Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This is exactly what I was worried about. I did choose the refund transfer option for my federal return (even though I paid state fees directly), so it sounds like my refund is definitely going through SBTPG first. It's been about 10 days since I filed and the IRS shows "accepted" but no updates since then. Based on what you're all saying, it seems like I should expect another few days of waiting once SBTPG actually receives it from the IRS. I'll definitely check the SBTPG website tomorrow to see if they've gotten it yet. Next year I'm absolutely paying all fees upfront - this extra waiting period is stressing me out way more than I expected! 😩

I went through this exact same situation last year! I was a college student who moved from Ohio to California and made the same choice - paid my state prep fees upfront but chose refund transfer for federal. Your federal refund will definitely still go through SBTPG since you selected that option, even though you paid state fees separately. The good news is that once SBTPG receives your refund from the IRS, they typically process it pretty quickly - mine took about 3 days. The frustrating part is that the IRS showing "accepted" just means they've processed your return, but they can take up to 21 days to actually send the refund to SBTPG. I'd definitely recommend checking the SBTPG website to track your refund status once it gets to that stage. The waiting is nerve-wracking, especially when you need the money for school expenses, but it all worked out fine for me! Next year I'm definitely paying all fees upfront though - the peace of mind is worth it.

The IRS Withholding Estimator at irs.gov/W4App is honestly your best bet here. I was in almost the exact same situation - new job, way too much being withheld, and completely confused by the W-4 form. What I learned is that the problem isn't necessarily with your W-4 setup, but with how your employer's payroll system is calculating withholding. Many payroll systems use annualized calculations that assume you've been earning that salary all year, even if you just started. The Withholding Estimator will ask for your actual pay stubs and calculate exactly what should go in each section of your W-4. In my case, I needed to put a specific dollar amount in Step 4(b) for deductions to reduce my withholding to the right level. Also, don't forget that you can submit a new W-4 anytime during the year if your situation changes. You're not stuck with whatever you filled out on your first day. I've submitted three different W-4s this year as I fine-tuned my withholding. The key is being proactive about it - every paycheck you wait is more money going to an interest-free loan to the government like you mentioned.

I went through this exact same frustration when I started my current job! The over-withholding was driving me crazy - like you said, why give the government an interest-free loan? Here's what finally worked for me: I used the IRS Withholding Estimator (irs.gov/W4App) and discovered I needed to increase the amount in Step 4(b) for "Deductions (other than the standard deduction)." Even if you don't itemize, you can include things like: - 401(k) contributions - Health insurance premiums (if pre-tax) - HSA contributions - Any other pre-tax deductions from your paycheck The estimator calculates how much these reduce your taxable income and tells you exactly what number to put in Step 4(b). This effectively reduces your withholding without having to mess with the confusing multiple jobs calculations. I also learned that if you started mid-year (like it sounds like you did), many payroll systems mess up the calculation because they assume you've been earning that salary all year. The Withholding Estimator accounts for this timing issue. After I updated my W-4 with the calculated amounts, my withholding dropped by about $400 per paycheck and I'm now on track for a refund under $200. Definitely worth the 15 minutes it took to run through the estimator!

I'm also new to this community and going through my first Illinois tax filing experience after moving here from the UK last year! Filed my return on March 14th and have been stuck on "received being processed" for about 6 weeks now. This entire thread has been such a relief to discover - I was starting to think I had made some error on my return since my federal refund was processed so quickly while Illinois seems to take ages. Reading about the additional verification steps for first-time filers and learning that 6-8 weeks is actually normal processing time has been incredibly reassuring! The UK tax system worked completely differently (refunds were automatic and much faster), so navigating the US system has been quite an adjustment. I'm definitely going to try the MyTax Illinois portal that several people have mentioned to see if it provides more detailed status information than just that generic "received being processed" message. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - this community discussion has been invaluable for understanding what's actually normal versus what might indicate a problem. It's so comforting to know this delay is standard rather than an issue with my specific filing!

I'm also new to this community and currently experiencing my first Illinois tax filing season after moving here from Germany last year! Filed my return on March 11th and have been watching that frustrating "received being processed" status for about 6 weeks now. This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful - I was genuinely starting to worry that I had made some mistake on my return, especially since my federal refund was deposited within a week while Illinois seems to move so slowly. Learning about the additional verification procedures for first-time filers and that 6-8 weeks is actually considered normal processing time has been such a relief! The German tax system worked very differently (much more automated), so I'm still adjusting to how things work here in the US. I'm definitely going to try the MyTax Illinois portal that multiple people have recommended to see if I can get more detailed status information beyond just that generic message we've all been staring at for weeks. Thank you to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - this community discussion has been invaluable for a newcomer trying to understand what's normal versus what might indicate a problem. It's so reassuring to know this delay is completely standard rather than an issue with my specific filing!

Has anyone noticed that tax software handles the Foreign Tax Credit Simplified Limitation for AMT differently? I used TurboTax last year and H&R Block this year, and they gave me completely different results for basically identical situations. TurboTax recommended filing Form 1116 while H&R Block said to take the simplified election.

I've been dealing with this exact situation for the past three years and wanted to share what I've learned through trial and error. The Foreign Tax Credit Simplified Limitation for AMT is one of those areas where the IRS instructions are particularly unclear. Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: even though you qualify for the simplified election (under $300), it's worth calculating both methods if you're subject to AMT. The reason is that AMT has different income calculations, and sometimes the foreign source income limitation works out differently. For your specific situation with $290 in foreign taxes and $4,200 in dividend income, I'd recommend running the numbers both ways. The simplified election is definitely easier, but if you're already close to AMT territory, filing Form 1116 might give you a better result. The key is that Form 1116 lets you use the actual foreign source income calculations, which can be more favorable than the simplified approach when AMT is involved. One practical tip: if you decide to file Form 1116, make sure you elect the simplified limitation on Form 6251 line 6. This saves you from having to do separate AMT foreign source income calculations, which is where things get really complicated. Also, keep good records of your foreign taxes paid - even if you take the simplified election this year, you might want to switch to Form 1116 next year if your foreign investments grow.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my account number has both letters and numbers. Reading everyone's experiences has convinced me that I need to get the proper ACH format from my bank before filing my 2024 taxes. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had to wait for paper checks after the direct deposit failed, did the IRS send any notification that the electronic deposit was rejected? Or did you just have to figure it out when the money never showed up in your account? I want to know what signs to watch for so I don't spend weeks wondering if something went wrong. Also, has anyone tried updating their direct deposit info mid-processing if they realize they made a mistake? Or once you file with the wrong format, are you stuck waiting for the paper check?

This is such valuable information! I actually work in banking operations and can confirm what others have said - the IRS ACH system is very strict about numeric-only formatting for account numbers. We see customers run into this issue frequently, especially with credit unions and smaller banks that use alphanumeric account numbering systems. One thing I'd add is that you should also verify your routing number format. While routing numbers are standardized as 9 digits, sometimes they appear with dashes or spaces on statements that need to be removed for electronic transactions. If you're still missing that $1,400 stimulus payment, I'd recommend checking the IRS "Get My Payment" tool online first to see the status before trying to call them. It might show whether the payment was sent to an invalid account number, which would confirm this was the issue. For your 2024 tax filing, definitely use the numeric substitute your bank provided. And like someone else suggested, consider doing a small test deposit first if possible to verify the account information works properly with government systems.