Anybody know if they work with amended returns?

I've been using Bank Mobile for about 3 years now and honestly it's been pretty reliable for my refunds. The key is to read the fine print - they do have fees but if you stick to their basic direct deposit option (not the instant transfer), it's usually free. Takes about the same time as any other bank, maybe 1-2 business days once the IRS releases it. Just avoid their "rapid refund" upsells - that's where they get you with the fees.

One additional consideration for your dual-status situation - make sure you're aware of any potential treaty benefits between the US and Canada that might affect your tax calculation. The US-Canada Tax Treaty has specific provisions for residents who change status during the year, and there might be tie-breaker rules that could impact how you're treated for certain types of income. Also, since you mentioned you were working remotely for your Canadian employer while being a US tax resident, you'll want to verify that your employer properly handled any Canadian tax withholdings during that period. Sometimes employers don't adjust withholdings when employees become non-residents for Canadian tax purposes, which could affect your foreign tax credit calculations. Have you considered whether you need to file any additional Canadian forms (like a departure tax return) since you became a non-resident of Canada? The timing of your tax residency changes in both countries can create some complex interactions that might affect your overall tax liability.

Jacob, your approach looks solid, but I wanted to add a few practical tips from my own dual-status experience moving from the UK to the US: 1. **Documentation is key** - Keep detailed records of your residency determination. Since you mentioned becoming a US resident under the Green Card test, make sure you have clear documentation of when your status changed, as this will be crucial if the IRS has questions. 2. **State tax considerations** - Don't forget about state tax implications! Depending on which state you're in, you may need to file a part-year resident return there too, and some states have different rules for recognizing foreign tax credits. 3. **Estimated tax payments** - Since you had no US income in 2023 but will likely have US income in 2024, consider whether you need to make estimated tax payments for 2024. The transition year can sometimes create unexpected tax liabilities in the following year. 4. **FBAR and Form 8938** - Make sure you're also considering your reporting requirements for foreign bank accounts and assets. Even though you're focused on the income tax return, the FBAR and Form 8938 thresholds and requirements can be different for dual-status taxpayers. The foreign tax credit timing issue you mentioned is very common - I had the exact same situation with additional taxes paid the following year. Amelia's advice about claiming them on your 2024 return is spot on. Good luck with your filing! The first dual-status return is always the most challenging, but you'll have a much better understanding for future years.

According to the Treasury Department's official FAQs (https://fiscal.treasury.gov/top/faqs-for-the-public.html), unemployment benefits themselves don't create offset situations. The system works by matching your SSN against a database of debtors. If you've confirmed no matches via the phone system, you should be good. The database is updated weekly, so checking once a week until your refund arrives should give you peace of mind.

I completely understand your concern, especially dealing with financial uncertainty after a divorce. The good news is that unemployment compensation itself won't create any offset issues - it's simply taxable income that you report on your return. The Treasury Offset Program only targets specific federal debts like defaulted student loans, unpaid child support, or back taxes from previous years. Since you've already checked the offset phone line and it shows clear, you should be fine. One thing to keep in mind though - if you didn't have federal taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits, you might end up owing rather than receiving a refund, but that's a separate issue from offsets. The fact that you're being proactive about checking shows you're on top of things!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact confusion last year! The good news is that if your health and dental premiums are being deducted from your paycheck pre-tax (which is the most common setup), you've already gotten the tax benefit and don't need to do anything else on your return. Here's a super simple way to check: Look at your final 2024 paystub and find the year-to-date totals. If you see your health/dental premiums listed under a section like "Pre-Tax Deductions" or "Before Tax," then you're all set - no additional reporting needed. You can also double-check by comparing Box 1 (taxable wages) on your W-2 to your gross pay. If Box 1 is lower than your total gross pay, that difference likely includes your pre-tax health insurance contributions along with any 401k contributions you made. The tax software asking about premiums is probably just being thorough, but for most employees with standard employer plans, you can skip that section entirely. Hope this helps clear things up!

I totally get the confusion! When I first started working full-time, the whole benefits and tax interaction was like a foreign language to me. One thing that really helped me understand this was realizing that pre-tax deductions are essentially the government's way of encouraging certain behaviors (like getting health insurance) by giving you an immediate tax break. So when your health and dental premiums come out of your paycheck pre-tax, you're already getting that tax benefit right away - your taxable income is automatically reduced. Think of it this way: if you make $50,000 and pay $2,400 in health premiums pre-tax, you're only taxed on $47,600. You've already "used up" that deduction, so there's nothing more to claim on your tax return. The tax software asks about it because some people DO pay health insurance premiums post-tax (like if they buy their own plan outside of work), and those folks might be able to deduct them if they itemize. But for most employees with typical employer plans, you can confidently skip those questions!

Quick tip: don't bother with H&R Block! I made that mistake when I was in your situation (missed filing for 3 years) and they charged me over $250 PER YEAR to file my back taxes. Total ripoff when my situation was super simple.

Just wanted to add that you're absolutely not alone in this situation! I work in tax prep and see people in similar circumstances all the time - it's way more common than you think. One thing I'd recommend is starting with the IRS "Get Transcript" service that others mentioned to see your filing history and wage information first. That will give you a clear picture of what years you need to file and what refunds you might be missing. Since you mentioned working retail and food service with taxes taken out, you're very likely owed refunds rather than owing money. The key thing is to act quickly since you can only claim refunds for the past 3 years (2021, 2022, 2023 for tax year 2024). Also, don't feel pressured to use expensive services. If your tax situation is straightforward (W2 income, standard deduction), you can absolutely handle this yourself using free filing options once you have your wage transcripts. The IRS Free File program or even the IRS's own fillable forms might be all you need. You've got this! Taking the first step by posting here shows you're ready to tackle it.