This is definitely frustrating! Based on what you've described and the timing with your POS system update, I'd strongly recommend getting a detailed breakdown from payroll ASAP. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1. **Compare paystubs line by line** - Look at your last normal paycheck versus these $0 ones. Check if federal withholding, state withholding, FICA, or any other deductions changed dramatically. 2. **Ask specifically about the POS system change** - Since this started around the time they updated systems, ask your manager exactly how tip reporting changed. The new system might be auto-declaring 100% of credit card tips instead of letting you declare a portion. 3. **Verify your W-4 info** - Sometimes system updates reset withholding preferences. Make sure your filing status and allowances are still correct in their system. 4. **Document everything** - Take photos of all paystubs and keep records of conversations with management. If your employer can't give you a clear explanation, consider contacting your state's Department of Labor. You shouldn't have to guess why your pay suddenly disappeared, especially when nothing changed on your end. This sounds like either a system configuration error or incorrect tax calculation that needs to be fixed immediately.

I'd also recommend checking if your employer changed their tip allocation method or if there's an issue with how they're calculating your "allocated tips" versus your actual reported tips. Under IRS regulations, restaurants with more than 10 employees must allocate tips to ensure total reported tips equal at least 8% of gross receipts. If the new POS system is automatically allocating additional tips to you (beyond what you actually received), you'd be taxed on that phantom income even though you never got the money. This is different from the credit card tip reporting issue others mentioned - allocated tips are essentially the IRS forcing restaurants to assign additional tip income to workers when total reported tips fall below the 8% threshold. You'd see this as a separate line item on your paystub, often labeled "allocated tips" or similar. If this is happening, you can file Form 4137 with your tax return to report the actual tips you received versus what was allocated to you. But first, check with payroll to see if tip allocation is now part of their new system and whether that's causing your withholding to spike.

Has anyone here actually implemented a whole life policy for business purposes that was fully compliant with IRS rules? I'm getting conflicting information from every professional I talk to.

I went through this exact same situation with my partner in our consulting firm last year. The insurance agent was pushing the same "deduct premiums AND get cash value" pitch, and it sounded way too good to be true. After consulting with a tax attorney who specializes in business structures, here's what I learned: You basically have to pick one benefit or the other. Either the business pays premiums and treats it as compensation to you (taxable to you personally), OR you structure it as a legitimate business expense with strict limitations on accessing cash value. We ended up going with term life for the buy-sell agreement (much cheaper) and separate whole life policies we pay for personally if we wanted cash value accumulation. The term policy serves the business purpose cleanly, and our personal policies avoid any IRS complications around mixing business deductions with personal benefits. The $1,200 monthly premium also seems really high for your ages and business size. We got comparable coverage for about $400/month total for both of us with term. I'd definitely get quotes from other agents before committing to anything.

As someone who's recently navigated similar W-9 compliance challenges for international clients, I wanted to add a few insights that might help streamline the process: **Create a vendor information matrix** - I found it helpful to create a simple matrix tracking: vendor name, entity type (from W-9), payment method used, total payments YTD, and 1099 requirements. This single view makes it much easier to spot patterns and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. **Consider quarterly reviews** - Rather than waiting until year-end, I started doing quarterly reviews of vendor payments and W-9 status. This helps identify vendors approaching the $600 threshold early, so you can ensure you have their W-9 on file before they actually need a 1099. **Payment method documentation is crucial** - As mentioned earlier in the thread, payment method affects 1099 requirements. I started including a "payment method" column in my vendor tracking to clearly distinguish between check payments (need 1099), credit card payments (don't need 1099), and PayPal payments (don't need 1099). The complexity of all these requirements - especially the exceptions for attorneys, the different rules for various entity types, and the backup withholding obligations - really makes a strong case for the automated solutions mentioned throughout this thread. Having systematic processes and tools to catch these details upfront can prevent so many compliance headaches down the road. For fellow international bookkeepers, don't let the complexity intimidate you - start with the basics (collect W-9s from everyone) and build your knowledge from there!

