Just wanted to share my recent experience as another Australian developer who went through this exact process! I submitted my W-8BEN for iTunes Connect about 3 months ago and learned a few things that might help. First, don't stress too much about the foreign tax ID field - I left mine blank initially because I didn't have an ABN at the time, and Apple still processed it without issues. You can always update your tax info later in iTunes Connect if you get an ABN down the track. The key thing that made the biggest difference was definitely checking box 9 for the treaty benefits. I can confirm the reduced withholding rate (5% instead of 30%) showed up on my very first payment, so it takes effect immediately once Apple processes your form. One tip I wish I'd known earlier: after you submit the W-8BEN, it can take Apple anywhere from 24-48 hours to process it. You'll get an email confirmation once it's approved, and then you can see the updated tax rate in your payments section. Also, make sure your legal name on the W-8BEN exactly matches what you used when setting up your Apple Developer account - any mismatch can cause delays. Good luck with your game launch! It's such an exciting milestone getting your first app ready for the store.

As someone who went through this exact same struggle last year, I completely understand the confusion! The W-8BEN form is definitely intimidating when you're dealing with it for the first time. Here's what I learned after making a few mistakes and having to resubmit: **The essentials for Australian developers:** - Leave the US taxpayer ID field blank (you don't need an ITIN for app royalties) - For the foreign tax ID, you can use your TFN or ABN if you have one, but it's actually optional - I left mine blank for privacy reasons and it was accepted - Reference number field stays empty - **Most important:** Check box 9 for treaty benefits - this drops your withholding from 30% to 5% - Leave box 10 blank unless you're claiming special exemptions (which you're not as a standard developer) **Pro tip:** Make sure your name on the form exactly matches your Apple Developer account. Even small differences like using a middle initial on one but not the other can cause rejection. The good news is once Apple processes it (usually within 48 hours), the reduced tax rate applies immediately to all future payments. It made a huge difference to my first few months of revenue! Don't overthink it - you've got this! Your game sounds exciting and this tax form is just a small hurdle before you can start earning from your hard work.

One additional thing to watch out for - if you're planning to continue trading T-Bills, you might want to consider making the de minimis election under Section 1273(a)(3). If the market discount is less than 0.25% of the face value multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, you can elect to treat it as zero (meaning no interest income to report). For example, if you have a T-Bill with a face value of $10,000 maturing in 6 months, and the market discount is less than $12.50 (0.25% × $10,000 × 0.5 years), you could potentially elect to treat the discount as zero. This can simplify your tax reporting significantly if you're doing a lot of short-term T-Bill trading. The election is made by attaching a statement to your return, but like the constant yield method election, it needs to be made in the year you acquire the security. Worth considering for future purchases if you find yourself dealing with small market discount amounts regularly!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just want to add one more practical tip for anyone using TurboTax specifically. When you're entering the accrued market discount as interest income, make sure to enter it in the "Other Interest Income" section rather than trying to add it to any existing 1099-INT entries you might have. In TurboTax, go to Federal Taxes > Wages & Income > Interest and Dividends, then scroll down to the "Other Interest Income" section. Enter the $437 (or whatever your amount is) there and label it clearly as "Accrued Market Discount - T-Bill" in the description field. This keeps it separate from your regular interest income and makes it easier to track if you ever need to reference it later. The investment sales portion (for the proceeds and cost basis from your 1099B) should be entered separately in the Investment Income section under "Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Other." TurboTax will automatically calculate any capital gain/loss from that information. I learned this the hard way after initially trying to modify my 1099-INT entries and creating a mess that took forever to untangle. Keeping the market discount separate as "other interest income" is definitely the cleaner approach!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation doing freelance graphic design without any formal business registration. I've been terrified about reporting the income because I wasn't sure if I was "official" enough. Reading everyone's experiences really clarifies that reporting income and having proper licensing/registration are two completely separate issues. The IRS wants to know about ALL income regardless of whether you have the right permits or certifications. I'm definitely going to start implementing some of the tracking systems mentioned here - especially using an app to photograph receipts right away. I've probably missed out on so many legitimate deductions because I'm terrible at keeping paper receipts organized. The advice about setting aside 25-30% for taxes is also a wake-up call. I've been treating all my freelance income as "fun money" and would be in serious trouble come tax season. Starting a separate savings account for taxes this week! Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to figure this stuff out from confusing government websites.

This whole discussion has been a lifesaver! I've been doing mobile pet grooming without proper licensing and was losing sleep over whether to report my income. Seeing everyone's experiences makes it so clear that the IRS and state licensing boards operate completely independently. I'm definitely going to implement the expense tracking tips mentioned here - I had no idea I could deduct things like my phone bill or even YouTube Premium if I use it to learn new grooming techniques! I've probably been leaving hundreds of dollars in deductions on the table. The 25-30% tax savings rule is going to be a game changer too. I've been spending everything I make and would have been in serious trouble come tax time. Opening a separate savings account tomorrow and starting fresh with better habits. One thing I wanted to add for other mobile service providers - don't forget to track your mileage between clients! I drive all over town for appointments and apparently that's a legitimate business deduction I've been missing out on. Every mile adds up! Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences. It's so much more helpful than trying to decode IRS publications on your own!

Anybody know how this affects state tax returns? If I amend my federal return for this Roth IRA excess contribution issue, do I need to amend my state return too?

I went through this exact same situation two years ago with a PJ distribution code. Here's what I learned from my experience: You absolutely need to amend your 2023 return, not report it on 2024. The key is understanding that the excess contribution was made FOR 2023 (confirmed by your 5498), so that's the tax year that needs to be corrected, regardless of when you actually received the 1099-R. The $650 shown on your 1099-R represents the earnings on your excess contribution - this is what's taxable and needs to be reported as income on your 2023 amended return. The actual excess contribution amount comes back to you tax-free since you already paid taxes on it. You'll need to file Form 1040-X for 2023 and include Form 8606 to properly report the Roth IRA distribution. You'll also likely need Form 5329 for the 6% excise tax on excess contributions unless you removed them before the deadline. Don't try to just include it on your 2024 return - the IRS computer systems will flag the mismatch between the 1099-R year and when you report the income. Better to do it right the first time than deal with IRS notices later.

Been through this same waiting game multiple times! In my experience, it's usually 5-7 business days but can vary based on your location and current postal service volume. Pro tip: if you haven't already, sign up for USPS Informed Delivery - it'll show you a preview of what's coming in your mail that day so you'll know when your check is actually arriving. Saves you from the constant mailbox checking! 📬

I just went through this exact same situation last month! My transcript showed "mailed" on a Tuesday and the check arrived the following Wednesday - so 8 days total including weekends. I'm in the midwest for reference. The anticipation is killer but hang in there! Also highly recommend that Informed Delivery service others mentioned - it's free and saved my sanity knowing exactly when it was coming.