I'm going through this exact situation right now and this thread has been such a relief to find! My refund was offset for an old student loan debt about 6 days ago, and I've been checking my bank account obsessively ever since. The IRS notice was so vague - just said "remaining funds will be released" with no timeline whatsoever. Reading everyone's real experiences here gives me so much more confidence than trying to navigate government websites that barely explain anything. That 2-3 week timeline seems really consistent across different debt types and amounts, which helps me plan my budget instead of just hoping for the best. I'm definitely calling that BFS number (800-304-3107) tomorrow that so many people have recommended. Sounds like they can actually give you useful information about where your case stands, unlike the regular IRS line where you wait forever just to get generic responses. It's frustrating when you're counting on that money for expenses, but knowing that pretty much everyone here got their remaining refunds within that timeframe gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information you can't get anywhere else!

I'm currently going through my first offset situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My refund was offset for an old tax debt about 10 days ago, and I've been anxiously waiting to see what happens with the remaining funds. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so much more informative than the vague government notices they send out. What really stands out to me is how consistent that 2-3 week timeline seems to be across different types of debts and situations. I was worried it might take months or that I might not get the remainder at all, but seeing all these real experiences gives me confidence that the money will actually come through. I called that BFS number (800-304-3107) that everyone keeps mentioning and you're all right - they're way more helpful than the regular IRS line! They confirmed my offset was fully processed and that I should expect the remaining funds within the next week or so. Having that confirmation made such a difference for my stress level. The waiting is definitely tough when you're budgeting around that money, but at least now I have realistic expectations instead of just sitting here wondering if anything will happen. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual timelines and experiences - this community is amazing for getting real answers to stressful tax situations!

I work for a health insurance company and can confirm what everyone else is saying - you absolutely don't need the physical 1095-B form to file your taxes! We get calls about this constantly during tax season, especially when our systems are down for maintenance (which always seems to happen at the worst possible time). The 1095-B is sent to the IRS directly from us, so it's really just for your records. Your tax preparer only needs to know that you had qualifying coverage through Blue Cross for the full year of 2024. That's literally all they need to properly complete your return. Since you mentioned you have all the coverage details already, you're 100% ready for your appointment. Don't reschedule - there's absolutely no reason to delay your filing over a form that's not required for submission. One insider tip: if you really want the form for your peace of mind, try calling Blue Cross early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) when call volumes are typically lower. Sometimes the phone reps can access systems that the website can't reach during maintenance periods. But again, you definitely don't need it to file!

As someone who went through a very similar situation last year with my 1095-B, I can definitely relate to your frustration! The good news is that everyone here is absolutely right - you don't need the physical form to file your taxes. I was in almost the exact same boat - had all my coverage information but couldn't access the actual form due to website issues with my insurance provider. My tax preparer assured me that just knowing I had continuous coverage through my employer-sponsored plan was sufficient for filing purposes. What really helped ease my anxiety was understanding that the 1095-B serves as a "receipt" for having health insurance rather than a required filing document. Since you already know you had Blue Cross coverage for the full year through your employer, you have everything your tax preparer needs to complete your return accurately. Don't let this delay your filing! The IRS receives these forms directly from insurance companies anyway, so there's really no need to stress about having the paper copy in hand. Your appointment can definitely proceed as planned. One thing I learned for future reference: I now screenshot my coverage details from my insurance portal in December each year, just in case their website has issues during tax season again. Might be worth doing once Blue Cross gets their system back up and running!

This is a classic case of a "ghost return" - where you think you filed but the IRS has no record. The $0 balance isn't necessarily good news here since there's literally nothing to balance against. A few things to check immediately: 1) Log into your tax software account and verify the return was actually transmitted (not just prepared), 2) Check your bank account for any fee charges from the tax prep company - if they didn't charge you, they probably didn't file, 3) Look for email confirmations with specific IRS acceptance numbers. If you can't find proof of filing, you'll need to file ASAP. The good news is if you're owed a refund, there's usually no penalty for late filing, but if you owe money, penalties and interest start accruing from the original due date.

