Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation with an inheritance from the UK a few years ago. The stress of not knowing what to report is real! A few things that helped me navigate this: 1. Don't panic about the lack of formal paperwork right now - inheritances often take months or even years to fully process internationally. The verbal confirmation is just the beginning. 2. Since you're filing taxes tomorrow, focus on what you actually received in 2024. If no money has actually hit your US accounts yet, there's likely nothing to report on this year's return. 3. Start documenting everything NOW - screenshot any text messages, emails, or WhatsApp conversations about the inheritance. Save any photos of property documents, even if they're informal. 4. Consider setting up a separate savings account specifically for when the inheritance money arrives. This makes it easier to track and demonstrates to banks/IRS that you're being transparent about the source. The good news is that the IRS generally gives people reasonable time to comply with reporting requirements once they become aware of situations like this. The key is showing good faith effort to follow the rules once you understand what they are. You've got this! Taking the time to ask questions here shows you're being responsible about the whole situation.

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation with property I inherited from my late father in Italy, so I really feel for your stress about the documentation issues! One thing that might help ease your immediate tax filing concerns - if the inheritance hasn't actually been transferred to you yet (sounds like it's still in the "verbal promise" stage), then there's likely nothing you need to report on your 2024 tax return. The reporting obligations generally kick in when you actually receive the assets or money. That said, I'd strongly recommend getting ahead of the documentation issue now rather than waiting. Even if official estate documents take time, try to get something in writing from whoever is handling your grandmother's affairs in the Philippines. It doesn't have to be fancy - even a simple letter on letterhead from the family member managing things, listing what you're expected to inherit and approximate values, can be incredibly helpful later. Also, start keeping a detailed log of all conversations and decisions related to the inheritance. Dates, who you spoke with, what was discussed, etc. This becomes part of your documentation trail and shows the IRS (if they ever ask) that you were tracking everything properly from the beginning. The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're being proactive about compliance, which is exactly the right approach. Don't let the documentation gaps stress you out too much - many international inheritances start with informal family communications and get formalized over time.

I went through a very similar situation two years ago - divorce pending but not finalized by December 31st. Here's what I learned the hard way: Your tax professional is incorrect about filing as Single. As others mentioned, you can only file Single if your divorce was actually finalized by December 31st of the tax year. Since yours won't be final until late March, you were still legally married on December 31st. However, do explore the Head of Household option if you qualify! If you lived separately from your husband for the last 6 months of the year, have a qualifying child who lived with you more than half the year, and you paid more than half the household expenses, you can file as Head of Household even while still married. This gives you much better tax benefits than Married Filing Separately. Regarding your ex wanting to file jointly - trust your instincts. Filing separately protects you from any tax issues on his return. I've seen too many people get burned by joint filing during divorce proceedings when one spouse has undisclosed income or takes questionable deductions. The peace of mind from filing separately is worth potentially paying a bit more in taxes. Your financial independence starts with your tax independence!

I'm going through a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My divorce won't be final until May, but I've been separated since September and have my two kids living with me full-time. I was planning to file Married Filing Separately, but after reading about the Head of Household option, I'm wondering if I qualify too. One question I haven't seen addressed - if I do qualify for Head of Household, do I need any special documentation to prove the separation timeline or that I paid more than half the household expenses? I want to make sure I have everything properly documented in case the IRS has questions later. The last thing I need during this stressful time is an audit because I didn't have the right paperwork to back up my filing status. Also, for those who mentioned the tax calculation tools - do they factor in state taxes too? I'm in California and wondering if the filing status choice affects state taxes differently than federal.

I can confirm from my own experience that you'll be totally fine! I received a $17,200 tax refund through Chime about 8 months ago with no issues whatsoever. Like everyone else has mentioned, the $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits - tax refunds come through as direct deposits from the Treasury which have a much higher limit ($25k daily). The only thing that happened was Chime put a 48-hour security hold on mine since it was my largest deposit ever, but I got clear notifications in the app explaining what was happening. Honestly made me feel more secure knowing they were being cautious with that amount of money. Your $12,500 refund should process normally - Chime handles these large tax deposits all the time during filing season. The stress really isn't worth it, just keep an eye on your notifications and you'll be all set when it hits!

I've been using Chime for about 2.5 years and can definitely put your mind at ease! Last year I received a $14,750 tax refund with absolutely no issues. Like everyone else has mentioned, the $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits - your tax refund comes through as a direct deposit from the Treasury Department which falls under their much higher daily limit. The only thing that happened was they put a temporary hold on my deposit for about 30 hours while they verified it, but I got push notifications the whole time explaining what was happening. It actually made me feel more secure knowing they were being extra careful with that amount. Your $12,500 refund should process just fine - Chime handles tons of large tax refunds every year during filing season. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely stressful but you really don't need to worry about this one!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with my photography channel where viewers occasionally send me camera equipment and editing software through my wishlist. One thing I've been doing is keeping detailed records of what I receive and from whom, just in case. I use a simple spreadsheet with the date, item description, approximate value, and whether it's from someone I know personally or a viewer/fan. Even though true gifts aren't taxable income, having documentation helps if there are ever any questions. I also make sure to be transparent with my audience that I'm not doing reviews or promotions in exchange for items - I just genuinely appreciate the support for my creative work. This helps maintain that "detached generosity" aspect that makes these legitimate gifts rather than business transactions. It's great to see so many people sharing their experiences with this. The creator economy has created these new situations that traditional tax guidance doesn't always address clearly!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's just starting to receive occasional gifts through my small streaming setup, I was completely in the dark about the tax implications. The key takeaway I'm getting is that the intent matters most - if viewers are genuinely just supporting your work with no expectation of specific content or promotion in return, it's considered a gift and not taxable income to you. But if there's any quid pro quo arrangement (even informal), then it becomes taxable income. I love the idea of keeping detailed records even though gifts aren't taxable - better to be over-prepared than scrambling if questions come up later. Going to start a simple tracking sheet with date, item, value, and source. One question I haven't seen addressed: if someone from your wishlist sends you something and then later asks you to feature it or review it, does that retroactively change the tax status of that item? Or would only future items from that person be considered taxable if you agree to the arrangement?

Here's what typically happens with IRS verification: 1. Initial screening - All returns go through automated filters that look for discrepancies 2. Selection - Returns flagged by these filters move to verification 3. Notification - At this point, a letter may be sent (CP05, 4464C, etc.) 4. Processing - The IRS reviews information against their records 5. Resolution - Approval, adjustment, or request for additional documentation For amended returns specifically, the process is more thorough because they're comparing against your original filing. The best approach is to check your transcript weekly and watch for status code changes. This gives you the most up-to-date information without waiting for postal mail.

The 37-day timeline you mentioned for your amended return is actually pretty standard - you're right in the normal processing window. Amended returns typically take 16+ weeks, so you're still early in the process. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice here: if you're dealing with verification, keep detailed records of all your documentation. Even if they don't request anything initially, having everything organized (receipts, W-2s, 1099s, etc.) can save you weeks if they do follow up later. Also, that missed deduction you discovered - was it a significant amount? Sometimes larger discrepancies between original and amended returns can trigger additional scrutiny. The IRS computers are pretty good at flagging unusual patterns, but it's all part of their normal process to protect against fraud. Your right to know about verification is valid, but unfortunately the IRS timeline for notification isn't always consistent with when verification actually begins. Checking your transcript weekly is really your best bet for staying informed about what's happening behind the scenes.