Same thing happened to me! I was staring at my Credit Karma account every 17 minutes like it was going to magically make my refund appear faster 😂 The status bounced around from 'pending' to 'submitted' and then my state amount appeared out of nowhere. The real fun begins when you start checking the Where's My Refund tool and get those cryptic messages about your return being processed. Tax season: the only time we refresh websites more than when trying to buy concert tickets!

I went through this exact same experience with Credit Karma last month! The status progression from 'pending' to 'submitted' is totally normal - it just means your return has moved from their internal queue to being officially transmitted to the tax authorities. The state amount appearing is also standard - sometimes those calculations take a bit longer to finalize and display properly. Since you mentioned this is your first time filing jointly, you might notice the process feels a bit different from when you filed as single, but Credit Karma handles married filing jointly returns the same way. Just keep an eye on the IRS Where's My Refund tool for the official acceptance status, and you should be all set!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I'd strongly recommend getting that itemized breakdown before paying anything. When I switched from self-filing to a professional two years ago, I was quoted $200 but the final bill came to $475 because they added "consultation fees" and "complex return processing" that I never agreed to. Turns out my return wasn't even that complex - just a W-2 and some investment income that I'd been handling fine on my own. After pushing back and showing comparable rates from other preparers, we settled on $250. The key is asking upfront what their base fee covers and what triggers additional charges. If your tax situation hasn't changed dramatically from what you were comfortable doing on TaxAct, there's no reason to pay premium rates. Don't be afraid to walk away - there are plenty of qualified preparers who charge reasonable fees and will be transparent about their pricing structure.

I'm new to this community but had to chime in because I just went through something similar! Last month I decided to try a professional preparer for the first time after years of using TurboTax. I was quoted $150 over the phone but when I showed up with my documents, suddenly there were all these "additional complexity fees" that brought it to $425. The preparer claimed my return was more complicated because I had a 1099-K from selling some items online, even though it was less than $600 total. I ended up leaving and doing it myself - took me maybe 2 hours and cost $39 through FreeTaxUSA. Your $700+ fee is absolutely not normal unless you have multiple businesses, rental properties, or really complex investment situations. I'd definitely ask for that itemized breakdown everyone's mentioning and don't be afraid to walk away if they can't justify every charge. Trust your instincts - if you've been successfully doing your own taxes for 12 years, you probably don't need to pay premium rates for basic preparation!

Just want to say this is exactly why I always recommend calling the IRS directly rather than waiting. So many people just sit around checking WMR daily when a 20-minute phone call can clear things up. Glad you took initiative and got answers! The IRS is overwhelmed but most agents really do want to help if you can get through to them.

Thanks for sharing this experience! It's so frustrating how inconsistent the information can be between different IRS reps. I filed around the same time (Feb 3rd) and have been getting the runaround too. One agent told me my return was "under review" and another said it was "processing normally" - like which is it?? I'm definitely going to check my transcript tomorrow like you suggested. Did the rep give you any specific codes to look for, or just said to watch for updates? Also curious if Jackson Hewitt gave you any tracking info on their end or if you had to rely entirely on the IRS systems. Really hoping this gets resolved quickly for you - the uncertainty is the worst part!

I'm actually going through something similar with a different payroll service. What happens if you don't get this resolved before the filing deadline? Is it better to file an extension or try to file with the substitute form?

I went through this exact situation with my S-Corp a few years back when my payroll company went out of business mid-year. Here's what I learned from my CPA and the IRS: 1. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your attempts to contact Gusto, including dates, times, and what they told you. Screenshot any emails or chat conversations. 2. **Know your rights** - As others mentioned, Gusto has a legal obligation to provide your W-2 regardless of your subscription status. The fact that they processed payroll for you creates this responsibility. 3. **Form 4852 is your friend** - If Gusto continues to refuse, Form 4852 (Substitute W-2) is the legitimate IRS-approved solution. Make sure to use your final paystub's year-to-date totals, as these should match what was reported to Social Security. 4. **Consider state requirements too** - Don't forget that you may also need state wage statements depending on where your LLC was based. The good news is that this situation is more common than you'd think, and the IRS has established procedures to handle it. Just make sure all your numbers are accurate and you have documentation showing your good faith efforts to obtain the proper W-2.

Just wondering - did you claim "Exempt" on your W-4 by accident? I did that one year thinking it meant I was exempt from having to fill out the complicated worksheet. Big mistake! It actually tells your employer not to withhold ANY federal taxes.

I feel for you - this exact same thing happened to me last year! The most important thing is not to panic. You're definitely not "completely screwed." First, check if you accidentally marked "Exempt" on any of your W-4 forms. That's the most common reason employers don't withhold federal taxes. If you did mark exempt without meeting the very specific IRS requirements (basically owing $0 in taxes the previous year AND expecting to owe $0 this year), that would explain everything. For your current situation, you'll likely owe taxes for 2023, but with a child, you may qualify for significant credits like the Child Tax Credit ($2,000) and potentially the Earned Income Credit depending on your total income. These credits can drastically reduce what you actually owe - you might even get a refund despite no withholding! Going forward, submit a new W-4 to your dental office employer immediately. At $24/hr working 36-40 hours, you should definitely have federal withholding. Ask payroll to review your form with you to make sure it's filled out correctly. Don't let the IRS rejection scare you - they often reject returns for simple data entry errors. Double-check that all your W-2 information matches exactly what you entered in your tax software.