I'm really glad you shared your experience with the TAS hardship line - it's exactly the kind of real-world guidance people need when dealing with IRS delays! I've been hesitant to contact them myself, worried it might somehow complicate my situation further, but reading through everyone's experiences here is really encouraging. What strikes me most is how many people mention that TAS advocates can actually see what's happening behind the scenes, unlike the regular customer service reps who seem to just read from scripts. I'm curious - when you called 1-877-777-4778, did they immediately assess you for hardship criteria, or did you have to explain your situation to multiple people first? I'm trying to prepare mentally for the call since phone anxiety is real when you're already stressed about finances. Also, for those investment opportunities you mentioned - are they still available, or have you had to let them pass? I'm in a similar boat where time-sensitive financial decisions are hanging in the balance while waiting for this refund mess to get sorted out.

I'm really grateful for this thread - it's giving me hope when I was starting to feel completely defeated by the IRS system! I've been waiting 5 months for my refund and getting nowhere with regular channels. The financial stress is overwhelming, especially with my credit card bills piling up from covering expenses I expected to pay with my refund. Reading about everyone's success with TAS advocates having actual authority and system access (versus just reading scripts) makes so much sense. I'm definitely calling that hardship line tomorrow with all my documentation ready - specific amounts, dates, and a timeline of all my previous interactions. It's encouraging to hear that most people are getting advocates assigned within 1-3 weeks and seeing resolution within a month or so after that. Even though it still feels long when you're desperate, it beats the endless runaround I've been getting. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - knowing there's actually a path forward is exactly what I needed to hear!

One thing to watch out for - make sure your tax software is actually calculating everything correctly after you manually add the income. I had a similar situation with code 23 income, and TurboTax allowed me to enter it but didn't properly account for it in the final calculations. H&R Block's online version handled it better for me. But regardless of which software you use, I recommend double-checking the final numbers by hand. The 1040-NR is unfortunately not as well supported by most tax software as the regular 1040.

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm that the software is handling this correctly. Income code 23 on your 1042-S does need to be manually added to your gross income since it represents taxable moving expense reimbursements. A few additional tips from my experience: 1. Make sure you're using the 2023 version of Schedule 1 when reporting this income 2. Keep detailed records of what the $4,100 covered (moving truck, temporary lodging, etc.) in case the IRS has questions later 3. Double-check that your software is properly linking the $1,230 withholding to this income - some programs don't make this connection automatically Also worth noting: if you're from a country with a tax treaty, you might be able to reduce the tax on this income. Many treaties have provisions for employment-related reimbursements that could save you money. The 30% withholding might have been more than necessary depending on your home country's treaty with the US. Good luck with your filing! The 1040-NR can be tricky but you're on the right track.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding DREs! I'm in a similar situation to many of you - considering setting up a single-member LLC for my freelance graphic design work. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing aspect. If I'm planning to start my LLC in the middle of the tax year, do I need to do anything special for that first partial year? Like, if I form the LLC in July, do I report the January-June income from my freelance work as sole proprietor income and then July-December as DRE income on the same Schedule C? Or does it all just get lumped together since it's the same person either way? Also, I keep seeing people mention quarterly estimated taxes - does having a DRE change how you calculate or pay those compared to just being a regular sole proprietor? I've been paying estimated taxes as a freelancer already, but want to make sure I don't mess anything up when I transition to the LLC structure.

This discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm a tax professional and want to add a few important points that might help newcomers to DREs. First, while everyone's correctly noting that DREs provide liability protection, remember that this protection isn't absolute. You're still personally liable for your own professional negligence or wrongful acts - the LLC primarily protects your personal assets from business debts and certain types of claims. Second, for those worried about complexity, DREs are actually one of the simplest business structures from a compliance standpoint. No board meetings, corporate resolutions, or complex record-keeping requirements like you'd have with a corporation. Just keep good financial records and maintain that separation between personal and business finances that @Demi Lagos mentioned. One thing I'd emphasize for the web designers and freelancers here: consider getting professional liability insurance even with your DRE. If a client claims your work caused them financial harm, that personal liability I mentioned earlier could still apply. Finally, remember that you can always elect out of DRE status later if your situation changes (like if you want to be taxed as an S-Corp to potentially save on self-employment taxes as your income grows). The flexibility is one of the best features of the LLC structure!

I've been through this exact situation before! Got a random TREAS 310 deposit that had me completely confused for weeks. Here's what I learned after finally getting to the bottom of it: The deposit could be several things - most commonly it's an IRS adjustment where they found you overpaid taxes or qualified for a credit you didn't claim. But since you're military, there are some additional possibilities like corrections to combat pay exclusions, travel pay adjustments, or even TSP contribution corrections. My advice: Don't spend it yet (as others have mentioned, errors do happen), but don't stress too much either. In my case, it turned out to be legitimate - the IRS had corrected an error in how my employer reported my income and I was owed the difference. The frustrating part is waiting for an explanation, but you should get a notice letter within 2-3 weeks explaining exactly what the adjustment was for. You can also try accessing your IRS online account transcript which sometimes shows the details faster than the mail. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of the deposit date and amount, then cross-referencing it with the notice when it arrived. Made it much easier to understand what had happened and gave me peace of mind that it was legitimate.

The TREAS 310 code is definitely from the U.S. Treasury, so it's legitimate government money - the question is just whether it's rightfully yours or an error. Given that you're active duty military, there are several military-specific possibilities beyond the typical IRS adjustments others have mentioned. One common scenario for service members is corrections to overseas cost of living allowances (COLA) or family separation allowances that get processed retroactively. The military payroll system sometimes takes months to catch and correct these adjustments, and they often come through as Treasury deposits rather than regular military pay. Another possibility is interest payments on overpaid taxes if you were deployed to a combat zone. Combat pay exclusions can create complex tax situations that the IRS reviews and adjusts later, sometimes resulting in additional refunds with interest. Since the Treasury department couldn't give you details until it posts, I'd recommend creating an account at irs.gov once the deposit clears. The online account transcript will show you exactly what type of adjustment triggered the payment, usually with a specific code that explains the reason. In the meantime, definitely don't spend it, but try not to worry too much. In my experience, legitimate Treasury adjustments are far more common than errors, especially for military members with complex pay situations.

Just wanted to share my experience - I actually called H&R Block directly (no special service needed) and asked if they had any current promotions. The rep told me they have a "first-time self-employed filer" discount that takes 20% off if you mention it when you call. Apparently it's not advertised online but they can apply it over the phone if you qualify. You have to call before you start your return though, and they'll give you a special code to enter. Might be worth a quick call if you haven't filed yet! The number is on their main website under customer support.

I'm actually a tax preparer at an H&R Block office and can give you some insider info! Here are the best legitimate ways to get key codes: 1) If you're military (active duty, reserve, or veteran), there's a special military discount code that gives you free federal filing - just ask for the "Military OneSource" promotion 2) AARP members get a significant discount through their partnership program - check the AARP website for the current code 3) College students can often get discounts through their school's financial aid office or career services 4) If you're filing both federal and state returns, sometimes they'll give you a bundle discount if you call and ask The "first-time self-employed" discount that Natalie mentioned is real, but it's actually for anyone filing Schedule C for the first time, regardless of whether you've used H&R Block before for W-2s only. Pro tip: If you're really strapped for cash, consider using the IRS Free File program instead. For self-employment income under $79,000, you can file completely free through several approved software providers. Sometimes saving the entire filing fee is better than hunting for discount codes!