I went through this same nightmare last year! Here's what I learned the hard way: **Absolutely try Wells Fargo first** - as others mentioned, they're TPG's actual banking partner. I walked into one with just my ID and TPG check, and they cashed it with zero fees. No account needed. This should be your first stop. **If Wells Fargo doesn't work out:** • Walmart MoneyCenter is solid - usually $4 for checks under $1,000 • Some Kroger locations charge less if you have their Plus Card (around $5-7 flat) • Credit unions are often more flexible than big banks, even for non-members **Pro tip:** Call your bank's customer service and mention it's a federal tax refund check. Sometimes they'll reduce the hold period to 1-2 days instead of 10, especially if you explain your situation. I made the mistake of going to a payday loan place first and they wanted $85 on my $2,800 refund! Don't make my mistake. The Wells Fargo route literally saved me from paying any fees at all. Good luck getting your money quickly! 🤞

I've been through this exact situation multiple times and want to add a few more options that have worked for me: **Navy Federal Credit Union** - Even if you're not military, they'll often cash government-related checks (including tax refunds) for a small fee if you explain the situation politely. I've had success at several locations. **Local community banks** - These are often more flexible than the big chains. I once had a small regional bank cash my TPG check for just $3 because they said they "believe in helping people access their own money." **Costco** - If you have a membership, their Member Services desk will sometimes cash checks, especially tax refunds, though policies vary by location. One thing I learned: always bring additional documentation beyond just your ID. Having your tax return copy or the IRS letter about your refund can help convince places to work with you, especially at banks where you're not a customer. Also, if you're really stuck and it's urgent, some banks will give you a cash advance against the deposited check for a small fee (usually much less than check-cashing places) while the hold period runs out. Worth asking about if the Wells Fargo route doesn't pan out!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the 6+ month wait for an ITIN refund is absolutely maddening, but you're definitely not alone. This year has been particularly brutal for ITIN processing times. A few things that might help based on what I've learned from my own ITIN nightmare: 1. **Document everything** - Keep records of every time you've tried to call, including dates and times. This becomes important if you need to escalate to the Taxpayer Advocate Service later. 2. **Check for common ITIN red flags** - Since you mentioned this is your third year filing, make sure your name and address are formatted exactly the same way as previous years. Even small changes can trigger manual review. 3. **Try the early morning calling strategy** - Call 800-829-1040 right when they open (7 AM your time zone). Don't enter your ITIN when prompted - just wait through the menu options. Sometimes this routes you to a human faster. 4. **Consider your filing method** - You mentioned e-filing, which should be faster than paper, but some e-file providers have issues with ITIN validation that cause delays on the IRS side. The most important thing to remember is that after 6 months, you're definitely in "this needs escalation" territory. If you can demonstrate any financial hardship from the delay, the Taxpayer Advocate Service will take your case much more seriously. Hang in there - most people in your situation do eventually get their refunds, it's just an inexcusably long process.

I'm really sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with the IRS and your ITIN refund delay. Six months is definitely excessive, even for ITIN returns which typically take longer than regular SSN returns. A few additional suggestions that might help: **For reaching the IRS by phone:** Try calling the ITIN customer service line directly at 800-908-9982. This line is specifically for ITIN-related issues and sometimes has shorter wait times than the general line. Also, consider calling on Wednesdays or Thursdays mid-morning (around 10-11 AM) - I've found these times have slightly better success rates for getting through. **Check your mail carefully** - The IRS may have sent correspondence that got lost or misdelivered. Sometimes they request additional documentation for ITIN returns and if you don't respond (because you never received it), your return sits in limbo indefinitely. **Consider filing Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service)** - After 6 months with no contact from the IRS, you likely qualify for TAS assistance even without demonstrating significant financial hardship. They can expedite your case and get direct answers about what's causing the delay. The processing delays for ITIN returns this year have been particularly bad due to staffing issues and increased manual review requirements. While it's incredibly frustrating, most people do eventually receive their refunds - it's just taking much longer than it should. Stay persistent and document everything for your records.

This 1099-K threshold confusion is so annoying. From what I understand: - For 2023 tax year, threshold remained at $20k and 200 transactions - For 2024 tax year, the $600 threshold WILL apply - Some companies sent out 1099-Ks at $600 anyway for 2023 The most important thing: even if you get a 1099-K for ticket sales that resulted in a loss, you still need to report it, but you can offset it with your purchase cost. I recommend using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block that specifically handles these situations. They'll walk you through reporting both the 1099-K income and your original purchase price.

Quick clarification for everyone confused about the 1099-K threshold: The American Rescue Plan originally lowered the reporting threshold to $600 starting in 2022, but the IRS has delayed implementation TWICE now: - First delay: 2022 tax year (announced Dec 2022) - Second delay: 2023 tax year (announced Nov 2023) Current plan is for the $600 threshold to take effect for 2024 tax year (filing in 2025). But some payment processors and platforms got confused or didn't update their systems, which is why some people are still getting 1099-Ks for amounts over $600 even though they weren't required for 2023.

Check if you're eligible for the Fresh Start program. Even if they took your refund, you might be able to get your loans out of default and potentially recover some of the offset funds. The program is still available through 2024.

I'm sorry this happened to you! This is really frustrating when you're counting on that money. Just to add to what others have said - when you call the Department of Education, ask specifically about the "injured spouse" provisions if you're married and filed jointly. Sometimes the non-debtor spouse can recover their portion of the refund. Also, keep all documentation about the offset - you'll need it if you decide to pursue any appeals or hardship requests. The whole system is confusing and they don't make it easy to understand your rights.

I setup an LLC with my brother last year and wish I'd gotten better advice from the start! Make sure they file for an EIN immediately if they haven't already. Also very important - make sure they have a proper operating agreement that spells out profit sharing, voting rights, what happens if someone wants to leave, etc. This has tax implications too!

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's helped several young entrepreneurs navigate LLC taxation, I'd add one more consideration: make sure your daughter and her partner discuss what happens with estimated quarterly tax payments. Since they'll likely owe self-employment tax on their profits (whether they take draws or not with partnership taxation), they may need to make quarterly estimated payments to avoid penalties. The IRS generally requires quarterly payments if you'll owe $1,000 or more in taxes. For their social media consulting business, income might be irregular - some months might be great while others are slower. I'd recommend they set aside about 25-30% of their profits in a separate tax savings account to cover both income tax and self-employment tax obligations. This habit will serve them well regardless of which taxation method they ultimately choose. Also seconding the advice about getting that operating agreement in place ASAP - it should specify how profits and losses are allocated, which directly impacts their individual tax situations!