This is really useful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation waiting for interest on my 2023 refund that was delayed until January. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I should be watching both my bank account and mailbox over the next few weeks. Quick question - for those who received paper checks for interest, did the envelope have any special markings or did it look like regular IRS correspondence? I want to make sure I don't accidentally overlook it among other mail. Also, does anyone know if the interest amount is calculated from the original due date of the return or from when they were supposed to process it?

Just wanted to add my recent experience to this thread! I received my delayed 2023 refund in February via direct deposit, and then got the interest payment about 3 weeks later - also via direct deposit to the same account. The interest amount was $127.84 and showed up with a description like "IRS TREAS 310 TAXREFUND" similar to how the original refund appeared. I think the IRS systems have gotten better at keeping payments consistent. I did receive a notice in the mail about a week after the interest deposit explaining the calculation, but the money hit my account first. One thing I noticed is that the interest deposit happened on a Wednesday, whereas my original refund came on a Friday. Not sure if that timing difference means anything, but thought I'd mention it in case others are tracking deposit patterns. So definitely monitor both your bank account AND mailbox as others have suggested - seems like it really varies by case!

Has anyone successfully claimed back NRP overpayments? My company applied non-resident payroll tax to my entire salary for months but I'm certain they calculated it wrong because I was only in Portugal for 65 days last year (well under the 183 threshold). They took almost €8000 extra and HR is being super unhelpful saying "tax authorities required it" but won't show me the calculation or which specific regulation applies.

This is such a common issue that more people need to be aware of! I went through something very similar when my UK employer discovered I'd been working from Barcelona for 4 months. The key thing to understand is that your employer is likely being overly cautious because they're worried about creating a "permanent establishment" in the country where you're working. This can trigger corporate tax obligations for them, not just payroll tax issues for you. What saved me was getting a formal opinion from a tax advisor confirming that my work arrangement didn't create PE risk for my employer. Once I showed them this documentation, they were willing to adjust the withholding approach. Also, keep detailed records of everything - your physical location each day, the nature of your work, any client interactions. If you do need to file for refunds later, this documentation will be crucial. I learned this the hard way after spending months trying to reconstruct my travel history from credit card statements and hotel bookings. The "don't ask, don't tell" approach unfortunately doesn't work anymore with remote work becoming so common. Tax authorities are cracking down and employers are getting more sophisticated about tracking this stuff.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation as an F-1 student from Germany. I've been trading crypto for about a year now and was really stressed about the tax implications. Reading through all the responses here, it seems like the consensus is that crypto capital gains are sourced to our home countries as nonresident aliens, which is a huge relief. I was initially planning to report everything on my 1040-NR, but now I understand I only need to report my campus job income. One thing I'm still unclear on though - does it matter which cryptocurrency exchange platform I used? I've been using both Coinbase (US-based) and Binance (international). From what I'm reading here, the exchange location doesn't matter for sourcing purposes, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Also, for those who used the various tools mentioned (taxr.ai, etc.), did you find them helpful for organizing your transaction history for your home country tax filings as well? I know I'll need to report these gains on my German tax return, so any tools that can help with international tax compliance would be great. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these complex international tax situations!

Great question about the exchange platforms! As others have confirmed, the location of the exchange (Coinbase vs Binance) doesn't affect the sourcing rules for your capital gains as a nonresident alien. What matters is your tax residency status, which in your case as an F-1 student from Germany means your gains are sourced to Germany. Regarding tools for international compliance, I'd definitely recommend looking into solutions that can handle both US determination and prepare reports for your home country filing. Many of these platforms can export transaction histories in formats that work well with German tax software or can be easily provided to a German tax advisor. One additional tip for German tax compliance - make sure you're tracking your holding periods carefully, as Germany has that one-year holding period rule where crypto gains can be tax-free if held longer than a year. Having detailed records of acquisition and disposal dates will be crucial for optimizing your German tax situation. Also, don't forget to keep documentation of your F-1 status and time spent in the US, as this supports your nonresident alien determination for US tax purposes. Having this documentation readily available can be helpful if you ever need to explain your filing position to either tax authority.

I found out the hard way you can actually get in serious trouble if you don't report ALL income, even from jobs you hated. My cousin didn't include a W-2 from a job he walked out on (he worked there 2 months) and got a letter from the IRS 8 months later with penalties!! The employer reports your income to the IRS regardless of whether you get the W-2 or not, so the IRS knows you earned that money. Better to chase down those forms or use the substitute form than risk an audit!

Just adding my experience here - I was in almost the exact same situation last year with 3 different employers where I left on terrible terms. One place I literally never went back after lunch break because the supervisor was so abusive. Here's what actually worked for me: I started with the mail forwarding (which you already did - good move!), then systematically contacted each company's HR department via email. I kept it super short and professional: "Hi, I'm a former employee from [dates] and need my W-2 sent to my current address. My SSN is XXX-XX-XXXX and my current address is [address]. Please confirm receipt of this request." The key was NOT mentioning why I left or trying to explain anything. Just treated it like a routine business request. 3 out of 4 companies responded within a week and sent updated W-2s. For the one that didn't respond, I called the IRS after February 15th and they handled it. Also pro tip - if you have any old pay stubs from these jobs, keep them handy. They have a lot of the info you'll need if you have to file Form 4852 or talk to the IRS. Don't let the awkwardness of how you left prevent you from getting your tax documents - HR departments deal with this stuff all the time and honestly don't care about workplace drama.

I completely feel your anxiety! That Informed Delivery preview can be such a tease - you see the IRS envelope but have to wait to know what's inside. From my experience, March is actually a pretty common time for routine notices since they're processing millions of returns right now. Could be anything from acknowledging receipt of your return, confirming a payment, or even just updating your address on file. The fact that you've been so careful with your filings this year (especially learning from that crypto situation) actually works in your favor. When you do get it tomorrow, try to open it with someone else around if possible - sometimes having moral support helps with that initial heart-stopping moment of reading it!

I've been in your shoes before and that Informed Delivery anxiety is so real! Here's what helped me get through it: remember that the IRS actually sends out millions of routine notices during tax season that are completely benign. Things like confirming they received your return, updating their records, or even just sending a transcript you requested weeks ago. Since you mentioned you've been extra careful this year after that crypto situation, you're probably in good shape. One practical tip - when you do get it tomorrow, take a deep breath before opening and remind yourself that even if it does require action, you have time and options. The IRS gives you at least 30 days to respond to most notices, and many can be resolved online or with a simple phone call. You've got this!