This is the transcripts

Code 150 - Tax Return Filed (Date: 08-12-2024; Amount: $1,127.00): This entry indicates that you filed and processed your tax return with a tax amount due of $1,127.00. Code 810 - Refund Freeze (Date: 02-08-2024; Amount: $0.00): This indicates that a freeze has been placed on any refund that may be due to you. This freeze could be due to various reasons such as review for accuracy, verification of information, or other compliance checks. The amount next to this code is typically $0.00 as it represents a status rather than a financial transaction. Code 766 - Credit to Your Account (Date: 04-15-2024; Amount: -$46,880.00): This is a substantial credit applied to your account. This could include withholding from wages, estimated tax payments, or other credits. The negative value indicates it's a credit to you. Code 768 - Earned Income Credit (Date: 04-15-2024; Amount: -$568.00): This shows the amount of Earned Income Credit (EIC) that was applied to your account. This credit is given to you if you are eligible and have low to moderate income from work. It is a refundable credit, meaning it can reduce the tax you owe and potentially increase your refund. Analysis and Next Steps The combination of credits listed under codes 766 and 768 significantly exceeds the tax assessed under code 150. However, the presence of the refund freeze (code 810) means that despite these credits, the IRS is not currently processing a refund for you. Since the freeze was initiated before the credits were applied, there might have been anticipation of issues with your tax return or the credits themselves that required additional scrutiny. Given the refund freeze and the lack of a code 846 (which would indicate a refund being issued), you should anticipate that the IRS may need more information or time to review the accuracy of your return or the eligibility for credits claimed. If you have not received any communication from the IRS explaining the refund freeze, it would be advisable for you to initiate contact to clarify the reasons for the hold and to understand if any additional steps are required from your side to resolve the issue. I made a video on how to bypass the usual IRS phone menu and long wait times here: https://youtu.be/UiAegRQ2Is8

Don't forget you can also potentially deduct a portion of your cell phone bill since you need it for the app, any car accessories specifically for delivery (phone mount, hot bags, etc), and even part of your car insurance if the vehicle is used significantly for business. I save all my receipts in a folder on my phone labeled by month.

One more thing to add that's been really helpful for me - if you're using your personal vehicle for DoorDash, consider opening a separate checking account just for your gig work income and expenses. I deposit all my DoorDash earnings there and pay for gas, car maintenance, and other delivery-related expenses from that same account. It makes tracking everything SO much easier come tax time, and if you ever get audited, having that clear separation between personal and business finances looks really professional to the IRS. Also, since you mentioned you're trying to save for a car - keep in mind that if you end up buying a vehicle that you use primarily for deliveries, you might be able to deduct the depreciation instead of using the standard mileage rate. Something to research once you get to that point!

I've been through a very similar situation as an F1 student who got married while on OPT! Your tax consultant's advice is concerning and potentially dangerous for your immigration status. As others have mentioned, you cannot simply "choose" to file as residents when you're both on F1 visas and haven't met the substantial presence test. The only elections that allow non-residents to be treated as residents for tax purposes (like Section 6013(g) or the First-Year Choice Election) require at least one spouse to be a US citizen or resident alien already. What's particularly worrying is that filing incorrectly as residents when you don't qualify could trigger an audit and potentially create problems with USCIS when you apply for future immigration benefits like H1B or green card applications. Immigration officers do review tax filing history during these processes. Here's what I learned from my experience: stick with filing separate 1040NR forms as non-resident aliens. Yes, you'll miss out on joint filing benefits and education credits, but you can still claim the tuition and fees deduction on Form 8917. It's not as valuable as the credits, but it's legitimate and safe. I'd strongly recommend consulting with your university's international student services office - they often have tax advisors who specialize in F1 visa situations and can refer you to qualified CPAs who understand both tax law and immigration implications. Don't let a tax preparer's incorrect advice jeopardize your future immigration status for some potential tax savings.

