Did you try the mobile deposit feature on your bank's app? I had a similar issue last tax season but was able to deposit my refund check using my phone. Just took a picture of both sides of the check and it went through no problem. Might save you another drive!

I work at a credit union and see this exact situation pretty regularly. The "already verified" message doesn't mean your check is bad - it just means the check has been run through a verification system once already. Target's system likely did verify it was legitimate but then couldn't process it due to their internal limits or policies. A few tips from someone who processes these daily: - Credit unions are often more flexible with government checks than big banks - If you have any bank account anywhere, even a small balance, depositing there is your best bet - Treasury checks (which tax refunds are) have a 1-year expiration, so you have time to figure this out - The issuing bank route mentioned above is solid advice - they legally have to honor their own checks Don't stress too much about the verification flag. It's more of a tracking thing than a problem with your actual check. You'll get your money!

Just wanted to point out - technically you can file your taxes without a corrected W-2. Use Form 8889 for your HSA and report the correct contribution amounts there. When e-filing, enter the W-2 exactly as received, then make the adjustments on Form 8889. Include an explanation statement explaining the discrepancy.

I'm dealing with a very similar HSA mess right now! My former employer is also dragging their feet on issuing a corrected W-2 after I had to remove excess contributions. One thing that helped me was getting everything in writing. When you call CompanyFirst, ask them to email you their response about why they won't issue a W-2c. Often when companies have to put their reasoning in writing, they realize they don't actually have a good reason to refuse. Also, make sure you have the distribution statement from HealthSavings that shows the excess contribution removal - this document should clearly state that it's for tax year 2025 contributions, not 2026. If HealthSavings is saying they sent CompanyFirst notification about the removal, ask them to provide you with a copy of that communication. If all else fails, you can absolutely file using Form 8889 with the correct amounts and attach an explanation. The IRS deals with W-2/HSA discrepancies all the time. Just keep detailed records of all your attempts to get the W-2 corrected in case you need them later.

Congrats on getting your refund approved! That July 17th date is your direct deposit date (DDD). In my experience, most banks receive the funds on that exact date or sometimes 1-2 days early depending on how they process ACH transfers. Since you mentioned your bank usually processes deposits immediately, you'll likely see it hit your account on the 17th or possibly even the 16th. The transcript is actually pretty reliable for timing once you see that 846 code with the date - you're definitely in the final stretch now!

I've been through this exact same situation! The July 17th date you see next to the 846 code is your official direct deposit date. Most people get their refund on that exact date, though some banks process it a day or two early. Since your bank processes deposits quickly, you'll most likely see it hit your account on the 17th. I'd recommend checking your account starting the morning of the 16th just in case it comes early. The fact that you can see the 846 code with the amount means everything is approved and you're just waiting for the actual transfer now. You're so close!

Is your Box 2 (amounts billed for qualified expenses) empty on your 1098-T? Sometimes schools only fill out Box 1 OR Box 2, not both. If Box 2 has an amount and it's higher than Box 1, try using that figure instead. Also, double check that you're enrolled in a degree program and that this isn't your 5th year claiming AOTC. There's a 4-year lifetime limit.

Brooklyn, I went through this exact same frustrating situation last year! The scholarship allocation issue that others mentioned is almost certainly what's happening. One thing that really helped me was understanding that you have a choice in how to treat scholarship money. You can elect to treat the portion used for room/board/living expenses as taxable income, which then frees up your actual tuition payments to qualify for the American Opportunity Credit. In your case, with $8,000 going to dorm and meals, you could report that as taxable income on your return. Yes, you'll pay some tax on it (probably around 12% rate given your income), but the American Opportunity Credit is worth up to $2,500 - so you'd still come out way ahead. The key is making sure H&R Block knows about this allocation. Look for the education section where it asks about scholarship usage - there should be a place to specify how much went to qualified vs non-qualified expenses. If you can't find it, try searching their help section for "scholarship allocation" or "room and board." This is one of those tax situations where the software assumes you want to minimize current year taxes (by treating all scholarship as tax-free), but that actually prevents you from getting a bigger refund through the credit. Sometimes paying a little more tax upfront gets you a lot more back!

As someone who has dealt with multiple ITIN employees, one issue I ran into was with state tax reporting systems. Some state systems initially rejected submissions with ITINs because their validation was expecting an SSN format. Make sure to check if your state has specific guidelines for reporting employees with ITINs.

I've been using QuickBooks for payroll with ITIN employees and it handles them just fine. You just enter the ITIN in the SSN field when setting up the employee profile. The system treats it the same as an SSN for tax calculations and reporting. One tip - make sure to double-check that the ITIN format is correct (9XX-XX-XXXX) before submitting any payroll reports. I had one instance where I accidentally transposed numbers and it caused issues with my quarterly filing. Also, keep copies of their ITIN documentation in their employee files. During my state audit last year, they specifically asked to see proof of the ITINs I had reported. Having the official IRS letters made that process much smoother. For state reporting, I haven't had issues in my state (Texas), but I've heard some states can be pickier about the format. It's worth calling your state's employer services line to confirm their requirements before your first filing.