This thread is so helpful! I just checked my transcript after seeing this post and found code 846 with a date of 03/24/2024. I've been waiting for my refund for almost 8 weeks now, so seeing that code finally appear is such a relief. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect the direct deposit within the next few days. I'm with Bank of America - has anyone had experience with how quickly they process IRS refund deposits? I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but after all this waiting, I'm cautiously optimistic that this nightmare is almost over!

Code 846 is definitely the golden ticket! I went through this exact same experience last month - saw the 846 code appear on my transcript with a refund date and was constantly refreshing my bank account waiting for it to show up. Mine hit exactly 2 business days after the date shown, around 3 AM on a Wednesday morning. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you know it's coming, but the IRS is pretty reliable once you see that code. One tip that helped me stay sane: most banks let you set up mobile alerts for deposits over a certain amount, so you don't have to keep checking manually. Just make sure all your banking info matches exactly what you put on your return - any small discrepancy can cause delays or rejections. You're so close to the finish line now!

Don't forget to look at the tax treaty between the US and your home country! Many treaties have specific provisions for students and teachers on J visas that might affect how you file.

The IRS has a comprehensive database of all US tax treaties on their website at irs.gov. Go to the "International Taxpayers" section and look for "United States Income Tax Treaties - A to Z." Each treaty is available as a PDF download. For J1/J2 visa holders, pay special attention to the "Students and Trainees" articles in your country's treaty - these often provide exemptions for a certain amount of income or number of years. Some treaties also have specific provisions for spouses of students/trainees that could affect how you handle the W4 situation. I'd also recommend looking at IRS Publication 519 "U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens" which explains how tax treaties interact with your visa status and filing requirements.

Great question! As a military family myself, I can confirm you absolutely can file separately with a joint mortgage. The key is documenting who actually paid the mortgage interest. Since you're both on the loan, you'll split the 1098 interest based on actual payments made. If paying from a joint account, it's typically 50/50 unless you can prove otherwise with bank records. For military families, MFS can make sense in several scenarios: different state residency situations during PCS moves, combat pay exclusions, income-based student loan repayments, or when one spouse has significant miscellaneous deductions. However, remember both spouses must choose the same deduction method (both standard or both itemize). I'd strongly recommend calculating both MFJ and MFS scenarios before deciding. Military-specific tax software like FreeTaxUSA Military or TurboTax Military can help you compare both filing statuses easily. Also consider consulting with a tax professional who understands military tax situations - many bases offer free tax prep services that are familiar with these complexities.

Military tax preparer here! Just wanted to add a few important points that might help with your decision: 1. **Documentation is key** - Keep copies of your mortgage statements, 1098 forms, and bank records showing who made payments. The IRS generally accepts 50/50 splits from joint accounts unless there's evidence of different contribution amounts. 2. **Military-specific considerations** - Beyond combat pay exclusions, consider if either spouse has unreimbursed military expenses that could be deducted (though these are more limited post-2017 tax reform). Also, if you're stationed in different states or have moved mid-year, state tax implications can make MFS advantageous. 3. **Timing matters** - Since you mentioned you're military, don't forget about automatic extensions if you're deployed. You have until 180 days after leaving a combat zone to file. 4. **Professional help** - Most military bases offer free tax preparation through VITA programs with volunteers trained on military tax issues. They can run both MFJ and MFS scenarios for free and help you choose the best option. The mortgage interest split is actually one of the easier parts - it's the state residency and combat pay issues that usually trip up military families filing separately. Good luck with your return!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same situation as Diego and almost fell for the same upsell from my registered agent. They quoted me $225 for "enhanced privacy protection" when getting my EIN. Based on everything discussed here, I'm going to skip their service entirely and just file for the EIN myself through the IRS website. It's good to know that the privacy protection is essentially meaningless since my SSN will be linked to the EIN in IRS systems regardless of who files the paperwork. One quick follow-up question though - once I have my EIN, should I be using it on all business documents going forward instead of my SSN? Or are there specific situations where I'd still need to use my SSN even with an EIN?

This thread perfectly highlights why it's so important to do your research before paying for these "premium" services. I work in business formation and see clients get upsold on meaningless services all the time. The bottom line is simple: for a single-member LLC, your SSN will ALWAYS be connected to your EIN in IRS records. There's no way around this - it's a federal requirement. Any registered agent claiming they can provide "privacy protection" from the IRS is misleading you. Here's what I tell my clients: Get your EIN for free directly from IRS.gov. It takes 10-15 minutes online and you'll have your number immediately. Use that EIN for banking, vendor forms, and business transactions to avoid sharing your SSN unnecessarily. But understand that the IRS will always have both numbers linked in their system. Save your money for things that actually matter - like proper business insurance or accounting software. Don't waste hundreds of dollars on fake privacy services.

Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in the comments - Republic Bank is a tax refund processor that many tax preparation companies use. They aren't actually your bank. They receive the funds from the IRS, take out any preparation fees you owed (if you opted for fees to be taken from your refund), and then forward the remainder to your actual bank (Navy Federal). This process typically takes exactly 24-48 hours. I've tracked this for the past 3 tax seasons, and the average time between Republic notification and Navy Federal deposit was 37.5 hours.

Navy Federal member here! Just went through this exact scenario last month. Got my Republic notification on a Tuesday, transcript showed DDD for Friday, and I was checking my account obsessively every few hours like you probably are right now 😅 Here's what happened: Navy Federal posted my refund Thursday at 3:47 AM (yes, I checked my phone at some ungodly hour and it was there). Never showed as pending - just appeared as a completed deposit. The joint filing thing shouldn't cause any delays in the banking side of things. That verification happens at the IRS level before they even send it to Republic. Since you already got the Republic notification, you're in the clear. My advice? Stop checking your account every 30 minutes (easier said than done, I know). Set a phone alert to check Friday morning. If it's not there by end of business Friday, then you can start worrying. But honestly, based on my experience and what I've seen in this community, you'll probably wake up Friday morning to a nice surprise in your account balance.