I just went through this same situation! Filed my return electronically 4 days ago and was getting anxious about the lack of acceptance notification, especially since this is my first year filing with solely retirement income (pension and 401k distributions). After reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel much better about the timeline. It sounds like 7-10 days is completely normal, and weekend filings definitely seem to take longer. I used H&R Block's software and have been obsessively checking both their tracker and the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool multiple times daily. One thing I noticed is that their system shows "transmitted successfully" but still waiting on "IRS accepted." Based on what Miguel and others shared about the distinction between transmission and acceptance, I think I just need to be more patient. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it's so helpful to know what's actually normal versus what we expect!

I'm new to this community and dealing with my first tax filing since becoming self-employed! I submitted my return electronically 3 days ago and have been anxiously checking for acceptance. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like I'm still well within the normal timeframe. I used TaxAct and can see that my return was "transmitted successfully" but I'm still waiting for the IRS acceptance notification. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone noticed if returns with Schedule C (business income) take longer for acceptance than simpler returns? My situation changed this year from W-2 employee to freelance work, so I have both 1099s and business expenses to report. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - it really helps newcomers like me understand what's normal versus what might be cause for concern!

You're getting excellent advice here, Aaron! Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact scenario. When my spouse and I got married, we had the same privacy concerns and decided to file separately. The good news is that your mom can absolutely prepare your return without needing your wife's income information (assuming you're not in a community property state, which it sounds like you're not). She'll just need your wife's name and Social Security Number for your return. One small tip that saved us some headaches - create a simple shared document or note where you and your wife can quickly coordinate on the key decisions: standard deduction vs. itemizing, and how you're splitting any shared deductible expenses like mortgage interest or charitable donations. You don't need to share detailed financial info, just the coordination points. We've been filing separately for three years now and it works great for maintaining financial privacy while staying compliant. Your approach sounds perfectly reasonable, and it's nice that your mom can help with the tax prep while still respecting your wife's privacy preferences!

Aaron, you've received some excellent advice here! Just to summarize the key points for your situation: Since you're not in a community property state, your mom can absolutely prepare your tax return using only your income information. Your wife's income details won't be needed - just her name and SSN for the return. The main coordination points you and your wife should discuss are: 1. Both of you must either itemize deductions OR both take the standard deduction 2. Any shared deductible expenses (like mortgage interest) need to be split appropriately between your returns 3. If you have children, decide who claims them as dependents Your wife's desire for financial privacy is completely reasonable, and married filing separately is designed exactly for situations like yours. You can maintain that privacy while still being tax compliant. Just make sure you've actually calculated whether filing separately vs. jointly saves you money overall - sometimes the lost credits and deductions make joint filing more beneficial even when you prefer the privacy of separate returns. It sounds like you and your wife have thought this through well, and your mom should be able to handle your return without any issues!

Has anyone here done the Master of Science in Taxation program online? I'm looking at the ones from Northeastern and Golden Gate University but can't decide if the cost is worth it compared to just getting an EA designation.

Coming from a business management background myself, I'd recommend starting with the EA route first. It's the most direct path to tax specialization and you can begin working in the field while you decide if you want to pursue additional credentials later. The EA exam covers individual, business, and representation topics - all essential for tax strategy work. Study materials from Gleim or Becker are solid, and most people pass within 3-6 months of focused study. The credential lets you represent clients before the IRS immediately, which is huge for building credibility. Once you're working and have real experience, you can always add a CPA or pursue an MST if you want to move into more complex corporate work. But EA gets you started fastest and the knowledge directly applies to tax strategy. Plus, you'll have a better sense of which direction you want to specialize after working with actual clients. I'd also suggest volunteering for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs to get hands-on experience while you're studying. It's a great way to practice what you're learning and build your resume.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Code 420 showed up on my transcript about 10 days ago and I've been checking my mailbox obsessively every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better - sounds like the 2-6 week delay between the transcript code and receiving the actual letter is pretty normal. As a fellow student, I totally get the stress about the timing with your dorm move. I'm planning to graduate in December and was worried about address changes too. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like calling the IRS to verify your address is the smart move, especially since you know you'll be moving soon. Has anyone here had experience with what happens if you move during an active audit? I'm wondering if updating your address with Form 8822 before the letter even arrives could cause any confusion in their system, or if it's better to wait until after you receive the initial notice.

I've been through this exact scenario as a college student! The anxiety of seeing that 420 code without getting the letter is real. Here's what worked for me: First, don't panic about missing response deadlines - your 60-day clock doesn't start until you physically receive the CP75 letter, not when the code appears on your transcript. The IRS systems are notorious for updating weeks before actual mail delivery. Given your May 15th move date, I'd take these immediate steps: • Call 1-800-829-1040 early morning (7-8 AM has shortest wait times) • Verify they have your correct current address • Ask if any correspondence has been generated yet • File Form 8822 online TODAY to update to your new dorm address As a student, this is likely just verification of education credits or student loan interest - super common and usually straightforward. I had to provide my 1098-T form and some receipts, but it was resolved in about 6 weeks total. Pro tip: Set up USPS mail forwarding from your current address to your new dorm as a backup. This way if the letter gets sent to your old address after you move, it'll still reach you. The peace of mind is worth the small fee!

Adding to all the great advice here! I just want to emphasize something that really helped me when I was in this exact situation last year: **don't let the stress overwhelm you**. The key insight that saved me a lot of anxiety was realizing that the IRS actually expects people to make mistakes and has built-in processes to handle them. Form 1040-X exists specifically for situations like yours! Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: 1. Your original refund is completely separate from any amendment - it won't be delayed 2. The majority of people who forget their 1095-A end up getting additional money back (based on what I'm seeing in this thread too!) 3. E-filing amendments is SO much faster now - I got mine processed in about 8 weeks The fact that you caught this relatively quickly actually puts you in a great position. Some people don't realize until they get an IRS notice months later! Once you check those boxes 21-23 on your 1095-A, you'll know exactly where you stand. And honestly, even if you do need to amend, it sounds like your home repair timeline will work out perfectly - original refund on schedule, potential bonus money later. You're being responsible by addressing this proactively. That's exactly the right approach! 🙌

I've been through this exact situation and I totally understand the panic! 😰 The good news is that this is much more common than you think, and there's a straightforward process to handle it. **First things first:** Check your 1095-A form, specifically boxes 21-23. If these boxes are blank or show $0.00, you likely don't need to amend at all since the form wouldn't affect your tax calculation. If those boxes DO have amounts (meaning you received advance premium tax credits), then you'll need to file Form 1040-X along with Form 8962. But here's the encouraging part - based on my experience and what I'm seeing from others here, you might actually end up with additional refund money! This happens when your actual income differs from what you estimated when you enrolled. **Great news about your timeline:** Your original refund will process completely normally and won't be delayed by this issue. I received mine right on schedule while my amendment was being processed separately. So your spring home repair plans should stay on track! 🏠 **Pro tip:** If you do need to amend, definitely e-file it rather than mailing paper forms. I got my amendment processed in about 9 weeks, which is much faster than the old paper filing times. Don't be too hard on yourself - you caught this early and you're being proactive about fixing it. That's exactly the right approach! You've got this! 💪