I'm dealing with this same issue right now - my Nevada state refund has been "authorized" for 4 business days and still nothing in my Wells Fargo account. It's so frustrating when you need that money for bills! Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though. It sounds like 2-4 business days is pretty normal, and I'm seeing that California and Texas folks are having similar timelines with Wells Fargo. One thing I noticed is that my federal refund came through much faster (like 24 hours after approval), but apparently state refunds just process differently. The early morning checking tip is gold - I've been refreshing my app all day like a crazy person! Going to try just checking once around 6am from now on to save my sanity. For anyone else waiting, it seems like the "authorized" status is actually a good sign that everything is moving along normally, just slower than we'd like. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My California state refund has been showing "authorized" since Tuesday and it's Friday evening with still no deposit in my Wells Fargo account. Reading everyone's experiences here is really helping calm my nerves - it sounds like 2-4 business days is completely normal. What's really interesting is how much faster the federal refund was compared to state. My IRS refund hit my Wells Fargo account literally the day after it showed approved, but this state one is taking forever! I had no idea there was such a difference in processing times. I'm definitely going to stop checking my app every hour and just do the early morning check routine that everyone's mentioning. The anxiety of waiting for money you're counting on for bills is real, but at least now I know this timeline is totally normal. Hopefully Monday brings good news for all of us still waiting! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines - this community is so helpful for understanding what to expect with these refund deposits.

I'm in a very similar boat and this entire discussion has been a lifesaver! My paper return was also mailed via certified mail in mid-March and delivered to the Kansas City processing center on March 16th. Like everyone else here, I've been stuck with that misleading "waiting in PO Box" status and absolutely no updates in "Where's My Refund." What really helped me was learning from the tax professional's comment that this status doesn't actually mean our returns are sitting forgotten - the IRS just doesn't update USPS tracking when they collect mail from their PO Boxes. The breakdown of all the internal processing stages (sorting, queuing, manual handling) before anything appears in their system finally explains these long delays. The 10-14 week timeline for Kansas City processing center is definitely longer than I hoped for, but at least now I have realistic expectations instead of panicking at week 3 like I was doing. I've downloaded the IRS2Go app for alerts and I'm going to try the "warehouse operation" mindset - this isn't Amazon shipping, it's a massive bureaucratic process that takes months. My certified mail receipt gives me peace of mind about the filing date protection. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's so reassuring to know this is completely normal even though it feels stressful as someone new to paper filing!

I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful thread as someone who's currently going through this exact same situation! My paper return was mailed certified mail on March 14th and delivered to the Kansas City processing center on March 16th - almost the exact same timeline as several others here. Like everyone else, I've been stuck with that frustrating "waiting in PO Box" status and have been obsessively checking "Where's My Refund" daily with zero results. I was starting to convince myself that something had gone wrong until I found this discussion. The professional insight about the misleading USPS tracking status was eye-opening - I had no idea that "waiting in PO Box" doesn't actually mean our returns are sitting there forgotten, but rather that tracking stops once the IRS picks up their mail. The detailed explanation of all the internal processing stages (sorting facilities, queues, manual handling) finally makes sense of these month-long delays. While the 10-14 week processing timeline for Kansas City is longer than I was hoping for, it's so much better to have realistic expectations than to keep panicking every week. I've already downloaded the IRS2Go app for alerts and I'm going to try my best to adopt that "warehouse operation" mindset rather than expecting modern digital business efficiency. My certified mail receipt definitely gives me peace of mind knowing my filing date is protected regardless of how long processing takes. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's incredibly reassuring to know this is completely normal even though it feels nerve-wracking as a first-time paper filer!

Important thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure your sister properly reports any taxable portion of her condo sale on her taxes! If she sold a primary residence she lived in for at least 2 of the last 5 years, she likely qualifies for the capital gains exclusion (up to $250k for single filers), meaning she might not owe taxes anyway. The temporary deposit in your joint account doesn't change anything about how she reports the sale. She should receive a 1099-S if the sale was handled by a title company, and she'll report everything on her return using Schedule D and Form 8949 if needed.

Just want to add another perspective here - I work at a credit union and see these situations fairly regularly. The key thing to remember is that banks report cash transactions over $10,000 through CTRs (Currency Transaction Reports), but this is purely for regulatory compliance, not tax purposes. These reports go to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) and are used to track potential money laundering or other financial crimes. They're not automatically shared with the IRS for tax enforcement purposes, and receiving one doesn't mean you owe taxes or need to report anything additional. Your situation sounds completely normal - family members often use joint accounts for convenience when handling large transactions like real estate sales. As long as the money's source is legitimate (which a documented condo sale clearly is) and your sister reports any taxable gains on her return, you have nothing to worry about. The paper trail you already have (sale documents, deposit records, transfer to her individual account) is perfect documentation if any questions ever arise.

