Did you get any other codes? Like 570 or 971? Mine updated yesterday. Shows 3/19 DDD. First time filing with foreign income. Wondering if normal timeline.

Your timeline looks completely standard for international filers! I've been through this process several times with my 1040-NR returns. The 3/12 DDD following a Wednesday transcript update is textbook IRS processing. What's encouraging is that you didn't get hit with any verification delays - those can add weeks to the timeline. I usually see my funds arrive either the night before or morning of the DDD, depending on my bank's processing schedule. The fact that your transcript shows the 846 refund issued code means you're in the final stretch. International returns often take longer upfront due to additional verification steps, but once you reach this point, it's smooth sailing to your bank account.

One thing nobody's mentioned is that charitable deductions are subject to income limits - you can't just donate your entire income and pay zero tax. For cash donations, you can deduct up to 60% of your AGI. For appreciated assets (stocks, etc.), it's limited to 30% of AGI. Also, the phase-out of itemized deductions can reduce the benefit for very high earners. And if you're subject to AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax), the deduction value can be different than your normal tax rate. The tax code around charitable giving is SUPER complicated and most people (including many tax preparers) don't fully understand all the strategies and limitations.

The key insight you're missing is that wealthy people often aren't just trying to minimize their current tax bill - they're playing a much longer game with wealth preservation and transfer. Here's what really happens: When someone creates a charitable remainder trust (CRT), they can donate appreciated assets, get an immediate charitable deduction, avoid capital gains tax, AND still receive income from those assets for life. Then whatever's left goes to charity. So they're not really "giving away" the full amount - they're restructuring how they access that wealth while getting tax benefits. For family foundations, the ultra-wealthy can donate assets, get the deduction, maintain control through board positions, employ family members, and the foundation only needs to give away 5% annually while the other 95% grows tax-free. Over generations, this can actually preserve more wealth than paying taxes would have. The real strategy isn't about being "less poor" than paying taxes - it's about maintaining control and influence over capital while getting tax advantages. They're essentially converting taxable wealth into tax-advantaged wealth that still benefits them and their families, just in different ways.

I was in this exact situation in February. According to Internal Revenue Manual 13.1.7.2, TAS is required to accept cases meeting specific criteria regardless of workload. However, in practice, they're currently screening cases very strictly. I documented my financial hardship (impending car repossession due to delayed refund) and referenced the specific IRM section when I called. They initially tried to defer me but ultimately accepted my case when I politely insisted and cited the regulations.

Thanks for sharing that IRM reference! That's really helpful. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my refund delay is causing financial strain, but I wasn't sure about the specific regulations that might apply. Did you have to provide written documentation of your car repossession notice, or was verbal explanation sufficient when you cited the IRM section? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right approach when I call.

I think what ur coworkers might be doing is just straight up committing tax evasion and haven't been caught yet lol. The IRS is super backlogged and underfunded so they cant catch everyone, especially people with simple tax situations. But when they do catch up with them those penalties are gonna hurt bad!!

Your instincts are absolutely right to be suspicious! What your coworkers are doing is risky at best and potentially illegal at worst. The IRS doesn't just "forget" about unfiled returns - they have sophisticated systems to track who should be filing based on income reporting from employers, banks, and other sources. Even if someone flies under the radar for a few years, the IRS can assess taxes, penalties, and interest going back indefinitely for non-filers. I've seen cases where people thought they were getting away with it, only to receive a massive bill years later with compounded penalties that made the original tax debt look tiny. The smart move is always to file on time, even if you can't pay immediately. The failure-to-file penalty is much steeper than the failure-to-pay penalty, and the IRS offers payment plans and other options for people who file but need help paying. Your coworkers are essentially gambling with their financial future - definitely not worth it!

My HR person told me that your W-4 filing status should ALWAYS match what you plan to file on your tax return or you could get in trouble. Is this actually true? Because I've been changing mine to get less withholding for years and never had an issue.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for years! What finally worked for me was using the new W-4's Step 4(b) section where you can enter an annual deduction amount. This reduces your withholding without having to mess with your filing status. Here's what I did: I calculated my standard deduction, estimated charitable contributions, and other itemized deductions, then entered the total in Step 4(b). This tells your employer to withhold less because you'll have more deductions when you file. For example, if you expect $15,000 in total deductions beyond what the W-4 automatically accounts for, entering that amount will reduce your withholding by roughly $15,000 × your marginal tax rate per year. So if you're in the 22% bracket, that's about $275 less withholding per month. The key is being realistic about your deductions so you don't underwithhold. I also keep about $1,000 in a separate savings account just in case I owe a small amount at tax time. This approach has gotten me much closer to breaking even without any penalties.