Thank you for mentioning that! I did claim treaty benefits under Article 20 for my country, but I didn't submit a Form 8833 because I thought it wasn't required for standard treaty exemptions. Is that form always required even for common treaty positions?

Form 8833 has some exceptions for common treaty positions, but the rules are quite specific. For students and teachers claiming benefits under Articles like 20, you often don't need Form 8833 for the standard exemptions. However, if your situation has any unusual aspects or if you're claiming benefits that reduce your tax by more than $10,000, then Form 8833 is required. If you're unsure, it doesn't hurt to complete and send Form 8833 even if it wasn't strictly required. The IRS would rather have more documentation than less. Include a copy of your relevant treaty article and explain your position clearly to avoid further delays.

Sprintax is the best for 1040NR btw... most regular tax software doesn't handle international situations well. I tried using TurboTax my first year and it was a disaster. Switched to Sprintax and haven't had issues since.

Thanks for mentioning the Foreign Tax Credit! I actually haven't been claiming that - do you know if I can amend previous years' returns to claim it? I've been paying both full US taxes AND the Japanese withholding for about 3 years now.

Yes, you absolutely can amend your previous returns to claim the Foreign Tax Credit! You generally have 3 years from the original filing deadline to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) along with Form 1116 for the Foreign Tax Credit. For each of those past 3 years, you'll need documentation showing the Japanese taxes withheld. The credit can significantly reduce your US tax liability since it's a dollar-for-dollar reduction (not just a deduction). Many people in your situation end up getting substantial refunds. Just be aware that the Form 1116 is somewhat complex, so using tax software or a professional familiar with international taxation might be helpful for the amendments.

You might want to try contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you've been waiting that long. They can sometimes help with unreasonable delays. Worth a shot at least!

I just double-checked all my banking info and everything looks correct. My boss was super careful when entering everything. Is there any way to confirm with the IRS that they have the right account number on file?

Unfortunately, you can't verify the exact account details the IRS has on file through the Where's My Refund tool. The best way to confirm would be to speak with an IRS representative directly, which goes back to the challenge of reaching someone. If your return was e-filed through H&R Block, you could also contact them to verify what banking information was submitted with your return. They should have records of exactly what was sent to the IRS.

This is so true. The IRS sent me a letter asking for proof my kid lived with me, and it got lost in a pile of junk mail. I never responded and my refund was delayed for MONTHS.

Thank you - that's helpful! It was definitely a direct rollover, so I never actually touched the money. I was mainly confused because TurboTax kept asking me about IRA contributions and I wasn't sure if the rollover counted as one. Sounds like I don't need to enter anything about the rollover when filing?

You're welcome! Since it was a direct rollover, you generally don't need to report it on your tax return at all. Most tax software will ask if you made any "contributions" to an IRA, but a rollover isn't considered a contribution in the tax sense. The only exception would be if your 1099-R (which you should have received from Principal showing the distribution) has a distribution code that doesn't clearly indicate it was a rollover. In that case, you might need to clarify in your tax software that it was indeed a qualified rollover. But in most direct rollover cases, everything is properly coded and you don't need to take any action.

This is so important! I messed this up last year and accidentally reported my rollover as income. Had to file an amended return after realizing the mistake. Check that code box on the 1099-R carefully!

I thought Form 2106 was eliminated for most taxpayers after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act? My tax software didn't prompt me for it last year when I entered my business mileage.

You're right, and I misspoke! Form 2106 is now only used by armed forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials, and employees with impairment-related work expenses. For self-employed individuals (like freelancers), you'll report the mileage deduction directly on Schedule C, Part II as a car/truck expense. You don't need the separate form, but you still need to maintain detailed records as described above. Thanks for the correction - this is why tax forums are so helpful!

I've been using MileIQ for two years and my accountant says the reports are perfect for tax documentation. Make sure you're adding the business purpose in the notes section though - the IRS wants to know WHY the trip was business-related, not just the mileage itself.