I've been through this exact situation! The key thing to understand is that the state and federal systems don't communicate in real-time during offset season, so they each took what they thought you owed without knowing about the other collection. You're absolutely entitled to get that $603 back. Here's what worked for me: Contact your state's child support enforcement agency (not the IRS) immediately and request an "offset overpayment review." You'll need to provide documentation showing the total amount you owed ($1,080) and proof of both offsets (state $603 + federal $1,080 = $1,683 collected). Most states have a specific form for this - ask for it when you call. The process usually takes 4-6 weeks once you submit everything. Don't wait too long though - some states have deadlines for requesting overpayment refunds. Since you just graduated and need the money for moving, I'd recommend calling first thing Monday morning to get the process started. Good luck!

This is definitely frustrating but totally fixable! I went through something similar two years ago. The coordination between state and federal offset systems is terrible - they basically operate independently during tax season, which leads to exactly what happened to you. You're 100% entitled to that $603 back since you only owed $1,080 total. Here's the fastest approach I found: 1. Call your state's child support enforcement agency ASAP (not the IRS) 2. Ask specifically for their "tax offset overpayment department" or "refund unit" 3. Request the overpayment refund form - every state has one 4. You'll need proof of both offsets (check your tax transcripts) and documentation of your actual balance owed The whole process took about 5 weeks for me once I submitted everything. Since you mentioned needing this for moving expenses after graduation, I'd definitely recommend calling Monday morning. Some states process these faster if you explain it's causing financial hardship. One tip: if you can't get through on the main number, try calling your local child support office directly. They can often transfer you to the right department or even handle simple overpayment cases themselves. Good luck!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if your only income is interest from a savings account and it's less than the standard deduction ($13,850 for single filers in 2023), you won't owe any federal income tax anyway. You should still file if you had any withholding you want refunded, but otherwise you might not even need to file. Also, don't forget about state taxes! Some states have much lower filing thresholds than federal. In my state, you have to file if you earn more than $2,500 regardless of source.

One piece of advice - make sure you keep track of all your interest throughout the year, even if it's small amounts. My HYSA started with really competitive rates last year (4.5%) but dropped to 3.75% by year end, and I earned just over $200 in interest. When tax time came, I had forgotten about one of my accounts that only earned like $8 in interest, and didn't receive a 1099-INT for it (since it was under $10). But when I did my taxes, I realized I should have included it anyway. Not that the IRS would come after you for a dollar or two in taxes, but technically you're supposed to report ALL interest.

Has anyone actually gone through the process of claiming a refund for overwithholding on IRA distributions as a non-resident? My financial institution just automatically withheld 30% despite me providing a W-8BEN, and now they're saying I need to claim it back from the IRS directly.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through IRA withdrawals as a non-resident alien last year. The key thing I learned is that timing matters a lot - if you contributed to your IRA while you were a US tax resident (which sounds like your case with the H1B), those contributions may be treated differently than if you had contributed as a non-resident. I'd strongly recommend getting professional help for your specific situation. The treaty benefits with India can be significant, but the application process is tricky. My financial institution initially applied the full 30% withholding even though I was entitled to the reduced treaty rate. I had to file Form 1040NR to get the overwithholding back, which took about 8 months. One important tip: make sure to file your W-8BEN with your IRA custodian BEFORE you make any withdrawals. Even if they mess up the withholding initially, having it on file helps establish your treaty claim later. Also, keep detailed records of when you made each contribution and your tax residency status at those times - the IRS may ask for this information. For HSA withdrawals, the rules are even more complex because of the medical expense qualification requirements. You'll want to be very careful about documentation there.

Has anyone dealt with converting a property the other way around? I'm currently living in my house but thinking about moving out and renting the entire thing. Do all the same rules apply in reverse?

This is a great discussion! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a twist - I converted my rental property to mixed-use about 3 years ago and just realized I may have been handling the depreciation incorrectly this whole time. I've been continuing to depreciate the personal-use portion on Schedule E at a reduced percentage rather than removing it entirely. After reading this thread, I'm realizing I should have stopped depreciating that portion completely when I moved in. Should I file amended returns for the past 3 years to correct this? Or is there a way to adjust going forward without having to amend? I'm worried about triggering an audit by filing multiple amended returns, but I also don't want to compound the error by continuing with the wrong method. Has anyone else had to correct depreciation mistakes like this after the fact?

For anyone dealing with this issue in the future: always keep copies of your fee agreements. Unlike H&R Block or TurboTax which have transparent fee tracking, Liberty's system is less intuitive. Their customer service improves dramatically after April 15th. If you're filing next year, consider asking about their fee tracking options before choosing them as your preparer. Most importantly, calculate your expected refund amount before fees so you can verify if the correct amount was deducted.

As a newcomer to this discussion, I want to add that if you're still having trouble accessing the MyLiberty portal or the Documents section mentioned by others, there's another way to verify your fee payment status. Check your original Liberty Tax paperwork - they should have given you a copy of the "Refund Transfer Agreement" when you filed. This document contains a confirmation number that you can use to track your fee payment status by calling their automated line at 1-800-REFUNDS (1-800-733-8637). The automated system is available 24/7 and often has more current information than their website. Just have your SSN and confirmation number ready when you call.