Are property taxes and mortgage interest part of the "closing costs" we're talking about for basis calculation? I paid about $3k in prorated property taxes at closing when I bought my house in 2021. It's a rental now as of last month.

Just want to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this situation. I converted my personal residence to a rental in 2022 and was also confused about the basis calculation. After consulting with my CPA, I learned that you definitely CAN include those original closing costs (real estate commission, title insurance, attorney fees, etc.) in your depreciable basis, even though the property wasn't initially purchased as a rental. The key thing to remember is that when you convert to rental use, your basis is the LOWER of either your adjusted basis (original cost plus improvements minus any casualty losses) OR the fair market value at the time of conversion. So if your property appreciated significantly, you might be limited by the FMV rather than your original costs. I kept all my original closing documents from 2019 and my CPA was able to add about $8,000 in closing costs to my basis calculation. Make sure you have documentation for everything - the IRS will want to see proof of those costs if they ever audit your depreciation schedule.

This is such a frustrating experience that seems way too common with Republic Bank! I went through something similar last year where I was absolutely certain I selected direct deposit, but ended up with a paper check that took forever to arrive. What really helped me was calling the IRS directly (yes, the dreaded hold time) to get my actual transcript and see exactly what codes were showing up. Turns out there was a mismatch between my bank account name and my tax return name that triggered the switch to paper check. The IRS rep was actually able to explain exactly why it happened, which Republic Bank never bothered to do. For next year, I'm double and triple checking every field during e-filing to avoid this headache again!

I'm dealing with the exact same Republic Bank situation right now! Initially had a 2/15 DDD that never showed up, and after calling multiple times I found out I'm also getting a paper check instead. What's really frustrating is that I've been using the same bank account for direct deposit for the past 3 years with no issues. The Republic Bank rep told me the same thing about not being able to print until a certain date, but couldn't give me a clear explanation of why it switched to paper check in the first place. I'm definitely going to be more careful next year and maybe consider using a different bank product altogether. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one going through this headache!

Just want to add some perspective as someone who went through the exact same confusion. I had my EAD for about 6 months before I finally got clarity on this issue. The bottom line is yes, you do need to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes with a green card EAD - your employer is doing everything correctly. What helped me understand it better was thinking about it this way: the EAD based on your pending green card application puts you in a "resident alien" category for tax purposes, which means you have the same tax obligations as permanent residents and citizens. This is actually a good thing because you're earning credits toward future Social Security benefits and Medicare coverage. I know it feels like a lot of money coming out of your paycheck (especially after 3 months!), but these aren't "lost" taxes - they're contributions to programs you'll benefit from later. Keep good records of your earnings and tax payments, as this will be important when you eventually apply for Social Security benefits or Medicare. If you're still uncertain about your specific situation, I'd recommend speaking with a tax professional who specializes in immigration-related tax issues, especially if you had a different visa status before getting your EAD.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got my EAD based on my pending green card application and started my first job in the US about 2 months ago. Like the original poster, I was confused seeing all these deductions and wasn't sure if they were correct. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity. It sounds like the consensus is clear: with a green card EAD, we're classified as resident aliens for tax purposes, which means Medicare and Social Security taxes definitely apply to us. I appreciate everyone sharing their personal experiences and the various resources they've used to get official confirmation. It's reassuring to know that these deductions aren't mistakes by HR, but actually investments in our future benefits. I had been worried I was being overtaxed, but now I understand these contributions will count toward my eventual Social Security and Medicare eligibility. One thing I'm still curious about - does anyone know if there are any other tax implications I should be aware of as a green card EAD holder? Like, are there any deductions or credits that are specifically available (or not available) to people in our situation that I should know about for when I file my taxes next year?

I can definitely understand your concern! I went through the exact same situation a couple years back when I was between banks and only had my Green Dot card. I was so worried the IRS would reject it or cause some kind of delay. Turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The IRS processed my refund to Green Dot without any issues whatsoever. In fact, I got my money faster than my friends who used traditional banks - the deposit hit my Green Dot account about 18 hours after the IRS tracking tool showed "refund sent." Since you've already e-filed with your Green Dot routing and account numbers, I'd definitely stick with that rather than trying to make changes now. The IRS system handles prepaid cards just like any other valid bank account. The only thing that could cause problems would be incorrect account numbers or a name mismatch, but if you got the routing/account info directly from Green Dot, you should be all set. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was setting up account alerts through the Green Dot app. You'll get an instant notification the moment your refund hits, so you won't have to keep checking your balance obsessively like I was doing! You made the smart choice going with direct deposit. Even with a prepaid card, you'll get your refund weeks faster than waiting for a paper check. Try not to stress about it - the system works really well with Green Dot cards.

I've been using Green Dot for my tax refunds for the past three years and it works perfectly! The IRS absolutely accepts prepaid cards for direct deposit - they treat them exactly the same as regular bank accounts. A few things that might help put your mind at ease: - Green Dot actually processes IRS deposits really quickly, often within 24-48 hours of when the IRS shows "refund sent" - There are no fees for receiving direct deposits on Green Dot cards - The deposit limits are high enough that you shouldn't have any issues unless you're expecting a massive refund Since you already filed with your Green Dot information, I'd definitely recommend sticking with it rather than trying to change anything now. Making changes at this point could potentially delay your refund. Make sure to set up text alerts in your Green Dot account if you haven't already - you'll get notified the instant your refund hits your account. You can also track the progress using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool online. If for some reason there was an issue with the direct deposit (which is very unlikely), the IRS would automatically mail you a paper check instead. But honestly, I've never heard of anyone having problems with Green Dot and tax refunds as long as the account info was entered correctly. You made a smart choice going with direct deposit - you'll get your money way faster than waiting for a check in the mail!

I'm right there with you all! Filed my Georgia return on February 16th and have been stuck in processing purgatory while my federal refund showed up weeks ago. Just hit the zero balance status three days ago, so reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that I'm finally in that last 1-2 week window. It's absolutely maddening how much slower GA is compared to the IRS - you'd think with fewer returns to process, they'd be faster! I've definitely become one of those people refreshing the GA Tax Center website multiple times daily. At least we're all suffering through this together! Hopefully we'll start seeing some movement in our accounts soon.

I'm dealing with the exact same Georgia refund nightmare! Filed on February 14th and have been watching that "processing" status for over a month while my federal refund arrived in just 10 days. Finally hit the zero balance stage four days ago, so I'm really hoping I'm in that final stretch everyone's describing. It's honestly mind-boggling how much longer Georgia takes compared to the IRS - you'd think fewer returns would mean faster processing, not slower! I've definitely become obsessed with checking the GA Tax Center website multiple times a day. This thread is such a lifesaver though - at least now I know the zero balance is actually progress and not some glitch. Fingers crossed we all see our refunds hit soon since it sounds like most people get theirs within 7-14 days after reaching zero balance!