I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my 1040 about 12 days ago through H&R Block online, got the acceptance confirmation immediately, but have been stuck on "still being processed" ever since. My return is super straightforward too - just one W-2, standard deduction, no dependents or credits. Reading all these responses is honestly such a relief. I was starting to think something was wrong with my return, but it sounds like this is just the reality of tax season 2024. The 21-day timeline from acceptance seems to be the real benchmark to watch, not the "7-10 days" I was hoping for in my head. What's really helpful is learning that the "Where's My Refund" tool is basically useless this year. I've been checking it obsessively every morning, but based on everyone's experiences here, I should probably just be monitoring my bank account instead since refunds seem to show up randomly without any warning or status updates. @3889e6ce151f I hope your refund comes through soon, especially with the car repair situation adding pressure. At least we're all in this waiting game together and it's clearly a widespread issue rather than something specific to our individual returns!

I can definitely relate to this anxiety! I filed my 1040 about 16 days ago and have been in the exact same "still being processed" status with no updates. Like many others here, I have a straightforward return - just W-2 income from my job and standard deduction, nothing complicated that should trigger extra scrutiny. What's really helping me stay calm is reading everyone's experiences in this thread. It's clear that the 21-day processing window is much more realistic than what we might hope for, and the fact that so many people with simple returns are experiencing identical delays shows this is just how the system is working this season. The most valuable insight I'm taking away is to stop obsessively checking the "Where's My Refund" tool and instead monitor my bank account directly. Based on multiple stories here, it sounds like refunds are appearing randomly in people's accounts days before the IRS website even updates to reflect the status change. I know the waiting is especially stressful when you have specific plans for that money, but it seems like patience is really the only option right now. The IRS is clearly dealing with processing backlogs and system issues that are affecting pretty much everyone who filed in the past few weeks. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we're all in this together and the money will eventually show up, even if the timing is unpredictable!

Have you checked your bank account for deposits? If they paid you by direct deposit or you deposited checks, you should be able to see exactly how much you made there.

If they paid you cash and you're trying to reconstruct the exact amount, another approach is to look at your work schedule if you kept any record of it. Even something as simple as text messages to friends about your work shifts or calendar entries can help you calculate the total. Since you mentioned working "about three weekends" as a hostess, try to remember your hourly rate and approximate hours per shift. Most hostess positions pay minimum wage plus tips. If you can recall your hourly wage, multiply that by your estimated hours worked to get your base pay, then add any tips you remember receiving. The IRS cares more about you making a good faith effort to report all income accurately than having perfect documentation, especially in situations like this where the employer is no longer available to provide proper forms.

Has anyone run into limits on how much you can send through these services? I tried to send $12,000 through Remitly last year and got flagged for additional verification that took forever.

I've been using Wise for sending money to Italy for the past two years and can definitely recommend it over Remitly for your situation. For a $3,200 transfer, you're looking at around $25-35 in total fees with Wise, compared to what could be $80-120+ with your bank's wire transfer. The key advantage with Wise is transparency - they show you exactly what you'll pay upfront and use the real exchange rate. I've sent similar amounts to family in Naples and Rome, and the money typically arrives within 1-2 business days. Make sure your cousin has their IBAN ready, as Italian banks are pretty strict about having the correct details. One tip: if this is your first large transfer with Wise, they might ask for additional verification (source of funds, etc.), so factor in an extra day or two for that process. But once you're verified, future transfers are much smoother. Definitely beats PayPal's highway robbery rates!

I went through this exact same confusion last year! The key thing to understand is that "effectively connected with U.S. trade or business" has a very specific meaning - it's not just about having a bank account in the US while you're here temporarily. For your situation, Exception 1(a) is almost certainly the right choice. Since your bank gave you a letter stating the account is subject to IRS information reporting, and you're just keeping savings there (not running a business), this falls under passive income reporting. Exception 1(b) would only apply if you were actually operating a business in the US and the bank account was directly related to that business activity. Just being temporarily in the US with a savings account doesn't qualify. I'd recommend going with Exception 1(a) and including your bank's letter as supporting documentation. The IRS is pretty clear that any interest-bearing account subject to their reporting requirements qualifies under this exception, regardless of how much interest you're actually earning.

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Like you, I was completely confused about which exception to choose, and I ended up making it more complicated than it needed to be. After reading through all the IRS instructions multiple times and calling my bank for clarification, I learned that the key question is really simple: Are you using this bank account for business purposes or personal savings? Since you mentioned you're just keeping savings there while temporarily in the US, Exception 1(a) is definitely the right choice. The "effectively connected with U.S. trade or business" language in Exception 1(b) is very specific - it means you're actually running a business or engaged in commercial activity in the US, not just maintaining a personal account. My bank's letter was similar to yours - it just stated that the account was subject to IRS information reporting. That's all you need for Exception 1(a). The IRS approved my application in about 8 weeks with no issues. One tip: Make sure to include a copy of your bank's letter with your W-7 application as supporting documentation. It directly supports your choice of Exception 1(a) and shows the IRS exactly why you need the ITIN. Good luck with your application! You're overthinking it - Exception 1(a) is the way to go for your situation.

Has anyone done the math on approximate costs for setting up each option? I'm a web developer making around $140k and currently operating as a single-member LLC. My CPA suggested considering C corp status but wasn't clear on whether I should file the election or do a full conversion.

For someone at your income level ($140k), the tax election route is probably your best bet initially. I made a similar transition last year as a freelance consultant earning about $130k. The key consideration at your revenue level is that you're likely not retaining massive amounts in the business yet, so the main benefits you're looking for are probably the self-employment tax savings and ability to deduct health insurance premiums. With the LLC taxed as C corp election, you'll pay yourself a reasonable salary (I do about $85k of my $130k through payroll) and take the rest as distributions. This saves you roughly $2,400 annually in self-employment taxes compared to straight LLC taxation. Plus you get the health insurance benefits others mentioned. The conversion to actual C corp makes more sense when you're planning to retain significant earnings in the business or need the formal corporate structure for investors. At $140k, you're probably taking most profits out anyway, so the simpler LLC structure with corporate tax treatment gives you 90% of the benefits with way less hassle and cost. My advice: start with the tax election, see how it works for a year or two, then reassess if you need full conversion as your business grows.