From my experience, if you e-filed and are getting direct deposit, you should have your refund within 3 weeks max unless there's an issue with your return. Have you checked your tax transcript on the IRS website? That usually shows more detailed info than the Where's My Refund tool. Also, if you claimed certain credits like the Earned Income Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, or Recovery Rebate Credit, the IRS automatically holds those returns for additional review - no matter how perfect your return is. This is for fraud prevention.

Does anyone know if tax refunds are coming slower this year in general? I filed on Jan 29 and still waiting while last year I got my refund in like 10 days?

For what it's worth, I've used Direct Pay with a name change (after divorce, not marriage) and it worked perfectly fine. Like others have said, the verification is just checking that you are who you say you are based on previous tax information. Your SSN is what really matters - that's the unique identifier the IRS uses to track everything. Once you get through the verification step, you'll have the option to select what you're paying for. Just make sure you choose: - Form 1040 - Tax Year 2024 - Reason for payment: Payment with return As long as those are set correctly, your payment will be applied properly regardless of your name change or filing status change.

I work at a tax prep office (not an expert though, just admin) and this comes up ALL the time. The Direct Pay system is just using your previous return to verify your identity, but your actual payment gets applied based on the tax year and form type you select later in the process. Your SSN is the magic key that connects everything. As long as that hasn't changed (and it shouldn't!), you're good to go. Name changes, address changes, filing status changes - none of that matters for the payment application.

I had this same problem in 2023! The key thing to know is that you CANNOT file separate returns for different income sources. The US tax system requires one comprehensive return that includes ALL income sources. Here's what I did: 1) I used the same software I originally filed with (sounds like H&R Block for you) 2) Started an amended return (1040-X) 3) Added Schedule C for the side business income 4) Included Schedule SE to calculate self-employment tax 5) Paid the additional tax owed right away to minimize penalties Don't stress too much about it - this happens all the time, especially to people new to self-employment!

A heads up about timing - I filed an amended return last year and it took about 20 weeks to process! The IRS is seriously backlogged with amended returns. Make sure you keep documentation showing when you filed the amendment in case there are any questions about late penalties.

I moved to Thailand 3 years ago and yes, the US still taxes me on worldwide income. But there are some strategies that help: 1. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets you exclude up to about $120k of EARNED income (like salary), but doesn't help with investments 2. If you live somewhere with income tax (unlike Caymans), foreign tax credits can offset what you pay to US 3. Consider tax-advantaged accounts for investments (Roth IRA, etc.) 4. Some people restructure investments to be more tax-efficient Whatever you do, don't try hiding anything. The US has info sharing agreements with most countries including tax havens.

I moved to Malta last year and my biggest shock was learning about the Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) rules. If you invest in non-US mutual funds or ETFs while abroad, the tax treatment is BRUTAL. Seriously OP, if you're moving to Caymans, keep your investments in US-domiciled funds only. The paperwork and tax rate on foreign funds is insane - like 37% + interest on gains.

Based on my experience as a dual US-Canadian citizen running a business, consider establishing a Canadian corporation if you're planning to stay in Canada long-term. Here's why: - Canadian corporate tax rates can be very favorable for small businesses (as low as 9% federal + provincial on the first $500K of active business income) - You can defer personal taxation by keeping money in the corporation - You still need to file US taxes as a citizen, but can use foreign tax credits - Your wife, as a non-US person, can receive dividends from the Canadian corporation that may not be subject to US taxation The downside is compliance costs - you'll need to file US FBAR, Form 5471 (for foreign corporations), and possibly deal with GILTI tax. But overall, the tax savings often outweigh these costs.

Just a warning from someone who went through this - don't forget about Social Security! As a US citizen in Canada, you'll be covered by the US-Canada totalization agreement. This determines which country's social security system you pay into. Generally, if you're self-employed and residing in Canada, you'd pay into the Canadian system (CPP) and be exempt from US self-employment tax. You need to get a certificate of coverage from the Canadian authorities to claim this exemption. This saved me about $15K in US self-employment taxes my first year abroad that my first accountant missed!