I went through this exact same situation two years ago with Chase Bank - used their wire routing number instead of the ACH routing number for my tax refund. The good news is that your money isn't lost! Here's what happened in my case: The bank rejected the deposit after about 5-7 business days, and the IRS automatically reissued it as a paper check. The whole process took about 3 weeks from when the IRS first attempted the deposit. The "Where's My Refund" tool eventually updated to show "Your refund will be mailed as a check" instead of showing it as deposited. One tip that helped me was checking with my bank every few days to see if they had received and rejected anything - sometimes they can see attempted deposits in their system even before they officially bounce back to the IRS. Also, make sure your mailing address is current with the IRS since they'll be sending that paper check! Try not to stress too much - this is actually a pretty common mistake and the IRS has systems in place to handle it. Your $1,300 will find its way to you, it's just going to take a bit longer than expected.

I actually work at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center and see this routing number mix-up probably 2-3 times a week during tax season. You're definitely not alone in this! Here's what typically happens: When a bank receives a deposit with the wrong routing number type (wire vs. ACH), they'll usually reject it within 5-10 business days and send it back to the IRS with a "account not found" or "invalid routing" code. The IRS system is set up to automatically convert these failed direct deposits into paper checks. A few things that might help while you wait: 1. Keep checking "Where's My Refund" - it should update to "check mailed" status once the bank rejection is processed 2. If you're really anxious, you can call your bank and ask them to check for any "rejected ACH deposits" or "returned deposits" - sometimes they can see these in their system before the official rejection is processed 3. Make sure your address is current with the IRS since that paper check will be coming The whole process usually takes 2-4 weeks total. I know it's stressful when you need that money, but your refund isn't lost - it's just taking the scenic route to get to you!

I just went through this situation! One thing to remember is you need to file Form 8843 if you're claiming the closer connection exception to the substantial presence test. And keep super detailed records of your entry/exit dates - I learned the hard way that the IRS and CBP records can sometimes differ from what you remember.

For older I-94 records beyond what's available on the CBP website, you can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with CBP. Form G-639 is what you need - it's specifically for requesting immigration records. It can take several months to get a response, so file it as soon as possible if you need those records for tax purposes. Alternatively, if you have old passports with entry/exit stamps, those can serve as documentation. Some people also keep airline tickets, hotel reservations, or credit card statements that show transactions in specific countries on certain dates - these can help establish your travel timeline. Just make sure whatever documentation you use is consistent and complete. The IRS wants to see a clear pattern of when you were physically present in the US versus abroad.

Has anyone heard of the FDAB (Foreign Domicile Adjustment Benefit) that applies to new green card holders? My tax guy said I qualified for it when I got my green card mid-year and it saved me like $5,000.

I went through this exact transition in 2023 and want to clarify a few things I learned the hard way. Your tax residency does indeed start on December 12, 2024 - the day you enter with your green card. Your March-May tourist visit won't count toward tax residency since you didn't meet the substantial presence test and weren't a permanent resident yet. For 2024, you'll file as a dual-status alien using Form 1040 with "Dual-Status Return" written at the top. The key thing to remember is that for your resident period (Dec 12-31), you'll report worldwide income earned during those specific 20 days only - not your entire year's foreign income. One thing that caught me off guard was that even though it's only 20 days, you still need to report any foreign bank accounts if they exceed the FBAR thresholds. Also, if you have any foreign investments or retirement accounts, you may need additional forms like 8938 or 3520 depending on the values. The dual-status return can get complex quickly, so definitely consider getting professional help or using specialized software for your first year.

Thanks everyone for the helpful explanations! I feel much better now knowing that my TIN and SSN being the same is totally normal. I was worried there might be some error on my transcript that would mess up my mortgage application. It's reassuring to know this is how it works for most individual taxpayers. Really appreciate this community for clearing up my confusion so quickly!

Just to add some practical context - when you're dealing with mortgage lenders, they'll often ask for your "TIN" on forms, but as an individual taxpayer, you'll just use your SSN. Don't let the different terminology throw you off! The lender is basically asking for the same number that appears on your tax returns and W-2s. Your transcript showing matching last 4 digits is exactly what they'd expect to see for verification purposes.

Be careful about "fair market value" if your home is in a very expensive area. My attorney advised me to get actual written quotes from local venues for similar meeting spaces to justify my rates. Also, the IRS doesn't look kindly on all 6 meetings happening on consecutive days (looks like you're trying to maximize the 14-day rule rather than having legitimate separate meetings).

I've been through a similar situation with multiple business entities and the Augusta rule. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed business calendar that showed legitimate reasons why each LLC needed its own separate meeting at different times throughout the year. For example, my real estate LLCs had meetings timed around lease renewals, property maintenance planning, and quarterly financial reviews - all legitimate business reasons that justified separate gatherings. The key is making sure each meeting has distinct business purposes that make sense for that specific entity's operations. Also, consider having some meetings be shorter (2-3 days) rather than all being a full week. This helps show you're not just trying to maximize the 14-day benefit, but rather using the time that's actually needed for each entity's business purposes. Document everything extensively - meeting minutes, business decisions made, attendance records, and keep all rental agreements and payment records organized in case of an audit.