I want to emphasize something that several people have touched on but bears repeating - the IRS matching system is very thorough and automated. Even though you filed with the correct numbers from your paystubs, the discrepancy between what your employer reported and what you claimed will almost certainly be flagged. I've seen this happen countless times where people think they can just "fix it themselves" and then get surprised by a notice months later. The $1,200 difference you mentioned is definitely large enough to trigger automated review. Here's a practical tip: When you contact your payroll department, don't just ask them to "fix the W-2." Be very specific - tell them you need a "Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement" and list exactly which boxes need correction. Many HR departments don't understand the difference between informal corrections and the official W-2c process. Also, if your employer pushes back or claims it's "too much work," remind them that providing accurate tax documents isn't optional - it's a legal requirement under federal tax law. They issued an incorrect document and they're obligated to correct it. The good news is that since you filed with the correct information and have paystubs to back it up, you're not going to face any penalties. It's just about avoiding the hassle of dealing with IRS notices later.

I completely agree with everyone saying to get the W-2c - I learned this the hard way! Last year I had a similar situation where my employer reported incorrect state withholding (about $900 off). I thought I could handle it myself since I had all my paystubs showing the correct amounts. Filed my return with the right numbers in March, then got a CP2000 notice in August. Even though I had solid documentation, it still took three rounds of correspondence with the IRS to get it fully resolved. The whole process dragged on for months and caused unnecessary stress. This year when I found another error on my W-2 (much smaller, only about $150), I immediately went to HR with a written request for a W-2c. I was very specific about which box was wrong and included a copy of my final paystub. They had it corrected within two weeks, and now everything matches perfectly in the IRS system. The peace of mind is absolutely worth pushing for the official correction, even if your HR department is difficult to work with. You've already done the hard part by identifying the errors - now just get them to make it official so you don't have to deal with notices later!

I'm dealing with this exact same Error 6000 nightmare right now! Just got my verification letter a few days ago and keep hitting the same wall when trying to complete the online verification. It's beyond frustrating that they send you an official letter demanding you verify your identity online, but then their own system blocks you with this cryptic error message. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a common issue where the verification request and the system error are directly connected. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the account gets flagged for manual review (triggering the letter), but that same flag prevents online access until someone manually clears it. I'm definitely going to call the 800-830-5084 Identity Verification line first thing tomorrow morning instead of wasting more time with the general help desk. The consistent success stories from people who reached that specific department give me real hope that there's actually a solution to this bureaucratic mess. One quick question - for those who got through, about how long did the actual verification process take once you had an agent on the phone? I want to make sure I block out enough time and have all my documents organized. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable when dealing with government systems that seem designed to frustrate you!

I went through this exact same Error 6000 situation about a month ago and I totally feel your frustration! The whole process is absolutely maddening - they send you an official letter demanding online verification, then their system blocks you from actually doing it. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of getting nowhere: **Call 800-830-5084 (Identity Verification line) at 7am EST sharp when they open.** This is crucial - don't waste time with the 888 help desk number in the error message. They literally cannot remove account blocks and will just transfer you around endlessly. **Have everything ready before you call:** - Your SSN and DOB - The verification letter (exact wording) - Last year's complete tax return - Any address changes in the past year The agent immediately recognized Error 6000 and explained it's a "manual review flag" that automatically blocks online verification until they manually clear it. She removed the flag while I was on the phone - took about 5 minutes once we got through the identity verification questions. I was able to complete the online verification literally right after hanging up. The whole call including verification took maybe 15 minutes once I actually got through to someone (wait time was about 90 minutes calling at 7am). Don't ignore that letter - they can seriously delay your refund or future returns if you don't respond. But once you get to the right department, it's usually a quick fix. The system is completely broken but there is a clear solution. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation when I first arrived on my H1B! The confusion is totally understandable because both forms deal with tax documentation, but they serve different purposes. As others have mentioned, the key is determining your tax residency status. Since you mentioned you "recently moved" to the US, you're most likely still considered a non-resident alien for tax purposes, which means you should fill out the W-8BEN form. The bank needs this form regardless of what your employer is doing with payroll taxes - these are separate requirements. Your employer withholds income tax from your salary, but the bank needs the W-8BEN to properly report any interest income from your accounts to the IRS and to determine if they need to withhold any taxes on that interest. One thing to keep in mind: if you stay in the US long enough to pass the substantial presence test (usually by your second year), your tax status will change to resident alien, and you'll need to update your bank documentation to a W-9 at that point. For now, go with the W-8BEN, but make sure you understand which country's tax treaty benefits (if any) you might be eligible for when filling out that section of the form.

