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!

waited 3 months last year... IL is always slow af with returns fr fr

Also try checking early morning or late evening - the MyTax Illinois website tends to be less busy during those times. If you're still having trouble, you can also contact your local Illinois Department of Revenue office directly. They sometimes have shorter wait times than the main hotline. Good luck!

Don't forget about state tax records too! Some states have different requirements than the federal government. In California, for example, they have a 4-year statute of limitations instead of the IRS 3 years. Always check your specific state rules.

I personally keep all my W-2s indefinitely since they're small and good for proving employment history. But for the bulkier stuff like all the supporting documents, I follow the 7-year rule just to be extra safe. Once a year during tax season, I shred anything that's older than 7 years except for property records.

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.