If you're trying to avoid giving personal info to random websites, you can also find the W9 by googling "IRS forms" and then clicking on the official IRS.gov website. Never enter "free W9 form" in Google because those top results are usually ads from third-party sites trying to collect your information or sell you services. Always make sure you're on the actual .gov domain before downloading or filling anything out!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're using a mobile device, the IRS website can be a bit clunky to navigate. I found it easier to search for "IRS Form W-9" directly in my phone's browser and look for the irs.gov result. The PDF downloads fine to your phone and you can fill it out using most PDF apps. Also, pro tip - take a screenshot of the completed form before sending it, just in case you need to reference it later or the recipient claims they never got it. Has saved me from having to re-fill forms multiple times!

Quick question - does anyone know if you'll get all the refunds as separate checks? Or do they combine them somehow? I'm trying to figure out how to track everything if I file amendments for multiple years.

Just wanted to add some important details about the deadlines that weren't mentioned - you generally have 3 years from the original due date of the return (or the date you filed if later) to file an amended return to claim a refund. For your 2020 return, that deadline would be April 15, 2024 (or October 15, 2024 if you filed an extension). Since we're now in 2025, you might have missed the window for 2020 unless there are special circumstances. I'd definitely check with a tax professional or call the IRS to confirm whether you can still amend that 2020 return. The 2021 and 2022 returns should still be within the amendment period though. Also, don't forget that if you do get refunds from these amended returns, you might owe tax on any state tax refund you received in subsequent years (if you itemized deductions). It's a small detail but worth keeping in mind!

Can the substantial presence test be affected by COVID exceptions? i was stuck in the US for 4 extra months in 2020 when borders closed. now im back for work and worried those extra days might affect my current status calculation.

The substantial presence test can definitely be tricky to navigate, especially with all the different scenarios people face! One thing I'd add to the great advice already given here is to keep detailed records of your travel dates - entry and exit stamps, flight receipts, hotel bookings, etc. I learned this the hard way when the IRS questioned my substantial presence calculation during an audit a few years back. Having proper documentation made all the difference in proving exactly how many days I was physically present in the US versus traveling for business. Also, @Javier Hernandez, since you mentioned you're on an E-3 visa and have been here about 8 months continuously, you'll almost certainly be filing as a resident alien this year. Make sure to understand the implications - you'll need to report your worldwide income, including any Australian bank account interest, rental income from properties back home, etc. It's not just about US-source income anymore once you pass that test.

It took FOREVER to get my refund last year. DDD came and went and I didn't see a dime for almost 2 months after that. The IRS is a total mess. Keep checking your informed delivery from USPS to see if they send you a letter explaining why there's a hold.

I feel your frustration! I had a similar situation last year where my refund was supposed to hit my account on a specific date but never showed up. After weeks of stress, I finally got through to the IRS and found out that when they give you a Direct Deposit Date, that's when they SEND the money, not when you receive it. There can still be delays on the receiving end. Since Cash App confirmed they haven't received anything from the IRS, this sounds like the payment might have bounced back due to a name mismatch or account verification issue. This is actually pretty common with app-based accounts like Cash App, Venmo, etc. Your best bet is to get your tax transcript from irs.gov - it will show you exactly what happened with codes that explain if there was a rejection or hold. If you can't access it online, you can also request it by phone or mail. The transcript will tell you if the IRS sent the payment and if it was returned. If the direct deposit failed, you'll need to contact the IRS to have them reissue as a paper check. I know it's frustrating when it's rent money on the line, but hang in there - you will get your refund, it's just taking longer than expected.

I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Filed on 2/19, accepted same day, Tax Topic 152 disappeared about 10 days ago, and now it's just "still processing" with no transcript available. What's really helped me manage the stress is setting up account alerts with my bank so I'll know immediately when the deposit hits, rather than obsessively checking WMR multiple times a day. I also reached out to my landlord about my rent payment (which I was planning to cover with the refund) and they were surprisingly understanding about a short extension. One thing I noticed from everyone's timelines here - it seems like most people who filed mid-February are hitting this same wall right around the 3-4 week mark. That suggests it's probably a systematic processing bottleneck rather than individual return issues. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you have bills depending on it, but reading through all these similar experiences has convinced me this is just an unfortunately slow year for processing. Hoping we all see movement soon! 🤞

I'm dealing with this exact situation too! Filed on 2/18, accepted immediately, and Tax Topic 152 vanished about a week ago. Now it's just the dreaded "still processing" message with no transcript available. What's been really helpful for managing the anxiety is checking the IRS Processing Statistics page - they're currently running about 2-3 weeks behind their normal timelines due to staffing issues and increased verification procedures this year. Seeing the actual data helped me realize this isn't personal to my return. For your medical procedure payment, definitely reach out to the provider's billing department. Most have hardship or payment plan options, and many are familiar with tax refund delays. I had to do something similar last year and they were surprisingly accommodating. One tip that's saved my sanity: I switched to checking WMR only on Fridays. The daily checking was driving me crazy with no changes. Most updates seem to happen over weekends anyway based on what I've read in various forums. Hang in there - from everything I'm seeing, mid-February filers are all hitting the same processing bottleneck right now. It's frustrating but appears to be completely normal for this tax season! 💪