Quick question - I'm in a similar situation but my balance is pretty small (like $300). Is it worth keeping the HSA open or should I just use it up? Are there fees I should worry about?

Your team lead is definitely confusing HSAs with FSAs! This is such a common mix-up that causes unnecessary panic. HSA funds are YOUR money - they don't disappear, become taxable, or change status just because you left your job. Here's what actually happens when you leave your employer: - Your existing HSA balance remains yours forever - The money stays tax-free for qualified medical expenses - You just can't make NEW contributions unless you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan - The account may transfer to individual management (sometimes with different fees) Feel free to save that money for your February dental work! There's absolutely no deadline to spend it. In fact, many people use HSAs as long-term retirement healthcare savings vehicles because the funds never expire. Your team lead probably meant well but was thinking of FSAs (use-it-or-lose-it accounts) rather than HSAs. Completely different rules!

Has anyone dealt with getting a refund for over-garnished amounts? The IRS took about $350 more than I actually owed before they processed my payment and sent the release to my employer.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The IRS continued garnishing my wages for almost a month after I paid off my tax debt. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. **Document everything** - Keep your payment confirmation, bank statements showing the payment cleared, and records of any calls you make to the IRS. 2. **Call early and be persistent** - I found calling right at 7 AM gave me the best chance of getting through. Use the number 800-829-1040 and when you get the menu, press 1 for English, then 2 for personal tax issues, then 3 for payment questions. 3. **Ask for a payment tracer** - When you finally reach someone, ask them to do a "payment tracer" on your account. This helps locate your payment if it wasn't properly applied to stop the garnishment. 4. **Request expedited release** - Explain that the continued garnishment is causing financial hardship (mention the rent situation). They can sometimes expedite the release process. In my case, it turned out my payment had been received but wasn't properly coded to release the garnishment. Once they corrected it, the release was sent to my employer within 48 hours. The whole ordeal took about 5 weeks total, but I did get refunded the excess amount they garnished after my debt was paid. Don't give up - you WILL get this resolved!

Has anyone else heard about the tax credit for clean vehicles? If you're buying a new car anyway and considering electric or hybrid, there's up to $7,500 tax credit available. Might be worth looking into since you're making a purchase decision already.

One thing I don't see mentioned here is the actual vehicle purchase method - you said you're buying it in your personal name. For maximum tax benefits with high business use, you might want to consider having your business entity purchase the vehicle instead. If your business owns the car, you can deduct 100% of the business portion without worrying about the "listed property" rules that apply to personally-owned vehicles used for business. This also simplifies record-keeping since all vehicle expenses (insurance, maintenance, fuel) become business deductions rather than having to calculate personal vs business portions. However, this only works if you have a legitimate business entity (LLC, S-Corp, etc.). If you're a sole proprietor, the tax treatment is essentially the same either way. Just something to consider before finalizing the purchase structure!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help others in similar situations! I received my amended return via direct deposit about 3 weeks ago. My 846 code showed up on a Tuesday, and the money actually hit my account on that exact same day - which surprised me based on what I'd been reading about typical wait times. I think the key factor might be which bank you use. I have my account with a credit union that tends to process ACH transfers pretty quickly. My friend who banks with a larger national bank had to wait 4 business days after her 846 date for the same type of deposit. For anyone still waiting, I'd definitely recommend setting up account alerts if your bank offers them rather than constantly checking your balance. The money will show up when it shows up, and the alerts saved my sanity during the waiting period. The direct deposit for amended returns is absolutely legitimate now - just be prepared for the timing to vary more than regular refunds.

I'm currently in the exact same boat as the original poster! Just saw my 846 code appear this morning with a Friday date, and I've been obsessively checking my bank account every hour. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's amazing how much conflicting information is out there about amended returns and direct deposits. My tax preparer told me it would definitely be a check, but clearly that's outdated information. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like the 3-5 business day window after the 846 date is pretty realistic to expect. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about watching for additional codes after the 846 and setting up bank alerts instead of constantly refreshing my account. This community has been way more informative than anything I could find on the IRS website. Will definitely report back once my deposit comes through to add another data point for future people in this situation!

I've been dealing with amended returns for years and here's my tried-and-true approach: Call 1-800-829-1040 on Tuesday or Wednesday right at 7:00 AM ET sharp. Have your SSN, both returns (original and amended), and your bank routing info ready. But here's the insider tip most people don't know - ask the rep to check for any "unpostables" on your account. Sometimes amended returns get stuck because of small mismatches (like a slightly different name format from what's in their system). The rep can usually resolve these on the spot. Also, if you're expecting a refund over $1,000, they might transfer you to a different department that handles larger refunds - this is normal, don't hang up! The wait time resets but you'll get someone who can actually move things along. I've seen people get their refunds released same-day after being stuck for months once the right person looked at their case.

Based on everyone's experiences here, I'd suggest trying multiple approaches since amended returns can be tricky. First, try calling 1-800-829-1040 early Tuesday morning around 7 AM ET with all your documentation ready (SSN, both returns, AGI from both, mailing address). If that doesn't work, the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 might have shorter wait times. Since you filed in January and it's now March with no updates in the WMAR tool, you're getting close to that 16-20 week processing window others mentioned. One thing to consider - if this is causing financial hardship, definitely mention that when you call as it can sometimes expedite processing. Also worth checking your online IRS account for any transcript updates that might show processing codes before spending hours on hold. Sometimes the system updates there before the WMAR tool catches up. Good luck getting through - the waiting game with amended returns is frustrating but you're definitely entitled to know what's happening!