Something nobody's mentioned yet - check if the foreign country has a tax treaty with the US! This makes a huge difference. I invested in a UK company and because of the tax treaty, my dividend tax rate was reduced from 30% to 15%. Also - watch out for foreign currency gains/losses. The IRS treats these as separate taxable events from your actual investment return. My tax software totally missed this and I had to file an amended return last year.

One important aspect that hasn't been covered yet is the timing of when you recognize income for tax purposes. For foreign investments, you need to be aware of the "constructive dividend" rules that can apply even when no actual cash distribution occurs. If you're investing in a European company as mentioned, also consider whether it's structured as a corporation, partnership, or other entity type under both US and foreign tax law. Sometimes an entity that's treated as a corporation abroad might be considered a partnership for US tax purposes, which completely changes your reporting obligations. Also worth noting - if you're planning to hold this investment long-term, consider the impact on your estate planning. Foreign investments can complicate estate tax filings significantly. The reporting requirements don't go away just because you're not actively managing the investment anymore. I'd strongly recommend getting that consultation with a tax attorney who specializes in international taxation before making the investment, not after. The structure you choose upfront can make a huge difference in your ongoing tax compliance burden.

Have you considered reaching out to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program? They offer free tax preparation services for people with disabilities, and many locations now provide remote options due to COVID adaptations they've maintained. While they don't offer advances directly, they might be able to expedite your filing to get your refund faster. Do you qualify for any special credits related to your disability that might increase your refund amount? What's your timeline for needing the funds?

I'm really sorry to hear about your Credit Karma situation - that's incredibly frustrating, especially when you're dealing with disability challenges and counting on that advance! 😔 Based on what others have shared, here are a few solid options to consider: **Quick alternatives with advances:** • H&R Block online - seems to have good disability accommodations and 24-48 hour processing • TaxSlayer - another user just got approved for $1,250 in 37 hours • Jackson Hewitt online - also offers refund advances **Things to watch out for:** • Fees can range $25-100, so compare the total cost • Some advances are smaller than advertised • New platforms have learning curves **Alternative approach:** Some folks found that filing with faster services like FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct without an advance actually got their refund in 8-12 days, which wasn't much slower than advances anyway and saved on fees. Given your disability needs, I'd probably start by checking H&R Block's online platform since multiple people mentioned their good accessibility features. Whatever you choose, make sure to read all the fee disclosures carefully before committing. Hang in there - there are definitely workable solutions for your situation! 💪

I'm dealing with my first 570 code too and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Filed 2/28, completed ID verification in early March, and just got the 570 yesterday with an as-of date of 5/20. No 971 notice here either. What really helped calm my nerves was reading @Anastasia Popova's explanation about automated income matching versus needing additional documentation. I was spiraling thinking they found major errors in my return, but the pattern everyone's describing makes it sound like this is just part of their process this year, especially after verification cases. @Yuki Tanaka - your timeline is super helpful to see laid out like that. The fact that you're only about 2 weeks out from your May 6th date and have congressional backup already in place puts you in a really good position. I'm definitely going to wait and see what happens with my 5/20 date before taking any action. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here who went through this process noticed if the 570 code typically disappears on the exact as-of date, or does it usually happen a few days before/after? Trying to manage my expectations for when to actually start checking for updates! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been way more helpful than any official IRS resource I've found.

I'm going through something very similar and this thread has been so helpful! Filed 2/15, completed ID verification in mid-March, and got my 570 code on 4/21 with an as-of date of 5/8. Like everyone else here, no 971 notice. What's been most reassuring is reading all the explanations about this being automated income verification rather than a major problem with our returns. I was honestly panicking when I first saw that 570 code appear, especially after already going through the whole ID verification process. @Yuki Tanaka - your proactive approach with congressional contacts is smart, and it sounds like you'll have good backup if your May 6th date doesn't bring resolution. The fact that so many of us are seeing this same pattern (verification completion → gap → 570 without 971) really does suggest it's just part of their standard process this year. One thing I've noticed from reading everyone's experiences is how much the IRS phone agents seem to give different explanations for the same situation. It makes me feel better knowing that the inconsistent information isn't just happening to me - seems like even they don't always have clear visibility into what specific review is happening. Really hoping we all see good news on our respective as-of dates! This community support makes the waiting so much more bearable than trying to figure it out alone.

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently dealing with my first 570 code situation - got mine on March 11th (so 16 days ago) and like everyone else here, no 971 notice. I was completely lost about what this meant until I found this discussion. Reading through Matthew's original post and seeing how many others (Oliver at 21 days, Aisha at 19, Liam at 17, Zoe at 20) are all experiencing nearly identical situations with such similar timelines is both reassuring and eye-opening. The consistent 28-32 day resolution pattern that keeps appearing across everyone's stories gives me hope that we're all approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. I need my refund to help cover some unexpected home repairs, so the waiting has been nerve-wracking, but this community has provided so much valuable insight. Going to follow the advice about limiting transcript checks to Fridays and Wednesdays instead of my current daily obsession! Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's made this stressful process so much more manageable.

As someone completely new to this community and filing taxes for the first time, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm not currently dealing with a 570 code myself, but reading through everyone's experiences has been like getting a masterclass in how the IRS actually works. The consistency across all your timelines is remarkable - Matthew at 23 days, Oliver at 21, Aisha at 19, Zoe at 20, Liam at 17, and Anastasia at 16 days, all with the same 570 code and no 971 notice pattern. What strikes me most is how the 28-32 day resolution window keeps appearing in story after story from different people. It really seems like the IRS has some kind of internal batched review process that just takes time, regardless of individual circumstances. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference because the advice about checking transcripts only on Fridays and Wednesdays (instead of daily obsessing) and the insights about what different codes mean have been so educational. Thank you all for being so open about your situations - you're creating an amazing resource for people navigating these stressful financial situations. Hoping everyone sees their refunds come through soon!

Has anyone successfully gotten their broker to reverse the backup withholding? I'm in a similar situation (wrong middle initial) and just noticed nearly $3500 was withheld from a stock sale last month. My broker is saying they can't do anything about it now that the money has been sent to the IRS.

I went through a very similar situation a few years ago when my brokerage had an outdated SSN on file (long story involving a name change). The backup withholding hit me on a large mutual fund redemption and I was panicked about whether the IRS actually received the money. Here's what I learned: The IRS systems are notoriously slow to update, so don't expect to see backup withholding reflected in your online account immediately. Your brokerage is required to send the withheld funds to the IRS within a specific timeframe, and they have strong incentives to comply since they face penalties if they don't. For verification, I found the most reliable approach was to keep detailed records of the withholding from your brokerage statements and wait for your 1099 forms. The 1099-B (for stock sales) will show both your proceeds and the backup withholding amount. This is your official documentation that the IRS will accept. Regarding quarterly payments - you're absolutely right that you can adjust them. The IRS cares about your total tax payments for the year, not the timing or method. If your backup withholding exceeds your projected liability, you can reduce or skip estimated payments accordingly. Just make sure to run the numbers carefully to avoid underpayment penalties.