I had a Maryland refund delay last year with Chime too. Even though the state says 48 hours, sometimes the banks themselves can add extra processing time, especially when there's been an adjustment like in your case. Chime is usually super fast but they might hold it for additional verification when the amount differs from what was expected. I'd definitely call that Maryland number tomorrow morning right when they open (8:30am) - you'll have better luck getting through early before the call volume picks up. In my experience, once you actually get someone on the phone they can tell you exactly what's causing the delay and give you a realistic timeline.

I've been through this exact situation with Maryland and Chime before. The "adjustment" is definitely the key factor here - when they modify your refund amount, it triggers additional verification steps that can extend the timeline beyond the standard 48 hours. Since you haven't received the adjustment letter yet, they're probably still finalizing everything on their end. Chime typically processes deposits instantly, but when there's a discrepancy between the expected amount and what the state is actually sending, they may hold it for verification. I'd recommend calling Maryland at 8:30am sharp tomorrow (410-260-7980) - early morning calls have way better success rates. In the meantime, keep checking your Chime account throughout the day since deposits can hit at random times, especially on weekends. The fact that others are reporting their refunds hitting after 3+ days gives me confidence yours will show up soon. The adjustment process just takes longer than regular approvals.

Just wanted to add something important - when we had our ITIN rejected, we learned that timing matters! If you submit your W7 with your tax return during the peak filing season (February-April), the processing time can be much longer than the estimated 11 weeks. We resubmitted in June after our initial rejection, and got the ITIN in about 7 weeks instead of 11. If your tax situation allows for it (like if you're getting a refund or don't owe much), consider filing an extension and then submitting when the IRS isn't as swamped.

I went through this exact situation last year! The TAC verification route is definitely your best bet - I was terrified to mail my wife's original passport too. One thing I learned that might help: when you call for the TAC appointment, ask specifically about their ITIN verification hours. Some locations only do ITIN services on certain days or during specific time slots, so you want to make sure you're booking during those times. Also, bring copies of everything in addition to the originals. The agent will verify the originals but keep copies for their records. And definitely bring that rejection letter you received - it helps the agent understand exactly what went wrong the first time. The 11-week timeline is frustrating, but once you get that stamped W7 from the TAC, you're in much better shape. Just make sure your tax return is completely filled out and accurate before you go to the appointment, because they'll review both documents together.

For miscellaneous income like this, you would typically report it on Schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments to Income) which gets attached to your Form 1040. Look for Line 8i "Other income" - this is where payments for services that don't have a formal 1099 would go. You'll want to keep good records of the payment - a copy of the check, any written communication about the work you did, etc. If the amount is substantial enough or if you do more of this type of work during the year, you might also need to consider quarterly estimated tax payments, but for a one-time $1,300 payment you can likely just handle it when you file your annual return. The key is being consistent and transparent with the IRS about the nature of the income. Since you provided moving services in exchange for this payment, reporting it as miscellaneous income on Line 8i is the appropriate and honest approach.

I've been reading through all these responses and wanted to share my own experience from a few years back. I had a similar situation where I helped a family member with some home repairs and they insisted on paying me $800. At first, I thought about just treating it as a family gift, but after talking to a tax preparer, I realized that since I had provided specific services (plumbing and electrical work), it was really income regardless of our family relationship. What convinced me to report it properly was realizing that the IRS has gotten much better at cross-referencing information. Even though my relative didn't claim it as a business expense, I didn't want to risk any future complications if our stories didn't match up perfectly. I ended up reporting it as miscellaneous income on Schedule 1, and honestly, the peace of mind was worth way more than the extra taxes I paid. Now whenever I do any kind of work for friends or family, I'm upfront about the tax implications from the start. It actually makes things clearer for everyone involved when you're transparent about whether something is truly a gift or payment for services. For your situation, given that you provided moving services, I'd definitely lean toward reporting it as income. The $1,300 amount and the fact that you did actual work makes this pretty clearly compensation rather than a gift in the IRS's eyes.

One more thing - check if either partner had any unreimbursed business expenses (UBE) they paid personally. These can be reported on Schedule E of their personal returns rather than being treated as capital contributions on the K-1. This is often better tax treatment since capital contributions don't directly reduce tax liability but UBEs can.

You're absolutely right about the TCJA changes! Unreimbursed employee business expenses were indeed suspended as miscellaneous itemized deductions through 2025. However, for partners in a partnership, the treatment is different - if they paid business expenses personally that weren't reimbursed by the partnership, these are typically treated as additional capital contributions to the partnership rather than deductible expenses on their personal returns. So in your husband's case, those personal funds he used for business expenses should be reflected as additional capital contributions on his K-1, increasing his capital account basis. This won't give him a direct deduction, but it will increase his basis in the partnership, which can be important for other tax calculations and will affect his final distribution amounts when the partnership dissolves. The key is making sure these contributions are properly documented and reflected in the partnership's books before preparing the final K-1s.

Has anyone used those mail forwarding services where they'll scan your mail and email it to you? I'm wondering if that might be a solution for getting the actual W-2s digitally without waiting for international mail. My job has me traveling constantly so physical mail is always a problem for tax season.

I'm a tax preparer and wanted to chime in with some official guidance on your situation. Unfortunately, printed photos of W-2s are NOT acceptable for paper filing - the IRS specifically requires the original documents with their security features intact. Your best options are: 1. Have your parents mail the original W-2s to you in Thailand via express/registered mail 2. Complete Form 4852 (Substitute W-2) for ALL your W-2 forms using the photo information 3. Have your parents mail your completed return with original W-2s attached directly from the US If you go the Form 4852 route, attach a statement explaining why you're using substitute forms and include any documentation you have (like the photos). The IRS will likely contact your employers to verify the information. For international mailing, NEVER use regular mail for tax returns. Use Thailand Post's EMS or registered mail with full tracking. Make copies of everything before sending and get a receipt with tracking number. One important note: if you're a US citizen working abroad, make sure you're also considering the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555) if applicable - it could significantly reduce your tax liability.