I'm in a similar situation - filed my extension return via mail in early May and still waiting on my refund. Reading through these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It sounds like 4-6 months is becoming the new normal for paper returns. Has anyone had success checking their transcript through the IRS online account to get more detailed status info? I'm wondering if that shows anything beyond what the Where's My Refund tool displays. Also curious if anyone knows whether the IRS sends any kind of acknowledgment that they've actually received your mailed return, or if you just have to wait and hope it didn't get lost in the mail. The waiting game is definitely stressful when you're counting on that money!

Yes, checking your transcript through your IRS online account can definitely provide more detailed information than the Where's My Refund tool! The transcript will show if your return has been received and is in the system, plus any processing codes that might indicate what stage it's at or if there are any issues. Unfortunately, the IRS doesn't send any acknowledgment for mailed returns - they only do that for certified mail. So you really are just waiting and hoping it didn't get lost, which I know is super stressful. The transcript is your best bet to confirm they actually have it. One thing that might give you some peace of mind: if your return was going to be lost in the mail, you'd typically know by now since most mail issues happen within the first few weeks. The fact that you're just waiting likely means it's sitting in their processing queue, which is unfortunately massive right now. Hang in there - the 4-6 month timeline others mentioned seems to be pretty accurate based on what I'm seeing in the community lately.

I went through this exact situation in 2023 with a state tax offset from an old business debt. The frustrating part is that the Treasury Offset Program operates like a one-way street - they can grab your refund instantly, but tracking where it goes requires playing detective across multiple systems. Here's what finally worked for me: Check your IRS account transcript online for Transaction Code 898 (that's your offset being processed) and note the cycle date. Then, create an account on your state's Department of Revenue website if you haven't already. The offset payment typically shows up in the state system 10-14 business days after the TC 898 date, usually labeled as "Federal Offset Payment Applied" or similar. The 1-800-304-3107 number is basically worthless for timing - I called it dozens of times and it just robotically repeats WHO is taking your money. What you really need is confirmation that your state has actually received and applied the payment, which only their system can tell you. In my case, once I saw the offset payment posted in my state account, my remaining federal refund (TC 846) was issued exactly 6 business days later. Total time from filing to getting the remainder was 4 weeks and 2 days. It's a painful wait, but the money does eventually show up. The key is being able to track it through both systems so you're not just staring at "processing" status indefinitely.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed on Feb 14th expecting my usual quick refund, then got hit with an offset for some old state taxes I completely forgot about from a side business that failed in 2020. It's been 3.5 weeks now and the uncertainty is killing me. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the different IRS transcript codes or that I should be checking my state's online portal separately. I've been obsessively refreshing "Where's My Refund" like a crazy person, but it sounds like that's basically useless for offset situations. The most frustrating part is how the IRS can instantly grab your money but then you're left playing detective across multiple government agencies just to figure out if they've actually processed it. It's 2025 - how is there not a unified tracking system for this? Going to pull my account transcript today and look for that TC 898 code, then set up an account with my state's Department of Revenue. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I'm probably looking at another 1-2 weeks before I see any movement. The wait is brutal when you're expecting that refund to hit your account, but at least now I have a realistic timeline and actual steps to track progress instead of just sitting here wondering if my money disappeared into a black hole. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than any official government resource I've found!

Don't overthink this! The IRS isn't going to come after small-time bloggers about QBI classification. They have bigger fish to fry.

I've been dealing with this exact issue for my personal finance blog. After extensive research and consulting with my CPA, here's what I've learned: The critical factor is whether your blog's revenue depends on your personal reputation and skill, or on the platform/audience itself. For most successful blogs, even if you write all the content, the primary asset is actually the audience and the platform you've built. Consider this test: If you sold your blog tomorrow, what would the buyer be purchasing? If it's primarily the domain, audience, revenue streams, and content library rather than access to YOU personally, then you're likely not an SSTB. For my finance blog, even though I create content about financial topics, I'm not providing personalized financial advice or services. I'm creating general educational content and monetizing through ads, affiliates, and course sales. The IRS guidance suggests this falls outside the SSTB definition. One thing I'd add to your analysis - document your reasoning thoroughly. Keep records of your revenue sources, business model, and how your blog operates independently of your daily involvement. This documentation will be crucial if you're ever questioned about your QBI position. The 21% corporate rate is interesting, but remember you'll still face double taxation when you eventually distribute profits. For most bloggers, the QBI deduction on pass-through income is still more beneficial.

Great question about the Child and Dependent Care Credit! You're right to bring this up, but there are some important limitations to be aware of. Generally, if you're receiving payment for caring for someone, you can't also claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit for expenses related to that same person's care - it would be like getting a double benefit. However, there might be some gray areas depending on your specific situation. For example, if the government program only covers certain hours or types of care, and you're paying out-of-pocket for additional care services (like respite care, medical transportation, or specialized equipment), those separate expenses might still qualify for the credit. The key is that the credit is meant for expenses you pay to enable you to work or look for work. Since your husband is the caregiver being paid in this situation, it would be tricky to claim he needs to pay for care to enable him to work as a caregiver - if that makes sense! I'd definitely recommend consulting with a tax professional or using one of the tax analysis tools mentioned earlier to get clarity on your specific circumstances. The rules around caregiver income and related credits can get pretty complex.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just started caring for my elderly mother through a state waiver program, I was completely confused about the tax implications. The agency told us something similar about being "tax exempt" as a family member, but reading through all these responses, it's clear that was misleading information. I'm particularly concerned because my mother's care coordinator specifically told us we wouldn't need to report the income at all, which now sounds completely wrong based on what everyone is saying here. We haven't received any tax documents yet since I just started last month, but I want to make sure we handle this correctly from the beginning. Does anyone know if I should proactively contact the agency to clarify what kind of tax documents they'll be sending me? I'd rather get ahead of this than be surprised like some of you were with unexpected W-2s or 1099s. Also, should I start setting aside money for taxes now, even if they're not withholding anything currently? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's impossible to find anywhere else!

Pro tip: Always send these international information forms via CERTIFIED mail with return receipt! I learned this lesson the hard way with my FBAR filing a few years back. Also keep a copy of everything you send, including proof of mailing. The penalties for late filing Form 3520 are insane (either $10,000 or 35% of the gross value of the trust distributions, whichever is greater).

This is exactly why I always recommend keeping multiple forms of documentation when dealing with international tax forms. In addition to certified mail, I also take screenshots of the IRS website showing the correct mailing address on the day I send the form, just in case addresses change or there's any dispute later. For Form 3520 specifically, I've found it helpful to also keep a copy of the trust documents and any correspondence that shows the filing requirement, since the IRS sometimes questions whether certain arrangements actually constitute reportable foreign trusts. The more documentation you have upfront, the easier it is to resolve any issues that come up during processing. Your situation with the ZIP code discrepancy is actually pretty reassuring - it shows the form made it to an IRS facility, which is the most important part. The internal routing between 84201 and 84409 is their problem, not yours!