DONT WAIT FOR THE LETTER!!! Go ahead and verify online, you'll get your refund way faster. I waited for the letter like a 🤡 and it took forever

Been through this process twice now and here's what I wish I knew: make sure you have ALL your 2024 documents ready before starting. The system will timeout if you take too long uploading stuff. Also, if you're married filing jointly, BOTH spouses need to verify separately which they don't really tell you upfront. Save yourself the headache and do it all in one sitting!

For married filing separately (MFS) folks looking at backdoor Roth, remember this isn't just about income limits. The contribution deductibility for traditional IRAs is also affected by your MFS status and whether you're covered by a retirement plan at work. If you're MFS and covered by a workplace retirement plan, the income limit for deducting traditional IRA contributions is VERY low (under $10,000 for 2022). This is why many MFS filers end up with non-deductible traditional contributions anyway, making backdoor Roth often a good strategy regardless.

Great question about backdoor Roth with MFS! I went through this exact process last year and want to share a few key points that helped me: First, you're correct that this is a conversion, not a recharacterization. The process is: make non-deductible traditional IRA contribution → convert to Roth IRA. You'll owe taxes only on any earnings that occur between contribution and conversion (usually minimal if done quickly). For MFS filers, the backdoor Roth is often the ONLY way to get money into a Roth since the income limits are so low. Make sure you understand that even though you're MFS, you still use the same Form 8606 to report the non-deductible contribution and conversion. One thing that tripped me up initially: if you have ANY existing traditional IRA balances (including old 401k rollovers), the pro-rata rule applies to the entire balance across all your traditional IRAs. This can create unexpected taxes on the conversion. The key is proper documentation - keep records of your contribution being non-deductible and file Form 8606 both for the contribution year and conversion year (if different). I'd strongly recommend running through the numbers with a tax professional if you have multiple IRA accounts or complex situations.

Little tip for anyone using tax software in the future - always double check these specific form details before filing! TurboTax, H&R Block, and others sometimes make default selections that aren't right for your situation. I always go through the actual PDF preview of my return before submitting to catch stuff like this.

I had this exact same issue with TurboTax last year! Box F instead of Box E on my 8949 for long-term capital gains. I was stressed about it for weeks, but ultimately decided not to amend since all my dollar amounts were correct. From what I've learned through my research and talking to other people who've dealt with this, the IRS computer matching system is primarily looking at whether you reported all your proceeds from sales. The box selection is more of an administrative detail for form organization rather than something that affects your actual tax calculation. One thing that helped me feel better about my decision was realizing that filing an amendment can sometimes draw more attention to your return than the original minor error would have. Since your gains/losses are calculated correctly and match what was reported on your 1099-B, I'd personally leave it alone. Two years later, I've never heard anything from the IRS about that box error.

Don't wait for transcript updates - call the IRS verification hotline directly at 800-830-5084 to confirm your verification was processed correctly. Sometimes the online system doesn't sync properly, and you can lose weeks waiting for something that's stuck. Ask specifically if there are any other holds on your account besides the identity verification. If they say it's clear, request they expedite the release of your refund due to financial hardship if that applies to you.

I went through this exact process about 3 weeks ago and can share my timeline. After ID.me verification, it took exactly 9 business days for my transcript to show any movement. The key thing I learned is that the IRS systems update overnight, typically between 12am-6am EST, so checking first thing in the morning is most productive. One thing that helped me track progress was setting up IRS account notifications - they'll email you when there are transcript updates instead of you having to check manually every day. Also, don't panic if you see a 570 code appear first - that's actually a good sign that your verification went through and they're now processing your return. The 571 code (hold release) usually follows within 3-5 business days after that. My advice: check Wednesday and Friday mornings like Maya suggested, but don't stress about daily checking. The system will update when it updates, and constantly refreshing won't speed it up!

Something nobody's mentioned yet is that resident vs. non-resident status affects how your investment income is taxed too. As a non-resident, you're only taxed on US-source income, but as a resident, you're taxed on your worldwide income. If you have investments or bank accounts back in your home country, the filing status makes a huge difference. Non-residents might avoid tax on foreign interest, dividends, etc., while residents have to report everything (though foreign tax credits can help avoid double taxation). I learned this the hard way after filing as a resident my first year when I should've been non-resident. Had to amend my return when I realized I unnecessarily reported (and paid tax on) my foreign investment income.

I went through this exact same confusion last year! After months of research and consulting multiple sources, here's what I learned that might help: The key issue is that your F1 time from August 2022 to May 2024 falls under the "exempt individual" category for the substantial presence test. Students are exempt for their first 5 calendar years, so those days don't count toward your 183-day requirement. This means you're only counting your H1B days from June 2024 onward, which is likely not enough to reach 183 days for 2024. So you'd typically file as a non-resident alien using Form 1040NR. However, definitely look into the First-Year Choice election that Mateo mentioned above. Since you'll be in the US all of 2025 on H1B, you'll likely meet the substantial presence test next year, which could make you eligible to elect resident status for part of 2024. This could be beneficial depending on your income sources and deductions. One more thing - make sure you check if your home country has a tax treaty with the US. Some treaties have special provisions for students transitioning to work visas that could affect your filing requirements. The safest approach is to run the numbers both ways (resident vs non-resident) and see which gives you better tax treatment, assuming you're eligible for the First-Year Choice election.