Yes, everyone knows that's how you get an early refund. If you're not getting one, then the only goal is to get it your forms in by the deadline, with a minimum of cost and grief. We at least can each choose our methodology, for now. Dreading the day when we all must use one mandated and buggy uber-app for this process.

As for the backlog, happy to contribute to that if it helps shame the gubmint into giving the IRS adequate funding some day. I do not feel I owe them any free data entry work.