I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's incredibly stressful! Filed in early January, got my 60-day letter in February, and now we're well past that deadline with zero updates on my transcript. The worst part is feeling completely in the dark about what's happening. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring (I'm not alone) and concerning (this could drag on much longer). I'm particularly interested in the advice about calling early Monday morning and requesting a case trace - that sounds like the most concrete next step. For those who have successfully gotten through to the IRS, did you find that calling on specific days of the week made a difference? I've heard Tuesday through Thursday might be less busy than Mondays, but the 7 AM strategy seems to be the consistent advice regardless of the day. Also, has anyone had success with the "Where's My Refund" tool suddenly updating after weeks of no change, or is calling really the only way to get movement on these delayed returns? I check it obsessively but it's been stuck on "still processing" since February. The financial stress is real - I had planned expenses around receiving this refund by now. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice. It really helps to know we're not dealing with this alone!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the combination of medical bills and an indefinitely delayed refund is incredibly stressful. I went through something very similar last year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After my 60-day period expired with no updates, I called the IRS using the early morning strategy others mentioned (7 AM sharp). The key thing I learned is to specifically ask for a "manual refund trace" rather than just asking about your refund status. This is different from a regular case trace and actually requires them to physically locate your return in their system and provide you with the specific reason for the delay. When I did this, I discovered my return had been flagged because I had moved between tax years and they needed to verify my address change, even though I had filed a change of address form months earlier. The agent was able to clear this immediately once she saw the documentation in their system. The whole process took about 2.5 hours on hold, but once connected, the issue was resolved in 15 minutes and I had my refund deposited within 6 business days. For your medical bills situation, definitely reach out to the billing departments and explain you're waiting on a delayed federal tax refund. Most healthcare providers are familiar with IRS delays this year and many will put your account on hold or set up a payment plan without penalty if you can provide them with documentation of your pending refund (like a copy of your 60-day letter). Don't lose hope - your money is there, it's just stuck in bureaucratic quicksand. The squeaky wheel really does get the grease with the IRS.

Has anyone tried using the IRS online account portal to respond to notices? I was able to upload documents directly for an audit last year without dealing with mail or fax. Not sure if it works for all types of notices though.

I just went through this exact situation last month with a 1098-T response! I ended up choosing FAX and I'm glad I did. Here's what worked for me: I went to a UPS Store (they have reliable fax machines) and made sure to get a transmission confirmation report that shows the date, time, and confirmation that all pages went through successfully. The key thing I learned is to call the fax number first to make sure it's working - some IRS fax lines go down periodically for maintenance. One tip that saved me: I included a cover sheet with my SSN, notice number, and contact phone number on every single page of the document, not just the cover sheet. This way if pages get separated in their system, each page can still be matched to my case. The whole process took about 15 minutes at UPS Store (cost me $2 per page), and I got confirmation from the IRS three weeks later that they received it and processed my amended return. My refund was issued about 6 weeks after that. Since you're expecting a $4K refund, I'd definitely recommend the FAX route for speed, but make absolutely sure you keep that transmission confirmation as your proof of timely filing!

Something important no one's mentioned yet - if you do decide to file from your home country, be aware of the foreign postmark rule. The IRS considers your return timely filed if it's postmarked by the foreign postal service by the due date, even if it arrives at the IRS later. Keep proof of mailing (get a receipt from your postal service showing the date) and consider using a tracked service so you can confirm delivery. The IRS international mailing address is different from the domestic one, so make sure you're using the correct address. Also, currency conversion can be tricky when paying any balance due from abroad. The safest option is to arrange payment before leaving the US, either through direct pay on the IRS website or by sending a check with your return if you file before leaving.

I've been through this exact situation as an F-1 student and understand the time pressure you're facing. Here's what I learned: Given your 48-hour timeline, filing an extension (Form 4868) is definitely your best bet. You can complete this quickly online and it gives you until October 15th to file your actual return properly. For the extension, estimate your tax liability using the Sprintax calculation you already have. It's better to slightly overestimate than underestimate. You can pay online through the IRS Direct Pay system before you leave the country. Regarding your actual filing options when you have more time: I tried both Sprintax and the DIY approach. Sprintax is expensive but handles non-resident complexities correctly. The DIY route with 1040NR forms is absolutely doable - the new format is actually clearer once you understand the flow. For your Texas/California situation, you'll need the federal 1040NR plus a California non-resident return (Texas has no state income tax). One crucial point: DO NOT use TurboTax for non-resident filing. I've seen multiple students get into trouble because TurboTax classified them as residents, leading to incorrect deductions and potential penalties later when the IRS caught the error. File that extension now, then take your time to do it right from home. The stress relief alone is worth it!

The IRS Refund Hotline is 800-829-1954, which is specifically for refund inquiries. However, it's mostly automated just like the Where's My Refund tool. For actual human assistance, use 800-829-1040. Current average wait times are 73 minutes according to the IRS's February 2024 service report. If you filed electronically, they won't discuss your return until exactly 21 days after acceptance. If you mailed your return, they won't discuss it until precisely 6 weeks after mailing. Have you verified if either of those timeframes applies to your situation?

As someone who went through this exact situation last year as a newlywed, I completely understand your frustration! Here's what worked for me: First, definitely try the Where's My Refund tool and check your account transcript online - sometimes the issue is something simple that resolves automatically without needing to call. For actually reaching a human, I had success calling 800-829-1040 at exactly 7:00 AM EST when they open. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. The key is persistence - don't get discouraged by busy signals. Since you mentioned this is your first year filing as married, double-check that you both didn't accidentally claim the same dependents or credits. That's a common newlywed mistake that can delay processing. If you've been waiting more than 21 days since e-filing (or 6 weeks if you mailed), and the online tools aren't giving you answers, then calling is definitely worth it. The agents can see much more detail about what's happening with your return than what shows up in the automated systems. One last tip: if you do get through and they say everything looks normal but just needs more time, ask them to put a note on your account about the inquiry. This can sometimes help expedite things. Good luck - the waiting is always the hardest part!

Be careful with deducting anything you might use personally. My brother tried to deduct coaching equipment for baseball last year and got audited! IRS made him prove exactly which items were exclusively for team use vs his personal use. He ended up having to pay back some of the deduction plus a penalty.

Just to clarify on the $350 fee situation - you can still deduct your out-of-pocket equipment expenses even though you're avoiding the volunteer fee. The fee waiver doesn't disqualify your equipment deductions; it just means you can't treat the waived fee itself as a charitable contribution. Think of it this way: you're making two separate contributions to the organization - your volunteer time (which saves you $350 but isn't deductible) and your actual cash expenditures for equipment (which are deductible as charitable contributions). The IRS looks at these separately. So your $175 in equipment purchases should still qualify for deduction as long as you have receipts and can show they were used for the team's benefit. Just make sure to document everything well, especially for any items that might have dual use.