I've worked in multiple states for years and here's my advice - document EVERYTHING. Keep all your pay stubs, take screenshots of your electronic ones, and make sure you understand which state taxes you're paying. Most mistakes with interstate work happen because people don't realize which state is getting their withholding. With reciprocity agreements you typically pay taxes to your home state, not where you work, but some employers mess this up.

The stress you're feeling is completely normal - tax situations involving multiple states can be really confusing! From what you've described, it sounds like you're being very thorough in checking your work, which is exactly the right approach. One thing that might help ease your anxiety: the IRS processes over 150 million tax returns each year, and honest mistakes are incredibly common. The system is designed to handle errors, not punish people for them. Most mistakes result in simple notices asking for clarification or adjustment, not audits or legal trouble. For your reciprocity situation specifically, double-check that Box 17 (state tax withheld) on your W-2 matches what you expect based on your home state. If there's withholding from both states, you might need to file a nonresident return in the work state to get a refund, while reporting all income on your home state return. The key is responding promptly to any IRS correspondence and keeping good records of your income and withholding. Your careful attention to detail now will serve you well if any questions come up later. You've got this!

According to IRS Publication 1544 and their published guidelines on refund processing, taxpayers have the right to inquire about the status of their refunds, but the challenge is actually reaching someone. The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act specifically acknowledges taxpayers' rights to quality service. Having spent 8+ years in tax resolution, I can confirm that the IRS phone system is intentionally difficult to navigate - it's designed to reduce call volume. Services that help you reach an actual human aren't just using auto-dialers; they're navigating the complex IRS phone tree and hold system. For many people, especially those who need their refund for urgent expenses, the time saved is well worth it.

I've actually gotten my refund 3 days early before! My transcript showed DDD of March 15th but I got it on March 12th. I use Navy Federal Credit Union and they're pretty good about releasing funds as soon as they receive them from the IRS. The waiting game is brutal though - I totally get checking your account every few minutes! Good luck with paying off that credit card, that's exactly what I did with mine last year. The peace of mind from being debt-free is amazing!

Quick question - for those of you doing home inspections as independent contractors, what software are you using to track expenses? I'm trying to decide between QuickBooks Self-Employed and something simpler like Wave.

As someone who made this exact transition last year, I can share what worked for me. I started as sole prop for my first year of inspection work, then switched to LLC with S-corp election once I hit about $55k in net profit. The key insight everyone's touching on is correct - a single-member LLC doesn't change your taxes unless you elect S-corp status. But here's what I learned the hard way: don't wait too long to make the switch if your income is growing. The S-corp election has to be made by March 15th for it to apply to the current tax year (or within 75 days of forming your LLC). For your income level ($50k-$66k annually), you're right at the breakeven point where S-corp election starts making sense. The self-employment tax savings on about $20k-$30k of distributions (after paying yourself a reasonable salary) could save you $3k-$4k annually. Just make sure you factor in payroll processing costs and additional accounting fees. One Texas-specific tip: if you form an LLC, you'll need to file the Texas franchise tax return even if you owe $0. It's not complicated, but it's another annual requirement to track.

I went through this exact same situation earlier this year! Got my ID verification acceptance in March and was losing my mind waiting for updates. Here's what actually happened vs what they told me to expect: They said 9 weeks, but my transcript updated after exactly 3 weeks and 2 days. Once it updated, everything moved fast - WMR changed the next day and refund was deposited 4 days later. The key things that helped me stay sane during the wait: - Only check your transcript on Friday mornings (they update overnight Thursday) - Don't bother checking WMR until you see movement on your transcript first - Look for transaction code 846 on your transcript - that's your actual refund date The hardest part is that there's literally nothing you can do but wait once verification is complete. But the good news is most people see movement way before that 9-week maximum they quote. Since you just got your acceptance today, I'd expect to see something in the next 2-4 weeks based on what I've seen from others. Hang in there! The waiting is torture but you're through the hardest part now that verification is done.

I went through this exact same process about 6 weeks ago! After getting my verification acceptance, I was checking my transcript obsessively every single day (sometimes twice a day - the anxiety was real). Here's what happened in my case: My transcript updated exactly 16 days after verification completion with all the processing codes, then WMR changed to "refund approved" 2 days later, and the money hit my account 5 days after that. So total time from verification acceptance to refund was about 3.5 weeks. A few things that helped me during the wait: - Your transcript is going to be way more informative than WMR, so focus on that - Friday mornings are when most transcript updates happen (overnight Thursday into Friday) - Once you see transaction code 846, that's your actual refund date - everything else is just processing steps The 9-week timeframe they give you is definitely the worst-case scenario. Most people I've talked to who went through ID verification recently got their refunds in 3-5 weeks after acceptance. Since you and your husband file jointly, there might be a slight delay compared to single filers, but nothing major. The hardest part is that once verification is complete, there's literally nothing else you can do except wait. But you're definitely through the worst part now! Try to check your transcript only once a week if you can manage it - the constant checking just makes the anxiety worse. Good luck and hopefully you'll see movement soon!

Has anyone ever just ignored this nominee stuff? I have a joint account with my wife (not married yet when we opened it) and have been getting the 1099 in my name for years. We just split it 50/50 on our taxes and haven't filed any nominee forms. No issues so far...

I went through this exact situation last year with a joint account I have with my mom. The nominee distribution process seems intimidating but it's really not that bad once you understand the steps. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you keep detailed records of your contribution percentages and any documentation showing how you split expenses or contributions. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every deposit and who made it, which made calculating the 35/65 split much easier come tax time. Also, don't stress too much about the January 31st deadline for the 1099 forms that was mentioned. While that's the official deadline, the IRS is generally understanding if you're a few weeks late on nominee distributions, especially for first-time filers. Just get them filed as soon as possible. The key thing is being consistent - whatever percentage split you use this year, stick with it going forward unless your actual contribution pattern changes significantly. The IRS likes consistency in how joint accounts are reported year over year.