Got it all back plus interest

[Zom42]

This is my father's story. My parent's used to drive from their home in Canada to Reno a couple times a year. Back in the 90's the pay tables were better.

One day, he hits a royal on a progressive machine and had the tax withheld even though he is Canadian.

We did some research and found that he could file an "Alien Non-Resident" tax return and since he had no other US earnings, he would get it all back. The return was filed and then he waited. Eventually, he got a letter back saying that the refund was being denied but it was not really clear why. They did mention that he could appeal, and so he did.

After writing a very convincing appeal letter, he ended up getting the refund in the mail, and because it took the US Government so long to reply, they added interest to the refund.

[Tedlark]

By law they have to include interest. Glad it worked out just the same.

[onemoretry]

... and had the tax withheld even though he is Canadian.

Yes, that's what they do- and the withholding is 30%. We have each had to file a 1040NR return for almost each of the past 10-12 years, to get it back. We've always received a full refund, and there have been times when it actually came rather quickly. Not this year, though. We filed in late January, and haven't even received an acknowledgement that they've been received. And, trying to find out if they have actually received them is virtually impossible. Ugh!

[OTABILL]

... and had the tax withheld even though he is Canadian.

Yes, that's what they do- and the withholding is 30%. We have each had to file a 1040NR return for almost each of the past 10-12 years, to get it back. We've always received a full refund, and there have been times when it actually came rather quickly. Not this year, though. We filed in late January, and haven't even received an acknowledgement that they've been received. And, trying to find out if they have actually received them is virtually impossible. Ugh!

I have a friend who filed early like you and still hasn't received their refund. Nor acknowledgement their return (1040) was received. He is a non-gambler, US citizen. He is going to his congressman for help. As a Canadian citizen you don't have that option. However, you may want to check with the Canadian embassy in DC. They may be able to help.

[onemoretry]

I have a friend who filed early like you and still hasn't received their refund.

Holy cow! We actually received our refund cheques in today's mail. The IRS did say somewhere to expect it to take six months to process a paper return, and that is just about what it did take.

[wildman49]

got my 5k plus refund in bank account yesterday, sent it out last week of Feb. got $64 in interest