I'm glad to hear you were finally successful. Thank you for your kind words.
For your files, and for next time, I suggest you make notes about what you did and file them with a printed or electronic copy of your taxes. I described how to print or download a copy of your return and worksheets using "Print Preview" in my initial response to your post.
Now for your questions.
1a) The first task is for you to determine if your stock trading is a business or a hobby. References follow
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/heres-how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-hobby-and-a-business-for-tax... this includes links to other IRS sites.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-07-18.pdf
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/small-business-taxes/when-the-irs-classifies-your-business-as-a...
You can also GOOGLE "business hobby irs OR turbotax" (without the quotes, but with caps as typed for the word OR.)
1b) If your activity qualifies as a business:
1b1 - You do not need to get a Self-Employment ID, or TIN. You can use your SSN.
1b2 - You may file Schedule C Profit and Loss from Business. This allows you to deduct business related expenses from your profits. If you do so, you will need to pay self-employment tax on your profits. There are multiple advantages and disadvantages involved in using Schedule C - many of which I am not familiar with. You may want to consult a professional for advice.
1b3 - For 2022, (or maybe for 2021) You may want to consider using a turbotax download product (not the online version). This would allow you to make a copy of your file (change the name so you don't overwrite the original), make changes and see the difference between filing as a business or not. Then choose the one most advantageous.
1b4 - On Schedule C You can only deduct expenses incurred in the tax year of the return. If you wanted to deduct expenses incurred in 2020, you would have to file an amended return for 2020. The same applies for previous years.
1b5 - Filing as a business may add complexity to your tax preparation.
2) Regarding not receiving your 2020 tax refund check, refer to
https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/refund-inquiries/refund-inquiries-0
End Note:
I suggest you start preparing your taxes earlier next year, to avoid the pain and suffering involved with missing the deadline. This would also help you avoid the rush of people at the deadline and hopefully speed access to support.
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