As someone who's dealt with similar brokerage tax form issues, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything in writing with Robinhood. Send them an email clearly stating that as a non-resident alien, you should have received Form 1042-S, not Form 1099, and reference any tax treaty between your home country and the US. If they continue to refuse, you can still file correctly by including a statement with your return explaining the discrepancy. The IRS understands that brokerages sometimes issue incorrect forms. Make sure to claim any treaty benefits you're entitled to - don't let their mistake cost you hundreds of dollars. Also, double-check that your Form W-8BEN is current and on file with them. These forms expire every 3 years, and if yours lapsed, that could explain why they defaulted to treating you as a US person for tax reporting purposes.

I had a very similar situation with TD Ameritrade a couple years ago. What worked for me was escalating beyond regular customer service to their compliance department. Brokerages have regulatory obligations to issue correct tax forms, and compliance teams tend to take this more seriously than regular support. Call and specifically ask to speak with "compliance" or "regulatory affairs" and explain that as a non-resident alien, the 1099 form creates incorrect tax reporting that violates treaty provisions. Mention that this could be a regulatory issue if they're not properly classifying account holders. In the meantime, you can absolutely file with the 1099 but include Form 8833 to claim your treaty benefits and attach a detailed explanation. The IRS sees these situations regularly and has procedures to handle them. Just make sure you're claiming the correct treaty benefits - don't let their mistake cost you that $780! Also, definitely file a new W-8BEN immediately for next year. These expire every 3 years and if yours lapsed, that's probably why they defaulted to treating you as a US person.

I've been in a similar situation with mixed income sources and just went through this decision process myself. After using TurboTax for years, I switched to TaxSlayer last tax season primarily because of cost - the savings really add up when you need the self-employment features. For your situation with W-2, 1099 freelance income, and new homeowner deductions, TaxSlayer handled everything just fine. The mortgage interest deduction was straightforward - you just enter the info from your 1098 form and it calculates everything automatically. The Schedule C section for freelance work is comprehensive enough, though you might need to hunt around a bit more for some of the business expense categories compared to TurboTax's more guided approach. One thing to consider is that as a new homeowner, there might be some first-year deductions related to points paid at closing or other settlement costs that TurboTax might catch more proactively. If you're comfortable reviewing those details yourself (your HUD-1 or closing disclosure will have the info), TaxSlayer will handle them just as well for a lot less money. The interface isn't as polished, but for someone who's filed taxes before and keeps decent records, the cost savings make it worth the slightly less hand-holding experience in my opinion.

I actually made the switch from TurboTax to TaxSlayer two years ago and it's been great for my situation. Like you, I have W-2 income plus freelance 1099 work, and TaxSlayer handles both really well for a fraction of the cost. The mortgage interest deduction is super straightforward on TaxSlayer - you just plug in the numbers from your 1098 form and it does all the calculations. Since you're a new homeowner, make sure to also look for any points you paid at closing (check your settlement statement) as those are often deductible in the purchase year. For the self-employment side, TaxSlayer's Schedule C section covers all the major business expense categories. It might not proactively ask about every possible deduction like TurboTax does, but if you keep decent records and know what to look for (home office, business mileage, professional development, equipment purchases, etc.), you'll find everything you need. The main trade-off is less hand-holding for significantly lower cost. If you're comfortable doing a little research on common deductions beforehand, TaxSlayer will save you probably $100+ compared to TurboTax while handling your tax situation just as accurately.

lmaooo liberty tax stays playing games wit ppls money. switched to HR block this year and way better experience ngl

I used to work at a tax prep office and can confirm what Dylan said - Liberty Tax almost always takes their advance loan repayment from your federal refund first. They have to set up a temporary bank account during tax prep that intercepts your federal refund, deducts what you owe them, then deposits the remainder into your actual account. Your $800 state refund should come directly to you without any deductions. Just make sure to keep checking your account because sometimes the timing can be weird depending on when the IRS processes everything.

Mine showed no offset too but ended up having to verify my identity. Check if you got any letters in the mail

No offset is definitely good news! It means your refund won't be reduced by any debts. The delay could be random review, missing W-2 matching, or just general processing backlog. When did you file? If it's been over 21 days, definitely call the IRS. Also check your bank account - sometimes refunds hit before WMR updates!

Has anyone tried using a CPA instead of an EA? What's really the difference? My buddy used a CPA for his back taxes and said it worked out fine.

I just want to echo what others have said about not panicking over those unopened IRS letters. I was in a very similar situation - hadn't filed for 3 years and was terrified to even look at the mail from the IRS. One thing I learned is that the IRS actually prefers to work with people who are trying to get compliant rather than those who continue to avoid the issue. When I finally got help, the penalties weren't as catastrophic as I had imagined in my head. For finding an EA in Minneapolis specifically, you might want to check with the Minnesota Society of Enrolled Agents. They often have local chapters that can provide referrals to members in your area who have experience with non-filer cases. Also, don't be afraid to interview a few EAs before choosing one. Most reputable ones will offer a brief consultation to discuss your situation and their approach. Ask specifically about their experience with 4+ years of unfiled returns and what their typical timeline looks like for getting everything resolved. You're taking the right step by seeking help now. The sooner you start, the more options you'll have for payment plans and penalty abatement.