One thing nobody mentioned - check if your work qualifies as a "permanent establishment" under Article 7 of the US-Belgium tax treaty. If it does, different rules might apply. This bit me when I was contracting with a US company from Sweden.

Dont forget about social security! The US and Belgium have a totalization agreement that prevents double taxation on social security. You'll probably pay into the Belgian system only since you live there permanently, but you need to get a certificate of coverage from Belgian authorities.

Has anybody just given up and hired an accountant who specializes in crypto? I'm looking at my Coinbase Pro CSV with hundreds of transactions and I'm about ready to throw in the towel lol. How much do crypto tax specialists typically charge for this kind of headache?

I totally understand the frustration with Coinbase Pro CSV files - they're definitely not user-friendly for tax purposes! One thing that helped me was creating my own simplified spreadsheet where I broke down each transaction into just the basics: date, type (buy/sell), crypto amount, USD value, and fees. For the columns in the CSV, focus on these key ones: - "created_at" = transaction date - "side" = buy or sell - "size" = amount of crypto - "price" = price per unit - "fee" = trading fee - "product_id" = which crypto pair (like BTC-USD) The most important thing to remember is that every sale or crypto-to-crypto trade is a taxable event. Transfers to your own wallets are not taxable. Also, make sure to include fees in your cost basis calculations - they increase your basis when buying and reduce proceeds when selling. If you have a lot of transactions, honestly the crypto tax software options mentioned here are worth it. But if you want to do it manually, just take it one transaction at a time and don't try to tackle everything at once. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation last year when I insulated my basement. The key thing to remember is that the IRS considers the 25c credit to be based on "qualified expenditures" - which means actual money you spent out of pocket. While you can't claim your own labor, don't forget that you CAN claim some additional costs that people often overlook: - Specialized tools you had to purchase specifically for the insulation project (like a staple gun, utility knife, or safety equipment) - Delivery fees for materials - Permits if required by your local building department - Vapor barriers, caulk, weatherstripping, and other related materials I kept detailed receipts for everything and was able to claim about $200 more than just the basic insulation materials. The 30% credit on materials-only still made DIY significantly cheaper than hiring a contractor, especially since I was able to do the work at my own pace over several weekends. Make sure to keep all your receipts organized and take some photos of the work for your records!

Great thread! I just finished my own DIY insulation project and can confirm what others have said about only being able to claim materials, not labor. One thing I'd add is to be careful about the "energy efficiency" requirement - make sure the insulation you're buying actually meets the minimum R-value requirements for the 25c credit in your climate zone. I made the mistake of buying cheaper insulation that didn't meet the requirements and had to return it. The IRS has specific performance standards that the materials must meet to qualify for the credit. Check Publication 5307 for the technical requirements - it's not just about installing any insulation, it has to meet their efficiency standards. Also, if you're doing multiple energy improvements in the same year, keep separate receipts for each project since some have different credit limits and requirements. My accountant said this makes the filing much cleaner if you ever get audited.

I just went through this exact scenario last month and totally feel your pain! The whole ID verification process is so stressful. Here's what worked for me: Before you schedule that dreaded in-person appointment, definitely call the number on your letter first thing in the morning (around 7 AM when they open - that's when I finally got through after days of busy signals). Ask specifically: "Am I eligible for online identity verification through ID.me?" Even if your letter doesn't mention the online option, about 50-60% of people are actually eligible. My letter only mentioned scheduling an appointment, but when I finally reached an agent, they confirmed I could do it online instead! If you DO qualify for ID.me: - Both you and your husband can complete it separately on your own devices - Takes about 15-20 minutes each - You'll need driver's licenses and the ability to take photos - Much faster than coordinating schedules for an in-person visit! If you must go in person, yes - both spouses are absolutely required for joint returns. The IRS is super strict about this. Bring originals of everything: photo IDs, Social Security cards, the letter, and a copy of your return. I know the phone wait times are brutal, but it's worth spending a morning calling before resigning yourself to the appointment. You might save yourself hours of hassle! Hang in there - once you get through verification, the refund usually processes within 2-3 weeks. 🤞

I completely understand your frustration - I went through this same situation just a few weeks ago! Here's what I learned that might help: First, don't panic about the in-person appointment just yet. Even though your letter mentions scheduling an appointment, you might still qualify for ID.me online verification. When I called the number on my letter (had to try early morning around 7 AM to get through), the agent was able to check my eligibility right away. For joint returns, if you do qualify for online verification, both you and your husband will need to complete the process, but you can do it separately on your own devices from home. It takes about 15-20 minutes each and is SO much easier than coordinating an in-person visit. If online isn't an option and you must go in person, then yes - both spouses are absolutely required to attend. The IRS won't make any exceptions for joint returns. Make sure to bring: - Valid photo IDs for both of you - Social Security cards for both - The original verification letter - A copy of your tax return The actual appointment only takes about 30 minutes once you're seen, and your refund should process within 2-3 weeks after verification. I know the phone wait times are brutal, but it's worth spending a morning calling before assuming you need the appointment. You might save yourself a huge headache! Good luck! 🍀

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who's been through this exact situation. When I first started trading, I was terrified about quarterly taxes too, but with your income levels you're definitely in the clear. The $1,000 threshold that others mentioned is key - even if you paid the highest marginal tax rate on your $360 in gains, you'd only owe about $80-90 in additional taxes. That's nowhere near the $1,000 minimum that triggers quarterly payment requirements. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my realized gains throughout the year. That way I could see when I was approaching levels where I might need to worry about quarterly payments. For your first year, just focus on learning the basics of tax reporting for investments. You can always reassess next year if your trading activity increases significantly. Also, don't forget that you can deduct up to $3,000 in capital losses against ordinary income if you have any losing trades. Sometimes new investors focus so much on the gains that they forget losses can actually help reduce their tax bill!

As someone who started trading last year, I can relate to your concerns! With only $325 in capital gains and $35 in dividends, you're definitely not going to trigger any quarterly payment requirements. Those amounts are so small that even at the highest tax rates, you'd owe maybe $70-80 in additional taxes - nowhere near the $1,000 threshold that would require quarterly payments. The bigger picture here is that quarterly estimated taxes are really designed for people with significant income that isn't subject to withholding (like self-employment income or major investment gains). If you have a regular job with tax withholding, that withholding almost certainly covers your small investment gains. My advice: don't stress about it for this year, but do start keeping better records now. Create a simple log of your trades and gains/losses so you can monitor when you might cross into territory where quarterly payments become necessary. Most people don't need to worry about this until they're making several thousand in investment income annually. You're definitely flying under the radar in a good way!