Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! This is exactly what I needed to know. Sounds like the downloadable TaxAct Deluxe will work perfectly for our situation - being able to do up to 5 federal returns with one purchase means my wife and I can both file without buying separate copies. The state filing fees are something I hadn't considered, but that's still more cost-effective than buying two full software packages. I'm definitely going to check out those retail options too - saving $15 at Costco would be great. And @Finley Garrett, that taxr.ai suggestion is interesting. I might upload our documents first just to double-check that Deluxe will handle everything we need before I purchase. Really appreciate all the real-world experiences shared here. This community is incredibly helpful!

Great to see all the helpful advice here! Just wanted to add one more tip for @Aliyah Debovski - if you're planning to buy TaxAct Deluxe soon, keep an eye out for their early bird promotions. They sometimes offer discounts in late December/early January before the busy filing season starts. Also, since you mentioned your brother bought it last year, you might want to ask him if he got any discount codes or promotional emails for returning customers - TaxAct often sends those out to previous purchasers. The downloadable version really is the way to go if you need multiple returns, and the ability to work offline is nice during busy filing periods when their servers can get slow.

I waited 32 days for my transcript to update this year, compared to only 8 days last year with nearly identical returns. When I called, the agent said they're dealing with a massive backlog compared to previous years. Apparently returns filed in late January are taking longer than those filed in early February in some cases - something about processing centers balancing workloads differently this year.

Filed on February 28th and still waiting for my transcript to update - it's been 8 days so far. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines here! After going through my first divorce filing, I'm definitely more anxious about every step of this process than I used to be. The uncertainty is the worst part. Has anyone noticed if filing status changes (like going from married filing jointly to single) tend to cause any delays in transcript updates?

As someone who's dealt with this exact confusion, I can tell you that timing really depends on your specific situation and what kind of advance product you're looking at. The key thing to understand is that there are basically two types of refund advances: 1. **Early advances** (24-48 hours): These are based on your filed return passing basic IRS validation checks. Your local preparer probably offered this type - they're taking more risk but can get you money faster. 2. **Standard advances** (1-3 weeks): These wait for full IRS processing and approval of your refund amount. This is what most major chains like H&R Block and TurboTax offer. Since you mentioned caregiving expenses piling up, I'd suggest comparing the total cost (prep fees + advance fees) versus just waiting the extra couple weeks for your actual refund. Sometimes the "convenience" of getting money early ends up costing $50-100+ in various fees. Also, if you do go the advance route, make sure to read ALL the fine print about fees. Some preparers are sneaky about bundling costs into their "tax preparation fee" to make the advance look "free" when it's really not.

As someone who works in tax preparation, I can confirm that the confusion around refund advances is intentional - it benefits the industry when consumers don't fully understand the process! Here's what's really happening: Your local preparer last year was likely offering what we call a "rapid refund loan" based on e-file acceptance. They're essentially betting that your return won't get rejected during full IRS processing. It's riskier for them, which is why smaller preparers can offer faster turnaround - they have more flexibility in their risk assessment. The big chains are more conservative because they handle millions of returns. They wait for what's called "debt indicator" clearance from the IRS, which confirms your refund amount won't be reduced by things like back taxes, student loans, or child support. This takes longer but reduces their risk of the loan not being repaid. One thing most people don't realize: you can actually check your own "debt indicators" before filing by ordering your tax transcript from the IRS. If you have no outstanding debts, you're more likely to get approved for the faster advances. If you do have debts that might offset your refund, it's better to know upfront rather than get surprised when your advance gets held up or your actual refund is smaller than expected. Given your caregiving expenses, definitely factor in all the fees when deciding. Sometimes that advance money comes at a cost that could be better spent elsewhere.

Has anyone actually looked at the specific Brazil-US tax treaty recently? I think Article 22 was modified in the last protocol. If I remember correctly, Brazilian students in the US can exclude up to $8,000 per year of income related to their studies or training, but only for a maximum of 5 years. Also, don't forget to file Form 8843 alongside your tax return next year! It's required for all international students regardless of whether you earned income or not.

I'm actually a tax professional who works with international students regularly, and I need to clarify some misinformation in this thread. First, @Mateo Silva is correct - the Brazil-US tax treaty does NOT have a student exemption provision like many other countries do. Brazilian students cannot exclude internship income under the current treaty terms. Second, regarding the W-4 form: Yes, you should write "NRA" at the top, but more importantly, you need to understand that as a non-resident alien, you cannot use the standard W-4 worksheet. You'll typically have much higher withholding because you can't claim the standard deduction. For your internship, you'll likely be subject to the flat 30% withholding rate on your income unless your employer can apply graduated rates (which requires additional documentation). This is significantly higher than what US citizens pay. My recommendation: Contact your university's international student services office immediately. They should have resources specifically for students from Brazil and can help you understand exactly what forms you need. Don't rely on third-party tools for something this important - get official guidance from your school's advisors who work with Brazilian students regularly. Also, start preparing for a potentially large tax refund next year since the withholding will likely be higher than your actual tax liability when you file your return.

I went through this exact situation and can confirm what others have said - you don't need to stress about getting the 1099-C corrected before filing. The code G vs code A issue is actually pretty common with creditors who don't fully understand bankruptcy procedures. Here's what worked for me: I filed Form 982 checking box 1a for "Discharge of indebtedness in a title 11 case" and included the full amount from the 1099-C in Part II. I also attached a brief statement to my return explaining that the debt was discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy despite the incorrect reporting code on the 1099-C. The key is having your bankruptcy discharge paperwork readily available in case the IRS has questions later. I kept copies of my discharge order and the creditor matrix showing this specific debt was included. Never had any issues with my return being accepted or processed. Don't let the incorrect code cause you to delay filing - Form 982 is specifically designed to handle these situations regardless of how the creditor coded the cancellation.

Just want to add another perspective as someone who went through bankruptcy recently. I had a similar situation with multiple 1099-Cs having incorrect codes, and I ended up doing both - requesting corrected forms AND filing Form 982 as a backup. While you absolutely can proceed with just Form 982 (as others have correctly explained), I found that having the corrected 1099-C with code A gave me extra peace of mind. It took some persistence with the creditors, but most eventually issued corrected forms when I provided copies of my bankruptcy discharge paperwork. The main thing is don't let this delay your filing. Form 982 with box 1a checked is the proper way to exclude bankruptcy-discharged debt regardless of the 1099-C coding. Keep your discharge documentation handy and include a brief explanatory note with your return if you're concerned about the coding discrepancy. One tip - if you do decide to request corrected forms, start that process now since it can take several weeks. But don't wait for them to file your return if you're getting close to the deadline!