The fact that your wife was initially on a tourist visa and then switched to a spousal visa is actually a common scenario. Based on the Canada-US tax treaty, what really matters is where your "permanent home" was available to you after you moved to the US. I went through something similar and was advised that having a lease agreement in the US showing intent to permanently reside there, along with evidence of moving personal belongings, was crucial in establishing US residency for treaty purposes. Also, document when you gave up provincial health insurance - that's a big one that CRA looks at for residency determination.

Cross-border tax situations like yours are incredibly nuanced, and it sounds like you have several factors working in your favor for establishing US residency status. The key thing to understand is that CRA's residency determination isn't just about your marital status or visa type - it's about where your life is actually centered. From what you've described, you have strong indicators of establishing US residency: you moved with clear intent (got the TN visa for work), obtained US driver's license and health insurance immediately, rented out your Canadian property, signed a 12-month US lease, and surrendered provincial health coverage. The fact that your wife was initially on a tourist visa versus a spousal visa is less relevant than the overall picture of your residential ties. What matters more is that you both moved together with the intention of establishing life in the US, regardless of the specific visa categories at the time. I'd recommend getting a second opinion from a cross-border tax specialist who isn't affiliated with your company. The accountants your employer hired may be taking an overly conservative approach that could cost you thousands unnecessarily. Make sure to document everything - dates of departure, lease agreements, utility setup, bank account openings, etc. This documentation will be crucial if CRA ever questions your residency determination. The Canada-US tax treaty is designed to prevent exactly this kind of double taxation scenario, so don't let anyone tell you that you're automatically stuck paying Canadian taxes on your US income just because of visa timing.

Nothing crushes your soul quite like getting mail from the Treasury that turns out NOT to be money. Been there friend. 🥲

Ugh, the IRS really knows how to get our hopes up! I got the exact same envelope last week and had the same reaction - saw "Treasury" and "EITC" and thought maybe it was related to my refund. Nope, just a fancy brochure explaining how great the EITC is. The "Just imagine what you could do" line should have been the dead giveaway that it's marketing material. Real refund checks don't come with motivational slogans! 😅 At least now you know what to expect when you open it. Still waiting on your actual refund though? That's the real question!

This happened to me last year - WMR said processing but no transcript for almost 3 weeks. Turns out I had checked the wrong box about healthcare coverage, and they were reviewing my return. When my transcript finally appeared, it showed a 570 hold code. I had to call and explain the mistake, and they fixed it right away. Not saying you made a mistake, but sometimes the delay is because they're verifying something specific. Check for any letters in your mailbox from the IRS - they sometimes send notices about verification needs before your transcript updates.

I'm in the exact same situation as you! Filed electronically 16 days ago and WMR shows "processing" but my 2023 transcript still shows N/A. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling much more relieved knowing this is completely normal. It sounds like the transcript system is just the slowest to update in their processing chain. I've been checking obsessively every morning, but now I'll probably just check once a week on Thursday mornings since someone mentioned that's when updates typically happen. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped calm my nerves too!

I switched from H&R Block to TurboTax 2 years ago and my refund was actually higher with TurboTax! Not because TurboTax is "better" but because the software asked me some questions my tax preparer never did about my kids' school expenses and some job-related costs. If you're worried about missing something, just go slow and read all the questions carefully. Both H&R Block and TurboTax use the same tax laws - the difference is just in how thorough you are with providing information. One tip: Before you start, gather ALL your documents: W-2s, any 1099s, childcare receipts, any school costs, healthcare info. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

As someone who made the switch from H&R Block to TurboTax three years ago, I can tell you it was one of the best financial decisions I made. With your situation - married filing jointly, 4 dependents, straightforward W-2 income - you're actually in an ideal position for DIY software. Here's what I wish someone had told me before I switched: Your refund amount will be virtually identical between H&R Block and TurboTax because they're both following the same tax code. The real question is whether you're comfortable navigating the software yourself. For a family like yours, you'll mainly be dealing with the Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000 per child under 17), and possibly the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you pay for childcare. TurboTax is excellent at walking you through these family-related credits with simple yes/no questions. My advice? Try TurboTax's free estimation tool first. Input your basic info and see what refund estimate you get. If it's close to your usual $7,000, you'll know the software is capturing your situation correctly. You can always abandon the process if you're not comfortable. That $320 you're saving annually adds up - over 5 years, that's $1,600 back in your pocket for the same result.

I went through this exact same thing last year! Got the dreaded Form 9143 and had a mini panic attack thinking I'd messed up my taxes completely. Turns out I had signed with a purple gel pen (seemed like a good idea at the time, don't ask why 🤦‍♀️). The key things I learned: 1) Use only black or blue ink - no gel pens, no fancy colors, no pencil 2) Make sure your signature looks reasonably similar to previous years 3) Don't forget to date it if there's a date line 4) Send everything back that they returned to you, not just the signature page The good news is this is super common and totally fixable! I was worried about penalties too, but as long as you get it back to them promptly, your original filing date counts. Just make sure to use certified mail with tracking - learned that lesson from the comments above and it's totally worth the extra few dollars for peace of mind. You'll get through this! It's way more stressful than it needs to be, but it's really just a paperwork hiccup.

I'm dealing with a Form 9143 right now too! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was convinced I had completely screwed up my taxes, but it sounds like this is actually pretty routine. My situation is a bit different - I think I might have used a Sharpie marker to sign mine (seemed bold and official at the time, but now I'm realizing that was probably a mistake). The ink was definitely black, but maybe too thick/bold for their scanners? One question for anyone who's been through this - about how long did it take to get confirmation that they received and processed your corrected return? I'm planning to send mine back with certified mail as suggested, but wondering what kind of timeline to expect before I hear back from them. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This thread has saved me so much stress and confusion.