FICA tax refund processing - does it come as direct deposit or only paper checks?

FICA tax refunds for nonresident aliens on J1 visas typically come as paper checks, not direct deposits. This is different from regular income tax refunds. The IRS processes these refunds separately from regular tax returns, which is why your banking information from the main tax return doesn't automatically apply to the FICA refund. The form you filed (Form 843) for claiming Social Security and Medicare taxes doesn't have a section for direct deposit information because these refunds are processed through a different system. These checks are typically mailed to the address listed on your Form 843. Since you've moved abroad, you should file a change of address with the IRS using Form 8822. You can also call the IRS international taxpayer service at +1-267-941-1000 to inquire about the status of your refund and update your address. FICA refunds can take 6-12 months to process, sometimes longer, so it might still be in progress.

I had this exact same issue last year! I was on a J1 visa in 2022, used Sprintax too, and was waiting FOREVER for my FICA refund. After months of stress, I finally used https://taxr.ai to check what was happening with my refund. You upload your documents and it analyzes everything including your FICA claim status. Turns out my FICA refund was approved but was sent as a paper check to my old address even though I had direct deposit for my regular tax refund! The tool showed me exactly what happened and what steps to take. I was able to call the IRS with the specific information about my case and get them to reissue the check to my current address. Seriously saved me thousands of dollars that would have been lost. The whole process took like 5 minutes to get answers instead of waiting on hold with the IRS for hours.

Just wanted to update after trying https://taxr.ai as mentioned above - it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my Sprintax forms and it immediately showed me that my FICA refund was likely approved but sent to my old US address (which matches what others have said about paper checks being the standard for these refunds). The tool gave me a detailed explanation of the FICA refund process for J visa holders and showed me the exact phone number to call and what information to have ready. I called yesterday and the IRS confirmed the check had been mailed to my old address three weeks ago but was returned to them as undeliverable! They're now reissuing it to my address in Germany. I would have never known this without checking - might have waited forever assuming it was still processing. Definitely recommend for anyone in a similar international situation with FICA refunds.

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS about your FICA refund, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent. I spent WEEKS trying to call the international line about my J1 visa FICA refund only to wait hours and get disconnected. I was super skeptical at first, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Basically they use technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when an actual agent is on the line. I was connected to a live IRS representative in about 25 minutes when I had previously wasted hours trying. The agent confirmed my FICA refund check had been sent to my old address and returned to the IRS. They helped me update my address so they could reissue the check. Definitely worth it to actually get a human on the phone who can check your specific case.

OK I have to eat my words and apologize to the person who recommended Claimyr above. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate to resolve my FICA refund issue (been waiting 11 months now for my J1 visa refund). Using https://claimyr.com actually worked exactly as described. I put in my number, and about 40 minutes later my phone rang with an actual IRS agent on the line. Turns out my FICA refund check had been mailed THREE MONTHS AGO to my old address in Boston, returned to the IRS, and was just sitting there. The agent was able to update my address to my current one in Norway and reissue the check. Without getting through to a human, I would have never known this and just kept waiting forever. Seriously sorry for doubting this service - it literally solved my problem in one phone call after almost a year of waiting and uncertainty.

For what it's worth, I worked as a tax preparer who specialized in nonresident returns (including J1 visas) for several years. FICA refund claims using Form 843 are almost always issued as paper checks, not direct deposits. This is because they're processed by a completely different department than regular tax refunds. There's no direct deposit option on Form 843, and the system that processes these claims doesn't automatically pull your banking info from your 1040NR. The IRS is notoriously slow with these refunds - 6-12 months is normal, and with pandemic backlogs, I've seen them take 18+ months. If you've moved, definitely call the IRS international taxpayer line to update your address ASAP.

Just wanted to add that Sprintax isn't always the best with explaining the FICA refund process for international students and scholars. I was on an F1 visa (similar issue with FICA refunds as J1) and they never told me the refund would come as a check separate from my regular tax refund. My check ended up at my university's international office because that was the address I had listed, and I almost missed it! For anyone reading this who's filing through Sprintax in the future - make sure you use an address where you'll actually be able to receive mail 6-12 months after filing.

I went through this exact same situation with my J1 visa in 2022! The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you can't track the status anywhere. A few key points from my experience: - FICA refunds are indeed processed as paper checks only, never direct deposit - They use the address from your Form 843, not your 1040NR - Processing times are incredibly slow - mine took 14 months total Since you've moved back to your home country, I'd strongly recommend calling the IRS international line at +1-267-941-1000 as soon as possible to update your address. When I called, they were able to see that my check had already been processed and mailed to my old address. They put a stop on that check and reissued a new one to my international address. The key is being proactive - don't just wait and hope it shows up. The IRS won't automatically know you've moved internationally unless you tell them. Also, keep in mind that even after you update your address, it can take another 4-6 weeks for them to reissue the check. Good luck! The money is probably there waiting for you, just needs to get to the right address.