I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Filed my 1040-NR in late February as a J-1 exchange visitor from Turkey, and I'm now approaching month 3 with absolutely zero meaningful updates from the IRS. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been stuck on "still being processed" for what feels like forever. This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly such a relief to find! I had no idea that 4-6 months was considered "normal" for non-resident returns - nobody mentions this anywhere during the filing process. I also claimed treaty benefits under Article 20 for my research income, so reading about the manual review process explains so much about why this is taking forever. I'm definitely going to request my tax transcript this week after seeing how useful it's been for everyone here. The idea that there might be specific hold codes that actually explain what's happening (instead of just generic "processing" messages) gives me hope that I can at least understand what stage my return is in. One question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues with the treaty benefits verification requiring additional documentation that the IRS didn't initially tell you about? I'm worried they might need something else from me but have no way to communicate that until I actually speak with someone or see my transcript. Thanks so much @Fatima Al-Farsi for starting this discussion - finding others going through the same frustrating experience has honestly saved my sanity! The waiting is awful when you're counting on that refund, but at least now I have realistic expectations and some concrete steps to get more information.

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my 1040-NR in early March as an F-1 student from China, and it's now been over 2.5 months with absolutely no progress. The "Where's My Refund" tool just shows the same useless "still being processed" message every single time I check. This thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly such a huge relief to find! I had no idea that 4-6 months was considered normal for non-resident returns - this is never mentioned anywhere during the filing process or on the IRS website. I also claimed treaty benefits under Article 20 for my research assistantship income, so based on everyone's experiences here, that manual review process is definitely adding months to my timeline. After reading through all these experiences, I'm absolutely going to request my tax transcript this week. The idea that there might be specific hold codes that actually explain what's happening (instead of just wondering if my return disappeared into the void) is so appealing right now. At least then I'll know if there's a specific issue that needs addressing or if I'm just stuck in the normal processing queue. The stress of waiting when you're counting on that refund money for living expenses is so real - I completely understand everyone's frustration! But seeing that literally every person who's shared their story here eventually got their refund (even if it took 4-6 months) is really reassuring. I was starting to panic that something had gone wrong with my filing. Thanks so much @Fatima Al-Farsi for starting this discussion - finding others going through this same nightmare has honestly saved my sanity! The waiting is awful, but at least now I have realistic expectations and some actionable steps to get more information about what's actually happening with my return.

Warning from someone who tried something similar - the "trader tax status" is EXTREMELY difficult to qualify for. Despite making 15-20 trades daily, maintaining separate accounts, and treating it like a business, we got denied. The IRS agent told us they look for: 1) 4+ hours daily devoted to trading 2) 720+ trades per year (though this isn't a hard rule) 3) Average holding period under 31 days 4) Seeking profit from short-term market movements, not dividends 5) Substantial account size Even meeting these criteria doesn't guarantee approval. They review each case individually.

As someone who's been through this exact scenario, I'd strongly recommend getting professional guidance before moving forward. The IRS scrutinizes family trading businesses heavily, especially when it involves converting what they might view as personal investment activity into employment. A few key considerations from my experience: 1) **Legitimate business purpose**: You'll need to demonstrate this is a real business operation, not just a tax strategy. This means formal business plans, documented trading strategies, and clear separation between business and personal activities. 2) **Employment vs. partnership**: Having your wife as an employee creates additional complications around reasonable compensation requirements. A partnership structure might be simpler, though it affects the 401(k) goals you mentioned. 3) **Trader vs. investor status**: Even with 10 daily trades, the IRS looks at the totality of circumstances. They examine holding periods, profit sources (appreciation vs. short-term swings), time commitment, and whether you're truly operating as a business. 4) **Record keeping**: You'll need meticulous documentation - trading logs, time sheets, business meeting minutes, separate accounts, and clear business procedures. Before structuring anything, consider getting a definitive analysis of whether your current trading patterns would even qualify for business treatment. The potential tax benefits need to be weighed against compliance costs and audit risk.

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just bought my first home three months ago and honestly had no clue about homestead exemptions or any of these other potential savings. My realtor never mentioned it, my lender didn't bring it up, and it wasn't covered in any of the closing paperwork I received. I'm definitely going to check my county's website today to see what exemptions I might qualify for and get everything filed before any deadlines. It's frustrating that this isn't automatically explained to new homebuyers - seems like something that should be part of the standard process given how much money is involved. For those who used the various tools and services mentioned (taxr.ai, claimyr.com), were there any costs involved or are they free to use? As a new homeowner, I'm trying to be mindful of expenses but also don't want to miss out on legitimate savings because I was too cheap to get proper help navigating the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's impossible to find anywhere else!

