This discrepancy between SBTPG's phone system and website is unfortunately very common and nothing to worry about! I went through this exact same thing a few weeks ago and it drove me absolutely crazy. The phone system updates in real-time when the IRS releases your refund to SBTPG, while their website seems to run on some ancient batch processing system that can lag 24-72 hours behind. When you hear "paid" on the phone, that's the reliable indicator - it means your refund is in SBTPG's hands and will typically hit your bank account within 1-3 business days. I'd recommend setting up mobile banking alerts so you know the moment it arrives, because the SBTPG website will probably still be showing "unfunded" even after your money is already deposited! Just try to be patient (easier said than done, I know) and check your bank account rather than obsessing over their website updates.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The SBTPG phone system told me "paid" for THREE DAYS while their website kept showing "unfunded" - I was starting to think I was losing my mind. Turns out their website is just ridiculously slow to update. What helped me stay sane was calling my bank directly to ask if they had any pending deposits coming in. My bank could actually see the ACH transfer was in progress before SBTPG's website ever updated. The money showed up on a Wednesday morning, and their website STILL said "unfunded" until Thursday afternoon. It's honestly embarrassing how outdated their web systems are compared to their phone system. My advice? Trust the phone status and maybe give your bank a call to see if they can spot any incoming transfers. At least then you'll have a third source of information to help triangulate what's actually happening!

Just to add to what others have said - I work as a tax preparer and see this situation a lot with gig economy workers. The key thing to understand is that in Canada, ALL income is taxable regardless of source or amount. There's no "minimum threshold" before you have to report it. For FeetFinder specifically, this would definitely be considered self-employment income since you're providing a service/product for payment. You'll report it on Form T2125 as part of your personal tax return. One thing people often miss is that you can deduct legitimate business expenses against this income - things like photography equipment, props, a portion of your internet/phone bills, and yes, even personal grooming expenses if they're directly related to your business. Just make sure to keep all receipts and that the expenses are reasonable. Also, don't forget about CPP contributions - you'll need to pay both the employee and employer portions on your self-employment income, which can be a surprise for first-time self-employed folks. Plan to set aside about 25-30% of your earnings for taxes and CPP.

Just wanted to add a practical tip that's helped me a lot - open a separate bank account specifically for your side hustle income and expenses. This makes tracking everything SO much easier at tax time. I deposit all my platform earnings into this dedicated account and use it to pay for any business-related expenses. At the end of the year, I just need to look at one account statement instead of trying to sort through all my personal transactions to find the business ones. Also, consider using a simple spreadsheet or app to track your monthly earnings and expenses as you go. I learned this the hard way after my first year when I had to dig through hundreds of screenshots and receipts trying to piece everything together. Now I just spend 10 minutes each month updating my records and tax time is a breeze! The key is setting up good systems from the start rather than trying to organize everything retroactively.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year with my PayPal 1099-K showing around $85K in transactions from sports betting activities. The key thing that helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet that separated: 1) Actual deposits TO sportsbooks (not taxable income) 2) Withdrawals FROM sportsbooks (potential winnings) 3) Money transfers with friends (definitely not taxable) 4) Net gambling wins/losses by session The 1099-K is just PayPal reporting gross payment volume - it's NOT all taxable income. You'll only pay tax on your net gambling winnings (if any). Since you mentioned having net losses, you might not owe additional tax from gambling at all. For the friend situation, keep clear records showing when money was just passing through your account versus actual gambling activity. Text messages, Venmo descriptions, etc. can all serve as documentation. I'd recommend going with a CPA who has gambling tax experience rather than H&R Block. The cost difference was worth it for the peace of mind and proper documentation.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got my PayPal 1099-K showing about $67K in transactions, mostly from DraftKings and some peer-to-peer transfers for betting pools with friends. One thing I learned from my preliminary research is that you absolutely need to keep the friend transactions separate from your actual gambling activity. The IRS doesn't care about money that just flows through your account - they only want to tax actual gambling winnings. I'd definitely lean toward finding a CPA with gambling tax experience. I called around to a few tax preparers and was shocked at how many weren't familiar with the new 1099-K reporting requirements or how to properly handle online gambling situations. Also, start gathering your documentation now if you haven't already. Most sportsbooks let you download your complete betting history, which makes creating that detailed record much easier. Don't wait until tax season when you're stressed and rushing to get everything together. The good news is that if you truly had net losses for the year, you shouldn't owe tax on gambling income - but you still need to report everything correctly to avoid any red flags with the IRS.

I've been through this exact waiting game with Navy Federal for the past 2 years and totally get that anxious feeling! Based on my experience, Navy Federal is super consistent but they handle tax refunds differently than regular direct deposits. They typically don't show pending status for IRS deposits - your refund will just appear as available funds right at midnight Eastern time on your DDD. So since tomorrow is 3/13, you should see your money hit your account at 12:01 AM tonight (or 9 PM if you're on the west coast due to time zones). I used to refresh my app every few minutes the day before too, but I've learned that Navy Federal's system runs like clockwork for tax refunds. Save yourself the stress and just check once after midnight - your refund will definitely be there! The waiting is the worst part, but Navy Federal has never let me down. 💰

I've been with Navy Federal for my tax refunds for 3 years now and can absolutely confirm what everyone is saying - they're incredibly reliable with that midnight processing! I remember my first year being just as anxious as you are right now, checking my app literally every 5 minutes the day before my DDD. What I've learned is that Navy Federal treats tax refunds like a precise science - no pending status shown, but your money will be there at exactly 12:01 AM Eastern on your DDD. Since yours is 3/13, that means tonight after midnight (or 9 PM Pacific if you're on the west coast). I actually prefer this system now because there's no guessing - either it's there or it isn't, and with Navy Federal it's always there right on time. Set yourself a reminder for 12:05 AM and try to distract yourself until then. Your refund is definitely coming, even if you can't see the train approaching the station yet! The waiting game is brutal but Navy Federal has never failed me. 🚂💰

Have you considered that your refund might actually be correct? I had a similar situation where my refund was nearly double what I expected. Freaked out, had an accountant review it, and turns out everything was right. Between earned income credit, child tax credits, education credits, and some pandemic relief stuff, the tax code was actually pretty generous for certain situations last year. Not saying don't double check, but also don't assume it's wrong just because it's bigger than expected!

I totally understand your anxiety about this! I went through something very similar last year and it turned out my large refund was actually correct, but here's what helped me verify everything: First, create a simple spreadsheet listing ALL your income sources and tax withholdings separately. Include your W-2 wages + withholding, each 1099 amount, unemployment compensation + withholding, and all your quarterly estimated payments. Sometimes seeing it laid out this way reveals if you double-entered something or missed an income source. Second, pay special attention to the refundable credits section. The Earned Income Tax Credit alone can add thousands to your refund even if you paid zero in taxes. With mixed W-2 and 1099 income plus unemployment, you might hit that sweet spot where your earned income qualifies you for maximum EITC benefits. Third, if you're still unsure after double-checking everything, consider using the IRS's own calculators on their website for EITC and other major credits. Sometimes tax software can be overly generous in its calculations. The fact that you keep detailed records and are this concerned about accuracy tells me you're probably doing everything right. Large refunds aren't always errors - sometimes they're just the tax system working as designed to help people in situations like yours!