Make sure you also find out if you need to file a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR) if you opened a bank account in New Zealand! If you had more than $10,000 in foreign accounts at any time during the year, you need to file this form.

Hey Charlee! I went through something really similar when I worked seasonally in Australia a couple years ago. A few things that might help: Since you were paid in cash for some of it, definitely keep any receipts or records you have of those payments. Even if you don't have official pay stubs, bank statements showing deposits plus any written records of cash payments will work - just make sure to document the dates and amounts clearly. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you'll need to convert everything to USD using the exchange rates from the dates you were actually paid, not just one rate for the whole period. The IRS has historical exchange rate tables on their website that make this easier. Also, definitely consider getting help from a tax professional for this first time dealing with foreign income. The extra cost is usually worth it to make sure you don't miss anything or make mistakes that could cause problems later. Once you understand how it works, future years with foreign income become much easier to handle. And don't stress too much - the IRS deals with this situation all the time with seasonal workers, study abroad students, and people working overseas. You're definitely not the first person in this boat!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I've been doing freelance graphic design work for about 6 years - started with platforms like 99designs and Fiverr, then gradually built up my own client base over the last 2 years. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful. The consensus seems pretty clear that I should use my original start date from 6 years ago when I first began earning income as an independent contractor, even though it was through platforms rather than direct clients. What really helped me understand this was the lemonade stand analogy someone mentioned - whether you're selling through a farmer's market or on your own corner, it's still the same business. I've been filing Schedule C this whole time, so from the IRS perspective, I've been operating as a sole proprietor since day one. I'm going to use January 1st from my original start year since I can't remember the exact date either. It's such a relief to finally have clarity on this - I've been putting off my EIN application for months because I was so confused about the start date question. Time to stop overthinking and actually get my solo 401k set up! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be bookmarked for anyone dealing with this common confusion!

I just went through this exact situation last month when setting up my solo 401k! After reading through IRS Publication 583 and consulting with a tax professional, the answer is definitely to use the date from 12 years ago when you first started as an independent contractor. Here's the key insight that helped me understand this: your sole proprietorship began the moment you started earning self-employment income with the intent to make a profit - even if you were working through tutoring companies. Since you weren't their employee but rather an independent contractor, you were already operating as a sole proprietor from the IRS's perspective. Think of it this way - when you expanded to direct clients 4 years ago, you didn't start a new business, you just grew your existing one. It's the same business entity that's been running for 12 years, just with different revenue streams. If you can't remember the exact date from 12 years ago (totally understandable!), just use January 1st of that year. The IRS mainly cares about getting the year right, not the specific day. I did exactly this and my EIN was approved instantly online. The solo 401k setup is going to be worth all this hassle - those contribution limits are amazing compared to traditional IRAs! Better late than never is absolutely right. Good luck with your application!

Something similar happened to me. Get your credit reports from all three bureaus and freeze your credit ASAP if you haven't already. I waited too long and the person who stole my identity opened SIX credit cards!! Also, call Social Security Administration directly because if they have your SSN they might try to mess with your social security benefits too. The SSA has a fraud department that can put extra protection on your account.

I'm really sorry to hear about what you've been through - losing your personal information during such a vulnerable time must have been incredibly stressful, and it takes courage to address this now. The good news is that the IRS has specific procedures for tax-related identity theft, and you don't need a police report to get help. Here's what I'd recommend as your first steps: 1. **Get your tax transcripts immediately** - You can request them online at IRS.gov (Account Transcript and Return Transcript for the past 3-4 years). This will show if anyone filed returns using your SSN. 2. **File Form 14039** if you find fraudulent activity - This Identity Theft Affidavit alerts the IRS to put protections on your account. You can download it from IRS.gov. 3. **Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit** at 800-908-4490. They're trained specifically for cases like yours. 4. **File your legitimate return ASAP** if you haven't already - Even if someone filed fraudulently, you still need to file your real return. The IRS will sort out which is legitimate. The IRS understands that identity theft victims have different circumstances, and they won't penalize you for not having a police report. Focus on documenting everything moving forward and don't let this derail the progress you've made. You've got this!

Am I the only one who withdraws from my HSA without actually submitting receipts? I've been saving all my medical receipts for years (have about $3,400 worth) but haven't taken any distributions yet because I'm treating my HSA like another retirement account. I've heard you can reimburse yourself years later as long as the HSA was established before you incurred the medical expense. Is that right?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with the same situation - got my 1099-SA with code 1 and was worried I did something wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I'm on the right track. One thing I want to add for anyone else reading this: make sure you double-check that ALL your HSA distributions were actually for qualified medical expenses. I almost made a mistake because I used my HSA debit card at CVS and assumed everything was qualified, but it turns out I bought some regular vitamins and sunscreen that don't count as qualified medical expenses under IRS rules. Also, @Isla Fischer, that strategy of saving receipts and reimbursing yourself later is brilliant! I never thought about using my HSA as a retirement account like that. Definitely something to consider for future medical expenses. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the IRS website alone!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm in a very similar situation - working full-time while my husband is in his first year of medical school. Reading through all these responses has really opened my eyes to how many factors need to be considered beyond just this year's tax return. The point about spousal Roth IRA contributions is brilliant - I hadn't even thought about the retirement planning aspect, but you're absolutely right that this is probably the lowest tax bracket my husband will ever be in. Starting those contributions now while filing jointly could be huge for long-term wealth building. I'm also really intrigued by the tools people mentioned for analyzing the filing status decision. It sounds like there are resources that can model out multi-year scenarios including student loan payments, which is exactly what we need since the financial picture changes so dramatically from medical school to residency to attending physician. One question for those who have been through this - did you find that your optimal filing strategy changed over the years? Like, did you file jointly during medical school but then switch to separately during residency for PSLF purposes? I'm trying to think ahead since we'll probably be dealing with these decisions for the next 6-7 years through his training. Thanks everyone for such thorough and thoughtful responses!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a similar boat with my spouse in her second year of med school, and I've been stressing about making the wrong decision on our filing status. What really strikes me from all these responses is how this isn't just a one-year decision - it's part of a multi-year strategy that needs to account for the entire medical training timeline. The progression from zero income (med school) to modest income (residency) to potentially high income (attending) creates such unique tax and financial planning challenges. I'm definitely going to try running the numbers both ways using some of the tools mentioned here, but I'm also leaning toward the consensus that filing jointly makes sense for our current situation. The standard deduction benefit alone seems substantial, and the ability to do spousal Roth IRA contributions is something I hadn't even considered but could be huge for long-term planning. One thing I'm curious about - for those who switched strategies between med school and residency, how did you handle the transition year? Did you start planning for the change in advance, or was it more of a year-by-year decision based on the actual numbers? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find elsewhere!