congrats on making it to the finish line! felt like running a marathon didnt it

The 846 code is definitely a good sign! It means your refund has been officially issued by the IRS. Even though WMR hasn't updated with the deposit date yet, the systems don't always sync up immediately. I'd expect to see the money in your account within the next 3-5 business days. The transcript is usually more accurate and up-to-date than WMR, so trust what you're seeing there. Hang in there - you're at the finish line after all that waiting! 🤞

One thing to consider - even if the W2 is only for $79.75, the IRS might send you a CP2000 notice eventually if you don't amend. They match all W2s with tax returns and flag discrepancies. It's automated so even small amounts get caught. I learned this the hard way a few years ago with a tiny 1099. The notice included interest charges too. Better to just fix it now!

In my experience, the IRS computer system will eventually catch this discrepancy and send you a notice. It might take 6-12 months, but it's pretty much guaranteed since employers send W2s directly to the IRS. With such a small amount, you'll probably owe less than $15 in additional tax, but they might add interest and a small penalty by the time they get around to notifying you.

Has anyone here successfully contested a Sprintax determination? I'm wondering if there's a way to override their system when it makes a mistake like this.

I had a very similar situation with Sprintax last year! Based on what you've described, you're absolutely correct that you should be filing as a nonresident alien. With only 3 calendar years total in the US (2 as a student, 1 as an intern), you're still well within both exemption periods. Here's what worked for me when Sprintax made the same mistake: Go to their help section and submit a support ticket explaining your exact visa timeline. Be very specific about the dates and visa categories - mention that you had 2 calendar years as F1/J1 student (within the 5-year exemption) and 1 calendar year as J1 intern (within the 2-year exemption). Reference IRS Publication 519 and specifically mention the "exempt individual" provisions. In my case, they corrected it within 2-3 business days and I was able to proceed with the correct nonresident filing. Don't let the software override what you know is correct - you definitely shouldn't be paying US tax on worldwide income if you're still in your exempt periods!

One option nobody's mentioned - consider allocating some of the purchase price to a consulting agreement with the retiring agent. If they're willing to be available for occasional client questions or transition issues, you can pay them a consulting fee over a shorter period (like 3-5 years) which would be fully deductible as a business expense. We did this when buying a dental practice. Instead of putting the entire purchase toward goodwill, about 25% went to a consulting agreement. It was legitimate since the retiring dentist did provide occasional consultation on complex patient cases, but it also gave us more immediate tax deductions.

I've been through this exact situation with purchasing an insurance book of business, and unfortunately your CPA is correct about the 15-year rule. However, there are a few strategies that might help optimize your tax situation: First, make sure you're allocating the purchase price correctly. Not everything has to be classified as goodwill - customer lists, non-compete agreements, and specific identifiable intangibles might have different treatment. Second, consider negotiating the purchase price based on this tax reality. Since you'll be getting deductions over 15 years instead of 5-7, factor that into what you're willing to pay. Finally, look at your overall business structure. Sometimes accelerating other deductions or timing the purchase strategically can help offset the slower amortization schedule. The 15-year rule exists specifically to prevent disputes about asset life, so there's really no getting around it for goodwill. But proper structuring can still make a meaningful difference in your overall tax picture.

For anyone still waiting, here's what I've learned from 5 years of tracking this process: 1. SBTPG funding to bank deposit typically takes 1-5 business days 2. Online banks like Chime and Cash App often receive deposits 1-2 days faster than traditional banks 3. The trace number appearing is the most reliable indicator that your deposit is imminent (usually within 24 hours) 4. SBTPG status updates don't always happen in real-time - sometimes they update after your deposit has already arrived 5. Regional processing does seem to exist - Southeast tends to process slightly faster than Northeast or West Coast 6. If your status hasn't changed in 7+ days, that's when you should consider calling Hope this helps someone avoid the stress I went through learning all this!

Thank you so much for sharing this detailed timeline! This is exactly the kind of information that helps reduce the anxiety of waiting. I'm particularly interested in your observation about the trace number timing - I've been checking my account obsessively and didn't realize that was such a reliable indicator. Quick question: when you say you received the trace number around 8pm, where exactly did you see it? Was it in your bank account, the SBTPG portal, or somewhere else? I have a DDD of 3/14 and SBTPG has shown funded since Monday, so I'm hoping to spot that trace number soon. Also using Chime, so fingers crossed I follow a similar timeline to yours! Your point about regional differences is fascinating - I'm in Texas and wondering if that puts me in a similar processing group as Mississippi. Thanks again for taking the time to document all of this!