I'm currently in week 14 of waiting for my amended return processing and can relate to your frustration about cash flow impact. One thing I discovered that might help is checking if your state offers any emergency business assistance programs for independent contractors - some states have bridge funding or micro-loans specifically for situations like this where you're waiting on legitimate tax refunds. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're checking your IRS online account transcript (not just the "Where's My Amended Return" tool) as it sometimes shows status changes a few days earlier. The transcript will show specific transaction codes that give you a better picture of what's happening behind the scenes. I know it's frustrating when you did everything correctly - the system just wasn't designed with small business cash flow in mind. Hang in there!

I've been through this exact scenario twice - once in 2022 and again last year. The 60-day notice is essentially the IRS saying "we acknowledge your paperwork exists" but doesn't reflect the actual timeline. My 2022 amendment took 23 weeks total, and my 2023 one took 19 weeks. Here's what I learned that might help: First, set up IRS online account access if you haven't already - the transcript updates are more reliable than the "Where's My Amended Return" tool. Look for your Account Transcript, not the Return Transcript. You'll want to watch for transaction code 971 (notice issued) followed eventually by code 846 (refund issued). Second, document everything with dates - when you filed, when you got the 60-day letter, etc. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate later. Third, as a fellow independent contractor, I totally get the cash flow stress. Consider reaching out to SCORE or your local Small Business Development Center - they sometimes have resources for short-term business financing while waiting on legitimate refunds. The waiting sucks, but hang in there. The money will come, just probably not within 60 days despite what the letter implies.

Might be worth checking if you qualify for the "First-Year Choice" election (sometimes called the "backdating rule"), which lets certain aliens who meet the substantial presence test in the year following their arrival treat themselves as US residents for part of the prior year.

Based on your situation, you definitely need to file as a dual-status alien. The green card test makes you a resident from March 12 forward, but it doesn't retroactively cover the beginning of the year. Even though you passed the substantial presence test for the period after getting your green card, that doesn't change your status for January 1 through March 11. For your filing, you'll submit Form 1040 as your main return covering March 12-December 31 (resident period), and attach Form 1040NR as a statement for January 1-March 11 (nonresident period). Write "Dual-Status Return" at the top of both forms. Since all your income is from university employment and you mention being exempt from Social Security/Medicare taxes, make sure your employer is withholding correctly for both periods. Your tax treaty benefits can still apply to the nonresident portion - just remember to file Form 8833 if you're claiming treaty benefits. The dual-status filing might seem complicated, but it ensures you're getting the correct tax treatment for each period of the year. Don't try to simplify by filing as a full-year resident - it could cost you money or create compliance issues.

When you submit the late return, make sure to check if you qualify for any pandemic relief that was specific to 2020 - like the Recovery Rebate Credit if you didn't get the full stimulus payment. A lot of people forget about that when filing late 2020 returns. Also, if you're using tax software, be careful about which version you buy. Some companies charge extra for previous year returns or don't include all the forms needed. FreeTaxUSA still has their 2020 version available for a reasonable price if you're looking for options.

Don't panic - you still have time! The May 17, 2025 deadline for 2020 refunds is still a few weeks away. I went through something very similar when a small business I worked for closed during COVID. Here's what worked for me: Start by requesting your wage and income transcript online at irs.gov immediately. Even though the company is defunct, the IRS should have all the W-2 information since employers are required to submit these before they shut down. The transcript will show exactly what was reported under your husband's SSN for 2020. If you can't access the transcript online, you can also call the IRS (though expect long hold times) or mail Form 4506-T, but that takes longer to process. Once you have the wage information, you can prepare the return using any tax software - just print and mail it since e-filing isn't available for 2020 anymore. Make sure to write "2020" clearly at the top of Form 1040. One important tip: Double-check that you're claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit if your husband didn't receive his full stimulus payments in 2020. That could add $1,200-$1,800 to your refund on top of the $750 you're expecting. You've got this! Just start with getting that transcript and you'll be on your way.

I've been doing affiliate marketing for 5 years, and I just put "Digital Marketing Specialist" on my return. Never had any issues. I think people worry way too much about this field - the IRS cares WAY more about your numbers adding up than what you call yourself!

As someone who's been navigating this same question, I ended up going with "Online Marketing Consultant" on my return last year. It seemed to cover all the bases - the affiliate marketing, content creation, and promotional work I do across different platforms. What I found helpful was thinking about it from the IRS perspective: they just want to understand the general nature of how you earn your income. Whether you call it "Digital Marketer," "Affiliate Marketer," or "Online Publisher," they're all painting the same basic picture of someone who earns money through online promotional activities. The more important thing I learned is making sure you're tracking all your business expenses properly - things like your website hosting, marketing tools, home office space, etc. Those deductions can really add up and have a much bigger impact on your tax situation than whatever you put in the occupation field!

Do I have to do anything special with 199A dividends when using FreeTaxUSA instead of TurboTax? My 1099-DIV has about $32 in box 5 for Section 199A dividends.

Just wanted to add some clarity about the thresholds for Form 8995 vs 8995-A. If your taxable income is under $182,050 (single) or $364,100 (married filing jointly) for 2023, you can use the simplified Form 8995, which is much easier. Above those thresholds, you need the more complex 8995-A. For small amounts like yours ($5.45), you're definitely in simplified territory regardless of your income level. Most tax software like TurboTax will automatically determine which form applies to your situation and handle the calculations behind the scenes. The key is just making sure you enter that Box 5 amount from your 1099-DIV correctly when prompted. One thing to watch out for - if you have multiple 1099-DIVs with 199A dividends, make sure you add them all up. The 20% deduction applies to the total amount across all your qualified sources.