Is anyone else annoyed that the IRS can't give clear guidance on crypto? I tried reading their FAQ and still have questions. Like are airdrops considered income even if I didn't ask for them? And how am i supposed to keep track of the exact value of each coin at the exact time of each transaction??

For someone new to crypto taxes like yourself, here are the key points to remember: 1. **Yes, you need to report your crypto activity.** There's no minimum threshold - even $1 in gains needs to be reported. The IRS asks about crypto transactions right on Form 1040. 2. **What matters is your actual gains/losses, not withdrawal amounts.** If you invested $2700 and withdrew $1250, you need to calculate the difference between what you paid for the crypto you sold versus what you sold it for. 3. **For tax withholding,** I'd recommend setting aside 25-30% of any gains if you're actively trading (short-term rates). If you held for over a year, long-term capital gains rates are much lower (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). 4. **Start tracking everything now.** Every crypto-to-crypto trade, every sale, every purchase - it all needs to be documented. Your exchange should have transaction histories you can download. The good news is that if you had losses on some trades, those can offset your gains. But you absolutely need to report everything to stay compliant with the IRS.

Thanks for sharing this! As someone who's been checking WMR obsessively, this is really reassuring. I've had 152 showing for about 10 days now and was starting to worry something was wrong. Good to know it's actually a positive sign that things are moving along normally. The waiting is still nerve-wracking but at least now I know I'm not in some kind of error limbo 😅

This is super helpful, thank you! I've been seeing 152 for about a week and was starting to panic thinking I messed something up on my return. It's such a relief to know this is actually normal processing and not an error code. The IRS website could definitely do a better job explaining what these codes mean - would save a lot of people unnecessary stress. Appreciate you taking the time to break this down for everyone! 🙏

Did you claim any credits like EIC or CTC? Those usually take longer to process

Totally normal! Federal refunds almost always take longer than state - the IRS processes millions more returns than any individual state tax agency. Your California refund timeline is pretty standard (they're usually one of the faster states), but federal can take anywhere from 21 days to 6-8 weeks depending on how busy they are. Since we're right in peak tax season, I'd give it at least another 2-3 weeks before worrying. The lack of detailed tracking from IRS is frustrating but unfortunately typical - they don't provide nearly as much transparency as state systems do.

What finally worked for me after 11 months of waiting was using taxr.ai to identify the exact issue (missing 1099 info) and then using claimyr.com to get through to an IRS agent. The combo of knowing exactly what was wrong and being able to talk to a human solved my problem in less than a week after almost a year of waiting. Don't waste time like I did!

The As Of date changing to June 2025 is definitely a positive sign - it means your account is being actively reviewed again after being stuck for so long. However, the amended return you filed last week could complicate things significantly. When an original return is still processing and you file an amended one, it can create confusion in their system and potentially delay things even further. I'd strongly recommend calling the IRS ASAP to explain that you filed an amended return while the original was still processing. If you can reach an agent quickly (try the callback services people mentioned), they might be able to flag your account or provide guidance on how to proceed. The sooner you address this, the better chance you have of minimizing additional delays. Keep monitoring your transcript for codes like 570 (additional account action pending) or 971 (notice issued) - these will give you clues about what's actually happening behind the scenes. After 13+ months, you definitely deserve answers about why your refund has been held up for so long.

If you use tax software, all of this is pretty straightforward! I moved from Texas to Minnesota mid-year and used TurboTax. The software asked when I moved and then walked me through everything. Honestly way easier than I expected.

One additional tip since you mentioned the high withholding on your extra shifts and billing payments - keep detailed records of all your work locations and income sources throughout the year. As a physician who moved mid-year, you'll want to track not just which state you earned income in, but also where you were physically working when you earned it. This is especially important for those weekend ER shifts. If you're picking up shifts in different locations or even different states, each location might have different tax implications. Some states tax based on where the work was performed, others based on your residence at the time. Also, since you mentioned patient billing payments, make sure to track any business expenses related to your work (CME, licensing fees, professional memberships, etc.). These can often be deducted, and with your income increase, every deduction becomes more valuable. Keep receipts for everything work-related from both states - some expenses might be deductible in one state but not the other. The good news is that with your income tripling, you're likely in a much better position financially to handle any unexpected tax obligations that might come up!