This is a really tough situation, but you're absolutely right to be concerned. Your boss is essentially asking you to be complicit in tax evasion, and his behavior - especially discouraging you from seeking professional tax advice - is a huge red flag. Here's what you need to know: You are legally required to report ALL income to the IRS, regardless of how it's paid to you. The fact that your employer pays you partially in cash doesn't make that portion non-taxable. Keep detailed records of every payment you receive (dates, amounts, cash vs. check) - this will be crucial for your tax filing. I'd strongly recommend getting a second job lined up before taking any action. While there are legal protections for whistleblowers, small businesses can sometimes find ways to retaliate, and you don't want to be left without income while dealing with this mess. When you file your taxes, report your complete income even if your W-2 doesn't reflect the cash payments. You can use Form 4852 if needed to report the correct amounts. The IRS cares most about individuals paying their proper taxes - if you're honest and thorough in your reporting, you'll be protecting yourself even if your employer isn't handling things properly. Stay strong and trust your instincts - this situation definitely feels sketchy because it IS sketchy.

I'm a tax preparer and I see situations like this more often than you'd think. Your instincts are absolutely correct - what your boss is doing is tax evasion, and his attempts to prevent you from seeking professional advice are major warning signs. Here's the bottom line: ALL income must be reported to the IRS, period. Cash payments don't have some magical exemption just because they're harder to track. Your boss claiming the cash "isn't reported to the IRS" while also saying it's "handled through business deductions" makes no sense - he's clearly making things up as he goes. The good news is you can absolutely protect yourself. Keep meticulous records of every single payment (I recommend a simple spreadsheet with date, amount, and payment type). When tax time comes, report your TOTAL income regardless of what appears on your W-2. If your W-2 is incorrect, use Form 4852 to report the actual amounts. Yes, you'll owe more taxes since no withholding was taken from the cash portion, but that's infinitely better than facing penalties for underreporting income. The IRS has payment plan options if you can't pay the full amount immediately. I'd also strongly suggest starting your job search now. Employers who operate this way rarely change, and you deserve to work somewhere that handles payroll legally and transparently. You're young and clearly have good judgment - don't let this situation derail your financial future.

The 21-day timeframe in Publication 5344 is a general guideline, but in practice, the 810 freeze code often requires manual intervention even after verification is complete. I've seen cases where the verification department and the refund release department operate on different timelines. Given your divorce settlement deadline, I'd recommend taking these steps immediately: 1) Call 877-777-4778 early morning (7 AM local time) to reach the Identity Protection Specialized Unit directly - they handle 810 cases specifically. 2) Have your verification confirmation details ready, including the exact date and method of completion. 3) Explicitly mention the financial hardship due to your divorce proceedings - this can qualify you for expedited processing. 4) If the first representative can't help, ask to speak with a manager who has authority to manually release freeze codes. The key is being persistent and specific about your situation. Don't accept "wait for the system to update" as an answer when you have documented completion of verification over two weeks ago.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with a similar 810 freeze situation. What strikes me about everyone's experiences is how inconsistent the resolution timeframes are - some people get it resolved in days while others wait weeks or months. Based on what I'm seeing here, it seems like there are actually multiple factors that can cause the 810 freeze to persist even after verification: 1) System lag between departments (as mentioned by several people), 2) Additional verification requirements beyond just ID verification, 3) Manual holds that require supervisor intervention, and 4) High processing volumes during tax season. For those still waiting like Yuki, it might be worth trying multiple approaches simultaneously rather than just waiting. The Identity Protection Specialized Unit number (877-777-4778) that NebulaNinja shared seems promising, and the idea of documenting financial hardship could help prioritize your case. I'm also wondering if there's a pattern to which verification methods (online vs phone) or which time of year leads to faster resolution? It would be helpful to track this data as a community so future people dealing with 810 freezes have better guidance on what to expect and which strategies actually work.

Don't forget about tax treaties! Many countries have tax treaties with the US that can reduce or eliminate withholding for J1 research scholars. For example, if you're from the UK, Germany, China, or India (among many others), you might qualify for reduced withholding. You'll need to fill out Form 8233 in addition to your W4 to claim treaty benefits. Your university should have this form available through the international office or payroll department.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I want to emphasize something that might not be obvious: even though you'll likely become a resident alien later in 2024, you should absolutely check the nonresident alien box on your W4 right now. Here's why this matters: your current withholding needs to match your current status. If you don't check the box, your employer will withhold taxes as if you're a US resident from day one, which could result in significant overwithholding that you'll have to wait until tax season to recover. When your status does change (likely after your second calendar year as a J1, not just based on days present), you can submit a new W4 to adjust your withholding going forward. Most universities are very familiar with this process since they deal with international scholars regularly. One more tip: keep detailed records of all your entry/exit dates and visa statuses. You'll need this information for your tax return, and it helps if any questions come up about when exactly your residency status changed.

Dont forget about the $500 credit for dependents who are over 17 - its not much but better than nothing. Also check if your state has tax benefits for claiming college students or paying college expenses. Some states give better breaks than the federal.

This is a really common situation for divorced parents with college kids! Based on what you've described, you likely have a strong case for claiming your daughter as a dependent. Since you're paying 100% of her education expenses (tuition, room & board), you're probably providing well over half of her total support despite the health insurance from your ex. The key thing to remember is that for college students under 24, the residency test is more flexible - her time in the dorm doesn't count against you since it's considered a temporary absence. What matters most is the support test, and education expenses are typically the largest component of a college student's total support. I'd recommend calculating the exact percentages: add up ALL her expenses for the year (tuition, housing, food, books, clothing, transportation, medical including insurance value, personal expenses, etc.) and see what percentage you're covering vs your ex. Given that college costs are usually $25k-50k+ annually and health insurance is around $4k, you're likely providing the majority. Keep detailed records of everything you pay - tuition statements, housing payments, book receipts, etc. This documentation will be crucial if there are ever any questions about who provided more support.

Something important no one mentioned - check if your family member qualifies for an exception to the passport restrictions! In my experience, there are several situations where the IRS can't revoke passport privileges even with seriously delinquent tax debt: 1. If they're in bankruptcy 2. If they're a victim of tax-related identity theft 3. If they're in a federally declared disaster area 4. If their account is currently not collectible due to hardship 5. If they have an innocent spouse claim pending My passport restriction was reversed when I proved hardship status, even though my debt was still on the books. Worth looking into these options rather than just waiting for the CSED!

Just want to add a practical tip from my own experience with passport restrictions and CSED timing - make sure to get everything in writing from the IRS once that CSED date hits in 2027. When my debt reached its expiration date, the IRS systems didn't automatically update right away. Even though the debt was legally uncollectible, the passport restriction stayed in place for about 6 weeks because their internal systems hadn't communicated the change to the State Department yet. I had to call and specifically request a letter stating that the debt had reached its Collection Statute Expiration Date and that the certification for "seriously delinquent tax debt" had been reversed. Once I had that letter, I was able to apply for my passport without any issues. The lesson: don't just assume everything will update automatically on the CSED date. Be proactive and get written confirmation that the restriction has been lifted. This will save you from any surprises when you actually go to apply for the passport renewal. Also, keep detailed records of all those small payments your family member has been making, along with the original assessment date. You'll want this documentation handy when you call the IRS in 2027 to confirm the CSED and request removal of the passport restriction.