Just wanted to share my experience since I was in almost the exact same situation as you. I'm also waiting on my Green Card approval but have had an SSN for years and been filing taxes properly. I was really confused about that backup withholding checkbox too. I ended up calling a tax professional who confirmed what others here are saying - your immigration status doesn't matter for this specific question. Since you have an SSN and have been filing taxes without issues, you should definitely check the box saying you're NOT subject to backup withholding. The key thing to understand is that backup withholding is basically a penalty for people who haven't been compliant with tax reporting in the past. If you've been filing your returns and paying taxes properly (which it sounds like you have), then you're exempt from it regardless of whether your Green Card is still pending. Don't overthink it - just check the box and move forward with transferring your investments to Fidelity like you planned. Robinhood's sketchy practices are definitely a good reason to switch!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - waiting on my Green Card but have had an SSN for about 5 years now and always filed my taxes properly. I was stressing about this same Robinhood W9 confirmation because I wasn't sure if my immigration status would affect it. Reading through everyone's responses, it's clear that backup withholding is purely about tax compliance history, not immigration status. Since I've never had any issues with the IRS and have always reported my investment income correctly, I should definitely check the box saying I'm NOT subject to backup withholding. Thanks especially to the tax professional who explained that this is essentially a penalty system for people who haven't been compliant in the past. That really cleared up my confusion. Now I can confidently handle this form and stop procrastinating on it!

I'm going through something very similar right now, and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! My employer transposed digits in my SSN about 3 months ago, and I just caught it when reviewing my latest pay stub. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from calling the IRS directly - they actually have a specific department that handles employer reporting discrepancies like this. When you call the main IRS number, if you tell them you received a compliance letter about incorrect withholding due to an employer SSN error, they can transfer you to the right team who deals with these cases daily. The agent I spoke with explained that this happens more often than you'd think, especially with new hires when information gets entered manually. She also mentioned that as long as the employer files the corrections promptly (within 30-60 days), there usually aren't any long-term issues for the employee. What really helped me was asking my employer for a written timeline of when they would submit each correction (941X for quarterly corrections, W-2c for annual corrections). Having specific dates made it easier to follow up and ensure nothing fell through the cracks. For anyone else dealing with this - don't let the employer treat it as "just a paperwork issue." The IRS compliance letter means they're actively monitoring the situation, so prompt action really is important. But it's definitely fixable with the right steps!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! My employer had my SSN wrong for 5 months before I caught it on my pay stub. I got the same type of IRS compliance letter about a week ago and was honestly panicking. After reading through all these responses, I feel so much better knowing this is fixable and that I'm not alone in dealing with this. The advice about getting everything in writing from HR is spot on - I just sent an email to my payroll department asking for a written timeline of when they'll submit the 941X and W-2c corrections. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - if you have direct deposit, make sure your employer also verifies that your banking information is correct in their system. In my case, when they were entering my SSN wrong, they also had an old bank account number from my initial paperwork. It's worth double-checking all your personal information while they're making corrections. The stress is real when you first get that letter, but seeing how many people have successfully resolved this gives me hope that everything will work out. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to expect and how to stay on top of the process!

Don't forget part-year resident returns! Since you moved to Idaho, you're a part-year resident there, and you were a part-year resident of the last state you lived in. Part-year returns can be tricky but they're designed to make sure you're only taxed once on each dollar you earn.

I went through a very similar situation a few years ago when I worked in multiple states! One thing that really helped me understand the double taxation issue was checking whether any of the states you worked in have reciprocity agreements with each other. For example, if you lived in Pennsylvania but worked in a neighboring state with a reciprocity agreement, you might only need to file in your home state. However, since you worked in Wisconsin, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, you'll likely need to check each combination. Also, keep all your W-2s handy and look at Box 17 (State income tax) on each one. If you see state taxes withheld, that state will expect you to file a return there. The key is that when you file multiple state returns, each state's tax software should ask about taxes paid to other states - that's where you claim the credit to avoid double taxation. Since Nevada has no state income tax, that's one less return to worry about! But definitely file in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for the income earned there.

Just a heads up - I filed my Robinhood taxes myself last year using Credit Karma Tax and it messed up some of my wash sales. I ended up having to file an amended return. Make sure whatever software you're using properly handles wash sales if you've bought and sold the same stock within 30 days!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I'd strongly recommend double-checking that whatever free tax software you choose can handle investment income properly. Some of the truly "free" versions have limitations when it comes to investment reporting. I started with IRS Free File and quickly realized it wasn't going to cut it for my Robinhood trades. Ended up using FreeTaxUSA which was free for federal (small fee for state) and handled everything including some tricky wash sales that Robinhood flagged on my 1099. The key thing is to take your time when entering the information. Don't rush through it - investment income can get complicated fast, especially if you had a lot of trades. And definitely review everything twice before submitting. Better to spend an extra hour double-checking than to deal with an IRS notice later!

Hey Carmen! I totally understand the panic - I had the exact same reaction when I first saw this on my W-2 a couple years ago. The $1,800 difference you're seeing is almost definitely from pre-tax deductions, and it's actually a good sign that you're maximizing your tax-advantaged benefits! Since you mentioned you've been at the same company for 5 years but this is the first time seeing this difference, I'd bet you made some changes during your last open enrollment period. Even small increases to 401(k) contributions can create significant differences between Box 1 (federal wages) and Box 16 (state wages). Here's what's happening: when you contribute to things like 401(k), HSA, or certain insurance premiums, that money gets deducted from your gross pay BEFORE federal taxes are calculated (Box 1), but many states don't recognize all the same pre-tax deductions, so your state wages (Box 16) stay higher. Quick check: look at your final 2024 paystub and add up your year-to-date pre-tax deductions. I bet they'll roughly equal that $1,800 difference! If they match up, you're golden. Just enter your W-2 exactly as printed into TurboTax - the software handles these differences automatically and knows exactly where each number belongs on your federal vs state returns. You're actually saving money on federal taxes while building your future financial security. Pretty cool when you think about it that way!

This is such a great question and I'm glad you asked! I went through this exact same confusion two years ago when I first saw different amounts in Box 1 and Box 16 on my W-2. The $1,800 difference with state wages being higher is completely normal and typically happens when you have pre-tax deductions that reduce your federal taxable income but not your state taxable income. Common causes include 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, health insurance premiums, or flexible spending accounts. Since you mentioned nothing changed with your job situation but this is your first time seeing this, I'd check if you made any changes during open enrollment - even small increases to retirement contributions can create these differences. You can verify by looking at your final 2024 paystub and seeing if your total pre-tax deductions roughly match that $1,800 gap. The great news is this actually means you're saving money on federal taxes while building your financial future! TurboTax will handle these differences perfectly - just enter each box exactly as it appears on your W-2 and the software will allocate everything correctly to your federal and state returns. No special reporting needed, just standard data entry. You're all good to proceed with confidence!