I'm also on H-1B and went through this same status change last month! The terminology difference is definitely meaningful - "being processed" means your return is actively moving through their system, while "still being processed" usually indicates some kind of delay or additional review. For H-1B filers like us, the IRS sometimes does extra verification on things like foreign tax credits or treaty elections, but the fact that you're seeing "being processed" suggests everything looks good on their end. In my case, I went from Topic 152 to "being processed" and then got my refund deposited exactly 9 days later. The whole process feels so opaque when you're not familiar with the US tax system, but this status change is actually one of the more reliable positive indicators. Keep checking your bank account - you're probably very close to getting your refund!

I'm seeing a lot of helpful responses here, but I wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in tax preparation. The distinction between "being processed" and "still being processed" is indeed meaningful - the former indicates normal workflow progression while the latter typically appears when there's a hold for additional verification. For H-1B filers like yourself, the IRS often runs additional automated checks for things like treaty benefits, foreign tax credits, or dual-status considerations, which can cause the initial Topic 152 status to persist longer than domestic filers experience. The fact that you've moved to "being processed" suggests your return has cleared these checks successfully. Based on current processing times, H-1B filers typically see their refunds within 10-14 days after this status change, assuming direct deposit is set up. One thing to note - if you claimed any education credits or have dependents, there might be additional verification under the PATH Act that could add a few more days, but your status progression looks completely normal for your filing situation.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned checking your last paystub from 2022! It should have your year-to-date income and withholding information which would be really close to what's on your W-2. You can use that to file if you're in a real pinch.

I work in HR and can confirm that The Cheesecake Factory uses Workday for their payroll system. As a former employee, you should still have access to your Workday account - the login credentials are typically your employee ID and either your SSN or a password you set up during onboarding. Try going to myworkday.com and looking for The Cheesecake Factory's specific login portal. If you can't remember your login info, there should be a "Forgot Password" or "Account Recovery" option. You'll need your employee ID (which should be on any old paystub) and your SSN to reset access. If that doesn't work, call their corporate HR line at 1-818-871-3000 and ask to speak with someone about accessing your W-2 as a former employee. They deal with this situation constantly and should be able to help you get logged in within a few minutes. Don't let them brush you off - you have a legal right to that document! Also, just so you know for future reference, most large employers are required to make W-2s available electronically to former employees through the same system they used while employed. They just don't always make this clear when people quit.

As someone new to the US tax system, I can understand how confusing this must be! Based on what everyone's shared here, it does sound like your refund amount disappearing from WMR is likely indicating an offset situation. Since you mentioned this is your first time filing in the US, you might not be aware of all potential debts that could trigger an offset - these can include federal student loans (even from before you became a US taxpayer), unpaid state taxes from any state you've lived in, child support, or other federal debts. I'd recommend calling the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107 as Logan suggested - they can tell you immediately if there's an offset and which agency is claiming the debt. This will give you answers much faster than waiting for the mail notice. Don't worry too much though - as Jade mentioned, you'll likely still receive whatever portion of your refund remains after the offset is applied!

Hey Jeremiah! As a fellow community member, I wanted to chime in with some reassurance. What you're experiencing is actually pretty standard when the Treasury Offset Program kicks in. The fact that your name and filing status are still showing means your return was processed correctly - the missing refund amount is just the system's way of indicating they're applying an offset for existing debt. Since you mentioned you're new to filing in the US, you might not realize that even old debts from before you became a regular taxpayer can trigger these offsets. The good news is that if your original refund was larger than the debt, you'll still get the difference! I'd definitely call that Treasury Offset number (800-304-3107) that others mentioned - they can give you the full picture immediately rather than waiting weeks for a letter. Don't stress too much about it - this happens to tons of people and doesn't reflect poorly on your tax filing at all.

I've been helping people with tax issues for about 8 years now, and unfortunately, this TurboTax check problem seems to be happening to quite a few people this year. In my experience, the fastest solution is probably to deposit the check at your primary bank (not a check cashing place), and perhaps talk to a manager about reducing the hold time since it's a tax refund check. It might also be worth considering that sometimes these problems occur when there's a mismatch between the name on your tax return and the name on your bank account, which can cause direct deposits to be rejected and converted to checks. Just something to possibly check for next year.

This is exactly why I've been telling people to avoid TurboTax this year! I'm a tax preparer and I've seen at least 15 clients come to me with this exact same issue - the mysterious check number 100001 that banks won't cash. What's really frustrating is that TurboTax isn't being transparent about this problem. They're calling it a "small percentage" but from what I'm seeing, it's affecting way more people than they're admitting. The worst part is that families who need their refunds for rent, groceries, or other essentials are getting screwed over by a company that's supposed to make tax filing easier, not harder. I've been recommending clients file amended returns to get direct deposit set up properly, but that's another 8-12 week wait. Absolutely ridiculous that a major tax software company can't handle basic payment processing in 2025.

Is this a final estate tax return or ongoing? Because if it's the final one, you might want to spend the extra money just to make sure everything is perfect. The last thing you want is the IRS coming back with questions after you've closed everything out.

I went through this exact situation with my dad's estate two years ago and ended up going with FreeTaxUSA after comparing several options. At around $90, it was definitely cheaper than TaxAct's $139.99, and their estate tax module handled the 1041, Schedule D, and 8949 without any issues. One thing I learned is that if this is a simple estate (under $600 in income), you might not even need to file Form 1041 at all - double check the filing requirements first. But if you do need to file, I'd honestly recommend spending the money for e-filing rather than mailing paper forms. The processing is faster, you get confirmation it was received, and if there are any errors, you'll find out much sooner. Also, make sure you're taking advantage of any available deductions for administration expenses - those can significantly reduce the estate's tax liability and make the filing fee worth it in the long run.