If you're still having trouble with the IRS identity verification process that others mentioned, here's a tip that worked for me: try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache completely. The IRS website can be finicky with saved login data or certain browser extensions. Also, make sure you're using exactly the same personal information that appears on your most recent tax return - sometimes even small differences in how you enter your address or name can cause the verification to fail. If you moved between any of those tax years (2019-2022), use the address from your most recent return when setting up your IRS account. One more thing - if you're still employed somewhere else now, your current employer's HR department might have some suggestions or resources for dealing with this situation. They've probably seen it before and might know about other services or approaches that could help. Good luck with your loan application!

One additional tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you remember which tax preparation software you used for those years (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, etc.), log into your old account if you still have access. Most tax software companies store your previous returns for several years, and your W2 information would be included in those saved returns. Even if you filed paper returns, you might have created an online account to access forms or check your refund status. These platforms often retain your tax data longer than you might expect. While it's not the original W2, having your tax return data that includes all the W2 information can be very helpful when explaining your situation to lenders or when requesting wage transcripts from the IRS. It's worth checking even if you're not sure - most of these services let you try to recover your account using your email address and SSN, and you might be surprised what's still accessible from those tax years.

As someone who works in tax compliance, I want to emphasize that the conflicting advice you're getting is unfortunately very common with international tax situations. The key thing to understand is that your immigration status (J-1 visa holder) is completely separate from your tax filing status. You absolutely CAN file jointly with your US citizen spouse, but you'll need to make the Section 6013(g) election that others have mentioned. This treats you as a US resident for tax purposes only - it doesn't change your immigration status or affect your green card application. The reason your university's Workday system only shows "single" or "married filing separately" is likely because their payroll system doesn't recognize the nuances of international tax elections. HR departments often aren't equipped to handle these specialized situations. Before making the decision, consider that filing jointly means: - Your worldwide income becomes subject to US tax - You may need to file additional forms like FBAR if you have foreign accounts over $10,000 - You'll generally get better tax rates and deductions I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional who specializes in nonresident/resident alien issues for your first year. They can help you complete the election properly and ensure you're meeting all requirements. The cost is usually worth it to avoid potential problems down the road.

I understand the frustration you're experiencing - this is one of the most confusing areas of tax law for international students and visa holders. Having gone through this myself as a former J-1 visa holder who's now a naturalized citizen, I can tell you that the advice you're getting from different offices is contradictory because many people don't fully understand the nuances of international tax law. The bottom line is that you CAN file jointly with your US citizen spouse regardless of your J-1 status. The key is making the Section 6013(g) election that allows you to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes only (this won't affect your immigration status or green card application). However, I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet: consider the timing of when you make this election. Once you make the 6013(g) election, you're generally locked into being treated as a US resident for tax purposes for all future years unless you meet specific exceptions. This means even if you return to your home country temporarily or have changes in your visa status, you'll still need to file US tax returns and report worldwide income. Given that you're in the middle of a green card application, this might actually work in your favor since you're planning to become a permanent resident anyway. But it's definitely something to discuss with both a tax professional and your immigration attorney to make sure there are no unintended consequences. The money you'll likely save by filing jointly (standard deduction, better tax brackets) usually makes this election worthwhile, but getting professional guidance for your specific situation is definitely the right move.

I had the exact same issue last filing season. Here's what worked for me: Step 1: Check your transcript for specific codes (570, 971, etc.) Step 2: Look for cycle dates (usually in top right corner) Step 3: Check the WMR tool only once per day (usually updates overnight) Step 4: If no movement after 30 days, call the IRS Step 5: Be prepared with your filing date, expected refund amount, and any transcript codes Following these steps, I discovered my return was flagged for simple verification. Once resolved, I received my refund within a week.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same timeline! Filed February 5th, so I'm at 30 days now and still stuck on the first bar of WMR. My transcript just shows "Return received and being processed" with no 846 code yet. What's really getting to me is that I planned my finances around that 21-day estimate for my car registration renewal. Now I'm having to scramble to cover expenses I thought would be handled by my refund. From lurking in this community for weeks, it seems like early February filers are just now starting to see movement. I've seen several people who filed around our dates finally getting their DDD this week. Hopefully we're in the next batch! 🤞 The waiting game is brutal, but at least we're not alone in this mess.

Don't overlook state tax implications here! Depending on your state, self-employment income might be treated differently than your W-2 income. Some states also have different rules for capital gains. Also, if your contracting gig is likely to continue or grow, consider making quarterly estimated tax payments next year to avoid underpayment penalties. With your income level and the additional earnings, you might be subject to penalties if you wait until tax season to pay.

Your income situation has definitely crossed into territory where professional help could be valuable, but you might be able to handle it with good tax software if you're comfortable learning the details. A few things to consider: **For the trading income:** Since all your options were short-term, they'll be taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. With your $165k salary, that puts you in a pretty high bracket, so those $35k in gains will be taxed heavily. The $8k stock losses can offset some of this, but make sure you understand wash sale rules if you bought similar positions within 30 days. **For contractor work:** The home office deduction is absolutely worth claiming if you have a dedicated space. Even on $4k income, you're looking at potentially hundreds in deductions between the space itself plus utilities, supplies, etc. These come off your Schedule C income before self-employment taxes are calculated. **Bottom line:** If you're detail-oriented and willing to spend time learning, premium tax software can handle this. But given your income level, even paying $500-800 for a CPA consultation might save you more than that in optimized deductions and proper reporting. Plus they can advise on quarterly payments for next year to avoid penalties. The decision really comes down to your comfort level with tax complexity and whether you want the peace of mind of professional review.

I've been through this exact same situation with my dormant C-Corp last year! One thing that helped me was using FreeTaxUSA Business - they offer C-Corp filing for around $80-90, which isn't free but is much cheaper than most alternatives. The interface is pretty user-friendly for zero-activity returns. Also, definitely look into your state's requirements like others mentioned. I almost got hit with penalties because I focused only on the federal filing and completely forgot about my state's annual report requirements. Even though my corp had zero activity, I still owed the minimum state fees. If you're really strapped for cash, you could try calling your local SCORE chapter - they sometimes have retired tax professionals who volunteer to help small business owners with basic questions. They might not prepare the return for you, but they could walk you through the process of doing it yourself.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my consulting C-Corp that had been completely dormant. Here's what I learned the hard way: First, you're absolutely right that you still need to file Form 1120 even with zero activity - the IRS doesn't care if your corp was sleeping, they still want their paperwork. For budget options, I ended up using FreeTaxUSA Business (around $85) after striking out on finding anything truly free. The zero-activity return was actually pretty straightforward - most sections you'll either leave blank or enter zeros, but the software guided me through which was which. One thing that caught me off guard was the depreciation schedule. Even though I had no new assets or income, I still had to report the continuing depreciation on equipment purchased in previous years when the business was active. Make sure you have those records handy if that applies to you. Also, don't forget about your state requirements! I almost missed my state's annual report filing, which would have resulted in administrative dissolution. Each state is different, but most require some form of annual filing regardless of activity level. If money is really tight, consider whether keeping the corporation active makes sense long-term. Sometimes dissolving and starting fresh later is more cost-effective than maintaining a dormant entity for years.