This is exactly what happened to my sister a few months ago! The waiting is the worst part because you have no idea how much they're taking until you get that BFS letter. In her case, it was for old state taxes she didn't even realize she still owed from when she moved between states. The automated line at 1-800-304-3107 that others mentioned is definitely worth calling - it'll at least tell you the total amount being offset and which type of debt it is. One tip: if you think the debt might be incorrect or already paid, you can dispute it, but you have to act fast once you get the official notice. The whole process took about 3 weeks total for her, but at least she got the remaining portion of her refund after they took what was owed. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same thing last year! That message is frustrating because it doesn't give you the details you really need. Here's what I learned: The Bureau of Fiscal Service runs something called the Treasury Offset Program that automatically checks for debts when your refund gets processed. Common culprits are student loans in default, back child support, state tax debt, or even unemployment overpayments. The automated hotline at 1-800-304-3107 is your best friend right now - it'll tell you the offset amount and what type of debt without having to wait for the letter. When I called, I found out it was for an old state tax bill I'd forgotten about from a previous move. The timeline is usually: offset happens → BFS letter gets mailed (takes 1-2 weeks) → remaining refund (if any) gets deposited. In my case, they took $800 of my $2,200 refund for the state debt, and I got the remaining $1,400 about 10 days after my original expected deposit date. One important thing - if you think the debt is wrong or already paid, you can dispute it, but you need to act quickly once you get the official notice. Keep all your paperwork handy just in case!

Last year I was in your exact situation - needed my refund for medical expenses and was stuck in verification limbo. I remember checking the IRS website literally 5 times a day! What I learned is that the verification process puts you into a different processing queue, and sometimes returns get manually reviewed after verification even if everything is perfect. Mine took exactly 25 days after verification to process. If you need funds urgently for medical procedures, you might want to explore Care Credit or similar medical financing options as a backup plan - that's what I ended up doing, then paid it off when my refund finally arrived.

I'm in a very similar boat - filed 2/3, verified identity 2/28, and still nothing on my transcript or WMR after 5+ weeks. The medical expense angle really hits home because I've been putting off dental work that's getting worse by the day. What's frustrating is that the IRS verification process feels like it puts you in this black hole where nobody can give you real answers about timing. I've been checking my transcript obsessively and it's still showing N/A for 2023. Has anyone found that calling the regular IRS line (not TAS) after 6+ weeks actually gets you anywhere, or do they just tell you to keep waiting? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the hours on hold.

Word of advice, NEVER go back to that tax preparer. I'm shocked they would claim that including insurance-paid expenses is legal. That's like Tax 101 stuff. For your audit, be super cooperative with the IRS and explain that you relied on your preparer's expertise. You should definitely request penalty abatement under "reasonable cause" since you hired a professional and had no reason to doubt their work.

Edward, I completely understand your stress about this situation. The good news is that medical expense audit issues are actually quite common and the IRS sees them frequently. Since you questioned your preparer about this approach and she insisted it was correct, you have a strong case for reasonable cause penalty relief. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1) Gather all your medical bills, insurance EOBs, and payment records from the audit years, 2) Calculate your actual out-of-pocket expenses (what YOU paid after insurance), 3) Prepare amended returns showing the correct deduction amounts, and 4) Write a detailed explanation letter describing how you relied on your preparer's professional advice. The IRS typically works with taxpayers who are cooperative and honest about mistakes, especially when a paid preparer was involved. You'll likely owe additional tax plus interest, but penalties can often be waived or reduced significantly. If you can't pay the full amount, the IRS offers installment agreements - don't let the fear of a large bill prevent you from responding promptly. Also, definitely document any communications you had with your preparer about questioning this deduction method. That evidence will be crucial for your penalty abatement request.

Don't forget about state taxes too! My wife is a nonresident alien and we file jointly for federal, but some states have different rules. In California where we live, we had to file a separate nonresident state return for her foreign income even though we filed jointly for federal. Check your state's rules!

Just want to add another perspective here - we went through this exact situation last year and successfully filed jointly with the standard deduction. The key thing that helped us was understanding that the election to treat your NRA spouse as a resident is made simply by filing a joint return and including both spouses' worldwide income. You don't need to file any separate forms to make this election - it's automatic when you file Form 1040 jointly. However, you do need to attach a statement signed by both spouses saying you're making this election (this is the part many people miss). One tip: calculate both ways before deciding. We ran the numbers filing separately vs. jointly and the standard deduction savings from filing jointly more than offset the extra tax on my husband's foreign income. But every situation is different depending on income levels and what country the foreign income comes from (tax treaties matter!). The IRS Publication 519 has the clearest explanation of this if you want the official source, specifically the section on "Nonresident Spouse Treated as Resident.

Something nobody's mentioned - if this is your first job ever, you might qualify for some credits that will reduce any taxes you might owe. Did you have any tuition expenses? Moving expenses to get closer to work? Work from home expenses? Also make sure you claim the Climate Action Incentive payment if you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario. It's a few hundred bucks you could get back depending on your province!

I went through this exact same stress last year! The good news is that if your employer has been deducting taxes from your paychecks (which it sounds like they have), you're probably in good shape. Here's what helped me figure things out: Get your T4 from your employer - they're required to give it to you by the end of February. This document will show exactly how much you earned and how much tax was already deducted. Since you mentioned your paystubs show tax withholding, you'll likely either owe a small amount or get a refund. For a first job with straightforward employment income, the withholding system usually works pretty well. A few quick tips for first-time filers: - Don't forget to claim the basic personal amount (everyone gets this) - If you moved for work, keep those receipts - moving expenses can be deductible - Any tuition or textbook expenses from school can reduce your taxes - Work-from-home expenses if your job required it The "chicken and egg" problem with the CRA account is super frustrating, but once you file your first return, you'll be able to access your online account for future years. Until then, the tax software options others mentioned will show you exactly what you owe (or what you're getting back) before you submit anything. You've got this! First-time filing is intimidating but it gets much easier once you've done it once.