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I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Filed my 1040NR-EZ in February, got Form 9143 in March for signature issues, and finally got my refund in early May after resubmitting. The waiting period after resubmitting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're depending on that money for expenses. What helped me was understanding that once you resubmit after Form 9143, you're essentially at the back of the processing queue again - so the 6-8 week timeline starts from your resubmission date, not your original filing date. A couple of things that might help while you wait: 1. Keep checking "Where's My Refund" but don't expect it to update frequently - mine stayed on the original filing info until literally the day before my refund was deposited 2. If you sent it certified mail (smart move!), you have proof of delivery which puts you in a good position if you need to call later 3. The fact that it's been over 30 days but under 6 weeks means you're still well within normal processing time The signature verification issue is so frustrating because it feels like such a minor thing, but apparently their scanning systems are really sensitive. I used a gel pen too and learned the hard way that standard ballpoint is the way to go for paper tax forms. Hang in there - based on your timeline, you should hopefully hear something within the next 2-4 weeks. The good news is that once they process it, the refund usually comes pretty quickly after that!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who actually made it through the whole process! I'm at about 5 weeks now since resubmitting, so knowing that yours took until early May gives me hope that I'm getting close. The part about "Where's My Refund" not updating until literally the day before is so helpful - I've been checking it obsessively and getting frustrated that it shows no progress. I did send mine certified mail and have the delivery confirmation from April 15th, so at least I know they have it. It's just the waiting that's killing me! Your timeline actually matches pretty closely with what I'm experiencing - filed in March, got Form 9143 in early April, resubmitted mid-April. If yours came through in early May, maybe I'll see something in the next week or two. Thanks for the encouragement about being within normal processing time. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one dealing with this, but this whole thread has shown me it's way more common than I thought. I'll try to be patient for another couple weeks before getting too anxious. Really appreciate you sharing your experience!
I went through almost the exact same thing last year as an international student! Filed my 1040NR-EZ in March, got Form 9143 about signature issues, and the waiting after resubmitting was absolutely brutal. Here's what I learned: the 6-8 week processing time everyone mentions is pretty accurate, but it can feel like forever when you're counting on that refund. Since you resubmitted in mid-April and it's been about a month, you're actually still well within the normal timeframe. The certified mail was definitely the right call - having that proof of delivery is crucial if you need to follow up later. I made the mistake of not doing that initially and spent weeks wondering if they even received my resubmission. One thing that helped me was understanding that Form 9143 responses go into a completely separate processing queue. That's why the normal refund tracking tools often don't update properly during this period. My "Where's My Refund" status stayed basically frozen until the day my refund was actually deposited. If you don't hear anything by the 6-week mark (early June in your case), that's when I'd recommend calling. But honestly, based on your timeline and the fact that you followed all the instructions correctly, I'd expect to see movement in the next 2-3 weeks. The gel pen signature issue is way more common than people realize - apparently their scanning systems flag anything that looks "too perfect" or uniform. Lesson learned for all of us to stick with basic ballpoint pens on paper tax forms! Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you did everything right. Your refund should come through soon!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It's really comforting to know that others have been through this exact situation and came out fine. I'm at about 5 weeks since resubmitting now, so hearing that the 6-8 week timeline is pretty reliable gives me hope that I should see movement soon. The part about Form 9143 responses going into a separate processing queue really explains why the normal tracking tools aren't helpful right now. I've been refreshing "Where's My Refund" constantly and getting frustrated that nothing changes, but knowing it might stay frozen until the actual deposit makes me feel less crazy about it. I'll definitely wait until the 6-week mark before calling, which would be early June like you mentioned. Having the certified mail receipt should help if I do need to follow up. It's just hard being patient when you're budgeting around that refund money! The gel pen thing is such a lesson learned - I had no idea their systems were that sensitive. Definitely sticking to basic ballpoint pens for any future tax paperwork. Thanks again for the encouragement and timeline expectations!
Has anyone actually looked at the Terms of Service for this company? I had a similar issue with another US retailer and found that buried in their terms was language about "all applicable taxes and fees may be charged based on internal company policies." Basically giving themselves wiggle room to charge whatever they want. It might not be legally enforceable, but they could argue you agreed to their terms which include potentially paying these fees. Might be worth checking if there's something like that in their terms.
Even if it's in their terms of service, they can't override actual tax law. Companies can't just make up taxes or charge taxes they're not required to collect. That would be misrepresentation. A term of service that violates consumer protection laws wouldn't be enforceable, regardless of whether you "agreed" to it.
