Just to add to what others have said - make sure you're keeping DETAILED records. I got audited on this exact issue with my consulting business. What saved me was having: 1) Course descriptions printed from the university website 2) A statement I wrote explaining how each course applied to my current business 3) Client invoices showing I was doing related work before starting the degree 4) The letter from the company saying this education was necessary The IRS agent told me most people fail these audits because they can't show the direct connection between the education and existing business. Don't just say "MBA helps my business" - be super specific about how accounting class X improves service Y that you were already providing.

This is a great question that many contractors struggle with! Based on my experience helping clients with similar situations, you're on the right track with the business expense deduction approach. Since your wife receives 1099-NEC income, she's considered self-employed, which actually gives you more flexibility than W2 employees have. The key is demonstrating that the MBA maintains or improves skills she's already using in her existing business activities. From what you've described, her current work already involves finance, accounting, operations, and HR - and the MBA coursework directly relates to these areas. This creates a strong case for the "maintains or improves existing skills" test. A few important points to consider: 1) Deduct these on Schedule C as ordinary business expenses, not as itemized deductions 2) The letter from the company will be helpful supporting documentation 3) Keep detailed course syllabi showing how each class relates to her current work 4) Document her existing business activities before starting the MBA One thing to be cautious about - make sure the MBA isn't positioning her for a completely different profession. Since she's already working in business consulting and the coursework enhances those existing skills, you should be fine. The business expense deduction will likely be more beneficial than education credits at your income level, as it reduces both income tax and self-employment tax on her Schedule C income.

As someone who's dealt with this exact situation before, I'd recommend trying the IRS's own Form 1040 online if you have a relatively straightforward return. While it's not as polished as commercial software, it does allow you to input your already-calculated numbers directly without having to redo all your work from scratch. The key advantage is that since you've already done all the math and have your PDFs as reference, you're essentially just transcribing the final numbers into their system. It's tedious but much faster than starting over with a full-service tax program. One tip: keep your PDFs open in separate browser tabs so you can easily copy the numbers over. The IRS system will validate your entries and catch any obvious errors, which gives you some peace of mind that everything transferred correctly. If your return is more complex (multiple schedules, business income, etc.), then the AI-powered solutions mentioned above might be worth the cost to avoid manual data entry.

I'm in a similar boat this year! I've been using FreeTaxUSA to create my forms but ran into the same roadblock when trying to eFile. After reading through all these suggestions, I think I'm going to try the taxr.ai route that @Luca Marino recommended. The idea of not having to re-enter all my data is really appealing, especially since I spent so much time getting everything perfect in my PDFs. One question though - for those who have used these AI-powered tax services, do they handle amended returns if something gets messed up during the conversion process? That's my biggest concern about letting software interpret my documents rather than doing direct data entry myself. @Sean Murphy - let us know which option you end up going with! I'd be curious to hear how it works out since we're in basically the same situation.

I went through something very similar last year with my EITC return! Three months is definitely frustrating, but unfortunately not unheard of for EITC claims. A few things that might help: First, definitely check your mail thoroughly - the IRS often sends verification letters for EITC returns that can look like junk mail. If you missed one of these, it could explain the entire delay. Second, try checking your transcript on the IRS website rather than just the Where's My Refund tool. The transcript will show actual processing codes that can tell you exactly what's happening. Look for codes like 570 (additional review) or 971 (notice issued). Also, don't panic about the "received" vs "accepted" status - the Where's My Refund tool is notoriously unreliable with its terminology. Your return was likely accepted if you got that initial confirmation from FreeTaxUSA. One last tip: if you do need to call the IRS, try calling right when they open (7 AM local time) on Tuesday or Wednesday. Still difficult to get through, but slightly better odds. Hang in there - EITC returns just take longer, but you should get your refund eventually!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same issue! Filed in late January with EITC and my refund has been stuck on "received" for over 2 months now. Reading through these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about checking the transcript or that EITC returns routinely take 45-60 days even without issues. I'm definitely going to try creating an IRS account to check my transcript first, since that seems like the most reliable way to see what's actually happening. The processing codes sound way more informative than the vague "received" status I've been staring at for weeks. Also going to double-check my mail pile for any IRS letters - the comment about verification letters looking like junk mail really caught my attention. I've been so focused on the online tools that I might have overlooked something important in the mail. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. It's reassuring to know this level of delay isn't necessarily a sign that something went wrong with my return!

This is exactly what happened to my sister a few months ago! The waiting is the worst part because you have no idea how much they're taking until you get that BFS letter. In her case, it was for old state taxes she didn't even realize she still owed from when she moved between states. The automated line at 1-800-304-3107 that others mentioned is definitely worth calling - it'll at least tell you the total amount being offset and which type of debt it is. One tip: if you think the debt might be incorrect or already paid, you can dispute it, but you have to act fast once you get the official notice. The whole process took about 3 weeks total for her, but at least she got the remaining portion of her refund after they took what was owed. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same thing last year! That message is frustrating because it doesn't give you the details you really need. Here's what I learned: The Bureau of Fiscal Service runs something called the Treasury Offset Program that automatically checks for debts when your refund gets processed. Common culprits are student loans in default, back child support, state tax debt, or even unemployment overpayments. The automated hotline at 1-800-304-3107 is your best friend right now - it'll tell you the offset amount and what type of debt without having to wait for the letter. When I called, I found out it was for an old state tax bill I'd forgotten about from a previous move. The timeline is usually: offset happens → BFS letter gets mailed (takes 1-2 weeks) → remaining refund (if any) gets deposited. In my case, they took $800 of my $2,200 refund for the state debt, and I got the remaining $1,400 about 10 days after my original expected deposit date. One important thing - if you think the debt is wrong or already paid, you can dispute it, but you need to act quickly once you get the official notice. Keep all your paperwork handy just in case!

Last year I was in your exact situation - needed my refund for medical expenses and was stuck in verification limbo. I remember checking the IRS website literally 5 times a day! What I learned is that the verification process puts you into a different processing queue, and sometimes returns get manually reviewed after verification even if everything is perfect. Mine took exactly 25 days after verification to process. If you need funds urgently for medical procedures, you might want to explore Care Credit or similar medical financing options as a backup plan - that's what I ended up doing, then paid it off when my refund finally arrived.

I'm in a very similar boat - filed 2/3, verified identity 2/28, and still nothing on my transcript or WMR after 5+ weeks. The medical expense angle really hits home because I've been putting off dental work that's getting worse by the day. What's frustrating is that the IRS verification process feels like it puts you in this black hole where nobody can give you real answers about timing. I've been checking my transcript obsessively and it's still showing N/A for 2023. Has anyone found that calling the regular IRS line (not TAS) after 6+ weeks actually gets you anywhere, or do they just tell you to keep waiting? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the hours on hold.