If your taxes are straightforward enough that you're confident you can DIY with last year's return as a guide, you probably shouldn't have been paying for a tax service in the first place lol. No offense but $800-1100 is for complex situations - business owners, multiple rental properties, exotic investments, etc.

You're absolutely right to question that $1100 fee! For W-2 income with some investments, that's way overpriced. Using your 2023 return as a template is a smart approach - just make sure you're working with the actual 2024 tax forms since line numbers and calculations can shift slightly year to year. A few specific things to watch for between 2023 and 2024: the standard deduction increased to $14,600 for single filers ($29,200 married filing jointly), and all the tax brackets were adjusted upward for inflation. If you have investment income, make sure to check if you received any new 1099 forms this year that weren't there last year. One tip: consider using tax software like FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct alongside your paper return template. You can input your info into the software to double-check your manual calculations, then decide whether to e-file through them or mail in your paper forms. This gives you the confidence of software validation while keeping costs way below what your preparer quoted.

Still waiting after 145 days... called again and they just tell me to keep waiting smh

mine came through last week! took 97 days total. check your transcripts daily, thats how i knew it was coming

I feel your pain with the F1 tax confusion! One thing to watch out for - if you've been in the US for parts of more than 5 calendar years, you might actually become a resident alien for tax purposes despite still having F1 status. The 5-year rule is specifically about tax status, not immigration status.

Hey Norman! I went through this exact same confusion when I first started my F1 program. Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: For your investment income question - yes, that 30% rate is steep, but there are some strategies to minimize it. Consider tax-efficient investments like growth stocks (you only pay tax when you sell and realize gains) versus dividend-paying stocks (taxed immediately at 30%). Also, some brokers offer automatic tax treaty applications if your country has one. One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between "effectively connected income" and other US-source income. Your campus job income is effectively connected to your US trade or business (being a student), so it gets taxed at regular graduated rates like a US person. But your investment income is "fixed or determinable" income, hence the flat 30%. Also, keep detailed records of everything! The IRS can be pretty strict about documentation for nonresident aliens. Save all your 1042-S forms, keep track of days in the US, and document your student status each year. Good luck with your taxes - it gets easier once you understand the system!

Another thing to consider - as a remote worker for a California company, make sure you're not having California state tax withheld from your paychecks! California only taxes non-residents on income physically earned while in California. If you haven't physically worked in California, you shouldn't be paying California income tax at all. This is separate from the 529 question, but many remote workers overlook this and end up filing unnecessary non-resident returns.

Just wanted to add some clarity on the Virginia 529 deduction limits since I see this question come up a lot. Virginia allows up to $4,000 per account per year for 529 contributions, and if you're married filing jointly, both spouses can deduct up to $4,000 each (so $8,000 total per account). Since you contributed $4,700, you can deduct $4,000 of that on your Virginia return this year. The remaining $700 doesn't carry forward for deduction purposes, but it's still a valid contribution toward your niece's education. Also, make sure you're contributing to a Virginia529 account or another qualifying state plan to get the deduction. The income source (California vs Virginia) definitely doesn't matter - what matters is your Virginia residency status when you file your state return.

Don't forget to place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and check your credit reports too! If someone used your SSN to report fake income, they might have opened credit accounts in your name as well. You can get free reports at annualcreditreport.com. Also, file a police report about the identity theft - sounds silly but it creates an official record that can help with the IRS and other agencies. Bring copies of the IRS letters showing the income discrepancy.

Has anyone actually had success using the Taxpayer Advocate Service for this kind of issue? My sister's been dealing with something similar for like 3 years and nothing works.