I have an issue with mixed answers too. My husband and I purchased a home in May 2009 that we lived in until July 2014. We then moved to another state and rented out the home until Feb 2022. We moved back into the home in May 2022 and finally sold the home in April 2025. I am confused as to is we have a non-qualified use since this took place after 2008 and we won't qualify for the full exclusion or if this qualifies as an exception since we lived in the property before and after the rental period. If it falls under the exception, then I believe I would only need to recapture the depreciation during the time of the rental period. Does anyone have clarification?

@Jamie Weeks, your situation is similar to the original poster's and you're absolutely right about the exception! Based on your timeline, the rental period from July 2014 to February 2022 would NOT count as non-qualified use because it occurred AFTER you had already used the home as your principal residence (May 2009 to July 2014). The key factors working in your favor: - You lived in the home BEFORE renting it out (2009-2014) - You moved back in and lived there again before selling (May 2022 - April 2025) - You meet the 2-out-of-5 year use test (lived there for almost 3 years before the sale) Since you qualify for the exception under Section 121(b)(5)(C)(ii)(I), you should be eligible for the full capital gains exclusion on your sale. However, you're correct that you'll still need to recapture any depreciation you claimed during the rental period - that's handled separately under Section 1250 and isn't affected by the non-qualified use rules. So your tax situation would be: 1. Capital gains: Eligible for full $250K/$500K exclusion (depending on filing status) 2. Depreciation recapture: Taxed at 25% rate on any depreciation you claimed during rental period This is a common scenario for people who relocate temporarily for work, and the tax code specifically accommodates it with this exception.

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - sold my first home in May 2023 (mortgage was $355K, about $4,800 in interest) and purchased a new one in August 2023 (mortgage is $745K, generated about $18,400 in interest for the remaining months). TurboTax is doing exactly what everyone else has described - incorrectly treating these as simultaneous mortgages and significantly reducing my deduction. But after reading all the professional insights from Logan, Freya, and others, I'm confident I should calculate them separately: - May home: 100% of $4,800 deductible (well under $750K limit) - August home: 100% of $18,400 deductible ($745K is just under the limit too!) - Total: $23,200 It's actually encouraging that my second mortgage is also under the $750K threshold - makes the calculation even more straightforward than some of the more complex examples discussed here. The documentation guidance everyone has shared about creating worksheets and referencing Pub 936 has been incredibly helpful. I'll definitely override the software's calculation and create that explanatory timeline showing the sequential ownership periods. Thank you all for such detailed explanations and real-world examples - this community has genuinely saved me from a significant tax mistake!

As someone new to this community and dealing with my first home sale/purchase scenario, this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in almost the exact same boat as many of you. I sold my starter home in June 2023 (mortgage was $412K, generated about $5,100 in interest) and bought my current home in September 2023 (mortgage is $698K, generated about $16,200 in interest for Sept-Dec). Like everyone else, TurboTax is trying to combine these mortgages and apply some averaging formula that's giving me a much lower deduction than I think I'm entitled to. But after reading through all the professional advice from Logan, Freya, and others, plus seeing so many real-world examples, I'm confident I should calculate each property separately: - June home: 100% of $5,100 deductible (well under $750K limit) - September home: 100% of $16,200 deductible (also under the $750K limit) - Total: $21,300 The key insight that keeps coming up is that sequential ownership is fundamentally different from simultaneous ownership. Since I never owned both properties at the same time, each mortgage should be evaluated independently against the $750K threshold. I'm going to follow the documentation advice shared here - create a clear worksheet showing the ownership timeline, mortgage amounts, and calculations, with references to the relevant Pub 936 sections. Then override TurboTax's incorrect combined calculation. It's honestly shocking how widespread this software error appears to be, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help people navigate these complex situations. Thank you all for sharing your expertise and experiences - you've potentially saved me from leaving significant money on the table!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you definitely need Copy B, not Copy C. The labeling on the W-2 itself is your best guide: Copy B clearly states "To be filed with employee's federal tax return" while Copy C says "For employee's records." I'd recommend sending the whole printed sheet rather than trying to cut it perfectly. When I paper filed two years ago, I sent the entire page and had zero issues. The IRS processors are used to seeing W-2s in all different formats from various payroll systems. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're really unsure about which copy your tax software was referring to, you might want to double-check the software's help documentation or contact their support. Sometimes there can be display errors or the software might be using outdated terminology. But based on official IRS guidance, Copy B is definitely what you need for your federal return. Also, don't forget to sign and date your return before mailing - that's an easy mistake that can delay processing!

