Something no one has mentioned - check if your state accepts e-filing even if federal doesn't. In my case (Missouri), I was able to e-file the state return even though I had to paper file the federal return due to the Farm Optional Method/EITC issue. Saved my client from having to wait on both refunds.

I just called my ProSeries rep about this exact issue. They said it's a known limitation in their software validation rules and they're working on fixing it for next year. The workaround they suggested was to paper file this year, but they gave me a specific diagnostic code to note in my files so I can follow up with them once they have the fix. Might be worth calling your software support to see if they have any solutions brewing.

Has anyone successfully gotten both the employer and employee portions of FICA refunded? My university tax advisor told me that even with a W2C, I can only get back the employee portion (my 7.65%) but not the employer portion (the other 7.65%). Is this right or should I be fighting for the full amount?

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I went through this exact same situation last year with FICA withholding on my F1 CPT. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all communication with my employer about the W2C correction. When I finally got my corrected W2C, there were still some discrepancies in the amounts, and having email trails showing what they promised to correct made it much easier to get them to issue a second corrected W2C. Also, I'd recommend double-checking that your employer didn't withhold state disability insurance (SDI) or other state-specific taxes that you might also be exempt from as an international student - many payroll systems make multiple mistakes at once. The whole process took about 6 months from start to finish, but I eventually got back around $1,200 in incorrectly withheld FICA taxes. Don't give up if it seems like it's taking forever!

You know what's interesting about these IRS timelines? They're almost always worst-case scenarios. I had a similar situation in March when they made a correction to my return. The agent told me 6-8 weeks, but I received my refund in 17 days. Why do they do this? Perhaps because they're dealing with millions of returns and want to set expectations low? Or maybe because complex cases can genuinely take that long? Either way, I've found that the actual processing time is usually about half of whatever timeline they quote you.

I went through something very similar last year! Filed in late January, got the "still processing" message for about 6 weeks, and when I finally got through to the IRS they said they had made a "correction" and quoted me 8 weeks. Turns out they had adjusted my withholding amount by about $150 - apparently my employer had reported a slightly different amount than what was on my W-2. The good news is I got my refund in just under 4 weeks from that phone call, not the full 8 weeks they quoted. Since you mentioned needing the refund for medical expenses, I'd definitely recommend checking your transcript weekly rather than relying on WMR - it'll show the actual progress with those transaction codes everyone mentioned. The 8-week timeline really does seem to be their standard "cover all bases" response. Fingers crossed yours processes much faster!

Yes, that can happen! When the IRS moves you from cycle 05 (weekly) to cycle 02 (daily), it usually means your return has moved into active processing or requires additional review. Daily cycles typically indicate more frequent updates, which can actually be a good sign that things are progressing. However, it's not guaranteed to happen every year - your cycle assignment depends on various factors like when you filed, complexity of your return, and current IRS processing volumes. If you do get moved to daily processing again this year, you'd see updates Monday through Thursday instead of just Thursdays.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also on cycle 05 and was checking my transcript daily like it was going to magically update. Now I understand why I was driving myself crazy - Thursdays only! One thing I'm curious about though - if cycle 05 updates happen Thursday nights and show up Friday mornings, does that mean if there are any issues with my return (like needing additional verification), I'd also find out on Fridays? Or do those kinds of notices follow a different timeline? I'm trying to plan my week around when to actually expect meaningful updates versus just wasting time checking. Also, for those mentioning cycle changes from weekly to daily - is there any way to predict if that might happen, or is it pretty much random based on IRS processing needs?

I went through this exact situation two years ago with a $550 1099-NEC that I completely spaced on. After reading all the horror stories online, I was terrified about amending, but honestly it turned out to be much easier than I expected. I used FreeTaxUSA's amendment feature (since that's what I filed with originally) and it literally walked me through everything step by step. The hardest part was just finding my login info again! The whole process took maybe 30 minutes, and most of that was just double-checking my numbers. The additional tax ended up being about $132 in my case. I mailed in the 1040-X and got confirmation they received it about 6 weeks later. No audit, no scary letters, just a simple "we processed your amendment" notice. Trust me, the peace of mind is worth way more than the stress of wondering when they'll catch it. Plus like others mentioned, the penalties if they find it first can really add up. Just get it done and move on with your life!

I was in almost the exact same situation last year - forgot a $650 1099-MISC from some consulting work. I agonized over it for weeks before finally deciding to amend. Here's what I learned: the IRS computer systems are really good at matching 1099s to tax returns, so they will eventually catch it. When they do, you'll get a CP2000 notice demanding the additional tax plus penalties and interest. For me, that would have meant turning a ~$140 tax bill into potentially $200+ with the 20% accuracy penalty. I ended up using TurboTax's amendment feature and it was honestly way easier than I expected. It imported all my original return info and I just had to add the missing 1099. Took maybe 45 minutes total including double-checking everything. The additional tax was $147 in my case. Filed it in March, got confirmation they received it in early May, and that was it. No audit, no scary letters, just peace of mind knowing I did the right thing. My advice: just bite the bullet and amend. The process isn't nearly as scary as it seems, and it's way better than waiting around wondering when they'll catch it. Plus you'll sleep better at night knowing your taxes are actually correct!