I went through this exact scenario last year and understand the frustration completely. After getting my 846 code with a DDD of February 14th, I waited until February 17th with no deposit showing. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, I called my bank directly and asked to speak with someone in their ACH department - not just customer service. They were able to see that the Treasury payment was actually received but was being held for verification due to a slight name formatting difference between my tax return and my bank account. Second, I discovered that the IRS Where's My Refund tool sometimes shows different information than what's on your actual transcript. My transcript showed the 846 code, but WMR was still showing "being processed." The resolution took exactly 4 business days from my DDD, and the funds appeared without any additional action needed. The bank representative explained that government deposits sometimes trigger additional verification protocols, especially if there are any minor discrepancies in how your name appears. If you're still within 5 business days of your DDD, I'd recommend calling your bank's ACH department first before contacting the IRS. They can often provide more immediate answers about whether the payment was received and why it might be delayed.

I've been through this exact situation twice in the past three years, and I completely understand your concern about the reliability of the DDD timeline. What I've learned is that while the 846 code is definitive proof your refund has been approved and sent, the actual deposit timing can vary significantly based on several factors beyond the IRS's control. In my experience, the most common delays occur when: 1. Your bank has additional verification procedures for government deposits over certain amounts 2. The DDD falls on or near a federal holiday, which can extend processing by 1-2 business days 3. There's a minor discrepancy in your account information that triggers a manual review I'd recommend checking your transcript one more time to ensure no additional transaction codes appeared after the 846 (like a 971 notice code), and then contact your bank's treasury or ACH department directly. They can often tell you immediately if the deposit was received and why it might be pending. The good news is that once you have that 846 code, your money is definitely coming - it's just a matter of working through the banking system's processes. Keep us updated on what you find out!

Quick warning about cashing old bonds - the bank teller might not know how to handle them properly! When I cashed my old EE bonds, the first bank I went to reported the ENTIRE amount as interest on my 1099-INT, not just the interest portion. It was a huge headache to fix. Make sure whoever cashes them understands the difference between the principal (what you paid for the bond) and the interest (what you earned). The 1099-INT should only show the interest amount.

Just to add another perspective here - if you're dealing with multiple old bonds from different years, it might be worth keeping detailed records of when you cash each one. I had EE bonds from 1991, 1992, and 1993 that I found all at once, and when I cashed them in 2023, the bank lumped all the interest together on one 1099-INT. This created some confusion because technically each bond had different interest calculation periods and rates. I ended up having to request separate documentation from the Treasury to show the breakdown for my records. Not a huge deal, but something to be aware of if you're in a similar situation with multiple bond years. Also seconding what others said about those 1992 bonds likely being done earning interest - definitely get them cashed sooner rather than later!

Another tip - when you submit multiple Form 8889s, write "HSA 1 of 3", "HSA 2 of 3", and "HSA 3 of 3" at the top of each form. This helps the IRS understand that you're submitting multiple forms intentionally and they're all part of the same tax filing. I had a similar situation and this simple labeling prevented confusion. The IRS agent I spoke with specifically recommended this approach!

Just labeling the forms is usually sufficient! I didn't include any additional explanation letter when I submitted my multiple HSA forms, and the IRS processed them without any issues. The numbering system (like "HSA 1 of 3") makes it clear that you're intentionally filing multiple forms for the same tax year. However, if your situation is particularly complex or if you're responding to a specific IRS notice, you might want to include a brief cover letter explaining that you're filing separate Form 8889s for each HSA account. But for most cases, the labeling alone should do the trick. The key is making sure each form is complete and accurate for its specific HSA, with the correct distributions and qualified medical expenses allocated appropriately across all forms.

This is a common situation that many people organizing informal fundraisers face. The key thing to understand is that the IRS cares more about the economic substance of transactions than the technical flow of funds. Since you're acting as a conduit rather than the beneficial owner of the money, you generally won't owe taxes on these funds - but you need to be prepared to prove that. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Keep detailed records of every incoming Venmo transfer with donor names and amounts 2. Document the purpose of the fundraiser (emails, social media posts, etc.) 3. Get a receipt from the charity showing the final donation amount and date 4. If you receive a 1099-K from Venmo, you can file Form 1040 with an explanation that these were pass-through funds, not income For the person receiving the final transfer, they should also document that this was collected money being donated on behalf of others, not a personal gift from you. They'll be able to claim the charitable deduction, but ethically they might want to coordinate with the original donors about this. The cleanest approach for future fundraisers would be to have people donate directly to the charity or use a platform designed for this purpose, but your current setup isn't uncommon and can be handled properly with good documentation.

Great question! I had a similar situation when I organized a fundraiser for our local food bank last year. One thing that helped me sleep better at night was creating a simple spreadsheet tracking every donation - date received, donor name (if they were comfortable sharing), amount, and any notes from the Venmo transaction. I also sent a group message to all the donors explaining that the final donation would be made by [person's name] but was funded by everyone's contributions. This way there was transparency about who would be claiming the tax deduction, and some donors were able to make direct donations to get their own receipts if they preferred. The person who made the final donation should definitely keep the charity's receipt, but consider asking the charity if they can provide a letter acknowledging that the donation came from a group fundraising effort. Some organizations are willing to do this, which helps document the true source of the funds. Also worth noting - if this becomes a regular thing you do, you might want to look into becoming a registered fundraiser in your state, as some states have requirements for people who regularly collect charitable donations on behalf of others.

Your friend needs to act fast - the longer he waits, the worse this gets. I've seen similar cases where foreign LLC owners thought they could just ignore US tax obligations, and it rarely ends well. First, he absolutely needs to find out his current status. The IRS transcript request is the fastest way - he can get it online or by fax. If penalties have already been assessed, interest is accruing daily at around 8% annually. Regarding just walking away - this is a terrible idea. Even if he's not planning to return to the US, the IRS has increasing cooperation with foreign tax authorities. Argentina has tax information exchange agreements with the US. Plus, if he ever wants to do business with US entities again or travel here, unpaid tax debts will follow him. The smart move is voluntary disclosure with a reasonable cause statement. For a first-time filer who genuinely didn't understand the requirements, there's a good chance of getting significant penalty relief. But he needs professional help - this isn't a DIY situation given the amounts involved. Don't let him panic into making a decision he'll regret for decades. The IRS would rather have someone in compliance than chase uncollectable debt overseas.

I went through something very similar with my French business partner's LLC last year. The $25k per year penalties are no joke, but there are definitely options before considering just walking away. For checking penalty status without physical mail access, your friend should immediately request IRS transcripts online at irs.gov. He'll need to verify his identity, but this will show exactly what's been assessed against the LLC. The transcript will include any penalties, notices, and payment history. Regarding just not paying - this is really risky even for foreign nationals. The IRS has been getting much more aggressive about international collections, especially with LLCs that have US bank accounts or assets. They can freeze those accounts, file liens, and as others mentioned, tax treaties mean this could follow him internationally. The better path is definitely voluntary disclosure with a strong reasonable cause statement. I've seen cases where penalties were reduced by 70-90% when the taxpayer came forward proactively. Key factors that helped: demonstrating good faith effort to comply, showing it was due to unfamiliarity with US tax law rather than willful neglect, and having a clear plan for future compliance. He should also consider whether the LLC actually had reportable transactions - sometimes the penalties can be challenged if there were truly no reportable events, though this is fact-specific. Get professional help ASAP - the interest meter is running and early action makes all the difference in penalty abatement requests.