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!

Has anyone compared H&R Block Tax Pro Go to the similar TurboTax Live Full Service? Trying to decide between them and the pricing seems similar.

I actually used H&R Block's Tax Pro Go service last tax season and had a pretty good experience overall. Like others mentioned, being detailed in the questionnaire is key - I made sure to mention my rental property income and some freelance work upfront. The upfront pricing held true for me ($179), and my assigned tax pro caught a few deductions I hadn't thought about, including some property management expenses. The whole process took about 5 days from upload to final review. One thing I'd add is that you can actually message back and forth with your tax pro through their portal if you have questions, which was helpful when I needed clarification on some business expense categories. Way less stressful than trying to figure it all out myself in TurboTax, especially with the more complex stuff like depreciation on rental property.

I went through this exact same situation last year with a tech company that included about $800 in travel reimbursements on my 1099-MISC. What worked for me was sending a polite but detailed email to their accounts payable department explaining the tax implications for both parties. I included references to IRS Publication 15 which clearly states that reimbursements under an accountable plan shouldn't be reported as nonemployee compensation. I also mentioned that incorrectly reporting reimbursements could potentially create issues for them during their own tax filings or audits. Within two weeks, they sent me a corrected 1099-MISC. The key was being educational rather than demanding - I framed it as "helping them comply with IRS guidelines" rather than "you made a mistake." Sometimes companies genuinely don't know the rules and appreciate being informed professionally. If they still refuse, definitely go with the approach others mentioned of reporting the full amount and deducting the expenses. Just make sure you categorize those deductions correctly on your Schedule C!

This is such a frustrating but common issue! I'm a tax preparer and see this mistake constantly. Your instinct is absolutely correct - expense reimbursements shouldn't be included as income on your 1099-MISC if they were legitimate business expenses you incurred on behalf of the client. Here's what I typically recommend to my clients in your situation: First, try the polite approach that others mentioned. Send your client a brief email explaining that reimbursements for documented business expenses shouldn't be reported as nonemployee compensation per IRS guidelines. Include copies of your receipts and any emails showing they approved these expenses beforehand. If they won't budge, don't stress too much. Report the full 1099-MISC amount on your Schedule C Line 1, then deduct those same expenses in the appropriate categories (travel, materials, etc.) on the expense section. Your net income will be the same either way - you're just grossing up both sides of the equation. The key is documentation. Keep every receipt, email approval, and record showing these were legitimate business expenses they asked you to cover. That way you're fully protected if there are ever any questions down the road.

Same boat here - was about to get an advance but after reading these comments I'm definitely gonna wait it out. Those fees are insane! Does anyone know roughly how long refunds are taking this year if you e-file?

I work at a tax prep office and can confirm what others are saying - the advances are NOT worth it. We see people pay $100-200+ in fees for what amounts to getting their money 2-3 weeks early. The APR on these "loans" can be over 300%! If you absolutely need cash now, you're honestly better off asking family/friends or even using a credit card cash advance. At least with a credit card you know exactly what the interest rate is upfront.