I just went through this exact same situation last month! My transcript showed "mailed" on a Tuesday and the check arrived the following Wednesday - so 8 days total including weekends. I'm in the midwest for reference. The anticipation is killer but hang in there! Also highly recommend that Informed Delivery service others mentioned - it's free and saved my sanity knowing exactly when it was coming.

I'm going through the same thing right now! My transcript updated yesterday showing it was mailed and I'm already obsessively checking the mailbox 😅 From what I'm seeing here, looks like 5-8 days is pretty standard. That USPS Informed Delivery tip sounds clutch - definitely signing up for that today so I can stop driving myself crazy wondering if today's the day!

As a Colorado resident myself, I can confirm that the lookup table method is definitely the way to go for most people. I used to stress about tracking every little purchase during my ski trips to Utah, but then I discovered the table and it made everything so much simpler. One thing to keep in mind though - if you made any really large out-of-state purchases (like over $1,000), you might want to calculate the actual use tax on those items separately since it could be more than what the table estimates. But for typical vacation spending, the table covers you perfectly and saves hours of record-keeping hassle. The peace of mind of being compliant without the administrative nightmare is totally worth it!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation as the original poster - Colorado resident who traveled quite a bit in 2024. I had no idea about use tax obligations until recently and was feeling overwhelmed about tracking everything. The lookup table method sounds perfect for my situation. I did most of my out-of-state shopping during a few vacation trips (nothing over $500 on any single item), so using the income-based estimate seems way more practical than trying to reconstruct months of credit card statements. One follow-up question though - if I use the lookup table method, do I still need to keep receipts or records of my out-of-state purchases? Or is the table basically saying "we assume you spent this much out-of-state based on your income, so just pay tax on that amount"? Want to make sure I'm not missing any documentation requirements.

make sure to check if they're using a legitimate PTIN (preparer tax identification number)! many of these sketchy tax preparers dont even have proper credentials. you can verify if they have a valid PTIN on the IRS website. if they dont, thats another violation to add to your report!!

This is exactly why I always tell people to be extremely cautious with tax preparers who promise unusually large refunds. As a general rule, if someone is guaranteeing you'll get way more money back than you've ever received before, that's a huge red flag. Beyond filing police reports in both jurisdictions (which is solid advice), make sure you also report this to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility if the preparer claimed to have any professional credentials. They take unauthorized filings very seriously, especially when preparers are intercepting client refunds. Also document EVERYTHING - save all text messages, emails, voicemails, and any promotional materials they used to advertise their services. The more evidence you have of their fraudulent practices, the stronger your case will be. This kind of documentation can help other victims too if this becomes a larger investigation. You might want to check if there are other victims by searching online reviews or social media for complaints about this company. Sometimes these operations target multiple people with the same scheme.

I'm pretty sure you need to file Form 8606 along with your return when dealing with distributions from inherited Roth IRAs, especially when there's potentially taxable amounts involved. The form helps document your basis calculation. Has anyone here had to fill that out for a similar situation?

Just want to add another important consideration that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the distribution timeline requirements for inherited Roth IRAs. As a non-spouse beneficiary, your husband will need to completely distribute the entire inherited Roth IRA within 10 years of your mother-in-law's death (assuming she passed away in 2020 or later). This is separate from the tax calculation you're dealing with now, but it's crucial for planning purposes. Unlike the old "stretch" rules, you can't keep the money growing in the inherited Roth indefinitely. The good news is there are no required minimum distributions during those 10 years - you can take it all out in year 10 if you want, or spread it out however works best for your tax situation. Given that you're dealing with a relatively small taxable amount (if any), this might actually work in your favor for tax planning over the next decade.

Think of amended return refunds like ordering a custom cake - they're handled differently than the pre-made ones in the display case. I received my amended return DDD in March, and like clockwork, a paper check arrived in my mailbox about 7 days later. Not a single penny went to my bank account, even though my original return was direct deposited. It's like the IRS is still living in the stone age for certain processes! I'd strongly recommend setting up mail forwarding ASAP, and maybe even having a trusted neighbor check your mailbox if you're moving soon. The last thing you want is your check sitting in a mailbox while you're halfway across the country moving to your new duty station.

Based on my recent experience, I can confirm that amended returns are still predominantly issued as paper checks. I filed my 1040-X in January and just received my refund check last week, despite having direct deposit set up for my original return. The IRS seems to treat amended returns as a separate process entirely. Since you're PCSing soon, I'd definitely recommend updating your address with the IRS immediately and setting up mail forwarding with USPS. You can also call the IRS once you see movement on your transcript to confirm your current address on file - sometimes there are discrepancies that can delay delivery. The good news is that once you see the DDD, the check typically arrives within 7-10 business days in my experience. Just keep checking your mailbox and maybe ask a neighbor to keep an eye out if you're in the middle of your move!