As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since I was in an almost identical situation just two months ago. I was caring for my disabled brother and desperately needed to know when his refund would arrive for his ongoing medical treatments. Like you, I saw the TC 846 code with a specific date on the transcript and was anxiously researching what it meant. The good news is that the 846 code with a date is indeed your Direct Deposit Date, and in my case, the funds were deposited exactly on the date shown. However, what I learned through this process might help you plan better: My bank (Navy Federal) actually posted the deposit at 2 AM on the exact date shown, but it didn't show as "available" until 6 AM that same morning due to their internal processing. I highly recommend calling your bank 2-3 days before the DDD to ask specifically about their timeline for IRS deposits - some banks make funds available immediately while others have brief processing holds even for government deposits. Also, I found it helpful to screenshot my transcript showing the 846 code as documentation, and I built in a 48-hour buffer when scheduling my brother's care payments just to be safe. The 846 code ended up being completely accurate, but having that small cushion eliminated the stress of wondering "what if." You're asking all the right questions, and the fact that you're planning ahead shows you're being incredibly responsible in managing your mother's care needs.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - managing my elderly mother's finances and care needs while trying to understand when her tax refund will arrive. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational and reassuring. The consensus that TC 846 with a date is your Direct Deposit Date with 95-98% accuracy gives me much more confidence than I had before. What really stands out to me is how many experienced members emphasize the importance of the "caregiver's triple-check approach" - monitoring for reversal codes, calling the bank ahead of time, and building in that 3-4 day buffer for care payments. I never realized that even when the IRS side works perfectly, banking delays can still create complications. I'm definitely going to call my bank this week to understand their specific processing timeline for IRS deposits and set up account alerts so I'm not constantly checking my balance. The practical advice about screenshotting the transcript for documentation is something I wouldn't have thought of on my own. It's such a relief to find people who understand that when you're coordinating medical appointments, therapy sessions, and care services, you simply can't afford to just "wait and see" - the responsibility adds an entirely different level of urgency to the whole process. Thank you all for sharing both the technical expertise and the real-world caregiving wisdom!

Don't forget that if you're paying contractors less than $600 in a year, you don't need to file a 1099-NEC for them at all. This applies per person/entity, not total. Saved me a bunch of paperwork last year when I realized most of my small repairs didn't meet the threshold!

For what it's worth, I went through this exact same confusion last year as a new landlord. The IRS terminology is really confusing when you're just an individual with a rental property. Here's what worked for me: 1. Got an EIN online (took 5 minutes, completely free directly from IRS.gov) 2. Selected "Sole Proprietorship" on the IRIS application 3. Used my full legal name as the business name 4. Filed electronically through IRIS The key thing that wasn't obvious to me initially is that having rental income technically makes you a "sole proprietor" in the eyes of the IRS for 1099 purposes, even though it doesn't feel like you're running a business. You're still just filing Schedule E on your personal tax return like always. One tip: Keep good records of your EIN and IRIS login info because you'll need them again next year. And remember the January 31st deadline for getting the 1099-NEC forms to your recipients (the IRS filing deadline is later).

Just wanted to add that you should definitely keep that IRS letter with your tax records! Even though it might look unofficial compared to a regular 1099-INT, it's still an important tax document. I made the mistake of filing mine away too early last year and then panicked when I couldn't find it during tax prep. Also, if the amount seems off to you or you're not sure why you received interest, you can always call the number on the letter to verify. Sometimes there are calculation errors, though they're pretty rare. The IRS is usually pretty good about explaining exactly what the interest payment is for - whether it's from a delayed refund, an amended return, or some other processing delay on their end.

I went through this exact same situation a couple years ago and it was confusing at first! The key thing to remember is that this IRS interest is completely separate taxable income, even though it came from the government. What helped me was thinking of it this way: the IRS is acting like any other financial institution when they pay you interest. They're required by law to report it to you (and to themselves) just like your bank or credit union does. For your tax software, just add a new 1099-INT entry with "Internal Revenue Service" as the payer name, use that EIN number (38-1798424) they provided, and enter the amount in Box 1 for interest income. Keep it completely separate from your credit union's 1099-INT - don't combine them since they're from different sources. The good news is this won't cause any issues with the IRS since they already know they paid you this money. In fact, they're expecting you to report it! And congrats on getting interest from them - it usually means they took longer than they should have to process something, so it's their way of making it right.