I've seen this exact scenario so many times! The "RETURN NOT PRESENT" message is pretty clear - the IRS literally has no record of your return being filed. What's tricky is that some basic info like your filing status might still show up from previous years or IRS records, which can make it confusing. Here's what I'd recommend doing right now: 1. Check your tax software account - look for a "transmission history" or "e-file status" section 2. Search your email for any IRS acceptance confirmations (they usually have subject lines like "Your return has been accepted") 3. If you used a tax preparer, call them immediately and ask for proof that your return was actually submitted The $0 balance isn't necessarily reassuring here since there's nothing for the IRS to calculate penalties against if they never received your return. If you do find out you never filed, don't panic - just get it submitted ASAP. The sooner you file, the sooner you can get this resolved!

Don't forget about state taxes too! You mentioned 4 different taxes - sounds like you're seeing Federal, State, FICA-EE (Social Security), and Med-EE (Medicare). The first two (Federal and State) you can potentially adjust through withholding forms. The FICA (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are fixed percentages that everyone pays on earned income.

I went through this exact same confusion when I started my first "real" job! The tax codes on paystubs are like a foreign language at first. One thing that really helped me was tracking my YTD numbers over a few pay periods - it shows you exactly how much you're paying in taxes annually. At $18/hour, if you're seeing $50 in federal withholding on a bi-weekly check, that projects to about $1,300/year in federal taxes, which does seem high for your income level. Here's what I'd recommend: First, definitely use that IRS Tax Withholding Estimator that was mentioned - it's free and official. Second, when you talk to HR about a new W-4, ask them to show you exactly how they calculate your withholding based on what you filled out. Sometimes there are simple mistakes like accidentally claiming married filing separately instead of single. Also, once you hit your 90-day mark and become eligible for benefits, definitely look into contributing to a 401k if they offer one. Even putting in just $50-100 per paycheck reduces your taxable income and can lower both your federal and state withholding. Plus you're building retirement savings! The FICA and Medicare taxes unfortunately are what they are - everyone pays the same 7.65% combined rate regardless of income level. But getting your federal and state withholding dialed in correctly can make a big difference in your take-home pay.

Jacob, I completely understand your situation - I was in almost the exact same spot when I first started filing taxes! The good news is that your situation is actually pretty straightforward once you understand the basics. Since you sold $1,300 worth of personal items that originally cost you $650-700, you're looking at roughly $600-650 in profit. However, there's an important concept called depreciation to consider - most personal items (clothes, electronics, collectibles) lose value over time through normal wear and use. So even though you made $1,300 in sales, if these items had depreciated since you originally bought them, your actual taxable profit could be much lower or even zero. The IRS really distinguishes between people who are running actual reselling businesses versus folks like you who are just cleaning out their closets. Since these weren't items you bought specifically to resell, and you're not doing this regularly as a business, you're in a much simpler tax situation. You'll likely receive a 1099-K from eBay since you exceeded $600 in sales, but remember - that form just shows your gross sales, not your taxable profit. You only pay taxes on the actual profit after accounting for what you originally paid and reasonable depreciation. For your first time filing, I'd suggest using one of the free or low-cost tax software options that can walk you through this step by step. Don't stress too much - the IRS isn't trying to penalize college students selling old stuff!

Hey Jacob! I totally get the anxiety around filing taxes for the first time - it can feel really overwhelming, especially when you add eBay sales into the mix. But honestly, your situation sounds pretty straightforward once you break it down. The key thing to remember is that you only owe taxes on actual profit, not your total sales. Since you made $1,300 in sales but originally paid $650-700 for those items, you're looking at maybe $600-650 in profit on paper. But here's the important part - those were personal items that have likely depreciated over time. Your old electronics and clothes are probably worth less now than when you bought them, so your actual taxable profit might be even smaller. Since you weren't buying these items specifically to resell (just clearing out stuff you already owned), this is considered occasional personal property sales rather than running a business. That makes the tax treatment much simpler. You'll probably get a 1099-K from eBay since you exceeded $600 in sales, but don't panic when you see that form - it just shows your gross sales, not what you actually owe taxes on. Keep simple records of what you estimate you originally paid for the items you sold (even rough estimates are fine), and any decent tax software can walk you through reporting this properly. For a first-timer in your situation, I'd definitely recommend using software like FreeTaxUSA rather than paying for a tax preparer. You've got this - don't stress too much about it!