This is a classic case of incorrect sales tax application on international orders. As someone who's dealt with similar issues, I can confirm that you should absolutely NOT be charged US sales tax as a UK resident receiving goods in the UK. The key principle here is that US sales tax is destination-based, not origin-based. Since your goods are being consumed in the UK (where you'll pay UK VAT and duties), they should qualify for the export exemption from US sales tax. The company's claim about collecting tax based on shipping "FROM" a US jurisdiction is completely backwards - that's not how sales tax works. My suggestion would be to escalate this beyond regular customer service. Ask to speak with their tax department or compliance team, and specifically mention the "export exemption" for goods shipped internationally. Reference IRC Section 4221(a)(2) if you need to cite specific tax code - it covers exemptions for exported articles. If they continue to refuse, consider filing a complaint with the attorney general's office in the state where they're located (Kentucky or New Jersey, based on your post). Companies sometimes change their tune quickly when they realize they might face regulatory scrutiny for improper tax collection. Don't let them keep money they have no legal right to collect!
This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I had no idea about the IRC Section 4221(a)(2) reference - having specific tax code to cite should definitely strengthen my case when I contact them again. I'm curious about filing with the attorney general's office though. Would that actually be effective for something like this, or would they just refer me back to resolving it directly with the company? I've never dealt with regulatory complaints before so I'm not sure what to expect from that process. Also, do you happen to know if there's a time limit on getting refunds for sales tax that was incorrectly collected? I've been paying this for over a year before I realized it was wrong, so I'm wondering if I can get all of that back or just recent purchases.
Great question! I've been dealing with survey income for a couple years now. Here are the key points based on my experience: 1. **Report ALL income** - You need to report every dollar you earn from surveys, even if it's just $50. The $600 threshold only determines whether companies send you a 1099 form, not whether you owe taxes. 2. **Keep detailed records** - Since you're using multiple survey platforms, create a simple spreadsheet tracking each payment: date, platform name, amount earned. This will be crucial at tax time. 3. **Schedule C vs Other Income** - Survey work is generally considered self-employment income, so you'll likely need to file Schedule C. This means paying self-employment tax (about 15.3%) if your net earnings are $400 or more. 4. **Don't forget deductions** - You can deduct legitimate business expenses like a portion of your internet bill, phone costs if you do mobile surveys, maybe even a home office deduction if you have a dedicated space. 5. **PayPal reporting** - Even if you haven't cashed out yet, you still owe taxes on money earned this tax year. PayPal will also report payments to the IRS if you exceed certain thresholds. Start tracking everything now while it's still manageable. Trust me, trying to reconstruct your earnings from 8 different survey sites in March is a nightmare!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is quarterly estimated tax payments. If you're going to earn $900+ from surveys this year, you might need to make quarterly payments to avoid an underpayment penalty at tax time. The general rule is if you'll owe more than $1,000 in taxes (including self-employment tax), you should make quarterly payments. With $900 in survey income, you're looking at roughly $127 in self-employment tax alone, plus regular income tax depending on your bracket. You can make these payments online through the IRS Direct Pay system. The deadlines are January 15, April 15, June 15, and September 15. Since you're already partway through the year, you might want to calculate what you owe for the quarters you've missed and catch up. Also, don't forget that some states have their own reporting requirements for this type of income. Check your state's tax website or consider consulting a tax professional if this gets complicated. Better to get it right the first time than deal with notices later!
This is really helpful advice about quarterly payments! I'm new to this whole side income thing and had no idea about the quarterly requirement. Quick question - if I've already missed the earlier quarters this year, can I just pay it all when I file my tax return in April, or will I definitely get hit with penalties? I'm probably looking at around $800-900 total for the year across all my survey sites.
