My return was accepted within minutes too, but then sat in processing for 3 weeks. The WMR tool never updated past the first bar, but my refund suddenly appeared in my account one morning. The system is weird like that sometimes.

Welcome to the waiting game! 😅 That quick "accepted" notification is always exciting but yeah, like others mentioned, it's just the first step. Since you claimed the Child Tax Credit, you're definitely in the PATH Act hold category which means extra processing time. Pro tip: Set up IRS account access now so you can check your transcript in a week or two - it'll show way more detail than the Where's My Refund tool. And don't panic if WMR doesn't update for weeks, that's totally normal. The system is notoriously bad at giving real-time updates, but your refund will come!

Just wanted to add some clarification since there's been a lot of good discussion here. For anyone in a similar situation with mixed US/international education, here are the key takeaways: 1. **AOTC eligibility**: Limited to first 4 years of post-secondary education (anywhere in the world) AND must be for undergraduate-level coursework at a qualifying US institution. So if you did undergrad abroad, you're generally out of luck for AOTC. 2. **Lifetime Learning Credit**: Much more flexible - covers graduate education, no "first 4 years" limit, and doesn't care where you did your previous education. Up to $2,000 credit (20% of $10,000 in expenses). 3. **Documentation**: You'll need Form 1098-T from your US school for either credit. Keep all your receipts and enrollment records. 4. **Income limits**: Both credits have income phase-out ranges, but they're different amounts, so check the current year's limits. The IRS Publication 970 has all the details, but it can be dense reading. If you're still unsure about your specific situation, consider getting professional help rather than guessing - education credit mistakes can trigger audits and you don't want to deal with repaying credits plus penalties later.

I just want to echo what others have said about being careful with education credits - the IRS does pay attention to these. I made an error a few years back claiming AOTC when I wasn't eligible (had already completed my 4 years) and got a notice requiring me to pay back the credit plus interest. For anyone reading this thread, the key thing to remember is that the "first 4 years of post-secondary education" rule applies globally - it doesn't matter if those years were at a foreign institution. Once you've completed 4 years anywhere, you're done with AOTC eligibility forever. The silver lining is that the Lifetime Learning Credit is actually pretty generous for grad students and doesn't have that limitation. I've been using it for my MBA program and it's helped offset a good chunk of my tuition costs. Just make sure your adjusted gross income falls within the eligibility range, which phases out at higher income levels than AOTC.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in a slightly different situation - I'm a US citizen living abroad (Japan) who got accepted into TikTok's creator program, and I was confused about whether I needed to do anything special for the TIN requirement since I already have a Social Security Number. After reading through all these experiences with ITINs, I realize I probably just need to provide my SSN and fill out a W-9 form since I'm still a US person for tax purposes. But now I'm wondering about the tax implications of earning TikTok income while living overseas - do I need to worry about Japanese taxes on this income too? Has anyone dealt with being a US citizen abroad in creator programs? I'm worried about getting hit with taxes in both countries, especially since Japan has pretty high tax rates. The foreign earned income exclusion probably doesn't apply to social media income, right? Would love any insights from other expat creators or anyone who understands the cross-border tax situation!

Great thread everyone! I'm actually a tax professional who specializes in international tax compliance, and I wanted to add a few important points that might help people avoid common mistakes: **For ITIN applications**: Make sure your supporting documents are properly authenticated. If you're using a CAA, they should handle this, but if you're mailing directly to the IRS, documents need to be either originals or certified copies from the issuing authority - NOT just notarized copies. **Important timing consideration**: The IRS has been experiencing significant delays lately. While the official processing time is 7-11 weeks, I've seen ITIN applications take 12-16 weeks recently. Factor this into your planning with TikTok. **Tax treaty benefits**: Don't assume you qualify for reduced withholding rates just because your country has a tax treaty with the US. Many treaties have specific requirements about the type of income and your tax residence status. Read the treaty provisions carefully or consult a professional. **Record keeping**: Start tracking your expenses related to content creation NOW - equipment, software, internet costs, etc. These are legitimate business deductions that can significantly reduce your US tax liability. The tools mentioned like taxr.ai can be helpful for getting organized, but make sure you understand the underlying tax principles rather than just following automated guidance blindly. Every situation is unique!

I went through this exact same headache about two months ago and can share what actually happened in my case. Like you, I had filed with a new address but the IRS website was still showing my old one, which had me really stressed about where they'd send my verification letter. The good news is they sent it to the address on my most recent tax return (the new one), not what was showing on their website. It took about 9 days to arrive after I requested it online. The letter comes in a white envelope from "Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service" so it's pretty easy to identify. One thing that really helped ease my anxiety was calling the IRS directly to confirm which address they had as "active" in their system for mailing purposes. Yes, the hold times are brutal (I waited almost 2 hours), but the agent was able to tell me definitively that they use the address from your most recently processed return for all correspondence, regardless of what their website displays. Since you filed on February 3rd, that return should definitely be fully processed by now. If you need immediate access and don't want to wait for the mail, I'd strongly recommend trying the ID.me verification route through their website. It's much faster and completely bypasses the address issue altogether. Just have your driver's license ready for the online verification process.

I actually just resolved this exact situation last week! Filed my 2023 return on January 28th with a new address after moving, but my IRS account online was still showing my old address from 2022. I was panicking about where they'd send my identity verification letter. Here's what happened: The verification letter went to the address on my 2023 tax return (the new address), NOT what was displayed on their website. It took exactly 8 business days to arrive after I requested it through their online portal. The key thing to understand is that the IRS has multiple systems that don't sync in real-time. Their mailing/correspondence system pulls from your most recently PROCESSED return, while their website might lag by weeks or even months in updating your profile information. Since you filed on February 3rd, your return is definitely processed by now, so they'll use that address. The letter comes in a standard white envelope with "Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service" clearly printed as the return address - it's pretty unmistakable. If you're still anxious about it, I'd recommend either calling the IRS to confirm (prepare for a long wait) or trying the ID.me verification route which bypasses mail entirely and gives you instant access. I ended up doing ID.me for a different tax issue and it was surprisingly smooth - just needed my driver's license and took about 15 minutes total. Hope this helps ease your stress about it!

Make sure you're also aware of FBAR filing requirements if you open foreign bank accounts while abroad! Those forms have nothing to do with taxes you owe but have huge penalties if you fail to file.

Form 673 can be really helpful in your situation, but I'd recommend being cautious about timing. Since you just moved abroad a month ago, you're still early in the process of establishing foreign residence. One approach that worked for me was to submit the 673 but also set up quarterly estimated tax payments as a safety net. That way, if something changes and you don't end up qualifying for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you're not hit with a massive tax bill plus penalties. Also, make sure your employer's payroll system can actually handle the 673 properly - some foreign companies that process US withholding aren't familiar with this form and might need guidance on how to implement it correctly. You might want to follow up with their HR/payroll team to confirm they know what to do with it once you submit it.