Speaking from experience as someone who had a large amended return held up for 8 months - you need to get a Tax Advocate immediately. Like others mentioned, you'll need to document financial hardship. In your case, that's the medical bills and loan. Make sure to specify the exact amount of interest you're paying each month because of this delay. Have you checked your IRS transcript online? Sometimes there's info there that doesn't show up on Where's My Amended Return.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of waiting for such a large refund while dealing with medical expenses must be overwhelming. Based on what others have shared here, I'd definitely recommend trying multiple approaches at once rather than waiting for one to work. First, definitely check your IRS transcript online like Leeann suggested - sometimes there's movement there that doesn't show up anywhere else, or you might discover they sent correspondence you never received. Second, I'd strongly encourage you to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service immediately. Your situation with medical bills and the high-interest loan absolutely qualifies as financial hardship. When you call, have specific numbers ready - exactly how much you're paying in interest each month because of this delay, your monthly medical expenses, etc. Third, consider reaching out to your congressional representative's office. Many people don't realize their representatives have staff specifically to help with federal agency issues like this. A congressional inquiry can sometimes move things faster than other methods. Given the amount involved ($120k), this isn't just about paperwork delays - this is seriously impacting your financial stability and health. Don't feel bad about being persistent and using every tool available. You've already waited far longer than reasonable, and you deserve to get this resolved. Keep us updated on what works - your experience could really help others in similar situations!

Have you checked if you made any payments to them via PayPal, Venmo, or any other payment apps? Sometimes you can find their info that way. Also check any invoices or emails they might have sent you. There's often contact info in email signatures or invoice headers.

I went through something very similar with a freelance graphic designer last year - paid them $1,800 and then they completely vanished when I needed their W-9 for tax filing. Here's what I learned from the experience: 1. File the 1099-NEC anyway with "UNKNOWN" in the address field and blank TIN/SSN as others mentioned. The IRS prefers incomplete filing over no filing. 2. Document EVERYTHING - save screenshots of any old emails, text messages, or calls you made trying to reach them. This becomes crucial if you need to request penalty abatement later. 3. Check your bank records for any additional contact info. Sometimes contractors include business names or phone numbers in payment descriptions that might help you track them down. 4. The $280 penalty isn't automatic - you can request reasonable cause relief when you receive the notice. I successfully got mine waived by showing I made good faith efforts to obtain the information. 5. For the contractor's side - they're still legally required to report that income even without receiving a 1099. The IRS has ways of matching unreported income, so this will likely catch up with them eventually. Don't panic too much - this happens more often than you'd think with small businesses. Just make sure to implement the W-9 requirement before payment going forward!

Beware that some of these social casinos operate in legal gray areas. If the site isn't properly licensed for gambling in your jurisdiction, there could be additional complications beyond just tax issues.

One thing to keep in mind is timing - you'll want to report the Bitcoin winnings as income for the tax year when you actually received them, not when you won the play coins. So if you won the coins in December 2024 but didn't convert them to Bitcoin until January 2025, that would be 2025 income. Also, make sure to keep records of the exact date and Bitcoin price when you received the payout, since that establishes both your taxable income amount and your cost basis for any future sales. The social casino should have transaction records you can reference, but don't rely on them to provide tax documents - most of these platforms don't issue proper gambling forms like traditional casinos do.

The advocate system is like having a lawyer - once you have one, the other side prefers to talk to your representative rather than directly to you. But just like with a bad lawyer, you can fire your advocate if they're not doing their job! Call the TAS hotline (877-777-4778) and explain that your advocate has gone radio silent. It's like being stuck in a maze where the guide disappeared - you need a new guide, not to try navigating the maze alone. I finally got a new advocate last year after my first one vanished, and the new person resolved my issue in just 8 days.

I went through this exact situation last year and here's what worked for me: First, document everything - save all your emails to the advocate with timestamps. Then call the TAS national line at 877-777-4778 and specifically ask to speak with your advocate's supervisor or the local TAS office manager. When I did this, I explained that I had a financial hardship deadline (similar to your tuition payment) and hadn't heard from my advocate in weeks. They immediately escalated my case and assigned a new advocate who called me within 2 business days. Don't try to go around the system by calling the IRS directly - it can actually hurt your case as others mentioned. The key is being persistent with TAS management and emphasizing your May 1st deadline. They take hardship cases seriously when you escalate properly through their chain of command.

Has anyone actually gotten in trouble for incorrectly claiming exempt as a nonresident? My roommate did this for like 2 years on his F-1 visa and never had any issues with the IRS...

I went through a similar situation last year as a nonresident alien on an H-1B visa. You're absolutely correct that nonresident aliens cannot claim exempt status on W-4 forms, even if they would otherwise qualify under the standard exemption rules. Don't stress too much about your previous W-4 mistake - it's more common than you think! The key thing is to correct it going forward. Submit a new W-4 to your employer immediately following the special nonresident alien instructions (mark "Single," write "NRA" on the form, and don't claim exempt). If your employer didn't withhold enough tax due to the exempt status you claimed, you'll likely owe the difference when you file your return. As long as you file on time and pay what you owe, you shouldn't face serious penalties for an honest mistake like this. The IRS understands that nonresident tax rules can be confusing. I'd recommend keeping good records of when you submit your corrected W-4 and maybe even following up with your HR department to make sure they process it correctly. Some payroll systems need manual adjustments for nonresident aliens.