Had a very similar experience with Sprintax last year! The key thing to remember is that tax software often generates multiple sets of instructions to cover all possible scenarios. Since your e-file was successful (confirmed by the IRS website), you can safely ignore the mailing instructions in the PDF. Just to put your mind at ease - when you e-file, the IRS receives your return digitally and it's processed much faster than paper returns. The PDF with mailing instructions is basically a backup plan that the software generates automatically, but since you went the e-file route successfully, those instructions don't apply to your situation. Keep that PDF for your records though - it's part of your tax documentation that you should hold onto for at least 3 years. Congrats on getting through your first tax filing here!

Don't worry, this is totally normal! I work as a tax preparer and see this confusion all the time with Sprintax and other tax software. The PDF with mailing instructions is generated automatically for every user, regardless of whether they choose to e-file or mail their return. It's essentially a "just in case" document. Since the IRS website confirms they received your e-filed return, you're all set! The electronic filing takes precedence over any paper filing instructions. The only time you'd need to mail anything is if the e-file had been rejected, which clearly didn't happen in your case. Just make sure to save that PDF along with your other tax documents - you'll want to keep all tax records for at least 3 years. And don't stress about being new to this - everyone goes through the same learning curve with taxes!

They switched mine too!!! Hoping this means were getting closer to that bag 💅

I had the exact same thing happen! Went from 05 to 04 about 3 weeks ago and was stressing about it. But like DeShawn said, it just means they're processing more frequently. I actually got my 846 code (refund issued) yesterday! The cycle change was definitely a good sign in my case. Hang in there, sounds like you're getting close! 🤞

mines been doing the opposite, went from 04 to 05. this whole process is driving me nuts fr

The IRS is so behind rn its not even funny. My friend works there and says theyre still processing returns from last year

Has anyone actually called the IRS helpline about this? I had almost the exact same situation and they were surprisingly helpful in explaining the process.

I went through this exact same situation last year and ended up working with a tax professional who specializes in HSA issues. One thing that helped me was understanding that the IRS Publication 969 actually has specific examples for excess contribution corrections when there are losses instead of gains. The key point everyone seems to be missing is that you need to be very careful about the timing. If you're already past the tax filing deadline (including extensions), you're stuck paying the 6% excise tax regardless of whether you withdraw the excess. But if you're still within the deadline, the withdrawal approach is definitely the way to go. Also, make sure when you request the excess contribution removal that you specify the exact tax year the excess occurred in. I made the mistake of not being clear about this initially and my HSA provider processed it as a regular distribution, which created even more paperwork headaches. The proportional loss calculation really isn't as complicated as it seems if you have all your statements. Most HSA providers can actually do this calculation for you if you ask the right person - I had to escalate past the first-level customer service to get to someone who understood the process.

Has anyone considered making extra charitable donations in alternate years to make itemizing worthwhile? My tax guy suggested we "bunch" our charitable giving - donate twice as much every other year so we can itemize in those years, then take standard deduction in the off years. Seems like a clever approach if you're right on the borderline.

This is such a common misconception! The mortgage interest deduction isn't automatically better than the standard deduction - it only helps if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction threshold. Think of it this way: you're already getting a $29,200 deduction (if married filing jointly) without having to track any receipts or meet any requirements. Your $12,000 in mortgage interest would need to be combined with at least $17,200+ in other itemized deductions (state/local taxes, charitable donations, medical expenses over 7.5% of AGI) to beat that. The "tax benefit" you're getting is actually the standard deduction itself - it's just not tied to your mortgage. Don't feel like you're missing out on anything. The current tax system is designed so most people get a substantial deduction regardless of homeownership status. If you're really close to the threshold, double-check that you've entered all possible deductions like property taxes, PMI (if applicable), and any charitable contributions. But if the software says standard is better, it probably is!