Does anyone know if there's a minimum filing requirement even if you have no income? Like if OP really did just sit on the cash and earned zero interest (bad idea but hypothetically), would they still have to file a return every year showing $0 income?

One important thing to keep in mind is that even though you won't owe taxes on the principal amount sitting in your account, you'll want to keep good records of your lottery winnings and the taxes you already paid. The IRS might ask for documentation years later, so make sure you have copies of your lottery payout statements, tax withholding forms, and the tax return where you reported the winnings. Also, if you're planning to live off this money for years, consider that $3.8 million might not last as long as you think, especially with inflation. Even without earning interest, your purchasing power decreases over time. You might want to at least put some of it in Treasury I-bonds or TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) to maintain your buying power while still keeping things relatively simple from a tax perspective.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! Got my CP23 notice and panicked thinking I'd never filed my 2021 return (turns out I had but it got lost in the mail). Filed electronically immediately and my refund was released exactly 6 weeks later. The electronic filing definitely speeds things up compared to paper. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was checking my transcript weekly instead of obsessing over the "Where's My Refund" tool. You'll see way more detail about what's actually happening with your case. The codes can be confusing but once you learn what to look for, it's much more informative than the generic "still processing" message. Since you only owe $375, that shouldn't complicate things - they'll likely just send you a separate bill for that amount. Good luck and try not to stress too much, it sounds like you did everything right!

I had almost the exact same situation happen to me last year! Got my CP23 notice for my 2021 return and immediately filed electronically. The whole process took about 5 weeks from filing to getting my refund deposited. The key thing is that since you filed electronically, the IRS can process it much faster than a paper return. Also, the fact that you only owe $375 actually works in your favor - they'll likely just send you a separate notice for that amount rather than holding up your refund to collect it. My advice is to create an account on irs.gov and check your transcript every Friday. Look for processing codes that show your return was accepted and then eventually the refund release codes. It's way more informative than the "Where's My Refund" tool which basically tells you nothing useful. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but you did everything right by filing electronically right away. Hang in there!

Be careful with your expectations here. I had a similar Refund Freeze Code (570) last filing period, and it took approximately 6 weeks to resolve. The absence of a 971 Notice Issued code initially seemed positive, but in my case, it simply meant the systematic review was in a preliminary stage. The verification process for education credits has intensified significantly since the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report identified substantial improper payments.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed 2/5 and just got the 570 code yesterday with a 3/15 as-of date. No 971 code either and I'm definitely stressed about it. Reading all these responses is actually really helpful though - seems like this is way more common than I thought, especially for students claiming education credits. I claimed the AOTC for my spring semester expenses, so that's probably what triggered the review. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! Going to try to be patient and check my transcript in a few days rather than obsessively refreshing every hour like I have been 😅

THIS IS WHY THE IRS NEEDS TO MAKE THIS STUFF EASIER TO UNDERSTAND FOR NORMAL PEOPLE!!!!! We shouldn't need a degree just to know if were getting our money back or not 😤

I feel your pain! When I first got my transcript I stared at it for like an hour trying to make sense of all those numbers. The key thing is to look for the "as of date" at the top - that tells you when the info was last updated. Then find the most recent transactions by date. If you see a 570 code, that usually means there's a hold on your refund. The 846 code with a future date is your actual refund being issued. Don't stress too much about the older dates - those are just your original filing and processing. The IRS website has a code lookup tool that can help decode some of the mystery numbers too!

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure you keep REALLY good records of when you physically left Hawaii and arrived in Guam. My friend got audited over his USVI status and they wanted exact dates with proof (flight itineraries, etc).

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who went through a similar transition moving to Puerto Rico, I wanted to add that you should also be aware of Guam's specific territorial tax laws since they can differ from other territories. Since you're working for the Guam government, you'll likely need to file Form 1040GU (Guam's version of the 1040) rather than a standard U.S. return. Guam follows most federal tax laws but has some unique provisions, especially for government employees. Also, regarding your savings bonds - definitely keep all the documentation from when you cashed them out, including the exact dates and amounts. Even though you'll report this on your Guam return rather than federal, having clear records will help if there are any questions later. One last tip: consider getting a Guam tax ID number if you haven't already. It makes the filing process smoother and establishes another paper trail for your residency status. You can apply through the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation. Sounds like you're well on your way to establishing bona fide residency with all those connections you mentioned! The anxiety is totally normal - territorial tax situations can feel overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions.