Waiting for your tax refund is like tracking a package that keeps saying "out for delivery" but never arrives! I was in your exact shoes last month - SBTPG showed funded on a Tuesday, and I refreshed my Chase app about 50 times that evening. Nothing. Went to bed disappointed, then woke up to find the money sitting in my account at 3:17am! Chase processes most deposits overnight, like rain collecting in a bucket until it's full enough to pour out all at once. Your money is already on its journey through the electronic banking system - you'll likely see it by tomorrow morning!

I'm in a similar situation right now! My SBTPG just switched to funded status about an hour ago and I'm also banking with Chase. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like I should expect to see the deposit sometime between midnight and 6am tomorrow morning. Really appreciate all the detailed timelines people have shared - it's so much more helpful than the vague "1-2 business days" you get from customer service. Going to try to resist the urge to check my app every 10 minutes tonight! 😅

There's a lot of good advice here, but one thing nobody's mentioned: make sure your driver's licenses and vehicle registrations match your current situation too! When I moved between states last year, having mismatched driver's license and tax addresses caused me a huge headache. Each state has different timing requirements for when you need to get a new license after moving - usually between 30-90 days. You might want to wait until you move to Texas to switch everything over rather than doing temporary Colorado IDs. But definitely check Texas requirements ASAP after you move. Also, keep documentation for EVERYTHING - moving expenses, rental agreements, utility bills with start/end dates, etc. You'll need these to prove your residency periods in each state if you ever get questioned.

I'd just use the Texas address for everything if that's where you're planning to permanently move. I did something similar when moving from New York to Florida - used my Florida address before I actually moved there. When I filed taxes, I just had to indicate the actual date I became a Florida resident. Make sure you keep documentation of your actual move dates though - utility bills, moving receipts, lease/purchase agreements, etc. Having paperwork that shows when you physically relocated is important if either California or Colorado ever questions your residency status. Also, Texas has no state income tax, so that's a nice benefit compared to California's high rates! You'll definitely want to establish Texas residency as soon as possible to minimize your California tax liability.

Don't panic! This is way more common than you think - I went through the exact same thing last year and it all worked out fine. First thing to do is check if your employer has an online portal (like ADP or Workday) where you can download your W-2 electronically. Most companies do this now and it's the fastest solution. If not, just call or email your HR/payroll department - they can usually get you a new copy within a day or two. I was stressing about this too but it turned out to be super straightforward. As a backup plan, you can always file Form 4852 (substitute W-2) using your last paystub from December, which should have all your year-to-date totals. The IRS is totally fine with this when you can't get your actual W-2. Also, pro tip for keeping track of important documents - I now scan everything important to Google Drive right when I get it. No more panic cleaning sessions ruining my taxes! You've got this!

Hey Eva! Take a deep breath - you're definitely not screwed and this is SO much more common than you think. I work in tax prep and we see this situation literally dozens of times every tax season. Here's your game plan: 1. Check if your employer has an online employee portal (ADP, Paychex, Workday, etc.) - you might be able to download your W-2 right now! 2. If not, contact your HR/payroll department ASAP. Most can email or print a new copy within 24-48 hours. 3. If your employer is unresponsive, you can request a wage transcript from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946 (this line is specifically for wage transcripts and usually has shorter wait times than the main number). And honestly? Your "disaster zone apartment" comment made me laugh because I literally did the exact same thing two years ago - lost my W-2 in a pre-visit cleaning frenzy for my parents. You're in good company! The most important thing is don't wait - start with option 1 or 2 today. You have plenty of time before the filing deadline, and this will be resolved way faster than you think. Adult life is mostly just figuring out systems to prevent exactly this kind of panic (speaking from experience 😅).

One crucial aspect that hasn't been fully addressed is the timing and documentation for your Korean tax residency. Since you're planning to stay 2-3 years, you'll likely become a Korean tax resident after 183 days in a calendar year, which means you'll need to file Korean tax returns on your worldwide income. However, there's a specific provision in the US-Korea tax treaty (Article 15) that may allow your employment income to remain taxable only in the US if certain conditions are met - mainly that your employer has no permanent establishment in Korea and you're not performing services that create one. This is where the permanent establishment analysis mentioned earlier becomes critical. I'd also recommend checking if your current employer has any existing policies about international remote work. Many companies have blanket policies prohibiting it due to the complexity, but some have frameworks already in place. If they don't, presenting them with a comprehensive compliance plan (including the EOR option, tax analysis, and permanent establishment mitigation strategies) will show you've done your homework and make approval more likely. Finally, consider the practical aspects - time zone differences with your team, internet reliability for video calls, and whether your role requires access to any US-specific systems or data that might have geographic restrictions.

One additional consideration that could significantly impact your situation is Social Security and Medicare taxes. As a W-2 employee working abroad, you'll still owe US Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) on your income, and your employer will still need to pay their portion. This is different from self-employment tax if you were to go the 1099 route. However, there's a potential benefit here - the US has a Social Security Totalization Agreement with South Korea. This means that if you end up paying into the Korean National Pension System (which is mandatory for most workers), you may be able to get credit for those contributions toward your US Social Security benefits, and vice versa. You'll need to file Form SSA-21 to claim these benefits later. Also, make sure you understand the implications for your future immigration plans. If you're planning to sponsor your spouse for a US visa down the road, maintaining continuous US employment and tax filing can actually strengthen that application by demonstrating ongoing ties to the US and ability to financially support them. One practical tip: set up a VPN through your employer if possible, as many US banking and financial websites will block access from foreign IP addresses, which can make managing your US financial obligations quite difficult otherwise.

Has anyone used a 1031 exchange to defer these capital gains? I'm in a similar situation and considering using the proceeds to buy another investment property.

This is a complex situation that involves several tax considerations beyond just basic capital gains. Given the quit-claim deed origin, rental income history, and significant appreciation, I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional before proceeding with the sale. A few additional points to consider: 1. Make sure you have documentation for the fair market value at the time of the quit-claim transfer - this could affect your basis calculation 2. Since you've been collecting rent, you'll need to account for any depreciation recapture as others mentioned 3. The fact that this wasn't an arm's length transaction might require special documentation for the IRS With a potential $370k+ gain after improvements, even small errors in your calculations could be costly. A CPA experienced with real estate transactions could help you optimize your tax strategy and ensure you're compliant with all requirements.