I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - Canadian investor with US stocks through TD Direct Investing. After reading through all these responses, I think I understand the confusion now. The W-8BEN form itself doesn't require ID documents from the IRS perspective, but each brokerage has its own internal policies. What I found helpful was calling my broker directly and asking specifically what THEY require, not what the IRS requires. TD told me they only need the electronic W-8BEN form since they already have my identity verification from when I opened the account. But when I tried to open a small account with Interactive Brokers, they wanted additional documentation. For anyone still confused, I'd suggest: 1) Check with your specific broker about their requirements, 2) Make sure you use consistent information across all your forms (name, address, etc.), and 3) Double-check that you're claiming the right tax treaty benefits. The 15% vs 30% withholding rate difference is huge over time!

As a Canadian who's been through this process with multiple brokerages, I can share what worked for me. The key insight from this thread is absolutely correct - it's institution-specific, not IRS-specific. For what it's worth, I've dealt with Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, and RBC Direct Investing. Questrade and RBC only needed the electronic W-8BEN form (no additional ID), while Wealthsimple had some additional verification steps but nothing too onerous. One tip I learned the hard way: if you have accounts with multiple brokers, make sure you're using the exact same information on all your W-8BEN forms. I had slight variations in how I wrote my address across different accounts and it caused some confusion during my tax filing. The CRA and IRS systems do cross-reference this stuff. Also, keep copies of all your submitted forms and confirmation emails. You'll need them for your Canadian tax return to claim the foreign tax credit for any US withholding taxes paid.

This is actually more common than people think! I work in HR and we see this issue pop up a few times each tax season. Usually it's either a payroll system glitch or the employer coded the withholdings incorrectly. Definitely follow the advice about contacting payroll ASAP and getting that W-2c. Also, if your employer gives you any pushback, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to report the discrepancy. They take this stuff seriously.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Turned out my company's payroll software had a glitch that was coding federal withholdings as state withholdings. Took about 3 weeks to get the corrected W-2c, but once I had it everything was smooth sailing. Definitely don't file without the correction - I almost made that mistake and it would have been a nightmare to fix later. Stay on top of your employer about this because sometimes they drag their feet on issuing corrections.

I've verified my identity with the IRS for three years in a row now, despite them saying it should be a one-time thing. Each time they hold my refund until I jump through all their hoops again. The system is completely broken. I've literally sent them the same documents year after year. my advice: just expect to verify every year and be pleasantly surprised if you don't have to.

Based on my experience and what I've seen from others, it really depends on several factors. Generally, ID.me verification should carry over year to year - that was the whole point of implementing it. However, certain triggers can require you to verify again: - Major changes in income or filing status - Moving to a new address - Adding new dependents or credits you didn't claim before - The IRS fraud detection system flagging something unusual Since your tax situation is similar to last year, you'll probably be fine. But honestly, the IRS system can be unpredictable. Some people go years without having to verify again, while others get flagged annually for seemingly no reason. My suggestion: go ahead and file. If they need verification, you'll get a notice or see it when you check "Where's My Refund." No point in worrying about it beforehand since there's nothing you can do to prevent it if their system decides to flag you.

According to what I've read on the IRS.gov website and some tax forums, the combination of code 810 with "no tax return filed" status often means your return is in the processing queue but has been flagged for some type of review. This doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your return - it could be random selection. Have you checked the Where's My Refund tool at https://www.irs.gov/refunds? Sometimes that shows different status information than what appears on your transcript.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My transcript shows the 810 code and I've been stuck in limbo for about 3 weeks. From what I've researched, the 810 code can mean different things - sometimes it's just a routine review, other times it could be income verification or credit validation. The frustrating part is that "no tax return filed" message doesn't actually mean they don't have your return - it's more like saying "we have it but haven't fully processed it yet." I filed early February and claimed the Child Tax Credit, so I'm wondering if that's what triggered the review in my case. Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I know the wait times are brutal, but I'm considering it since I haven't received any letters either.

Last year my cycle code was 20240505 and I remember panicking just like you're doing now. I thought it meant I wouldn't get my refund until 2024 (this was early 2023). I ended up getting my refund about 3 weeks after seeing that code. The cycle code is just internal IRS processing info - the first 4 digits are the fiscal year (which starts in October), the next 2 are the week, and the last 2 are the day of the week. Your 04 means Thursday. Check your transcript next Thursday - you'll likely see movement then.

I completely understand your anxiety about the cycle code! I went through the same panic last year when I saw "2024" on my transcript and thought I'd be waiting forever. The cycle code 20250504 is actually good news - it means your return is actively in the system and being processed. The "2025" refers to the IRS fiscal year (which started October 1, 2024), the "05" means your account updates on Thursdays, and "04" confirms Thursday as your update day. Since you filed March 1st and it's now April 12th, you're well within the normal processing timeframe. Keep checking your transcript every Thursday morning - once you see an 846 code with a date, that's your refund date! You should definitely have your money well before your May 15th tuition deadline. Hang in there! 🤞