I'm an accountant and see this issue often. Just wanted to add that if your employer refuses to correct this or doesn't understand, you have options when filing: 1. File Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) for the 5-month period if your employer won't issue a correct W-2 2. Report the Paychex W-2 normally, and use Form 4852 for the employer-issued portion, entering only the ADDITIONAL amounts not already reported by Paychex 3. Attach an explanation letter to your return Just don't report duplicate income! And make sure you get this resolved before filing.

This is a really common issue that causes a lot of stress, but you're handling it the right way by addressing it early. I went through something similar when my company switched from Workday to their own system mid-year. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - make sure you keep detailed records of ALL your communications with your employer about this. Email them about the W-2 issue so you have written documentation of when you raised the concern and what their response was. Also, if your employer has an HR department, go through them rather than just talking to whoever handles payroll now. HR usually understands the legal requirements better and can ensure this gets handled properly. They should know that issuing a full-year W-2 when another company already reported part of the year will create duplicate reporting. The key point everyone's made is correct - you should end up with TWO separate W-2s: one from Paychex covering Jan-July, and one from your employer covering Aug-December. If your employer pushes back, you can reference IRS Publication 15 (Employer's Tax Guide) which explains how to handle this situation properly.

I've been tracking 846 code timing for about 4 years now and can offer some specific insights for your situation. The Monday 04/29 date you're seeing is actually quite favorable - I've noticed that when 846 dates fall on Mondays, the IRS typically initiates the ACH transfer on the preceding Thursday or Friday, which gives financial institutions the weekend to process. Here's what I'd expect for your timeline: - IRS likely sends the transfer 04/25-04/26 (Thu/Fri) - Your credit union receives it over the weekend - Funds could be available as early as Sunday evening or Monday morning Since you mentioned quarterly estimated tax planning, definitely call your credit union and ask specifically about their "federal tax refund deposit policy" - not just general ACH timing. Many credit unions release these funds immediately upon receipt rather than holding until the official date. I switched from Bank of America to a local credit union partly because of refund timing issues. With BofA, I got refunds exactly on the 846 date. With my credit union, I consistently get them 1-2 days early. The difference has been really helpful for cash flow planning. Set up account alerts starting 04/25, but keep your backup plan ready for the quarterly payment. The 846 date is really the IRS saying "no later than this date" rather than "exactly this date.

I've been dealing with 846 timing for several years and your situation looks promising! The Monday 04/29 date is actually ideal timing - the IRS typically initiates ACH transfers 2-3 business days early, so they'll likely send yours around 04/25-04/26 (Thursday/Friday). Since you're with a local credit union, you're in great shape. Credit unions are much more flexible than big banks with early releases. I consistently get mine 1-2 days before the 846 date at my CU. For your quarterly tax planning, here's what I'd do: 1. Call your credit union Monday and ask about their "federal tax refund ACH deposit policy" specifically 2. Set up mobile alerts starting 04/25 so you're notified immediately 3. Plan conservatively for 04/29 but expect it could arrive 04/27-04/28 4. Keep backup funding ready just in case The weekend processing actually works in your favor - many credit unions post federal deposits Sunday evening or early Monday morning. Just remember the 846 date is more of a "no later than" guarantee rather than an exact arrival date. Good luck with your quarterly payment coordination!

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.