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I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my AZ return on March 8th and it's been stuck on "Your return is being processed" for over 2 months now. The frustrating part is that my federal refund came through in less than 3 weeks, so it's definitely an Arizona-specific issue. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like there are a few things we can try: 1. Call right at 8:00 AM sharp when they open 2. Check the AZ Dept of Revenue website directly with our SSN instead of just using the confirmation number 3. Make sure all our info (address, bank details) exactly matches what's on our W-2 4. Contact our state representative if nothing else works The suggestions about taxr.ai and Claimyr are interesting too - might be worth trying if we can't get through the normal channels. It's ridiculous that we have to pay third parties just to get our own money back from the state, but at this point I'm desperate. Thanks for posting this - at least we know we're not alone in dealing with Arizona's broken system! Keep us updated if you make any progress.
I'm in the exact same boat! Filed mine on March 5th and still stuck on that same useless "being processed" message. It's good to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare. I tried the 8am calling trick yesterday but still couldn't get through after 20+ attempts. The idea about checking with SSN instead of confirmation number is smart - I hadn't thought of that. Going to try that today. Also thinking about reaching out to my state rep since multiple people here said that actually worked for them. This whole situation is insane - we file our taxes on time, do everything correctly, and then have to become private investigators just to figure out where our own money is! Arizona really needs to get their act together.
I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my Arizona state return on March 20th and it's been stuck on "Your return is being processed" for almost 2 months now. My federal refund was deposited within 2 weeks, so this is definitely an Arizona problem. After reading all these comments, I'm going to try a few things: 1. Check the status using my SSN directly on the AZ Dept of Revenue website instead of just the confirmation number 2. Set my alarm for 7:59 AM tomorrow and call exactly at 8:00 AM 3. Double-check that my address and bank info exactly match what's on my W-2 If none of that works, I'll contact my state representative - seems like that's been the most successful approach for people here. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get our own money back, but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks for starting this thread - it's somewhat comforting to know we're all dealing with the same broken system. Arizona really needs to fix their processing issues!
Don't forget that if your income is under $60,000, you can get your taxes done for FREE through the VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). They're specifically trained to help with credits like the EITC and Child Tax Credit. Just Google "VITA site near me" to find locations. This will save you from paying for tax software and they'll make sure you get every credit you qualify for. I've used them for years and they're amazing volunteers who really know their stuff about tax credits for families!
Are these VITA volunteers actually qualified or are they just random people? I'm always nervous about trusting tax advice from free services. Do they guarantee their work in case of audits?
The VITA volunteers are definitely qualified! They receive specific training and certification from the IRS before they can prepare returns. Many are accounting students, retired tax professionals, or people who work in finance. They don't offer audit guarantees like paid services might, but their accuracy rate is excellent because they focus specifically on less complicated returns like those claiming EITC. They also have a quality review process where a second volunteer checks everything before filing. I've used them for 5 years with no issues whatsoever!
Remember that if your baby was born in 2024, they count as your dependent for the ENTIRE year, even though they weren't here the whole time! This surprises a lot of new parents. You get the full Child Tax Credit and they count for EITC purposes for all of 2024. Also make sure you're getting any state tax credits too! Many states have their own version of EITC that piggybacks off the federal one, so you could get even more money back.
Does anyone know if we can still claim the Form 7202 credit for the 2024 tax year? I've heard conflicting information and can't find a straight answer anywhere.
Unfortunately, the sick leave credits using Form 7202 were only available through September 30, 2021. They're not available for 2024 tax returns. The program was part of the COVID relief measures and wasn't extended.
