Quick warning from someone who handles these regularly - the 1042-S withholding might be for different types of income (dividends, capital gains, etc.) which get treated differently under the treaty. Line 1 of your 1042-S will have an "Income Code" that tells you what type of income it is. Code 06 = dividends (eligible for 15% treaty rate) Code 09 = capital gains (might be completely exempt) Code 15 = scholarship/fellowship (different rules apply) Make sure you know which type you're dealing with before filing anything!

This is exactly the situation I found myself in a few years ago! As a US citizen receiving UK stock dividends, you're absolutely right that the 30% withholding seems excessive. Here's what worked for me: First, submit a W-8BEN form to your company's stock plan administrator (not the IRS directly) to get the withholding reduced from 30% to 15% going forward under the US-UK tax treaty. Second, file Form 1116 with your tax return to claim a foreign tax credit for the taxes already withheld. Since you mentioned this has been going on for 12 years, you can file amended returns (Form 1040-X) for up to the past 3 years to recover the excess withholding. The potential refund could be substantial depending on your dividend amounts. The process is definitely doable as a DIY project if you're comfortable with tax forms, but given the years of potential overpayments involved, it might be worth consulting with a tax professional who specializes in international taxation to make sure you maximize your recovery and handle everything correctly.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet is that Republic, Pathward, and SBTPG are all third-party processors that only handle refunds if you've chosen to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund. If you pay for tax preparation upfront, your refund comes directly from the IRS to your bank, which is typically faster and avoids those processing fees mentioned above. Direct IRS deposits usually arrive on the exact DDD or the next business day. Those third-party processors are essentially giving you a short-term loan for your preparation fees, and they're charging you for it.

This is such a helpful initiative! As someone who's been through the refund waiting game multiple times, I think tracking all this data will really benefit the community. One additional column I'd suggest adding is "Return Complexity" - like whether you itemized deductions, had multiple W-2s, or reported self-employment income. In my experience, simpler returns (standard deduction, single W-2) tend to process faster than complex ones. Also, for those mentioning trace numbers - you typically only get one if your refund is more than 28 days late and you call to initiate a refund trace. It's not something that's automatically generated for every return. Looking forward to seeing what patterns emerge from this data! It's always reassuring to know we're not alone in this waiting process.

Anyone know if Cash App's tax documents are usually accurate? Last year I had issues with Robinhood where their 1099 had some incorrect cost basis info and it created a huge headache.

Great question about Cash App's tax document accuracy! I've been using Cash App for trading for about 2 years now and generally find their 1099-B forms to be reliable, but like Diego mentioned, it's always worth double-checking. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to keep your own records throughout the year rather than relying solely on their year-end documents. I use a simple spreadsheet to track each trade with the date, symbol, shares, buy/sell price, and any fees. This makes it much easier to spot any discrepancies when the 1099-B arrives. Also, if you do find errors on your 1099-B, Cash App's customer support can usually provide corrected forms, but it can take a few weeks during tax season. So the earlier you review your documents, the better! The wash sale tracking seems to be where most platforms struggle, so that's definitely worth paying extra attention to if you've done any frequent trading in the same stocks.

Warning about the red ink forms - order them NOW from the IRS if you're going that route! I waited until January last year and they were completely out of stock. Ended up having to buy them at an office supply store for like $50 which was highway robbery but I was desperate. The IRS sends them for free but they run out every year during tax season.

I went through this exact same confusion last year! Here's what worked for me after making some mistakes: First, yes you absolutely need Form 1096 - it's like a cover sheet that tells the IRS "hey, I'm sending you these 1099 forms." You attach it to Copy A of your 1099-NEC when mailing to the IRS. For the red ink issue - if you're only dealing with one or two forms, honestly just order the official ones from the IRS website (they're free but take 7-10 days). If you need them faster, most FedEx Office locations carry the official red ink versions for about $3-4 per form. BUT here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: since you're dealing with attorney fees on a 1099-NEC, double-check that you actually owe more than $600 to this lawyer in the tax year. If it's under $600, you don't need to file the 1099-NEC at all (though you can still deduct the expense on your business taxes). Also, make sure you have the lawyer's correct TIN/SSN on the form - the IRS gets really cranky about mismatched taxpayer identification numbers. I learned that one the hard way! The electronic filing through FIRE is honestly easier once you get past the initial setup, but for just one form, paper might be simpler for a first-timer.

The most important thing I learned from my tax debt situation is DONT IGNORE IT!! I buried my head in the sand for 2 years and my original $15k debt ballooned to over $28k with penalties and interest. For real tho, call the IRS yourself first. The people on the phone are actually pretty helpful if you're honest and polite. At minimum, get on a basic payment plan to stop the penalties from getting worse while you figure out your options.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - about $19,000 in back taxes from a consulting business that went under in 2022. The constant mail from the IRS was giving me panic attacks, but I finally called them directly last week using the number Isabella mentioned (1-800-829-1040). The IRS agent was actually really understanding and explained that I could set up an installment agreement for around $320/month based on my current income. She also mentioned that once I get current on payments, I might qualify for penalty abatement which could reduce the total amount. What really helped was having all my financial documents ready before calling - bank statements, pay stubs, and a list of monthly expenses. The whole process took about 45 minutes and I walked away with a manageable payment plan instead of the crushing anxiety I'd been carrying for months. Emma, definitely try calling them directly first before paying thousands to a tax relief company. The worst they can say is no, but in most cases they'd rather work with you than go through the collection process.