This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just moved to the US and is filing taxes for the first time, I was completely overwhelmed by all the formatting requirements. I ended up going with parentheses for all my negative numbers after reading through the official IRS publications mentioned here. What really helped was printing out a draft copy of my return and going through it line by line to make sure I was consistent throughout all the forms. One thing I learned that might help other newcomers - if you're used to different accounting standards from your home country, the US system can feel confusing at first. In my country we always use minus signs, so switching to parentheses felt weird initially. But after using them consistently, it actually makes the forms much easier to read. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and resources. It's reassuring to know that even small formatting questions have such a supportive community willing to help out!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion! As someone who works in tax preparation, I wanted to add a few practical points that might help future filers: If you're using tax software and still want to double-check your formatting, most programs have a "preview" or "form view" option that shows exactly how your return will look when printed or submitted. This is a great way to verify that negative numbers are formatted consistently before filing. Also, for those worried about rejection due to formatting - in my experience, the IRS automated processing systems are quite forgiving with minor formatting variations. Returns are much more likely to be flagged for mathematical errors, missing signatures, or incorrect SSNs than for using minus signs vs. parentheses. That said, following the standard conventions (parentheses for paper forms, letting software handle electronic filing) is always the safest approach. When in doubt, consistency within your own return is more important than perfect adherence to any single format standard. Great job everyone sharing resources and experiences - this kind of community support makes tax season so much less intimidating for newcomers!

I'm in a similar boat right now - filed 2/5 and just completed identity verification yesterday after getting the letter. The "up to 9 weeks" message is definitely intimidating, especially when you're already over a month into the process. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful though. It sounds like most people see movement well before that 9-week mark, with 3-6 weeks being more typical after verification. I'm going to start following the Friday morning transcript checking routine that several people mentioned. For what it's worth, I also verified online rather than by phone, so hopefully that helps speed things along. The confirmation page I got was identical to yours - same language about 9 weeks and checking after 2-3 weeks. I really hope you see some movement soon, especially with the medical bills situation. That kind of financial pressure makes the waiting so much more stressful. Keeping my fingers crossed that we both get good news in the coming weeks!

I went through identity verification about 6 months ago and can totally relate to that anxiety, especially when you need the money for family medical expenses. In my case, it took exactly 4 weeks from verification to getting my refund deposited. Here's what I learned from the experience: - The transcript updates are your best friend - WMR is pretty unreliable during this process - Friday morning checks around 6 AM EST are when you'll see changes - Look for code 570 (additional account action pending) first, then 571 (additional account action completed), and finally 846 (refund issued) - The 9-week timeline is definitely their worst-case scenario - I haven't seen anyone in the forums actually hit that full timeline One thing that really helped me was understanding that after identity verification, they sometimes do an additional review of your return, which can add time but isn't necessarily a bad thing. Since you verified online (which is faster than phone/mail), you should hopefully see movement in the next 2-3 weeks. For the medical bills situation, definitely look into payment plans or financial assistance programs with the providers while you wait. Many are surprisingly flexible, especially for family caregiving situations. Hang in there - based on the timeline of when you filed and verified, you should hopefully see some transcript movement soon!

Does anyone know how this gift reporting works with crypto? My dad wants to transfer some Bitcoin to me instead of traditional currency (he's in Singapore). Would that still count as a foreign gift that needs to be reported on Form 3520 if it's over $100,000?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation as a green card holder expecting to receive money from my parents overseas. One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of keeping detailed records of the gift. Even though you won't owe taxes on the gift itself, the IRS may ask for documentation if they have questions later. I recommend getting a signed letter from your father stating that the money is a gift with no expectation of repayment, along with bank transfer records showing the source of funds. Also, be aware that large international wire transfers (typically over $10,000) are automatically reported to FinCEN by banks, so the government will already have a record of the transfer. Having your own documentation helps prove it was a legitimate family gift rather than unreported income. One last tip - if you're planning to use the gift money for a major purchase like a house, your mortgage lender will likely ask for a gift letter and proof of the funds' origin anyway, so having this documentation prepared in advance will save you headaches later!

I appreciate everyone's input here, especially the tax attorney's clarification. As someone who was also confused by all the news coverage, I think the key point is that the IRS is a massive operational machine that continues running regardless of leadership changes. The comparison to past government shutdowns is really helpful - even during those, essential tax functions continued. And the constitutional point about Congress being the only body that can change tax rates is crucial to understand. For anyone still worried, I'd echo the advice to use official IRS resources or speak directly with an IRS representative rather than relying on news speculation. The media tends to sensationalize administrative changes, but your tax obligations remain exactly the same as they were before any restructuring began. Bottom line: pay your taxes as normal, don't claim exempt unless you actually qualify, and remember that failing to pay will only create bigger problems for you personally regardless of what's happening at the agency level.

This is exactly the kind of practical advice we need right now! I've been following this thread since the beginning and was initially pretty worried about the whole situation. Like many others here, I was getting caught up in all the news coverage and starting to panic about whether I should change my tax strategy. What really helped me was seeing the progression of comments from people who were skeptical but then actually took steps to get verified information - whether through the AI tax tools, speaking directly with IRS representatives, or getting clarification from the tax attorney. It's a good reminder that when we're uncertain about something this important, the best approach is to seek out authoritative sources rather than just worrying. The constitutional point about Congress being the only body that can change tax law was particularly eye-opening. I honestly didn't know that before reading this discussion. It makes the whole situation much less scary when you understand that administrative restructuring literally cannot change what you owe in taxes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This thread turned what felt like a confusing crisis into a much clearer understanding of how our tax system actually works.

Congrats on finally seeing that 846 code! I'm still waiting on mine - filed 3/8 and my transcript is still showing processing. It's reassuring to see someone with a similar filing date getting movement. Question though - did you have any complications with your return (amended sections, EITC, additional forms) or was it pretty straightforward? Trying to gauge if there's hope for us slightly-later filers or if I'm looking at another few weeks of transcript stalking. The waiting really is the hardest part of this whole process!

Hey Freya, congrats on finally getting that 846 code! As someone who's been through this waiting game multiple times, I can definitely relate to the "molasses flowing uphill" analogy - that's exactly what it feels like! 😂 I filed on 3/4 this year and I'm still stuck in processing limbo, so seeing your timeline gives me hope that mine might update soon too. It's interesting how the IRS batches seem to work - sometimes people who file later get processed first, and vice versa. Thanks for sharing your timeline as a data point - these real experiences are way more helpful than the generic "21 days" message we always get. Hopefully your direct deposit hits your account tomorrow or Friday!