i used taxr.ai last month when i was going thru the exact same situation. turns out i had an offset i didnt know about (old state tax debt) that was taking part of my refund. the tool showed me exactly what was happening when the IRS wouldnt tell me anything. saved me weeks of confusion https://taxr.ai

I went through this exact same thing last year - TurboTax showing "refund arrived" while my bank account was still empty. Turns out there's usually a 1-3 business day lag between when the IRS actually sends the money and when it shows up in your account. Since your transcript shows the 846 code with 9/14 as the deposit date, you're probably just dealing with normal bank processing delays. Most banks don't process ACH transfers over weekends either, so that could explain the extra delay. I'd give it until Friday before getting worried. If it's still not there by then, definitely call your bank first to make sure they're not holding it for any reason, then contact the IRS if needed.

Just to add a caution - I tried to do this "catch up" thing last year and ended up getting audited. The IRS flagged it because the sudden large depreciation deduction looked suspicious. Make sure you have excellent records of when you bought the property, improvement costs, etc. My audit went fine because I had everything documented, but it was still super stressful. Whatever method you choose, have your paperwork in order!

I went through this exact situation with a duplex I own. Missed depreciation for 2019 and 2020, then panicked when I realized my mistake. Here's what I learned after consulting with a CPA: You have two main options: 1) Amend the prior years if you're still within the 3-year window, or 2) File Form 3115 for an accounting method change to catch up all at once in your current year return. The Form 3115 route ended up being way less hassle for me. Yes, it's more complex than a regular form, but it saved me from filing multiple amended returns. I claimed about $8,000 in missed depreciation all in one year through the Section 481(a) adjustment. One tip - when you do catch up (either method), spread out your documentation clearly. I created a simple spreadsheet showing the property purchase date, cost basis, improvements, and calculated what depreciation should have been claimed each year. This made everything crystal clear for my records and would help if the IRS ever questions it. Don't let this mistake stress you out too much - it's more common than you'd think!

Quick question - does anyone know if receiving payment to a foreign bank account changes anything about this situation? My understanding is that US tax obligations are based on residency/citizenship, not where the money is deposited. But I'm hoping there might be some exception I'm not aware of.

This is a really complex situation that touches on both immigration and tax law. From my experience helping clients navigate similar circumstances, the key issue is that your tax residency status and immigration status operate on different timelines and criteria. Since you're married to a US citizen and physically present in the US, you likely qualify as a tax resident under the substantial presence test, even before your green card is approved. This means signing a W-8BEN (which certifies you're NOT a US person for tax purposes) could create a contradiction with your actual tax obligations. The safer approach would be to: 1. Determine your current tax residency status based on your physical presence and filing status 2. Use the appropriate form (likely W-9 if you're a tax resident) 3. Ensure proper withholding occurs While unauthorized employment is generally forgiven for spouses of US citizens during adjustment of status, creating tax compliance issues could complicate things down the road. The IRS and USCIS do share information, and inconsistencies between your tax filings and immigration documents could raise questions. I'd strongly recommend getting professional guidance from someone who understands both the immigration and tax implications before proceeding. The short-term contract income isn't worth jeopardizing your adjustment of status or creating future tax problems.

Had a very similar experience with Sprintax last year! The key thing to remember is that tax software often generates multiple sets of instructions to cover all possible scenarios. Since your e-file was successful (confirmed by the IRS website), you can safely ignore the mailing instructions in the PDF. Just to put your mind at ease - when you e-file, the IRS receives your return digitally and it's processed much faster than paper returns. The PDF with mailing instructions is basically a backup plan that the software generates automatically, but since you went the e-file route successfully, those instructions don't apply to your situation. Keep that PDF for your records though - it's part of your tax documentation that you should hold onto for at least 3 years. Congrats on getting through your first tax filing here!

Don't worry, this is totally normal! I work as a tax preparer and see this confusion all the time with Sprintax and other tax software. The PDF with mailing instructions is generated automatically for every user, regardless of whether they choose to e-file or mail their return. It's essentially a "just in case" document. Since the IRS website confirms they received your e-filed return, you're all set! The electronic filing takes precedence over any paper filing instructions. The only time you'd need to mail anything is if the e-file had been rejected, which clearly didn't happen in your case. Just make sure to save that PDF along with your other tax documents - you'll want to keep all tax records for at least 3 years. And don't stress about being new to this - everyone goes through the same learning curve with taxes!

They switched mine too!!! Hoping this means were getting closer to that bag 💅

I had the exact same thing happen! Went from 05 to 04 about 3 weeks ago and was stressing about it. But like DeShawn said, it just means they're processing more frequently. I actually got my 846 code (refund issued) yesterday! The cycle change was definitely a good sign in my case. Hang in there, sounds like you're getting close! 🤞