As someone new to this community and currently dealing with a very similar F-1 visa tax situation, this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm amazed by how thoroughly everyone has covered the complexities involved. I'm also working with a small startup that initially had me fill out a W-9, and reading through all these experiences has made me realize I need to address this immediately rather than waiting. The distinction between W-8ECI for effectively connected income versus W-8BEN for other types of income is something I completely missed initially. What really stands out to me from this thread is how common these issues seem to be with startups and smaller companies that simply don't have experience with international student tax requirements. The advice about approaching it as a compliance issue that protects both parties rather than pointing out mistakes is brilliant - I was worried about creating tension with my employer. I'm definitely going to download Publication 519, schedule a meeting with my international student office, and get all my documentation organized before having this conversation. The emphasis on proper documentation throughout this process makes total sense, especially given the potential visa compliance implications. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and resources - this community is an incredible asset for navigating these complex F-1 student employment situations. I'll make sure to update on how my situation progresses!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I'm also an F-1 student who just started working with a startup, and this thread has completely opened my eyes to the complexities I need to address. Reading through everyone's experiences, I now understand that I'm likely dealing with the same W-9 vs W-8ECI issue, plus potential worker misclassification concerns. The startup I'm working with had me fill out a W-9 without any discussion of my visa status, and based on what I've learned here, that's almost certainly incorrect. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that startups are generally receptive to making corrections once they understand the compliance requirements. The advice about framing this as "ensuring we're both following IRS guidelines correctly" rather than pointing out mistakes is exactly the approach I needed to hear. I'm planning to download Publication 519, meet with my international student office, and organize all my documentation before approaching my employer. The emphasis on proper record-keeping throughout this process makes complete sense, especially considering the visa compliance implications that several people highlighted. One question for those who've been through this process: when you initially approached your employer about the tax form correction, did you also address the worker classification issue at the same time, or did you handle those as separate conversations? I'm trying to figure out the best way to bring up both topics without overwhelming them. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is an amazing resource for navigating these complex F-1 student situations!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Mailed my paper return about 4 weeks ago and have been obsessively checking the IRS portal with no luck - just that dreaded "Return Not Processed" message every time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring though. I was genuinely starting to panic that my return got lost somewhere or I made some critical error, but it sounds like we're all just stuck in the same incredibly slow paper processing queue. The 8-12 week timeline that everyone keeps sharing is honestly mind-blowing to me. I had no idea paper returns would take this long just to show up in their system, let alone get fully processed! I definitely should have done more research before choosing to mail instead of e-file. I'm going to follow the advice here and set up that ID.me account this week to see if I can get more detailed information than the basic portal provides. I'm also really interested in trying that taxr.ai tool that several people mentioned for better timeline predictions - anything has to be more helpful than just staring at "not processed" indefinitely. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences. It's made this stressful waiting period so much more manageable knowing we're all dealing with the same delays and it's just the reality of paper filing right now, not something wrong with our individual returns. I've absolutely learned my lesson about e-filing for next year!

I'm going through the exact same thing - mailed my paper return about 6 weeks ago and still getting that frustrating "Return Not Processed" message! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief because I was starting to think my return got lost or I made some major mistake. The consistent 8-12 week timeline that everyone is sharing is honestly shocking - I had no idea paper returns would take this long just to show up in their system. I definitely should have researched this better before choosing to mail instead of e-file! I'm going to follow the advice here and set up that ID.me account this week to hopefully get more detailed information than just that vague portal message. The taxr.ai tool that several people mentioned also sounds really helpful for getting realistic timeline predictions instead of being left completely in the dark about where my return is in the queue. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's so reassuring to know we're all stuck in this same incredibly slow processing situation and it's just the reality of paper filing right now, not something wrong with our individual returns. This community has made what could be a really stressful wait much more manageable! I've definitely learned my lesson about e-filing for next year - I thought paper was "safer" but the months of anxiety definitely aren't worth it.

I'd like to share some additional information about the trace process that might help you understand what's happening: Step 1: When you initiate a trace, the IRS first verifies whether your refund was already issued. Step 2: If it was issued but not received, they start an actual trace through the Treasury. Step 3: If the refund was never issued, they investigate why (which could be an unrelated review). Step 4: Once they determine the status, they either reissue the refund or send you a notice explaining the hold. Are you certain your refund was actually issued and not just approved? These are different statuses, and many business owners confuse them. If your WMR status never said "Refund Sent," then you might be waiting for an initial issuance rather than a trace resolution.

I'm experiencing something very similar with my business refund! Filed early February, got acceptance confirmation, but my refund has been missing for weeks now. I also use Navy Federal and they're usually lightning-fast with deposits, so I know the issue is definitely on the IRS side. What's really frustrating is that I initiated a trace about 2.5 weeks ago and got a confirmation number, but absolutely nothing has happened since then. Like you, I need these funds for upcoming business expenses and the uncertainty is stressful. One thing I'm wondering - when you check "Where's My Refund," does it still show the original status or has it changed since you started the trace? Mine still shows "refund approved" with the original deposit date, which makes me think the money was never actually sent out in the first place despite what the system says. Have you tried checking your tax transcript to see if there are any additional codes or holds that might explain the delay? I'm planning to do that next if I don't hear something soon.

Percentage-based fees used to be more common years ago, but they're now considered unethical by professional organizations like the NAEA (National Association of Enrolled Agents). There are still some preparers who do this though, especially in communities where people aren't familiar with standard industry practices. It's not technically illegal in most states, but it's definitely a warning sign of a preparer who might bend rules to inflate refunds.

Your instincts are absolutely right to be concerned. I've been doing taxes professionally for over 15 years, and percentage-based fees are a major red flag in our industry. It's one of the first things we learn NOT to do in legitimate tax preparation courses. The biggest issue is that it creates what we call a "perverse incentive" - the preparer makes more money by inflating your refund, regardless of whether those inflated deductions are actually legitimate. I've seen too many cases where clients got audited years later and had to pay back thousands in incorrect refunds, plus penalties that sometimes doubled the original amount owed. If your cousin is serious about this field, encourage him to look into proper certification like becoming an Enrolled Agent or getting training through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. These programs emphasize ethical practices and would teach him legitimate fee structures - either flat fees based on form complexity or hourly rates. That's how he can build a sustainable, ethical practice that actually helps people instead of putting them at risk.

I'm self-employed and I've noticed that some of my 1099s show up on the wage and income transcript earlier than others. Usually the bigger companies (like payment processors) get their reporting in faster, while smaller clients sometimes take longer or occasionally miss the reporting entirely. If you're dealing with gig work or multiple income sources, I'd highly recommend keeping your own detailed records rather than relying solely on what the IRS has. In my experience, it's not uncommon for there to be discrepancies, and it's way easier to sort them out if you have your own documentation.

Just to add another perspective - if you're really concerned about accuracy before filing, you could also consider filing an extension to give yourself more time. Form 4868 extends your filing deadline to October 15th, which would give you access to those May wage and income transcripts before you have to submit your return. Keep in mind that an extension to file is NOT an extension to pay - you'd still need to estimate and pay any taxes owed by April 15th to avoid penalties. But if you're dealing with multiple income sources and potential reporting issues, the extra time might be worth it for peace of mind. I did this a couple years ago when I had a similar situation with missing 1099s from freelance work. Being able to cross-reference the official IRS transcript with my records before filing saved me from having to do an amended return later.