You've already received some great advice here, but I want to emphasize something important - don't let this contractor's behavior delay your tax filing any longer. Based on what you've described, you have solid documentation with your separate bank account records, and that's exactly what the IRS expects in situations like this. Since you mentioned estimating around $13,000 from January through June, I'd recommend gathering every piece of evidence you can: bank statements (even from your closed account - the bank should provide these), any invoices you sent, email confirmations of payments, or even text messages discussing payment amounts. The more documentation you have, the better. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1) Send a final certified mail request for the 1099-NEC with a specific deadline, 2) Calculate your exact income from your bank records, 3) File your return using Schedule C to report the self-employment income, and 4) Keep all documentation of your attempts to obtain the proper forms. The IRS understands that not all employers follow the rules, and they have procedures in place for exactly these situations. Your substantial refund with three dependents shouldn't be held hostage by one difficult contractor who's clearly trying to make your life difficult. File accurately based on your records and let the IRS deal with his non-compliance separately.

I'm sorry you're dealing with such a frustrating situation with your former contractor. This kind of vindictive behavior is unfortunately more common than it should be, especially when there are payment disputes involved. Based on what you've shared, you actually have a strong foundation to move forward with filing your taxes. The fact that you kept all payments in a separate account shows excellent record-keeping, and that's going to be your best defense here. Even though the account is closed, you can still request those statements from your bank - most banks keep records for several years and will provide them upon request, especially for tax purposes. Don't let this person's refusal to cooperate delay your filing any longer. The IRS has specific procedures for situations exactly like yours where contractors fail to provide required documentation. You're legally obligated to report that income regardless of whether you receive a 1099-NEC, and the IRS expects this - they know not all payers follow the rules. I'd recommend documenting your attempts to obtain the 1099-NEC (certified mail is best for creating a paper trail), calculating your exact earnings from your bank records, and filing using Schedule C to report the self-employment income. With three dependents and a substantial refund waiting, there's no reason to let this difficult contractor control your financial timeline any longer.

I've been dealing with these same aggressive "tax strategist" ads and this discussion has been incredibly valuable! As someone who works in tax compliance, I can confirm what everyone is saying about the "zero tax" claims being major red flags. What these services often do is take legitimate strategies like Section 199A deductions, proper depreciation schedules, and industry-specific credits, then present them as if they're secret knowledge that regular CPAs don't know. The truth is, any competent CPA specializing in your industry should already be implementing these strategies. For manufacturing businesses specifically, the real opportunities are in cost segregation studies, proper equipment depreciation timing (Section 179 vs bonus depreciation), R&D credits for product development, and optimizing entity structure. These aren't hidden loopholes - they're established tax code provisions that require proper application and ongoing planning. Before spending $5,000+ on these heavily marketed services, I'd recommend interviewing 2-3 CPAs who specialize in manufacturing. Ask them specifically about their experience with businesses your size, how they handle equipment purchases for tax optimization, and what manufacturing-specific strategies they typically implement. A qualified professional will discuss these confidently and explain how they apply to your situation - without the high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic promises. The legitimate tax savings are absolutely there for manufacturing businesses, but they come from ongoing professional relationships with qualified CPAs, not expensive one-time consultations with marketing-heavy services.

This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable for someone like me who's been getting hit with these aggressive tax service ads nonstop! As a small business owner with about 8 employees in the construction industry, I was seriously considering one of these "tax strategist" services because I felt like my current CPA wasn't being proactive enough with tax planning. Reading through everyone's real experiences - especially from the tax professionals who've chimed in - has completely changed my perspective. The consistent pattern is crystal clear: these services are repackaging standard tax knowledge at premium prices while making unrealistic "zero tax" promises that should be immediate red flags. What I find most helpful is how this conversation evolved into practical guidance for finding industry-specialized CPAs. Even though construction has different specifics than manufacturing or retail, the core principle is the same - I should be looking for someone who understands the unique aspects of my industry like equipment depreciation, project-based accounting, and seasonal cash flow management. The evaluation questions everyone has shared are brilliant. I'm going to create construction-specific versions to test potential CPAs on things like completed contract vs percentage of completion methods, Section 199A implications for contractors, and how they handle equipment vs small tools depreciation. Instead of falling for these expensive marketing services, I'm going to invest that money in finding a CPA who genuinely specializes in construction businesses. Thanks to everyone for sharing such honest, detailed experiences - this discussion has definitely saved me from making a costly mistake while pointing me toward legitimate professional expertise!