Hey there! I totally get why you'd be worried about that 922 code - seeing "review of unreported income" on your transcript would freak anyone out! But honestly, everyone here has given you really solid advice. That $0.00 balance is your golden ticket - it means the IRS did their homework, compared everything, and found you're all good. I'm also waiting on PATH to lift this Friday and checking my transcript obsessively lol. The way I see it, if the IRS found an actual problem with your 2022 return, you'd definitely know about it by now (CP2000 notice, balance due, the whole nine yards). The fact that it's just sitting there with zero dollars owed is actually proof that their review went in your favor. Try not to let it stress you out too much - focus on that Friday update! We're all in this PATH waiting game together and that old 922 code shouldn't mess with your current refund at all. Fingers crossed we all see some good news on Friday! π€
Thanks StarSurfer! It's really comforting to know I'm not the only one obsessively checking transcripts and waiting for Friday π You're absolutely right - if there was a real problem, the IRS would have definitely let me know by now with notices and balances due. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so helpful as someone who's still learning how all this transcript stuff works. Really appreciate the reassurance and here's hoping we all get some good news on Friday! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but at least we're all in it together π
I'm new to this whole transcript reading thing, but based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like you're in a really good spot! The fact that multiple IRS reps confirmed you don't owe anything AND it shows $0.00 is super reassuring. I'm also waiting on PATH to lift this Friday and have been driving myself crazy checking WMR every few hours π It's really helpful reading everyone's experiences with similar codes - I had no idea the IRS could run these background income checks months later when documents come in late. Makes total sense though! From what I'm understanding, if there was actually unreported income, you'd definitely have a balance due and probably some nasty notices in the mail by now. Trying to stay positive for all of us PATH folks - hopefully Friday brings some good movement on our refunds! The waiting game is brutal but at least we're all suffering together lol π€
Lucas Lindsey
As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive thread! I just encountered the exact same "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error this afternoon while attempting to import my 2023 LLC return into H&R Block Business 2024. After spending hours on the phone with H&R Block support (getting nowhere with their standard "restart and reinstall" responses), discovering this community discussion feels like finding a goldmine of actual solutions. The detailed troubleshooting approaches shared by @QuantumLeap, @Maya, and others are exactly what I needed to see. I'm particularly interested in the Feb 2nd update that resolved the issue for @Emma and several others. It's encouraging to know there's an official fix available, though I wish H&R Block had been more proactive about notifying users about this critical update. I'm also planning to try the Windows Event Viewer diagnostic approach that @Maya suggested - it never occurred to me to look there for additional error details beyond H&R Block's generic crash dialog. The section-by-section import strategy sounds like a smart fallback plan if the update doesn't completely resolve my LLC import issues. Has anyone had success with the compatibility mode approach specifically for LLC returns? My return includes some complex partnership distributions that might be contributing to the crash, and I'm wondering if running in Windows 10 compatibility mode could provide additional stability during the import process. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for those of us struggling with these import errors. This community support is genuinely better than what we're getting from the software company itself!
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Omar Fawaz
β’Welcome to the community, @Lucas! You've definitely found the right thread for H&R Block Business 2024 troubleshooting. Your frustration with their standard support responses is completely understandable - it's clear from this discussion that the community has developed far better solutions than what official support typically provides. Regarding compatibility mode for LLC returns, I haven't seen specific mentions of LLC-only testing, but @QuantumLeap's original suggestion about trying Windows 8 or 10 compatibility mode seems to help across different entity types. Given that your return includes complex partnership distributions, you might be dealing with the same types of calculation issues that @Ella mentioned with international forms - the software seems to struggle when processing non-standard data formats. Your plan to start with the Feb 2nd update is definitely the right approach. If you still have issues after that, the Windows Event Viewer check from @Maya could be particularly valuable for LLC returns with partnership components, since those often involve more complex data structures that could reveal specific error patterns. The section-by-section import approach might work really well for your situation too - you could try importing the basic LLC information first, then add the partnership distribution schedules separately to isolate any problematic sections. Hope the update resolves your import issues! This community has been amazing for sharing real-world solutions during what's already a stressful time of year.
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Nia Watson
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error when trying to import my 2023 business return into H&R Block Business 2024. What's really frustrating is that I'm a small business owner who switched from doing my own taxes to using professional software for the first time this year, and now I'm spending more time troubleshooting than actually working on my return. The timing couldn't be worse with tax deadlines approaching. I'm definitely going to try the Feb 2nd update that fixed the issue for @Emma and others. It's reassuring to see so many people had success with that specific update. If that doesn't work, I'll follow @Maya's advice about checking the Windows Event Viewer for more detailed error information. The community support in this thread is incredible - you've all provided more useful troubleshooting guidance in one discussion than I got from hours of searching H&R Block's official support resources. It's clear that real users sharing their actual experiences is far more valuable than generic tech support responses. Has anyone noticed if this error is more common with first-time imports versus people who have been using H&R Block Business for multiple years? I'm wondering if there's something about the initial setup or data conversion process that makes new users more susceptible to these crashes. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - this gives me hope that I can actually get through this tax season without having to start over with different software!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
β’Welcome to the community, @Nia! Your situation as a first-time H&R Block Business user dealing with this import error is particularly frustrating - you shouldn't have to become a software troubleshooter just to file your taxes! To answer your question about first-time imports versus experienced users, I haven't seen specific data on this, but from reading through this thread, it seems like the "Object reference" error affects both new and returning users. However, experienced users like @Maya and @QuantumLeap seem to have developed workarounds over the years, while newcomers like us are hitting these issues without the benefit of that accumulated troubleshooting knowledge. Your plan to start with the Feb 2nd update is definitely the right approach - that's been the most consistently successful solution across different user situations in this thread. The Windows Event Viewer check from @Maya is also great advice since it can reveal the actual technical issue beyond H&R Block's generic error message. Don't give up on the software just yet! The fact that the Feb update resolved it for so many people suggests these are fixable issues rather than fundamental problems. This community has shown that with the right troubleshooting steps, most people can get their imports working. You're absolutely right that this community support has been invaluable - it's amazing how much more helpful real user experiences are compared to official support channels. Hang in there, and definitely let us know how the update works for your return!
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