I went through this exact same confusion when I first arrived on my H1B visa! The good news is that you're asking the right questions before submitting anything. Based on what you've shared - that you "recently moved" to the US on an H1B - you should almost certainly fill out the **W-8BEN form**. Here's why: The W-8BEN is for non-resident aliens (which you likely are in your first year), while the W-9 is for US citizens and resident aliens. Your tax residency status is determined by the "substantial presence test," not just your visa type. A few important points: - This bank requirement is completely separate from your employer's payroll tax withholding - The bank needs this form to properly report any interest income from your accounts to the IRS - Even though your employer is handling income tax, the bank has its own reporting obligations **Pro tip:** When filling out the W-8BEN, don't forget to check if your home country has a tax treaty with the US that could reduce withholding on interest income. Many countries do, and you don't want to leave money on the table! Also, keep track of your days in the US because you'll likely need to switch to a W-9 form once you become a resident alien for tax purposes (usually in your second year). The bank won't remind you of this - it's your responsibility to update them. Hope this helps clear things up! The tax system here can be overwhelming at first, but you're being smart by asking questions before acting.

Newcomer here and going through the exact same thing! Filed my NY return on January 18th and it's been stuck in that frustrating "further review" status for about 7 weeks now. Was really counting on that refund to help with student loan payments but clearly I'm in for the long haul like everyone else. This thread has been such a relief - I was starting to think I messed something up on my return but now I see it's just NY being completely dysfunctional this year. Really appreciate @Sean Doyle for actually calling and getting that brutal but honest 10-16 week timeline from them. At least now we know what we're dealing with instead of that completely useless "further review" message that tells us absolutely nothing. Definitely going to try calling that 518 number this week even though 90+ minutes on hold sounds like torture. Also thinking about trying that taxr.ai tool everyone keeps mentioning since literally anything has to be more informative than NY's garbage website. Thanks @Lily Young for starting this thread - it's been way more helpful than any official NY resource! Here's hoping we all start seeing some movement soon because this is getting ridiculous 🙄

New member here and unfortunately joining this nightmare club! Filed my NY return on January 25th and been stuck in that completely unhelpful "further review" status for about 6 weeks now. Was really hoping to use that refund for some medical expenses but looks like I'm settling in for the long wait with everyone else. This thread has been incredibly valuable - both reassuring to know I'm not alone in this mess and eye-opening about how bad NY's system really is this year. Really grateful to @Sean Doyle for actually calling and getting that realistic 10-16 week timeline from them. It's absolutely brutal but at least gives us concrete expectations instead of that useless "further review" message that tells us nothing. Definitely going to try calling that 518 number this week even though spending 90+ minutes on hold sounds miserable. Also considering that taxr.ai tool everyone keeps mentioning since anything has to be better than refreshing NY's worthless website hoping for updates that never come. Thanks @Lily Young for creating this thread - it's been way more informative than any official NY resource! Here's hoping we all start seeing some movement soon because this whole situation is absolutely ridiculous 😩

I completely understand your confusion and concern about this unexpected deposit! Based on all the helpful experiences shared in this thread, it's clear that "TCS TREAS 449" deposits are actually quite common and almost always legitimate. As a tax professional, I can confirm that this code is specifically used by the Treasury Department for official tax refunds and credit adjustments. Given that you filed in February and already received your regular refund, this is most likely the result of an automated review where the IRS recalculated one of your credits and found you were entitled to more money. The most commonly adjusted credits include the Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, and Premium Tax Credit. The amount of $837.42 seems very reasonable for this type of adjustment. My recommendation would be to log into your IRS online account at irs.gov first - this will give you immediate answers about what triggered the adjustment. You can view your account transcript there which will show exactly what the payment represents. This is much faster than calling the IRS or waiting for an explanation letter to arrive. While it's always prudent to verify before spending unexpected money, you can feel confident that Treasury 449 deposits are legitimate. The IRS has been conducting systematic reviews of returns and frequently finds that taxpayers didn't claim all the credits they were entitled to. You should receive a CP notice in the mail within 1-3 weeks explaining the adjustment, but checking online will give you peace of mind right away. Don't stress about this - it sounds like the IRS found additional money you were rightfully owed, which is actually great news!

I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! I received a "TCS TREAS 449" deposit for $721 about 7 months ago and went through the exact same rollercoaster of emotions - confusion, worry, then relief when I found out what it was. Reading through everyone's experiences here really highlights how common these Treasury deposits are. In my case, it turned out to be an adjustment to my Earned Income Credit. The IRS apparently does these systematic reviews after processing returns and often finds that people qualified for more credits than they originally claimed. Like so many others mentioned, I made the mistake of worrying about it for weeks before finally checking my IRS online account. Once I logged in and looked at my account transcript, everything was immediately clear - it showed exactly what the adjustment was for and when it was processed. The explanation letter (CP11 notice) didn't arrive until almost 3 weeks later! For anyone still concerned about these deposits: the "TCS TREAS 449" code really is a reliable indicator that it's legitimate. Every single story in this thread has been positive, which shows how consistent the IRS is with using this code only for official tax refunds and adjustments. @Chloe Boulanger - given your timeline and the reasonable amount, I'd bet this is a legitimate credit adjustment. The IRS online account check is definitely your best bet for immediate answers without having to deal with their notorious phone wait times. Don't lose sleep over it - this is almost certainly good news!