Been there! The obsessive checking is real 😅 From my experience, WMR typically updates overnight between 3-6am EST like others mentioned, but transcripts are more unpredictable. I've seen updates on random days throughout the week. The cycle code thing is helpful if you can figure it out, but honestly the IRS system has been pretty inconsistent lately. My advice? Pick one time per day to check (maybe early morning) and try to resist the urge to refresh constantly - it'll just drive you crazy and won't make your refund come any faster!

I can totally relate to this! I was doing the exact same thing - checking multiple times a day and getting frustrated when nothing changed. What helped me was learning that the IRS processes things in batches, so checking constantly doesn't really help. I found that checking once in the morning (around 6-7am EST after their overnight updates) and maybe once on Friday morning was plenty. Also, if you have any holds or need additional review, those can delay updates regardless of the normal schedule. The waiting game is brutal but try not to stress yourself out with constant checking - your refund will come when it comes! 🤞

Is anyone else confused about the different tax rates for bonuses? My bonus got taxed at like 40% it felt like! Way more than my regular paycheck. Something about a "supplemental tax rate"?

I had a very similar issue last year! Turns out my bonus was actually included in my W-2, but I was looking at it wrong. Here's what helped me figure it out: First, grab your final paystub from December and compare the year-to-date totals to your W-2. They should match exactly. If your paystub shows $162k YTD but your W-2 Box 1 shows $135k, look at Box 12 on your W-2 for codes like D (401k contributions), C (health insurance premiums), or other pretax deductions. Also, bonuses are often subject to supplemental wage withholding at a flat 22% rate, which might make the net amount you received feel smaller than expected, but the full gross amount should still appear in your total wages. If the numbers still don't add up after accounting for pretax deductions, definitely contact your payroll department. Sometimes smaller companies do make mistakes with bonus reporting, especially if they're not used to handling them regularly.

Don't forget that you might be able to get a credit in one state for taxes paid to the other, which could reduce the impact of this issue. Most states offer a credit for taxes paid to other states to avoid double taxation on the same income. When I had a similar issue, I still had to file in both states but ended up getting most of my money back through the credit system. Might not be the same in your case, but worth looking into!

I've been through this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. The key is understanding that your W-2 state allocation isn't set in stone - it's just your employer's best estimate based on their records. Here's what I did: I created a detailed log showing exactly which days I worked in each state (including any travel days), gathered supporting documents like lease agreements and utility bills with service dates, and filed as a part-year resident in both states. Most importantly, I included a brief explanation letter with my returns explaining why my allocation differed from the W-2. The process was smoother than I expected. State B (my new state) actually has a specific worksheet for situations like yours where the W-2 allocation doesn't match your actual work location. I ended up saving about $400 in state taxes. One tip: if you have any emails or calendar entries showing your work locations throughout the year, save those as backup documentation. The states care more about where you actually performed the work than what your employer reported, but they want to see that you can prove it.

Any recommendations for a good mileage tracking app for Schedule C? I'm constantly forgetting to log my house painting jobs and then trying to reconstruct the miles later which is a nightmare.

This thread has been really helpful! I'm a freelance graphic designer who works with clients both remotely and on-site. I do all my invoicing, client communications, and project planning from my home office (though it's also my bedroom, so no exclusive use deduction). Based on what I've learned here about Revenue Ruling 99-7, it sounds like my home would qualify as my principal place of business for mileage purposes since that's where I conduct all my administrative activities. This means trips from home to client meetings would be deductible business miles on my Schedule C. I've been conservative and only deducting miles between different client locations, but it sounds like I may have been missing out on legitimate deductions. Going to look into that taxr.ai tool mentioned earlier to get a proper analysis of my specific situation. Thanks everyone for clarifying the distinction between home office deduction requirements and principal place of business for mileage!

I went through this exact same situation last year as a TN visa holder from Canada! The advice about filing Form 1040-NR as a nonresident is spot on. One thing I'd add is to be extra careful about the tax treaty elections - Form 8833 can save you money but you need to file it correctly. Also, don't forget about state tax implications even though you're in Washington (lucky you - no state income tax!). Some states have different residency rules than federal, but WA makes it simple. For the FBAR reporting, the threshold is $10,000 USD aggregate in all foreign accounts at any point during the year. So if your Canadian accounts totaled more than $10K at any time in 2022, you need to file FinCEN Form 114 by April 15th (no extensions allowed). One mistake I made was not keeping good records of my Canadian tax payments. If you have any investment income from Canada that was subject to withholding tax there, make sure to claim the Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1116 to avoid double taxation. The tax software mentioned above (taxr.ai) actually helped me catch this - saved me about $800! The deadline pressure is real, but you've got this! Consider getting help if your situation is complex, but for a straightforward W-2 situation, the nonresident-specific software should handle it well.

I was in the exact same situation last year - TN visa from Canada, started working mid-year, completely overwhelmed by the tax complexity! Here's what I learned that might help: **First, breathe!** You're likely a nonresident alien for 2022 since you were only here 4.5 months. This actually simplifies things - you only report US-source income on Form 1040-NR, not your Canadian income from before you moved. **Key deadlines to remember:** - Tax return (1040-NR): April 18th (you can get an extension) - FBAR: April 18th (NO extensions - this is critical!) - Form 8938 (if your Canadian accounts exceed $200K): April 18th **What saved me time and money:** I initially tried doing it myself with regular tax software but got stuck on the same questions you mentioned. I ended up using Sprintax (designed for nonresidents) which walked me through everything step by step. It automatically determined I needed Form 1040-NR, helped me report my Canadian accounts properly, and even caught that I could claim Foreign Tax Credits for withholding taxes Canada took from my investment income. **Don't forget:** If your Canadian bank/investment accounts totaled over $10K USD at any point in 2022, you MUST file the FBAR separately with Treasury. The penalties for missing this are severe. You've got this! The hardest part is the first year when everything is new. Once you understand the process, subsequent years are much easier.