As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently in the early stages of preparing my own PTIN application as a foreign national from the UK, and the level of detail and real-world experience shared here has been invaluable. What strikes me most is how consistent the issues seem to be across different countries - incorrect notarization, missing apostilles, and inadequate translations appear to be the main culprits for rejections. It's clear that the IRS is very strict about these requirements, but the rejection letters don't always provide the specific guidance needed to fix the problems. I'm particularly grateful for the cost breakdowns and timeline estimates various members have shared. Knowing that I should budget around £40-60 for notarization, £10-15 for apostille, and £80-120 for certified translation helps me plan financially. The 9-12 week total timeline (including document preparation) is also crucial for planning when to start this process. For other UK nationals who might be reading this, I plan to: 1. Use a UK solicitor or certified notary public for the passport notarization 2. Get the apostille through the FCO Legalisation Office 3. Have any non-English text translated by a certified translator registered with the Institute of Translation and Interpreting The services mentioned like Claimyr for reaching the IRS and taxr.ai for document analysis seem like they could be really helpful too, especially given how specific these requirements are. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - this community support makes navigating these complex requirements so much more manageable!

As someone who just went through this exact process as a Canadian citizen, I can definitely relate to your frustration! The PTIN foreign national requirements are incredibly specific, and you're absolutely right that using a US-based online notary was likely the main issue. Here's what worked for me after my initial rejection: **Canadian Notarization:** I had to use a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public licensed in my province. The key was making sure they included their commission number and official seal on the document. **Authentication:** In Canada, we need both provincial authentication (from the province where the notary is licensed) AND federal authentication from Global Affairs Canada. This is Canada's equivalent of the apostille process. **Translation:** Even though my passport had both English and French (and French text needed translation for IRS purposes), I used a certified translator who provided a sworn affidavit with their credentials. **Timeline:** The whole process took about 8 weeks from start to finish, including about 3 weeks for the authentication steps in Canada. One thing I learned is that each country has slightly different requirements for the notarization and apostille process, so the Italian-specific advice from @AaliyahAli and others in this thread is really valuable for your situation. The second attempt was much smoother once I had everything properly authenticated. The investment in getting it right definitely paid off - my PTIN was approved in about 5 weeks after I resubmitted with the correct documentation. Hang in there - you're on the right track now!

Just want to add another perspective here - I work in banking and see these "TCS TREAS 449 MISC PAY" deposits fairly regularly. The code specifically indicates miscellaneous Treasury payments that fall outside normal tax refund processing. In most cases I've seen, these are legitimate payments from: - Amended returns that took years to process - Interest payments on delayed refunds (the IRS pays interest when they take too long) - Automatic adjustments when their systems catch calculation errors - Various tax credits that got processed separately from your main return The key thing is that the IRS almost never sends money by accident - their systems have multiple checks. But definitely verify what it's for before spending it. The advice about checking your transcripts and looking for any IRS mail is spot on. One more tip: if you do need to contact the IRS directly, try calling early morning (7-8 AM) when the phone lines first open. You'll have much better luck getting through than during peak hours.

I'm glad you figured out what your deposit was for! This is actually a pretty common situation that more people should know about. The IRS processes millions of tax returns and sometimes their automated systems catch errors or missed credits that taxpayers didn't claim. For anyone else dealing with mysterious IRS deposits, here's what I've learned from similar situations: 1. **Don't panic** - The IRS rarely sends money by mistake. Their systems have multiple verification steps. 2. **Check your mail thoroughly** - As mentioned above, they usually send an explanation letter (CP notices) that might look like junk mail at first glance. 3. **Pull your tax transcripts** - You can get these free from the IRS website and they'll show exactly what adjustments were made to your account. 4. **Education credits are tricky** - These are one of the most commonly miscalculated credits. The IRS often finds taxpayers qualified for more than they claimed, especially with the American Opportunity Credit. 5. **Keep records** - Save any letters or documentation explaining the deposit. You'll want this for your tax files. The fact that yours was related to education credits makes perfect sense. Those calculations can be complex with income limits, qualified expenses, and different credit types. The IRS computers are actually pretty good at catching when taxpayers left money on the table with these credits. Enjoy your unexpected windfall - it's legitimately yours!

I completely understand your concern about getting this right - nobody wants their refund delayed, especially when cash flow is tight for your business! The good news is that Tricare absolutely qualifies as minimum essential coverage, so you're all set there. When TurboTax asks about health insurance, just select that you had qualifying coverage through a government program for the full year. You don't need to worry about attaching any 1095 forms to your return, even if you haven't received them yet (DEERS has been notoriously slow with these lately). The health insurance reporting requirement is really just a formality now since there's no penalty for being uninsured. The IRS is much more focused on income and deduction accuracy these days. Your return won't be rejected or delayed because of the Tricare coverage - it's one of the most straightforward types of qualifying coverage to report. Since you mentioned your business had a rough year, make sure you're capturing all your eligible business expenses and deductions - that's likely where you'll see the biggest impact on your refund amount. The insurance question is honestly the easy part of your return!

I totally get the anxiety about this - when you really need that refund, you don't want anything to go wrong! I'm also military with Tricare and have filed for several years without any issues. Here's what has worked for me: When TurboTax asks about health insurance, I always select "Yes, I had qualifying health coverage" and then specify it was through a government program (military/Tricare). That's it - no forms to attach, no complicated documentation needed. The 1095-B form that's supposed to come from DEERS is honestly more trouble than it's worth. I've never received mine on time, and I've never needed it to successfully file my return. The IRS already knows military members have qualifying coverage through Tricare. Since you mentioned your business had a tough year, I'd focus your energy on making sure you have all your business expense documentation organized. That's where you can maximize your refund and where errors are more likely to cause delays. The health insurance question is straightforward - Tricare coverage = check the "yes" box and move on. Your return should process normally and you'll get your refund without any health insurance-related delays. Good luck with everything!

Been there! Usually takes 5-10 business days for transcripts to update after e-filing, but can be longer during busy season. Since you got your acceptance confirmation, you're all set - just gotta wait it out. The transcript will show "N/A" until the IRS processes everything. Try not to stress too much, the waiting is always the hardest part!

Don't worry, you're totally normal! First time filing can be nerve-wracking but you're doing everything right. The transcript usually updates within 7-14 business days after your return is accepted. During peak season (like now) it can take longer. As long as you got that acceptance email, the IRS has your return and is processing it. The "N/A" status just means they haven't finished processing yet - not that anything's wrong. Hang in there!

Has anyone used CrossLink? My buddy uses it for his tax practice and says it's pretty good for the price. Apparently they have a pay-per-return option that might make sense for someone just starting out?

Another option to consider is TaxSlayer Pro - I've been using it for three years now and it's been solid for my practice. The pricing is reasonable (around $1,200 for unlimited federal returns), and they have good customer support during tax season. What I like about TaxSlayer Pro is that it has a clean interface that's not overwhelming for newer preparers, but still has all the professional features you need. They also include bank products if you want to offer refund advances to clients, which can be a nice revenue stream. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure whatever software you choose integrates well with client management. You'll want to track client information, documents received, appointment scheduling, etc. Some software includes basic client management, others require separate tools. This becomes really important once you get beyond 20-30 clients. Also, consider the learning curve timing. Tax season comes fast, so pick something you can get comfortable with quickly rather than the most feature-rich option that might take months to master.