I'm a tax preparer and just wanted to jump in to confirm what everyone has been saying - you absolutely need Copy B for your federal return, not Copy C. I see this confusion all the time, especially with clients who are used to e-filing and suddenly have to paper file. One additional tip that might help: when you're organizing your documents for mailing, put them in this order from top to bottom: signed Form 1040, then your W-2 (Copy B or the whole sheet), then any other supporting schedules or forms. This is the order the IRS prefers for processing. Also, if you're worried about your tax software giving you incorrect information about Copy C, you might want to update the software or contact their support team. Most reputable tax software should correctly indicate Copy B for federal filing. The confusion might have come from a display error or if you accidentally selected state filing requirements instead of federal. Good luck with your paper filing! It's definitely more nerve-wracking than e-filing, but you've got all the right information now.

Trust your instincts - this is definitely not standard practice and you're right to be concerned. I've been preparing taxes for over 15 years and have never required clients to provide physical copies of their Social Security cards. The SSN itself is all that's needed for tax preparation and filing. Your accountant's explanation about "security purposes" is actually backwards - keeping copies of SS cards creates MORE security risk, not less. If their office is breached or files are stolen, your most sensitive identity documents could be compromised. I'd recommend having a direct conversation with your accountant about this. Ask specifically why they need copies rather than just the numbers, and what their document security protocols are. A legitimate professional should be able to explain their reasoning and should be willing to work with you on alternatives, like verifying the cards in person without keeping copies. If they're unwilling to budge on this unusual request without a valid explanation, that might be a red flag about their practices in general.

I'm glad you're questioning this because your instincts are absolutely correct. As someone who works in financial services, I can tell you that requesting physical copies of Social Security cards is a major red flag. Legitimate tax preparers need your SSN for filing purposes, but they should never need to keep copies of the actual cards. Think about it this way - even banks and mortgage companies typically just need the numbers, not copies of the cards themselves. The IRS certainly doesn't require tax preparers to collect and store copies of SS cards. Your accountant's reasoning about "security purposes" is concerning because it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of data security. Those copies would be stored somewhere (digitally or physically) and could be accessed by office staff, potentially stolen in a break-in, or compromised in a data breach. You're actually LESS secure by providing copies. I'd suggest asking your accountant to cite the specific regulation or professional standard that requires her to collect these copies. If she can't provide that (and she won't be able to because it doesn't exist), then you know this is either poor practice or potentially something more concerning. Trust your gut on this one - find a different tax preparer if she won't work with you on just providing the numbers.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've had just the single 810 code on my transcript for about 3 weeks now, and like everyone else, I was expecting to see other codes appear based on previous years' experiences. I tried the online verification at idverify.irs.gov twice but kept getting error messages saying they couldn't verify my information. I'm planning to call the 800-830-5084 number tomorrow morning. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully completed phone verification, did you need to have your actual tax return documents in front of you during the call, or was having last year's AGI and basic info sufficient? Also, I noticed some people mentioned that transcripts update on Fridays - is that a reliable pattern for seeing changes after verification is complete? I'm trying to figure out the best days to check for updates so I don't drive myself crazy refreshing daily! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. It's such a relief to know this is normal for 2024 and not some unique problem with my return.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've had only the 810 code on my transcript for about 5 weeks now, and I was starting to panic thinking something was seriously wrong with my return. Reading everyone's experiences here has helped me understand that this is actually the new normal for identity verification in 2024. I successfully completed phone verification about 10 days ago after calling 800-830-5084. The agent was helpful and confirmed that the isolated 810 code meant my return never entered normal processing - it was flagged for identity verification right from the start. She told me to expect 6-9 weeks for processing to resume after verification, which aligns with what others have shared here. One thing I learned during my call that might help others: they asked me not just for my prior year AGI, but also for specific line items from my current return (like total wages and withholdings). Having my actual tax documents in front of me definitely made the process smoother. The verification itself only took about 15 minutes once I got through to an agent. Now I'm in the waiting phase like many of you. My transcript still shows just the 810 code, but I'm checking every Friday morning for updates based on the advice here. It's frustrating not knowing exactly when things will move, but at least I understand the process now thanks to this community!