Has anyone else noticed that the Form 1040-NR doesn't have a specific line for reporting crypto like the regular 1040 does? I'm on a J1 too and was expecting to see the virtual currency question somewhere.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! As a J1 visa holder, you're absolutely right to be cautious about your tax obligations. The good news is that since you acquired your ETH and WLD entirely outside the US and haven't sold or exchanged any of it while here, you shouldn't need to report it on your US tax return. The key principle for nonresident aliens (which you are as a J1 holder) is that you're only taxed on US-source income or income effectively connected with a US trade or business. Your WLD grants from Spain, even if received while you were physically present in the US, aren't considered US-source income since they originate from a Spanish entity and aren't connected to your US employment. When you file Form 1040-NR, you can answer "no" to the virtual currency question since you didn't engage in any reportable crypto transactions while subject to US tax jurisdiction. Just make sure to keep good records of when and where you acquired your crypto in case you ever need to demonstrate the foreign source. Focus on reporting your Work and Travel program income - that's what the IRS actually cares about for your situation!

Have you verified whether your refund was processed through a third-party facilitator like SBTPG or Republic Bank? If you used tax preparation software with fees deducted from your refund, this introduces an additional processing layer that can delay deposits by 24-72 hours beyond your DDD. What payment method did you select when filing, and did you receive confirmation that your banking information was accurately transmitted to the IRS?

@Theodore Nelson, I had the exact same situation last year with Chime and a 3/13 DDD. Mine didn't show up until 3/15, which had me panicking. Turned out there was a weekend processing delay that pushed it back. Since 3/13 fell on a Wednesday this year, you should definitely have it by now if everything processed normally. I'd recommend checking your Chime account for any pending transactions first, then calling their customer service line. They can see incoming ACH transfers before they post to your account. If Chime shows nothing incoming, then you'll want to contact the IRS to verify the refund was actually sent to the correct account. Also double-check your transcript shows TC 846 with your correct account number - sometimes there are routing errors that cause delays.

its probably still processing. the system is super backed up rn

Wait, I think there might be some confusion in your post. You mentioned filing your federal return in February 2025, but California shows a refund issued in January 2025 - that timeline doesn't make sense since you can't get a refund processed before you even file! Are you maybe looking at last year's CA refund status by mistake? The state and federal systems are completely separate, so your CA refund status wouldn't affect your federal refund at all. For your federal return, if Where's My Refund is blank, definitely check your actual IRS transcript - that's where you'll see the real processing status. The WMR tool glitches out all the time but your transcript will show exactly what's happening with codes and dates.

I just went through this exact scenario last week! My deposit date was April 10th, and like you, I've always received my refunds 1-2 days early in previous years. This year it showed up at 3:45pm on the exact deposit date. Did you by chance file using a different software this year? Or claim any different credits? I'm curious if there's a pattern to who's experiencing these timing changes.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My DDD is today (April 17th) and I've been checking my account obsessively since midnight. This is really helpful to read that so many others are experiencing the same timing changes this year. I filed with the same software I always use (TurboTax) and claimed the same credits as last year, so it doesn't seem to be related to filing method or credits claimed. My transcript shows TC846 with today's date and my account number is correct. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like I should expect it to hit sometime this afternoon rather than panicking that something went wrong. The IRS really should have communicated these processing changes better - a lot of people rely on those early deposits for bill planning! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's reassuring to know this is a widespread change and not an issue with my specific return.

Did you get any other codes? Like 570 or 971? Mine updated yesterday. Shows 3/19 DDD. First time filing with foreign income. Wondering if normal timeline.

Your timeline looks completely standard for international filers! I've been through this process several times with my 1040-NR returns. The 3/12 DDD following a Wednesday transcript update is textbook IRS processing. What's encouraging is that you didn't get hit with any verification delays - those can add weeks to the timeline. I usually see my funds arrive either the night before or morning of the DDD, depending on my bank's processing schedule. The fact that your transcript shows the 846 refund issued code means you're in the final stretch. International returns often take longer upfront due to additional verification steps, but once you reach this point, it's smooth sailing to your bank account.