I want to warn you about something I experienced that could save you some stress. When my amended return was processed last year, here's what happened: 1. Tax Advocate told my senator's office it was processed (similar to your situation) 2. I checked WMR tool daily - no updates for 2 weeks 3. I called IRS directly and they confirmed payment was scheduled 4. The refund was sent BUT to my old address despite having updated it 5. Had to wait for it to be returned to IRS 6. Then had to request a trace on the payment 7. Finally received it 6 weeks later than expected Make sure your address and direct deposit info are correct in the system! The processing and payment systems are separate, and sometimes address updates don't transfer between them. Double-check everything now to avoid delays later.

This sounds really promising! When the Tax Advocate confirms processing is complete but mentions the "payment update hasn't hit the system yet," you're essentially in the final queue. I went through this exact process two years ago with my amended return after getting my representative involved. From my experience, once TAS confirms processing completion, you're typically looking at 1-2 weeks max before the refund date appears in the Where's My Amended Return tool. The key thing to remember is that the IRS processing system and the Treasury payment system operate somewhat independently - think of it like your return has cleared customs but is waiting for the final shipping label. One tip: keep checking the WMR tool every few days rather than daily (I know it's tempting!). The system usually updates overnight on Wednesdays and Fridays. Also, make absolutely sure your direct deposit information and address are current in the system - sometimes the payment processing pulls from older records than the processing system uses. You should be able to start making those home improvement plans soon! The congressional inquiry route typically expedites things significantly once you reach this stage.

I verified by phone on February 20th. My transcript updated with code 846 on March 9th. Deposit hit my account March 14th. Total of 23 days from verification to money in account. Not great, not terrible. One thing - if you're using the money for visa fees, plan for delays. The IRS doesn't care about your deadlines. Have a backup plan for the money just in case.

I went through this exact situation last month as a non-resident! I verified online on March 15th and got my 846 code on March 28th - exactly 13 days later. The refund hit my account 3 days after that. Here's what I learned: Online is definitely faster, but make sure you have backup documents ready. The system asked me questions about previous addresses going back 5 years, which was tricky since I've moved internationally. I had to have my old lease agreements and bank statements handy. For your May 20th deadline, if you verify this week, you should be cutting it close but likely okay based on the timelines people are sharing here. Just don't wait - every day counts when you're working with IRS processing times. And honestly, have a backup funding plan for those visa fees just in case there are unexpected delays. The IRS doesn't adjust their timeline for our life events, unfortunately. Good luck with the verification process!

IMO the checking thing is NBD compared to the actual issue - ppl filing questionable returns. The IRS has AI systems now that flag sus returns b4 they even get processed. If ur legit, ur good. If ur trying to game the system w/ fake biz expenses or claiming kids that aren't urs... that's what's causing delays for everyone. Not checking WMR too much lol. The real implications are for the whole system when fraudulent returns clog up the works. Checking ur status is just a symptom of anxiety, not the cause of delays.

Based on the 2024 filing season patterns I've observed, transcript updates most consistently happen on Thursday nights between 12am-3am ET, with refunds typically deposited on Wednesdays. Rather than checking multiple times daily, I'd recommend setting a calendar reminder for Friday mornings to check once weekly. If your return was accepted before February 15th, you should have seen movement by now. If accepted after March 1st, the normal processing time extends through April 22nd for straightforward returns. I understand the anxiety - we all want our money - but creating a structured checking routine might help manage the stress while also giving you accurate information.

Ok maybe I'm crazy but try checking your transcript REALLY early in the morning like 3-4am EST. For some reason I could never see updates during regular hours but middle of the night I could see everything. IRS systems are weird.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed March 8th, verified identity March 14th, and it's been radio silence ever since. My transcript is completely blank and WMR just says "still being processed" with no progress bars. Called twice and both reps told me the same thing - verification shows complete but to just wait longer. It's so frustrating not knowing if something is actually wrong or if this is just normal now. Really hoping we see some movement soon because I'm starting to stress that my return got lost somewhere in their system.

Has anyone considered the alternative minimum tax (AMT) implications here? When I exercised my ISOs a few years ago, I got absolutely destroyed by AMT because the paper gains pushed me over the threshold. I know NSOs are different since you pay ordinary income tax upfront rather than AMT, but the large income spike from a single exercise could still trigger other tax issues like phase-outs of deductions or credits.

Another consideration worth mentioning - check if your option agreement has any restrictions on early exercise or transfer. Some private companies include provisions that let them repurchase your shares at cost if you leave the company within a certain period after exercise, which could wipe out the tax benefit you're trying to capture. Also, with a 409a valuation at $8 and projected IPO at $120, there's significant appreciation still expected. You might want to model out different scenarios - what if the IPO gets delayed or the valuation comes in lower than expected? The tax optimization has to be balanced against execution risk. One middle-ground approach: exercise enough options now to establish some cost basis at the current $8 valuation, then use cashless exercise for the remainder at IPO. This gives you some tax efficiency while limiting your cash outlay and risk exposure.