This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable for someone like me who's new to US tax compliance! I wanted to share a quick summary of the key takeaways that will help me (and hopefully others) tackle this W-9 challenge systematically: **Immediate Action Items:** 1. Collect W-9s from ALL US vendors regardless of entity type - better to have them and not need them 2. Collect W-8BEN/W-8BEN-E forms from Canadian vendors instead of W-9s 3. Create a tracking system with vendor name, entity type, payment method, YTD payments, and form status 4. Validate TIN formats immediately when W-9s are received to avoid filing issues later **Key Rules I Learned:** - Payment method matters: Credit card/PayPal = no 1099 needed, checks = 1099 required for qualifying vendors - Entity type matters: Generally no 1099s for C-Corps, but still collect W-9s for records - Attorneys are the exception: Always need 1099s regardless of entity type - Start backup withholding (24%) if vendors refuse to provide TIN after proper notice **Tools Worth Investigating:** Based on the positive feedback here, I'm definitely looking into TaxR.ai for automation and Claimyr for direct IRS guidance. As someone handling cross-border compliance, having these resources could prevent costly mistakes while I'm still learning. Thanks to everyone who shared their hard-earned experience - this thread is going straight into my reference library!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for the past week and a half! The IRS fax system is completely broken right now and it's causing so much stress when you're trying to meet their tight deadlines. After reading through everyone's incredibly helpful experiences here, I'm planning to try that alternate fax number (855-215-1627) early tomorrow morning around 4:30 AM. The detailed success stories from Maya and Fatima give me real hope - following their exact method of sending the cover sheet first, waiting a full minute, then sending the forms on "fine" quality setting. I already sent certified mail copies yesterday as my backup plan since multiple people confirmed the postmark date protects you from deadline issues. It's absolutely frustrating that we need multiple submission methods just to get basic required documents to the government, but this community has been a lifesaver for finding actual solutions. The fact that we've all had to become fax machine experts and crowdsource workarounds for broken IRS systems is ridiculous - they should be embarrassed that taxpayers are solving their infrastructure problems for them. But I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their successful strategies here. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes dealing with government bureaucracy manageable! Fingers crossed the early morning approach works for me too - I'll report back on my results to help others still fighting this battle.

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare for the past 9 days! The IRS fax system is absolutely broken and it's causing major anxiety with their 30-day deadline looming. After reading through all of these incredibly detailed success stories, I'm feeling much more optimistic. That alternate fax number (855-215-1627) that Justin shared seems to be the real game-changer here - so many people have gotten through using it during those early morning hours between 4-5 AM. I'm planning to follow the exact step-by-step method that Maya, Fatima, and others have perfected: prepare a cover sheet with "8962/1095-A ACA SUBMISSION" clearly marked, include my case reference number, send the cover sheet first, wait a full minute, then send the actual forms on "fine" quality setting. The fact that multiple people have succeeded using this precise approach gives me real confidence. I already dropped my certified mail backup at the post office yesterday after learning about the postmark date rule from this thread - such a relief to know that protects me from deadline issues regardless. It's absolutely insane that we've all had to become amateur fax technicians and develop our own workarounds for basic government services, but this community collaboration has been amazing. The IRS should be mortified that taxpayers are solving their infrastructure problems through Reddit threads! Setting my alarm for 4:15 AM tomorrow - wish me luck! I'll definitely report back with my results to help anyone else still fighting this bureaucratic battle.

I completely understand that anxiety! I've been there multiple times and it's torture waiting and constantly checking. From my experience, there really isn't a set time - it depends on both when the IRS sends the batch containing your refund AND your specific bank's processing schedule. The IRS typically sends direct deposit files to banks throughout the day, but most banks only process and post deposits during their overnight batch runs (usually 12am-6am). Some online banks and credit unions are faster and may post immediately when they receive the file. One thing that helped me manage the anxiety was understanding that "refund sent" on WMR just means the IRS transmitted your payment info - your bank can still take 1-3 business days to actually make it available in your account. It's frustrating but totally normal! My suggestion: set specific times to check (like once in the morning, once in the evening) rather than constantly refreshing. I know it's easier said than done when you're eagerly waiting, but the constant checking just amplifies the stress without changing anything. Your refund will appear when your bank's system processes it!

I've been through this exact same stressful waiting game so many times! The uncertainty is the worst part. From what I've observed over the years, there really isn't one specific time that applies to everyone - it's a combination of when the IRS processes your particular batch and your bank's deposit posting schedule. Most traditional banks (like Wells Fargo, Chase, BofA) post deposits during overnight processing windows, typically between 12am-6am. But I've also seen refunds appear mid-afternoon, especially with smaller banks or credit unions that process throughout the day. The key thing to remember is that when WMR says "sent," that's just the IRS releasing the payment file to your bank. Your bank then needs time to process and post it, which can take 1-3 business days depending on their systems and policies. I know it's incredibly hard, but try to resist the urge to check constantly - it just makes the anxiety worse and doesn't change when the money will actually appear. Maybe check once when you wake up and once before bed? The refund will show up when your bank's processing cycle gets to it. Hang in there!