Hey AstroAce! I completely understand your confusion with Form 7202 - it really is one of the more complex forms out there. As a tax professional, I've helped dozens of clients through this process. A few key points that might help you: 1. **Average Daily Self-Employment Income**: Take your net earnings from self-employment (from Schedule C) and divide by 260 working days. Don't use 365 days - that's a common mistake that will reduce your credit. 2. **Documentation is crucial**: Keep detailed records of the specific dates you couldn't work due to COVID-related reasons. This includes being sick yourself, caring for someone who was sick, or dealing with school/childcare closures. General business slowdown doesn't qualify. 3. **Maximum credits**: You can claim up to 10 days (80 hours) for your own illness at 100% of your average daily rate, and up to 50 days for family care at 2/3 of your rate. 4. **Watch out for PPP interactions**: You cannot claim credits for the same period covered by forgiven PPP funds. The form can definitely be overwhelming, but breaking it down step by step makes it much more manageable. Make sure you're using the 2021 version of the form if you're amending that year's return. Good luck with your photography business!
Looking at your transcript, you're actually in pretty good shape! The processing date of March 10th is when your amendment will be fully processed, not when you have to wait until. That second 971 code with "202212" is likely just a system notation - I wouldn't worry about it unless you get a notice. Your account balance of -$8,832 is promising - that negative balance typically indicates what you'll receive as a refund. The $1,300 credit (code 766) is probably just one component of your total refund. Since you're on the daily processing cycle (which is faster than weekly), and your amendment was accepted 2/8, you're looking at roughly 8-12 weeks total processing time. So expect your refund somewhere between early April to early May. Keep checking for code 846 - that's when your refund is officially issued and should hit your account within 3-5 business days after that. The EIC (code 768) is a good sign too - that's additional refundable credit that will be included in your final refund amount. Just be patient, your amendment is moving through the system normally!
This is super helpful! I'm new to dealing with amended returns and all these codes were making my head spin. The explanation about the negative balance potentially being my refund amount is reassuring - I was worried something was wrong when I saw that big negative number. Good to know the daily processing cycle is faster too. I'll definitely keep an eye out for that 846 code everyone keeps mentioning. Thanks for breaking this down in terms that actually make sense!
Just went through something very similar! My amended return was accepted on 1/15 and I just got my refund last week (took about 10 weeks total). Your transcript looks really good - that -$8,832 account balance is almost certainly going to be your refund amount when everything processes through. A few things that helped me during the wait: - Check your transcript weekly for updates (I used the IRS website) - That 971 code about "wrong identifying number" is usually just a system note, not something to worry about - The March 10th processing date means that's when they'll finish working on it, not when you have to wait until Your daily processing cycle is definitely better than weekly - mine was weekly and still came through in reasonable time. The EIC (code 768) will add to your refund too. Based on my experience, you're probably looking at getting your money sometime in April, maybe early May at the latest. Just keep watching for code 846 (refund issued) and then you'll know it's on the way! The waiting is the worst part but your amendment is clearly progressing normally through the system.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this process. 10 weeks doesn't sound too bad compared to some of the horror stories I've been reading. I'm definitely going to start checking my transcript weekly like you suggested. Quick question - when you got that 846 code, how long after that did the money actually hit your account? I want to make sure I'm watching for the right timeline once I see that code appear.
James Johnson
Has anybody had the situation where supplemental property tax bills arrive YEARS after you bought the property? We just got one from 2022 last month and it made me miss the SALT deduction for that year since I already filed! So annoying.
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Sophia Rodriguez
ā¢You can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) for 2022 to claim that deduction. You generally have up to 3 years from the date you filed the original return to file an amendment. Might be worth it if the additional deduction would save you money!
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Giovanni Gallo
Great discussion here! One thing I'd add is that if you're close to the $10,000 SALT cap, it might be worth calculating whether bunching your property tax payments could be beneficial. For example, if you're going to be slightly over the cap in both 2023 and 2024, you might consider paying both installments in one year to maximize the deduction in that year, then potentially having more room for other SALT deductions (like state income taxes) in the other year. Also, make sure you're keeping good records of all payment dates and amounts. The IRS can be particular about documentation for property tax deductions, especially with supplemental bills that might not follow the typical payment schedule. I always recommend keeping copies of the cancelled checks or bank statements showing the exact payment dates, since that's what determines which tax year you can claim the deduction.
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