As someone who works in municipal finance, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully covered here - the timing of when you apply for homestead exemption can significantly impact your savings, especially in states with assessment cycles. Many jurisdictions assess properties on 3-5 year cycles, and if you apply for homestead exemption right before a reassessment year, you could see much larger savings than in other years. For example, if your property is due for reassessment next year and values have increased significantly in your area, having homestead protection in place beforehand could save you thousands compared to applying after the new assessment. Also, don't overlook portability provisions if your state has them. In places like Florida and Texas, if you already have homestead exemption on one property and buy a new primary residence, you may be able to transfer some of the tax benefits to your new home. This is especially valuable if you're moving from a property you've owned for many years where the assessed value has been capped. I'd recommend calling your county to ask specifically about assessment cycles and portability rules - these details can make a huge difference in your long-term property tax burden but are rarely explained clearly on county websites.

I handled a very similar situation last year when my father passed and I was dealing with Form 1310. The trust/no probate scenario is actually quite common these days, and you're on the right track with your thinking. You're absolutely correct to mark "No" on line 2a of Part II - that question specifically refers to court appointment, which doesn't happen when probate is avoided through a trust structure. Then mark "Yes" on line 2b since you're named as executor in the will, and "Yes" on line 3 since you have the legal authority to claim the refund. The documentation package I submitted included: a copy of the death certificate, the relevant pages of the will showing my executor designation, and key sections of the trust document (specifically the pages that established the trust and named me as successor trustee). I kept it focused - you don't need the entire trust document, just the parts that establish your authority. One thing that really helped was including a brief cover letter explaining that while the trust structure avoided the need for probate court proceedings, I remained the designated executor for tax purposes per the will. This gave the IRS clear context for why I was authorized to claim the refund without court involvement. The whole process took about 6 weeks from submission to receiving the refund check. The IRS is familiar with these trust-based estate structures, so as long as your documentation clearly establishes your legal authority, it should process smoothly. Your $4,800 refund situation sounds very straightforward compared to some of the complex estate cases they handle.

I went through this exact situation with my mother's estate about 18 months ago - executor named in will, revocable living trust holding all assets, no probate needed. The Form 1310 Part II questions can definitely be confusing when you're in this hybrid situation. You're absolutely right to check "No" on line 2a since you weren't appointed by any court - the trust structure specifically avoided that. Then "Yes" on 2b because you're named executor in the will, and "Yes" on 3 since you have legal authority for the refund. The documentation I included was straightforward: death certificate copy, the will pages showing my executor appointment, and just the key trust sections (establishment pages and successor trustee designation). I also wrote a simple cover letter explaining that the trust avoided probate but I remained executor for tax purposes. One thing I learned - make sure to write "DECEASED" and the date of death clearly on the amended return itself. This helps the IRS route it properly. My refund was about $5,200 and took roughly 8 weeks to process, which seemed pretty standard for these situations. The IRS sees trust-based estates regularly now, so your setup isn't unusual at all. As long as your documentation clearly shows your authority to act on behalf of the estate, it should process without issues. The $4,800 amount is well within normal ranges and shouldn't trigger any additional scrutiny.

Just wanted to add one important point that might help others in similar situations - make sure your HSA administrator properly codes your contribution for the previous tax year when you make it. I made a prior-year HSA contribution last year and initially my administrator coded it for the current tax year by mistake. This created a headache when I filed my taxes because it looked like I had over-contributed for the current year. I had to get a corrected 1099-SA and 5498-SA from them. Most HSA providers have a specific process or form for prior-year contributions, so don't just assume they'll know what year you intend it for. Call them or use their online portal to explicitly designate it as a previous tax year contribution. This will save you potential complications when tax season rolls around!

Great thread everyone! As someone who works with HSA regulations regularly, I wanted to add a few key points that might help clarify things: 1. **December 1st coverage is crucial** - You absolutely must have HDHP coverage on December 1st of the tax year to use the last month rule. If your coverage ended before then, you're stuck with monthly proration. 2. **Testing period is non-negotiable** - The IRS is very strict about the testing period requirement. Even a single day gap in HDHP coverage during the testing period will trigger the penalty, so plan job transitions carefully. 3. **Contribution timing matters** - You have until the tax filing deadline (typically April 15th) to make prior-year contributions, but as others mentioned, make sure your HSA provider properly codes it for the previous tax year. 4. **Consider your job stability** - If there's any chance you might switch to a non-HDHP plan or have coverage gaps, it might be safer to just use the monthly proration method to avoid potential penalties. The last month rule can provide significant tax savings, but only use it if you're confident about maintaining coverage through the entire testing period. The penalties for failing the testing period can be substantial and definitely outweigh the benefits!