As a tax attorney who specializes in employee benefits, I want to commend this community for providing exceptionally accurate guidance on HSA contribution limits. The consensus reached here is absolutely correct. To definitively confirm what everyone has been saying: under IRC Section 223 and Treasury Regulation 1.223-2(c)(2)(ii), "family coverage" is defined as coverage under an HDHP for the eligible individual and at least one other individual. The spouse's separate non-HDHP coverage is completely irrelevant to your HSA contribution eligibility. In your specific case, since your HDHP will cover you and your dependent child, you unambiguously qualify for the 2025 family contribution limit of $11,100 (plus $1,000 catch-up if you're 55+). The IRS has been consistent on this interpretation across multiple private letter rulings and Revenue Procedures. One additional consideration: ensure your HDHP meets the minimum deductible requirements for family coverage ($3,200 for 2025). Some "family" plans are structured as individual coverage for each member rather than true family coverage, which could affect your HSA eligibility. Document everything related to your coverage changes and contribution decisions. While this is a straightforward application of the tax code, having clear records protects you in the unlikely event of an IRS inquiry.

This thread has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who just joined this community while researching HSA contribution limits for my own changing family coverage situation, I'm amazed by the depth and consistency of guidance provided here. The unanimous consensus - backed by multiple IRS Publication 969 citations, direct IRS agent confirmations, and now legal validation from a tax attorney - is crystal clear: if your HDHP covers you plus any dependent, you qualify for the family HSA contribution limit of $11,100 for 2025, regardless of your spouse's separate insurance coverage. What transforms this from just a good answer into an exceptional resource is how organically it evolved to cover all the practical considerations: catch-up contributions, the last month rule, payroll coordination, documentation best practices, employer matching implications, and multiple pathways for getting official guidance when HR provides conflicting advice. As someone who was getting mixed signals from my own benefits team about a nearly identical situation, this discussion has given me the confidence to move forward with the family contribution limit. The combination of community knowledge, professional validation, and specific regulatory citations makes this the gold standard for HSA guidance. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise - this is exactly why community-driven knowledge sharing is so powerful for navigating complex financial decisions!

Wow, this has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's been quietly following this community for a while, this thread perfectly showcases why this place is such a valuable resource for navigating complex tax situations. I'm actually in the very early stages of a similar situation - my aging parents are starting to talk about downsizing, and I can already see we'll need to sell decades of accumulated belongings. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me a roadmap for how to approach this properly from the start. The key takeaways I'm noting: get written authorization early, document everything meticulously (including photos of maker's marks and items in their original locations), understand the distinction between acting as an agent versus earning income, consider the timing of sales strategically, and don't forget about state taxes and benefit eligibility issues. The resources mentioned throughout this thread - taxr.ai, Claimyr, and the advice to consult with elder law attorneys for Medicaid considerations - are incredibly valuable. It's clear that while this process has complexity, it's absolutely manageable with the right preparation and professional guidance when needed. Diego, thank you for asking such an important question that so many families face. The comprehensive discussion that followed has created what feels like the definitive guide for handling estate auction sales and their tax implications. This thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with similar family transitions!

This entire discussion has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who just joined this community, I'm blown away by the depth of knowledge and willingness to help that everyone has shown here. I'm currently facing a very similar situation with my late grandfather's estate - tons of tools, collectibles, and household items that need to be sold. Reading through all the experiences and advice shared here has been like getting a masterclass in handling estate sales properly. The progression of this conversation from Diego's initial question to covering every conceivable angle - tax implications, documentation strategies, agent authorization, Medicaid considerations, state taxes, timing strategies, and family coordination - is remarkable. It's exactly the kind of comprehensive guidance that families desperately need but can rarely find in one place. I'm particularly grateful for the specific resources mentioned like taxr.ai and Claimyr, as well as all the practical implementation tips about spreadsheets, photo documentation, and record-keeping. The advice about photographing items in their original locations and documenting maker's marks is brilliant - those are details I never would have thought of on my own. What really strikes me is how this thread demonstrates that these situations are becoming increasingly common as more families face aging and estate transitions, yet there's so little consolidated guidance available elsewhere. This community discussion has filled that gap beautifully. Diego, thank you for asking such an important question that clearly resonated with so many people. You've helped create what might be the most comprehensive resource available for families navigating auction sales and their tax implications!