Oh my goodness, I feel your anxiety! I've been through this exact situation! Here's what you need to know: 1. USPS mail delivery times have been WILDLY inconsistent in 2024 (I'm a postal worker's spouse) 2. IRS refund checks are sent from regional service centers, not all from the same location 3. The June 7th mail date means it was PROCESSED on that date, not necessarily physically mailed 4. If you don't receive it by June 21st, call 800-829-1040 5. Have your tax return, ID, and the exact refund amount ready when you call 6. Request a "refund trace" using Form 3911 (they can process this over the phone) 7. The replacement check typically takes 6-8 weeks to process The technical term for this is a "refund trace and replacement" procedure under IRC section 6402. You're definitely not alone in experiencing this frustrating wait!

This happened to me last year! My check was mailed April 12th, 2023, and I was checking my mailbox like a crazy person every day. It finally showed up on April 29th - a full 17 days later! The envelope was postmarked April 18th, so there was almost a week between the "mail date" in the system and when it actually went out. Funny story - I was so relieved when it arrived that I immediately drove to my bank to deposit it, only to realize it was after hours on Friday. Had to nervously keep it in my house all weekend! Just hang tight - it's probably making its way to you right now. I'm so glad I didn't waste time calling the IRS since it arrived just a few days after I was planning to contact them.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! That "Action Required" message is so misleading because it makes you think YOU need to do something, but really it just means they're reviewing your return internally. After 8 weeks of checking daily and getting nowhere, I finally got my transcript and used one of those transcript analysis tools (taxr.ai) to figure out what was actually happening - turns out I was under income verification review because of a discrepancy with one of my W-2s. The IRS website makes it seem like they'll send you a letter quickly, but in reality those letters can take 2-3 months to arrive, if they arrive at all. My advice: don't just wait around hoping for a letter. Get your transcript, understand what's happening, and if needed use a callback service to actually talk to someone. The anxiety of not knowing is the worst part!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed in early March and have been getting that same "Action Required" message for over 7 weeks. Like you, I've been checking my mail religiously and haven't received anything from the IRS. It's so frustrating because the message makes it sound like they need something from me, but they haven't told me what! I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like getting your transcript and understanding what's actually happening is the way to go. The WMR tool is clearly useless - it just gives you the same vague message over and over. I'm going to try accessing my IRS online account to get my transcript and maybe use one of those analysis tools people are mentioning to figure out what type of review I'm under. Has anyone here actually received one of those letters they keep saying they'll send? Starting to think they're just a myth at this point! 😤

This is a really tough situation, but you're not alone in dealing with this kind of employer misconduct. Based on what you've described, your employer is likely committing payroll tax fraud, which is unfortunately more common in small businesses than people realize. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Document everything** - Start keeping detailed records of all your pay, hours worked, and any communication with your employer about taxes or withholdings. Even text messages or emails can be valuable evidence. 2. **Request your wage transcript from the IRS** - You can do this online through the IRS "Get Transcript" service. This will show you exactly what (if anything) your employer has reported under your Social Security number. 3. **File Form 4852** - If you discover your employer hasn't been properly reporting, you'll need to file this substitute W-2 form with your tax return. You'll estimate your wages and withholdings as accurately as possible using your own records. The good news is that the IRS typically doesn't penalize employees when employers fail to remit withheld taxes, especially if you can demonstrate that money was actually taken from your paychecks. However, you may initially have to pay the taxes and then work to recover them from your employer. Don't wait until the October deadline is breathing down your neck - start gathering your documentation now and consider reporting your employer to both the IRS and your state's Department of Labor. This protects you and helps prevent them from doing this to other employees.

I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago and it was absolutely terrifying at the time. My employer was withholding taxes but never provided paystubs, and when tax season came around, no W-2. I was panicking about the deadline and potential penalties. Here's what worked for me: I immediately requested my wage and income transcript from the IRS website (it's free and pretty straightforward). Sure enough, my employer had reported ZERO wages for me despite taking taxes out of every paycheck for months. I filed Form 4852 using my bank deposit records and a few text messages where my boss had mentioned my pay rate and tax withholdings. The IRS accepted it without any issues. What really helped was that I also filed a complaint with both the IRS and my state's Department of Labor at the same time. The state labor department moved incredibly fast - they contacted my employer within a week, and suddenly all my "missing" tax documents appeared. Turns out my employer had been pocketing the withheld taxes and hoping employees wouldn't notice or know how to fight back. Don't let this drag on until October. The sooner you act, the better your position will be. The IRS is generally understanding about these situations when you're proactive about reporting them. You've got more options and protection than you might think!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - got my green card approved and will be entering the US in December 2024. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that the tax residency starts on the actual entry date with the green card, not during any previous visits. One question I haven't seen addressed - if I have investment income from my home country that's automatically reinvested (like dividends going back into mutual funds), do I need to report that for the period after I become a tax resident? Or only if I actually withdraw/receive the money? My investment account will continue generating returns even after I move to the US, but I won't be actively managing it or taking distributions. Also want to thank everyone who shared the resources about getting IRS help and FBAR requirements - definitely going to bookmark those for when I start preparing my first US tax return!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm everything that's been said here is accurate! Your tax residency definitely starts on August 30, 2024 when you enter with your green card, not during your earlier tourist visit. One additional tip I wish someone had told me - keep detailed records of your entry and exit dates from the US, especially that August 30 date. The IRS may ask for proof of when your residency began, and having your passport stamps or I-94 records makes this much easier. Also, since you mentioned income from your home country between January-August 2024, make sure to keep all tax documents from your home country for that period. Even though you won't report that income on your US return, you might need those records to prove you properly paid taxes in your home country and to calculate any foreign tax credits for the post-August 30 period. The dual-status filing can be intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the timeline. Just remember: non-resident rules for January 1 - August 29, resident rules for August 30 - December 31. Good luck with your move!

Has anyone actually tried calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service? I'm in a similar situation with denied business expenses from a side gig, and I keep hearing they're supposed to help but I can't get through to them either.

I went through something very similar last year with business equipment deductions that got denied. The key thing is making sure you've actually received that Notice of Deficiency before you can petition Tax Court - it sounds like you might still be in the appeals process rather than at the Tax Court stage. One thing that helped me was requesting a Collections Due Process (CDP) hearing when I got my collection notice. This gave me another bite at the apple to challenge the underlying tax liability, and importantly, if they deny your CDP hearing request, THAT decision can be appealed to Tax Court under a different process. Also, keep detailed records of every interaction you've had with the IRS - dates, times, who you spoke with, what was discussed. This documentation becomes crucial if you do end up in Tax Court or need to show the Taxpayer Advocate Service that you've exhausted normal channels. Don't give up - $6,700 is definitely worth fighting for, especially if you have legitimate documentation for those business expenses.