I'm going through the exact same thing right now - my refund was mailed 3/16 and still nothing in the mailbox. It's so nerve-wracking when you're depending on that money! I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery after reading these comments and that's been helpful to at least see what's coming each day. What I've learned from calling around is that IRS checks can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on postal processing delays. I know it's frustrating (especially when caring for family like you are), but from everything I've read here and elsewhere, most people do eventually get their checks - they just take longer than we'd hope. If nothing shows up by next Friday (which would be about 3 weeks), I'd definitely start the process of calling the IRS. Hang in there!

I feel for you - the uncertainty is the worst part when you're caring for family and need that money. I went through something similar last year where my check took almost a month to arrive. A few things that helped me stay sane: First, I called my local post office and they confirmed that Treasury checks sometimes get extra security screening which can add 5-7 days. Second, I started checking my mailbox at different times since sometimes the mail carrier delivers later in the day. Third, I made sure to check with all my immediate neighbors in case of misdelivery. The good news is that based on everyone's experiences here, checks mailed mid-March are still well within the normal delivery window. I know waiting is brutal when you're worried about your mom, but try to give it until early next week before calling the IRS. Most people in your situation do get their checks - they just arrive later than expected.

Is there a simple calculator online where I can just plug in my numbers and see what my QBI deduction would be with different scenarios? My business is projected to make about $450k this year with just me and one employee, and I'm trying to figure out if I should buy that new $120k piece of equipment before year-end or not.

This is such a common confusion point! Let me try to explain it with your actual numbers to make it clearer. With $1,350,000 in net profit and only $100,000 in W2 wages, you're likely hitting the W2 wage limitation hard. Here's the math: At your income level, your QBI deduction is limited to the greater of: - 50% of W2 wages = $50,000 (50% of $100k) - 25% of W2 wages + 2.5% of qualified property So even though your business profit could theoretically give you a $270,000 QBI deduction (20% of $1,350,000), you're actually limited to maybe $50,000 or so. But if you increase your W2 to $270,000: - 50% of W2 wages = $135,000 - Your remaining QBI would be about $1,080,000 ($1,350k - $270k wages) - 20% of $1,080,000 = $216,000 potential deduction Now your wage limitation ($135,000) is much higher, so you might be able to take a larger portion of that $216,000 deduction. The exact amount depends on other factors, but you can see how paying more W2 wages can actually unlock more QBI deduction benefits. The key insight: sometimes the tax savings from a larger QBI deduction outweigh the additional payroll taxes on higher W2 wages.

I had this exact situation last year when my condo tenants overflowed the bathtub and destroyed the floors and part of the ceiling below. My tax preparer told me to treat it like this: 1. Insurance payment is not taxable if used to restore property to original condition 2. Any excess not used for repairs is taxable gain 3. Document everything with receipts, before/after photos 4. DIY labor isn't taxable but you need receipts for materials Might be worth getting a tax pro to look at your specific situation since rental property tax rules get complicated fast.

I went through something similar with my duplex last year when pipes burst during a freeze. The key thing I learned is that the insurance company reporting the payment to the IRS doesn't automatically make it taxable income - it just means they're documenting the payment. What matters is what you actually do with the money. Since you did some repairs yourself, you can still count the materials you purchased as legitimate repair expenses, even if your labor was "free." Keep all those Home Depot receipts! The tricky part is that leftover amount you mentioned using "for other things around the house." If those were maintenance items for the rental property (like fixing unrelated issues), that's different tax-wise than if you used it for personal expenses. My accountant had me create a simple spreadsheet showing: insurance received, actual repair costs (materials + contractors), and what happened to any remainder. Made filing much cleaner and gave me good documentation in case of questions later.

Does anyone know if the reporting requirements are different for foreign stocks? I have some investments through an overseas brokerage that doesn't issue 1099-B forms at all. Should I just put all of those under the "not reported to IRS" section?

As someone who went through this exact confusion last year, I want to emphasize a few key points that might help: 1. **Keep detailed records for EVERYTHING** - especially those crypto transactions. Even though $340 seems small, the IRS treats crypto gains the same as stock gains. I made the mistake of thinking smaller amounts didn't matter and got a notice later. 2. **Don't stress too much about the "reported vs not reported" distinction** - your tax software is designed to handle this correctly as long as you enter the information accurately. The key is making sure you report ALL gains, regardless of which category they fall into. 3. **For the transactions where cost basis wasn't reported to the IRS**, you'll need to calculate your own cost basis (what you paid including fees). This is where good record-keeping becomes crucial. One thing that saved me was creating a simple spreadsheet with: purchase date, purchase price + fees, sale date, sale price - fees, and gain/loss. This made it much easier to enter everything into the tax software correctly. The IRS isn't trying to "catch" you - they just want accurate reporting. As long as you report all your gains and losses honestly, you'll be fine. Good luck with your first year of stock trading taxes!

Has anyone switched their kids to state school because of this? We're seriously considering it but worried about the disruption to our daughter who's in Year 10 and halfway through her GCSEs. The timing of this VAT implementation seems particularly cruel for families with kids at critical educational stages!

I completely understand the frustration with this sudden 20% VAT implementation - it's hitting families hard right when budgets are already stretched. As a tax professional, I've been helping several families navigate this exact situation over the past few months. One thing I'd recommend is checking if your school offers any mid-year payment plan adjustments. Many schools are being flexible about restructuring payment schedules to help families manage the increased costs. Some are even offering interest-free payment plans spread over longer periods. For those considering the state school switch, remember that you might still have some options to reduce costs while staying private. Look into: - Whether your school has expanded their bursary programs (many have specifically due to VAT impact) - If any siblings qualify for discounts that might offset some VAT costs - Whether switching to different subjects or reducing extracurricular activities could lower overall fees From a tax perspective, while you can't deduct the school fees directly, make sure you're maximizing all other available reliefs and allowances in your overall tax planning. Every bit helps when facing these increased education costs. The key is not to make rushed decisions about your children's education - there are often more options available than initially apparent, both for managing costs and finding quality alternatives.