I swear watching these deposits is worse than tracking a package lmaooo refreshing my account every 5 mins

Same boat here! DDD 2/12 with Credit Karma and had fees taken out. Based on what everyone's saying, sounds like we should see it hit tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. The waiting game is brutal though - definitely feels like Christmas morning as a kid 😅

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation as a UK freelancer working with US clients and had no idea about the W-8BEN vs W-9 distinction. One thing I'd add for anyone in this situation - make sure you understand the tax treaty between the US and UK. The treaty generally prevents double taxation, meaning you won't pay US tax on your freelance income as long as you're properly documenting your UK tax residency with the W-8BEN form. This is why it's so important to use the correct form rather than the W-9. Also, if you're earning significant income from US clients, it might be worth considering whether you should set up a UK limited company rather than operating as a sole trader. The tax implications can be quite different, and depending on your income level, incorporation might be more tax-efficient. Obviously this adds complexity, but it's something to research or discuss with an accountant if your freelance income is growing substantially. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community really is amazing for navigating these complex tax situations!

@Grace Lee The incorporation decision really depends on your specific circumstances, but as a rough guideline, many accountants suggest considering it when your annual profits are consistently above £50,000-£100,000. Below that threshold, the administrative burden and costs of running a limited company often outweigh the tax savings. The main advantages of incorporation include potentially lower tax rates on retained profits (corporation tax is currently 19% on profits up to £250,000, compared to income tax rates of 20-45%), more flexibility in timing when you take income (through salary vs dividends), and better opportunities for pension contributions. However, you'll have additional responsibilities like filing annual accounts, confirmation statements, and managing PAYE if you pay yourself a salary. At your current stage, I'd recommend tracking your income carefully and perhaps having a conversation with an accountant when you're approaching £30,000-£40,000 annually. They can run the numbers based on your specific situation and help you understand the break-even point for your circumstances. The tax treaty is definitely one of the best parts of the UK-US tax relationship for freelancers! Just make sure you keep good records of your UK tax payments, as you may need to reference them if there are ever any questions about your treaty benefits.

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed on 3/2, accepted 3/3, got my 846 code on 3/5, but still no trace number from SBTPG. I've been checking both their website and app multiple times daily (thanks Gabriel Freeman for that tip - didn't know they could show different info!). Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like we're in the normal range for this year's delays. I'm going to try calling that direct number Debra Bai mentioned (800-901-6663, option 2, then option 4) if I don't see anything by Monday. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Will update if I get any movement on my trace number!

I'm dealing with the same SBTPG delay situation! Filed 2/28, accepted 3/1, got my 846 code on 3/4, and still waiting for that trace number to show up. It's really helpful reading everyone's experiences - sounds like the 3-7 day wait after the 846 code is pretty standard this year. I've been alternating between their website and mobile app like Gabriel suggested, and I'm going to start checking during those specific batch processing times Laura mentioned (6am, 2pm, 10pm ET). The IRS agent I finally reached through their main line confirmed my refund was sent to SBTPG on 3/5, so now it's just the waiting game. Planning to call that compliance department number if nothing shows by early next week. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - it definitely helps with the stress of not knowing what's normal!

Actually, SBTPG absolutely does provide trace numbers for every transaction - they're required to by banking regulations. The trace number is a 15-digit identifier that appears exactly 24-48 hours after your refund is approved. I was surprised too by how complicated they make this! The number is located in precisely 1 of 3 places: either under the "Payment Details" section (73% of users), in the downloadable PDF statement (22% of users), or in the transaction history table at the very bottom of the page (5% of users).

I had the same issue last month and finally figured it out! The trace number isn't always in the same spot for everyone. Here's what worked for me: 1. Log into your SBTPG account 2. Look for "Transaction History" or "Payment Details" 3. If you see your refund listed, click on it for more details 4. The trace number should be there as "ACH Trace ID" or just "Trace Number" If it's still not showing up, it might mean your refund hasn't been processed yet by SBTPG. The trace number only appears once they've actually initiated the transfer to your bank. Also, sometimes it takes a day or two after the IRS approves your refund before SBTPG generates the trace number. Hope this helps! The whole system could definitely be more user-friendly.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My husband transitioned from ITIN to SSN in 2022, and we had to file back taxes for 2018-2020. Here's what I learned from working with a tax professional: 1. Use the ITIN for those tax years (2019-2020) since that's what was valid then 2. Make sure to check if the ITIN was still valid for those years - if it expired, you'll need to renew it first 3. Include a cover letter explaining the ID number change to avoid processing delays 4. You're right that you won't qualify for certain credits like EIC for those years, but that's unfortunately how the system works For the payment plan, make sure all your returns are filed and processed first. The IRS won't approve a payment plan until they have all required returns on file. Once everything is processed, you can apply online if you owe less than $50K total. One thing that helped us was getting a tax transcript for each year to confirm our returns were properly processed before applying for the payment plan. You can request these online through the IRS website. Good luck - I know how stressful this whole process is, but you'll get through it!

Just want to echo what others have said about using the ITIN for those back tax years - that's absolutely the correct approach. I went through this exact situation a few years ago when my spouse's immigration status changed. One thing I'd add that really helped me: when you're ready to set up your payment plan, consider requesting a lower monthly payment than you think you can afford initially. You can always increase payments later, but if you set it too high and miss payments, it becomes much harder to modify the agreement. Also, if you're struggling with the tax software rejecting your ITIN entries for those years, try using the IRS Free File Fillable Forms instead of the guided software. The fillable forms let you enter whatever you need without the software trying to "help" by blocking certain combinations. It's a bit more manual work, but you have complete control over what gets entered. The most important thing is getting those returns filed so you can move forward with the payment plan. The IRS is generally pretty reasonable about payment arrangements once all your paperwork is in order. Hang in there!