I've been using TurboTax for about 3 years now and honestly, their blue bar is more of a psychological comfort than a reliable predictor. In my experience, it's been accurate maybe 60% of the time - close enough to give you hope but not reliable enough to plan around. The thing is, TurboTax can only estimate based on when your return was accepted and the IRS's stated processing times. They have zero visibility into what's actually happening to your specific return once it hits the IRS systems. So if there's any kind of review, verification, or even just a backlog at the processing center handling your return, that estimate goes out the window. My advice? Use the blue bar as a rough guideline but don't stress if the date comes and goes. The official IRS "Where's My Refund" tool is really your best bet for actual status updates, even though it's frustratingly vague most of the time. And remember, the 21-day processing time is their goal, not a guarantee - especially during peak season when they're swamped.

I can relate to that anxious checking every hour! I've been using TurboTax for the past few years and I'd say their blue bar estimates are hit-or-miss. Sometimes they're spot on, other times they can be off by a week or more. The fact that you already got your state refund is actually a good sign - it means there weren't any obvious red flags with your filing information. Federal refunds just take longer because the IRS processes way more volume than state agencies. My experience has been that if TurboTax says your refund should arrive "today" and it doesn't show up, it usually means you're looking at maybe 3-5 more days rather than weeks. The blue bar tends to be optimistic rather than conservative with their timing. Keep trying the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov - it gets updated overnight so checking once per day is plenty. And try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!) - as long as you filed everything correctly, your refund will come through eventually!

As someone who's dealt with similar work expense questions, I'd definitely recommend the employer route first before worrying about tax deductions. Construction companies are usually pretty responsive to safety-related requests, especially when you can point to potential liability issues. You might also want to document your sunscreen purchases and keep receipts just in case the tax laws change after 2025 when some of those suspended deductions might come back. Even if you can't use them now, having good records could be helpful later. Another thought - if you end up having any skin issues from sun exposure at work, those medical expenses might be deductible if they're significant enough. Not that anyone wants to deal with that, but it's worth knowing your options.

I work for a tax preparation service and see questions like this all the time. The unfortunate reality is that as a W-2 employee, you're pretty much out of luck for deducting the sunscreen under current tax law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act really limited options for unreimbursed employee expenses. However, I'd strongly encourage you to approach this from the workplace safety angle that others have mentioned. In California's extreme heat, employers have heightened responsibilities under Cal/OSHA regulations. You could frame this as a heat illness prevention measure - prolonged sun exposure contributes to heat-related illnesses, and sunscreen is a basic protective measure. I'd suggest putting together a brief proposal for your supervisor highlighting: 1) The cost-effectiveness of bulk sunscreen vs individual purchases, 2) Potential liability reduction for the company, and 3) How it fits into existing safety protocols. Most construction companies would rather spend a few hundred dollars on sunscreen than deal with workers' comp claims or OSHA citations. If they refuse, at least keep detailed records of your purchases. Tax laws could change, and having good documentation never hurts.

Hey after reading all this, I think i'm in a similar situation & didn't even realize it lol. I walk dogs through an app and the app company sent me a 1099 for last year. Does that mean I'm technically a sole proprietor too?? This tax stuff is so confusing 😩

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually in a very similar situation - I do freelance graphic design work for a couple different companies and they all send me 1099s. I've been stressed about whether I was filing correctly, but reading through everyone's explanations about independent contractor = sole proprietor for tax purposes really cleared things up. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: if you use part of your home exclusively for business (like a home office), you can potentially deduct home office expenses on your Schedule C. I learned this last year and it made a significant difference in my tax liability. Just make sure the space is used ONLY for business - the IRS is pretty strict about that "exclusive use" requirement. Also, @Atticus Domingo - since you mentioned this is only your second year, definitely keep detailed records of all your business expenses throughout the year rather than trying to reconstruct them at tax time. I use a simple spreadsheet to track mileage, software subscriptions, professional development courses, etc. Makes filing so much easier!

I went through this exact scenario with two different clients in the past year, so I completely understand your stress! Here's what I learned from those experiences: First, the rejection of your e-filed extension is actually normal when there's a disconnect between your filed return and the IRS's system records. This doesn't necessarily mean your S election was denied - it's more likely that their systems just haven't synced up yet. For immediate protection, definitely mail Form 7004 via certified mail and mark it as an S corporation extension. Include a brief cover letter explaining that you have a pending S election under review. This creates documentation of your good faith effort to comply. Regarding your short tax year dates (9/1/22-12/31/22), those were absolutely correct if that's when business operations actually began. Don't second-guess yourself on this - the IRS expects the first tax year to reflect actual business activity dates. One thing I'd recommend is getting a Power of Attorney (Form 2848) on file if you don't already have one. This will make it much easier when you call the IRS to check on the election status, as they can speak directly with you about your client's account. The good news is that even if there are delays, you can usually get retroactive relief if you can demonstrate reasonable cause for the late filing. Keep detailed records of all your submission attempts and communications with the IRS.

I've been through this exact situation multiple times with clients, and I want to reassure you that this is more common than you think, especially with the IRS processing delays we've seen lately. Here's my step-by-step recommendation based on what's worked for my clients: 1. **Immediate action**: Mail Form 7004 via certified mail TODAY if you haven't already. Check the S-corp box and include a brief statement that the S election is pending IRS processing. This protects your client from penalties. 2. **Verify election status**: Call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 first thing in the morning. Navigate to the Form 2553 department specifically. Have your client's EIN, business name, and the date you submitted the election ready. 3. **Don't panic about the dates**: Your 9/1/22-12/31/22 short year was absolutely correct since that's when operations began. This won't cause approval issues. 4. **System disconnect is normal**: The e-filing rejection usually means their systems haven't synced, not that your election was denied. I've had clients where the election was approved weeks before the e-filing system recognized it. The key is getting confirmation of your election status first, then you'll know exactly how to proceed. Most of these situations resolve favorably - it's just the waiting and uncertainty that's stressful. Keep detailed records of all your calls and submissions for your files. You've got this! Let us know what you find out when you call.

Has anyone considered the $20k might trigger some kind of reporting? I thought banks had to report large deposits?

I did something very similar with my brother last year for a Chase bonus. The key thing is to make sure your dad understands he'll need to report the $300 as income on his tax return - the bank will send him a 1099-INT form. One thing I learned is to keep good records of the initial transfer and the payback. I took screenshots of both transactions and kept them with my tax documents, just in case there were ever any questions. The IRS sees lots of these temporary family arrangements for bank bonuses, so as long as everything is reported properly, you should be fine. Also, make sure to read the bank's terms carefully. Some specify the money needs to stay in the account for a certain period after the bonus posts before you can withdraw it without penalty.