I'm in a similar situation - filed on Jan 30th and still stuck at "Return Received" with no movement. It's frustrating seeing that same message about "still being processed" every single day when you check. From what I've been reading here and on other forums, it seems like the IRS is just really backed up this year. One thing that's helped me stay sane is setting a specific time to check (like once in the evening) instead of refreshing it multiple times throughout the day. The anxiety of checking constantly was getting to me! Has anyone noticed if certain days of the week tend to show updates more often? I've heard some people say weekends vs weekdays make a difference but not sure if that's actually true or just coincidence.

I've been in your exact situation before and I know how nerve-wracking it can be! The "Return Received" status with no movement is actually super common, especially during peak filing season. I filed around the same time last year and was stuck at that stage for almost 3 weeks before it suddenly jumped to "Refund Approved" and then got my deposit 2 days later. The key thing to remember is that "Return Received" just means your return made it into their system successfully and is waiting in the processing queue. It doesn't mean there are any problems or red flags - it's literally just sitting in line with thousands of other returns. One tip that helped me: try to check only once a day, preferably in the evening since that's when the system typically updates. I used to obsessively refresh it multiple times a day and it was driving me crazy! Also, if you can access your IRS transcript online, that sometimes shows activity before the WMR tool does. Stay patient - your refund is coming! 💪

This is such a common confusion for international students! Based on what you've described, you're likely still considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes. Here's the key thing about F-2 to F-1 transitions: F-2 visa holders are "exempt individuals" for their first 5 calendar years, and F-1 students have their own separate 5-year exemption period. Since you were on F-2 from 2019-2024 (about 5+ years) and just switched to F-1 in May 2024, you're now in your first year of F-1 status. For the substantial presence test, your F-2 days likely don't count because of the exempt individual rules. Your F-1 days starting in May 2024 also don't count since you're in the beginning of that 5-year exempt period. When filling out investment applications, you'll probably need to indicate you're a nonresident for tax purposes and complete a W-8BEN form instead of a W-9. But definitely verify this with a tax professional or the IRS directly since visa timing and transitions can have nuances that affect the calculation. Don't forget you'll also need to file Form 8843 each year to document your exempt status!

I went through almost the exact same situation a couple years ago! Was on F-2 from 2018-2023, then switched to F-1. The confusion is totally understandable because the rules around exempt individuals and visa transitions aren't straightforward. What helped me was keeping detailed records of all my entry/exit dates and visa status changes. Even though you've been in the US for nearly 6 years total, the time on F-2 status counts as "exempt individual" time that doesn't go toward the substantial presence test. When you switched to F-1 in May 2024, you essentially started a new 5-year exempt period for that status. For investment accounts, I had to file W-8BEN forms as a nonresident alien. The brokerage actually walked me through it when I explained my visa situation. Just make sure you understand the tax implications - different withholding rates apply to dividends and capital gains for nonresidents. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep copies of your I-94 records and any status change documents. You'll need these dates for Form 8843 each year and potentially for future residency determinations. The CBP website lets you pull your travel history if you need to verify specific dates. Getting official confirmation from the IRS (whether through their phone line or services like the ones mentioned above) is probably your safest bet before making any investment account decisions.

H&R Block's software is working fine with KY state filing if anyone wants to jump ship

Just wanted to add that I called the Kentucky Department of Revenue directly yesterday and they confirmed the TurboTax integration issues. They said it should be resolved by end of week. In the meantime, they recommended filing directly through their website at revenue.ky.gov if you need to get it done ASAP. The rep was super helpful and walked me through the process!

I've been using Free Tax USA for the past 4 years and can definitely weigh in on this! For your situation (W-2, bank interest, standard deduction), the free version is absolutely all you need. I have a very similar tax profile and have never once wished I had upgraded to Deluxe. The audit protection feature sounds appealing, but honestly, with such a straightforward return, your audit risk is essentially nonexistent. The IRS focuses their limited audit resources on returns with red flags - like significant business deductions, large charitable contributions, or income inconsistencies. Simple W-2 wage earners with standard deductions just don't trigger their systems. I'd recommend starting with the free version this year. If you run into any issues or feel like you need more hand-holding, you can always upgrade to Deluxe next year. But I'm betting you'll find the free version handles everything perfectly and wonder why you even considered paying extra! The money you save could go toward building your emergency fund instead - probably a better use of those dollars than insurance against an audit that's statistically very unlikely to happen.

I've been in your exact situation and went with the free version - zero regrets! With just W-2 income, bank interest, and standard deduction, you're in the lowest audit risk category possible. The IRS has bigger fish to fry than straightforward returns like yours. The free version handled everything perfectly, and the interface walks you through each step clearly. I actually called their free support once with a question about entering my bank interest correctly, and while I did wait about 20 minutes, they were helpful and knowledgeable. Save your $6.99 and put it toward something more useful. The only scenario where I'd consider Deluxe for your situation is if you're extremely anxious about taxes and the peace of mind is worth the cost to you personally. But from a practical standpoint, you really don't need those premium features. Pro tip: Double-check your entries before submitting and you'll be golden with the free version!

Has anybody here used Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) for reporting scholarships? I tried it and got a COMPLETELY different result than both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA... now I'm even more confused 😭

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My son is a sophomore and we've been struggling with this exact issue for two years. What I've learned is that the key is understanding the "coordination" between scholarships and education credits. Here's what helped us figure it out: create a simple spreadsheet with three columns - total scholarships received, qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, required books), and non-qualified expenses (room, board, personal expenses). The tricky part is that you actually have some choice in how to report this! You can elect to treat some scholarship money as taxable income if it results in a better overall tax outcome when combined with education credits. Sometimes paying a little tax on scholarship income is worth it if you can claim a larger American Opportunity Credit. I'd recommend manually calculating both scenarios - treating all possible scholarship money as non-taxable vs. treating some as taxable to maximize your education credits. Whichever gives you the better net result (refund minus any additional tax on scholarships) is usually the way to go. The software programs handle this differently because they make different default assumptions about your preferences. That's why you're seeing such different results!