I'm a tax professional who works extensively with international students, and I want to echo the excellent advice already given here while adding a few critical points. First, your tax consultant's suggestion that you can "choose" to file as residents without meeting the substantial presence test is absolutely incorrect and potentially harmful. As F1 students, you're both considered "exempt individuals" for your first 5 calendar years, meaning those days don't count toward the substantial presence test regardless of how long you've been here. The only way married couples can elect resident status when one or both are non-residents is through Section 6013(g) or (h) elections, which require at least one spouse to be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. Since you're both on F1 visas, these don't apply to your situation. Regarding your specific concerns about Social Security and Medicare taxes - you're correct to be worried. F1 students and OPT participants are exempt from FICA taxes when working in positions related to their studies. However, if you incorrectly file as residents, you could potentially become liable for these taxes retroactively, creating a significant financial burden. More importantly, filing an incorrect return claiming resident status when you don't qualify could create serious problems with USCIS during future immigration processes. They do review tax compliance history when evaluating applications for status changes, extensions, or permanent residence. My recommendation: file separate Form 1040NR returns as non-resident aliens. While you'll miss out on joint filing benefits and education credits, you can still claim legitimate deductions like qualified tuition expenses using Form 8917. It's worth consulting with your university's international student office - they often have relationships with CPAs who specialize in F1 tax issues and understand the immigration implications. Don't let potential short-term tax savings jeopardize your long-term immigration goals. The rules exist for a reason, and following them correctly protects your future in the US.

I just want to echo what everyone has said here - you're definitely on the right track! As someone who works in payroll, I can confirm that Box 14 entries like yours are super common and your employer has handled everything correctly. Your company vehicle benefit of $8,200 is exactly what it sounds like - the taxable value of your personal use of the work truck. Your employer calculated this based on the mileage logs you submitted and already included it in your Box 1 wages. Box 14 is just showing you the breakdown so you understand why your taxable wages might seem higher than your base salary. The Med/Dental amount represents your pre-tax health insurance contributions that were deducted from your pay before calculating taxes. This money was never taxed, which is why it's excluded from your Box 1 wages. For the gift card, your employer had to "gross up" the value to cover the taxes (hence the $190 vs $185), then include it as taxable income. The fact that it shows in Box 14 means they've already handled the tax implications. In TurboTax, just enter these items exactly as shown on your W2. The software recognizes these common entries and won't double-count anything. You're doing great for your first year filing solo!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences with Box 14 entries! I'm in a very similar situation to Anderson - this is my first year filing my own taxes and I have a company vehicle benefit showing up in Box 14 that had me completely confused. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. The explanation about how the company vehicle value is already included in Box 1 wages makes so much sense now. I was worried I'd have to report it as additional income somewhere else on my return. I also appreciate the practical tips about double-checking that the Box 14 amounts match your final paystub and using the exact descriptions when entering items in TurboTax. These are the kinds of details that aren't obvious when you're doing this for the first time. It's reassuring to see that Box 14 entries are pretty standard and that tax software like TurboTax is designed to handle them correctly. The community here seems really knowledgeable and supportive for people navigating tax questions!

I think everyone's overthinking this. I just have my employer split my direct deposit - main portion goes to checking, then fixed amounts go to both my 401k and my IRA. Super simple and I never "see" the money so I'm not tempted to spend it.

I'll add some clarity to the tax mechanics here since there's been some great discussion but a few key points could use emphasis. Lucy, you're absolutely right to be confused about the double taxation aspect - it's one of the most common misconceptions about Traditional IRAs. Here's the key: when you contribute to a Traditional IRA with after-tax dollars (money that's already hit your bank account), you get to deduct those contributions on your tax return, which essentially "gives back" the taxes you already paid on that money. So you're NOT getting double-taxed. However, given your $85k income and 401k participation, you're in the phase-out range for Traditional IRA deductions. This means you can only deduct a portion of your contributions, which significantly reduces the benefit. You might want to run the numbers on whether it's worth the complexity. One strategy to consider: max out your 401k first (you're only doing 6% currently), then if you have additional funds for retirement savings, consider a Roth IRA instead. Since your Traditional IRA deduction is limited anyway, the Roth gives you tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement, plus more flexibility with early withdrawals if needed. The payroll direct deposit to your IRA is really just a convenience feature - it doesn't change the tax treatment at all compared to transferring from your bank account.