If you use tax software, all of this is pretty straightforward! I moved from Texas to Minnesota mid-year and used TurboTax. The software asked when I moved and then walked me through everything. Honestly way easier than I expected.

One additional tip since you mentioned the high withholding on your extra shifts and billing payments - keep detailed records of all your work locations and income sources throughout the year. As a physician who moved mid-year, you'll want to track not just which state you earned income in, but also where you were physically working when you earned it. This is especially important for those weekend ER shifts. If you're picking up shifts in different locations or even different states, each location might have different tax implications. Some states tax based on where the work was performed, others based on your residence at the time. Also, since you mentioned patient billing payments, make sure to track any business expenses related to your work (CME, licensing fees, professional memberships, etc.). These can often be deducted, and with your income increase, every deduction becomes more valuable. Keep receipts for everything work-related from both states - some expenses might be deductible in one state but not the other. The good news is that with your income tripling, you're likely in a much better position financially to handle any unexpected tax obligations that might come up!

Don't forget about wash sale rules if you're planning to buy back into a similar fund later! If you sell at a loss and buy back within 30 days, you can't claim the tax loss.

Great thread everyone! As someone who's been through this exact situation, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when you actually execute the sale: 1. **Timing matters**: If you're close to the end of the tax year, consider whether it makes sense to delay the sale until January to push the tax liability to the following year's return. 2. **Document everything**: Take screenshots of your lot selection choices and keep records of which specific shares you sold. This will be helpful when you get your 1099-B and need to verify everything matches. 3. **Consider tax-loss harvesting**: Even though you're selling at a gain, check if you have any other investments with losses that you could sell to offset some of the gains. 4. **Emergency fund planning**: Since you're using investments for an emergency, consider rebuilding an actual cash emergency fund once you're back on your feet so you don't have to deal with tax implications next time. The 0% capital gains rate that @Nia Davis mentioned is huge - definitely verify your income situation before selling. You might be in for a pleasant surprise!

Thanks so much for this clarification! I've been making the same mistake as the original poster, thinking weekends didn't count. It's actually really helpful to know that the automated systems are running 24/7 - that explains why I sometimes see status updates on Saturday mornings when I check the app. I'm also dealing with gig work income (mainly Instacart and some freelance graphic design), so it sounds like I should be expecting closer to 30+ days rather than getting anxious at the 21-day mark. The additional verification process for self-employment income makes total sense from a fraud prevention standpoint. Does anyone know if there's a way to tell if your return is in the additional verification queue, or do you just have to wait it out?

As someone who's been through this process multiple times with gig work, I can confirm what others have said - it's definitely calendar days for the 21-day timeline! I learned this the hard way after obsessively counting business days and getting frustrated when my refund seemed "late." One thing that really helped me was setting up an IRS account online to view my tax transcripts. While it doesn't give you a play-by-play of every step, you can at least see when different parts of your return get processed. For gig workers especially, I've noticed the transcript will show when they've matched your 1099s against what you reported - that's usually when the additional verification happens. The worst part is just the waiting and not knowing, but knowing it's calendar days and that the systems are working weekends definitely helps set realistic expectations. Good luck with your refund!

One thing that might help clarify the financial interest vs signature authority distinction is to think about it this way: if the account holder died tomorrow, would you have a legal claim to any of the money? If yes, that's financial interest. If no (you can only move money around but it's not legally yours), that's signature authority. In your case with the joint account in Canada, you definitely have financial interest since joint account holders typically have legal rights to the funds. The $215K CAD transfer also suggests you had ownership rights, not just the ability to help manage someone else's money. Make sure to convert that balance to USD using the Treasury's exchange rates when you file your FBAR - and remember the filing deadline is April 15th (with an automatic extension to October 15th if needed). Since you're dealing with a substantial amount, you definitely don't want to miss this filing!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with foreign accounts! I just wanted to add one important point that I learned the hard way - make sure you're using the correct maximum balance during the year, not just the end-of-year balance. I initially reported my year-end balance which was much lower after some large withdrawals, but the FBAR requires the highest balance the account reached at any point during the tax year. In my case, the account peaked at about $45K in March but was down to $8K by December. I had to amend my FBAR to report the $45K maximum balance. Also, for anyone using online banking, most banks will show you historical balances or let you export monthly statements that can help you determine that maximum balance. Don't just rely on your memory of what the account balance was - get the actual records to be safe!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My tax preparer at H&R Block enrolled me in Refund Advantage through Pathward and I had absolutely no idea what I was actually signing up for. Like so many others here, I thought it was just regular direct deposit with fees deducted - not a whole separate banking middleman process. I'm on day 3 since IRS approval and was starting to worry about where my $4,156 refund went until I read through all these experiences. Just created my Pathward account and can see my refund sitting there "in processing" which is honestly such a relief after days of panic. The fee situation is what really bothers me though. I'm being charged $42.95 total ($32.95 transfer fee + $10 "convenience fee") that was definitely not clearly explained during my appointment. My preparer just casually mentioned they could "handle the fees through your refund" but made zero mention of additional costs or delays. Based on everyone's timelines here, I'm expecting to see my money by early next week. The dual tracking approach (IRS + Pathward) and text alert tips are game changers - wish I had known about these from day one! This has been such a learning experience. For next year I'm absolutely paying prep fees upfront and going with direct deposit to my own account. The extra fees and week-long anxiety just aren't worth this supposed "convenience." Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know this delay and frustration is unfortunately normal with this system!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My tax preparer at FreeTaxUSA enrolled me in Refund Advantage through Pathward and I had no idea it was different from regular direct deposit. I thought I was just getting my prep fees deducted from my refund - didn't realize there was a whole third-party bank involved that would add delays and extra fees. I'm currently on day 5 since IRS approval and was starting to panic about where my $2,156 refund went. This thread has been a lifesaver! Just created my Pathward account after reading all these recommendations and can finally see my refund sitting there "in processing." Such a relief to actually know where my money is after days of anxiety. The fee situation is really frustrating though - I'm being charged $41.95 total ($31.95 transfer fee + $10 "service fee") that definitely wasn't clearly explained. My online tax software just presented it as a convenient option without mentioning the additional costs and week-long delays. Based on everyone's experiences here, sounds like I should expect my money early next week. The dual tracking approach and text alerts are game changers - wish I had known about these tools from the start! This has been such an educational experience, albeit a stressful one. For next year I'm absolutely paying prep fees upfront and going with direct deposit to my own account. The extra fees and anxiety of wondering where your refund is for over a week just aren't worth this supposed "convenience." Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it really helps to know this delay is normal even if it's incredibly frustrating!