after 5 months of my transcript being blank and the as of date changing multiple times, i finally broke down and spent money on claimyr.com to actually talk to a human at the IRS. turns out they flagged my return because my 2022 return hadn't fully processed yet due to a clerical error on their end. the agent fixed it right away and I got both refunds within 2 weeks. sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to fix these issues.

I'm going through almost the exact same thing! Filed in March 2023 and my transcript has been blank forever. Just like you, I've had to verify my identity multiple times (twice online and once by phone). My "as of" date also recently changed to a future date in 2025. It's so frustrating because you feel completely in the dark about what's happening. I've been checking my transcript obsessively too, hoping to see some kind of update or code that would give me a clue about the status. From what I'm reading in the other comments, it sounds like the date change might actually be a positive sign that things are moving forward. I really hope that's the case for both of us! Let me know if you see any other updates on your transcript.

Speaking from experience (3 years running a US-based online marketing business while traveling), the technical/practical aspects were actually harder than the legal/tax aspects. Time zone challenges when clients expect meetings during US business hours but you're in Asia was brutal. Internet reliability is another huge factor - I learned to always have backup internet options (local SIM with hotspot capability + regular wifi). Also recommend setting up a good VoIP phone service that lets you maintain a US number. I use Google Voice which lets me make/receive US calls from anywhere. Clients never knew I was responding from a beach in Bali at 11pm my time.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is visa requirements and how they might affect your tax situation. While you can absolutely run your US business from abroad, some countries have strict rules about working on tourist visas, even if it's remote work for a US company. Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and several European nations are cracking down on "digital nomads" working on tourist visas. Getting caught could result in deportation and future visa denials. Consider looking into digital nomad visas that several countries now offer - Portugal, Estonia, and Barbados have legitimate remote work visas. Also, be aware that spending too much time in certain countries (usually 183+ days) can trigger tax residency there, which could complicate your US tax situation even with the FEIE. Each country has different thresholds and rules. I'd strongly recommend consulting with both a US international tax attorney AND researching the work visa requirements for each country you plan to visit. The $500-1000 you spend on proper legal advice upfront could save you from major legal and tax headaches down the road.

If you're experiencing the SBTPG lag issue, there's an alternative verification method worth trying. Log into your IRS transcript and look for Code 846 with the current cycle date. This Transaction Code indicates the IRS has released your refund to the designated recipient (SBTPG in this case). The date associated with this code typically precedes your actual bank deposit by 1-5 business days. This verification method bypasses SBTPG's system entirely and gives you confirmation directly from the source.

This timing discrepancy has been driving me crazy! I filed three weeks ago and have been refreshing the SBTPG portal obsessively. Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like I should actually be checking my bank account more frequently than the SBTPG site. Has anyone found a reliable pattern for when deposits typically hit accounts versus when SBTPG updates? Like, is it usually overnight deposits that create the biggest lag, or does it happen at all times of day? I'm trying to figure out if there's an optimal time to check my bank account instead of wearing out the SBTPG portal refresh button!

To clarify a point that might be confusing: The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS) operate separate collection systems. SSA handles the reduction of your monthly benefits, while BFS manages the Treasury Offset Program that can take your tax refund. This is why you might experience both actions simultaneously - they're administered by different agencies, even though they're collecting for the same debt.

I'm going through something similar right now and wanted to share what I've learned. Yes, they can absolutely take both your monthly benefits AND your tax refund - it's like getting hit from two directions at once. The key thing that helped me was calling SSA and asking specifically about "financial hardship consideration." I explained that taking my entire monthly check was leaving me unable to pay for basic necessities like medication and utilities. They were able to reduce the monthly withholding to $600 instead of the full $1800, which at least gives me something to live on. Also, make sure you're checking your mail every single day - the Treasury Offset notice can come separately from SSA notices and you might only get 30-60 days warning before they take your refund. Don't give up fighting this - there are options even when it feels hopeless!

Have you verified that your Varo account information on your tax return was entered correctly? In approximately 15% of delayed direct deposit cases, there's a transposition error in the routing or account number. This can cause significant delays if the IRS has to re-issue the payment.

I'm in the exact same boat! Varo with fees deducted and DDD of 4/23. Still waiting too. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the fees definitely add extra processing time that isn't reflected in the IRS timeline. The explanation about the money going to the preparer first, then having fees taken out, then forwarded to our accounts makes total sense. I'm trying not to stress about it since it's only been one business day, but it's hard when you're expecting that money! Hopefully we'll both see our deposits by end of week. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in waiting!