybe check your email for a receipt from when you filed? I need to figure this out too for next year. Did you specifically request the refund to be transferred to your bank after it hits the Emerald Card?

I had this exact same confusion with H&R Block two years ago! Here's what actually happens: when you pay that $42 refund transfer fee, your refund will definitely go to the Emerald Card first - that's how their system works. The IRS sends your refund to H&R Block's temporary account, they deduct their fees, then put the remainder on your Emerald Card. From there, if you set up a transfer to your bank account during filing, it should automatically move to your bank within 1-3 business days. But if you didn't specifically request that transfer, the money will just stay on the Emerald Card. Check your filing paperwork or log into your H&R Block account online to see what transfer option you selected. The automated system is telling you the truth - it goes to the card first, then potentially to your bank depending on your choices.

Just adding my experience - I took short term disability last year after surgery and realized months later that my company had taken taxes out of the payments but I had been paying the STD insurance premiums with after-tax dollars for years! I ended up having to file an amended return to get back about $900 in taxes. If you paid for the STD with after-tax money, double check your W-2 and paystubs. You might be paying taxes you don't actually owe.

I went through something very similar last year and want to share what I learned. The key thing is figuring out how your STD premiums were paid - this makes ALL the difference in how the benefits should be taxed. Here's what you need to check: Look at your pay stubs from before you went on disability and see if there's a line item for "STD" or "Short Term Disability" deductions. If those deductions were taken AFTER taxes were calculated on your gross pay, then the benefits you received should actually be tax-free. For bereavement leave, that's straightforward - it's always considered regular taxable wages since it's just paid time off from your employer. The tricky part is if your employer incorrectly treated tax-free STD benefits as taxable income on your W-2. This is surprisingly common because payroll departments don't always track the premium payment method correctly. If this happened to you, you'd need to get a corrected W-2 or file an amended return. I'd suggest calling your benefits department and specifically asking: "Were my STD premiums deducted pre-tax or after-tax?" Get that answer in writing if possible. If they were after-tax and your employer included the STD payments in your taxable wages, you're probably owed a refund.

Has anyone actually calculated what this refund would be? I'm in a similar boat.

This is really helpful info! I was in a similar situation last year and want to add a few things based on my experience. First, make sure all 3 of your kids will qualify as "qualifying children" for the Child Tax Credit - they need to be under 17 at the end of the tax year and meet the relationship/support tests. Sounds like yours will qualify no problem. One thing to watch out for - the American Opportunity Credit has income limits too. For married filing jointly, it starts phasing out around $160,000, so you should get the full benefit at $65k income. Also, don't stress too much about the calculator differences. I found that some online calculators don't account for all the interactions between different credits, or they use different assumptions about your filing status or deduction amounts. The rough calculation that Natalie provided above looks pretty reasonable to me. With no withholding, you're essentially getting an interest-free loan from the government through these refundable credits. Just make sure you file on time to get your refund processed quickly!

I've been handling 1099s for my small construction business for about 5 years now, and I completely understand your security concerns - especially when you're young and new to all this! Tax1099.com is definitely legitimate and secure. They're IRS-authorized and use the same encryption standards as major banks. But here's what really put my mind at ease when I first started: I called their customer service line and asked them to walk me through their security measures. They were very transparent about their data protection protocols and even explained how they handle data storage and deletion after filing. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you keep copies of all the W-9 forms and 1099s you file. Store them securely (I use a locked filing cabinet and encrypted digital backups). The IRS recommends keeping these records for at least 4 years in case of questions or audits. Also, don't be surprised if your contractors are initially hesitant about providing their SSNs. It's totally normal for first-time independent contractors to be nervous about this. I always explain that it's required by law and that I'm legally obligated to report payments over $600. Most people understand once you explain it's not optional - it's part of how the tax system works. Your window cleaning business sounds like it's off to a great start if you're already working with contractors on commercial jobs at 18! Just take it one step at a time with the paperwork.

I went through this exact same situation when I started my cleaning service two years ago! The security concerns are totally valid, but Tax1099.com is definitely one of the safer options out there. Here's what helped me feel more confident: I started by only entering one contractor's information as a test run to see how the platform worked before putting in all the sensitive data at once. Tax1099.com lets you save your progress, so you don't have to enter everything in one session. Also, make sure you're accessing the site directly (type the URL yourself) rather than clicking links, and always log out completely when you're done. I know it sounds basic, but when you're dealing with SSNs, every little security step matters. One thing that really helped with my contractors was sending them a quick text or email beforehand explaining exactly what I needed the W-9 for and when they could expect to receive their 1099-NEC forms. Most of them appreciated the heads up, and it made the whole process feel more professional and legitimate. Since you're only 18 and building your business, getting this right from the start will save you so many headaches down the road. You're already doing better than a lot of small business owners who figure this stuff out years later!

Great question! I'm in a similar situation with a duplex I'm purchasing next month. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're financing any of these appliance purchases, make sure you understand how the interest gets treated. If you put the appliances on a credit card or take out a loan specifically for rental property expenses, that interest can often be deducted as a rental expense starting when the property is placed in service. But if you use personal credit or a home equity line, the interest treatment might be different. Also, don't forget about sales tax! The sales tax you pay on these appliances gets added to your basis for depreciation purposes, so make sure you're tracking that too. I learned this from my accountant - every little bit helps when you're calculating your depreciation deductions. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have been super helpful for planning my own purchase timing!

One thing to keep in mind that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you're clear on your intent from the beginning. The IRS looks at whether you had a legitimate business purpose and profit motive when making these purchases. Since you're buying appliances specifically for a rental property before you even close, that actually helps establish your business intent. I'd recommend documenting your rental business plan - even something simple showing your expected rental income, market research on comparable properties, and your timeline for getting tenants. This can be helpful if the IRS ever questions whether the property was truly intended for rental purposes when you made these pre-service purchases. Also, consider whether you want to buy appliances that will appeal to your target tenant demographic. Higher-end appliances might command better rent but also come with higher depreciation amounts to track. Either way, as everyone has mentioned, keep those receipts and document the installation dates!