Great question about international property sales! I went through something similar when I sold inherited property in Canada. A few additional points that might help: Make sure you understand the timing of when you'll owe taxes. Even though you'll receive the money this year, you won't actually pay the capital gains tax until you file your return next year (unless you need to make estimated quarterly payments). If this creates a large tax liability, you might want to set aside 20-25% of the proceeds immediately so you're not scrambling next tax season. Also, consider the impact on your overall tax situation. A large capital gain in one year might push you into a higher tax bracket for other income, or it could affect eligibility for certain tax credits or deductions. Sometimes it's worth consulting with a tax professional to see if there are any strategies to minimize the overall impact. One last thing - keep detailed records of all costs associated with the sale (legal fees, transfer taxes, real estate agent commissions, etc.) as these can typically be deducted from your capital gain, reducing your tax liability. These costs can add up to several thousand dollars and make a meaningful difference in what you owe.

This is such a comprehensive discussion! I wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant - the potential impact on your Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) that was briefly mentioned earlier. Since you're looking at $120k-180k in proceeds, and depending on your other income, you might trigger the 3.8% NIIT on top of your regular capital gains tax. This kicks in when your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200k for single filers or $250k for married filing jointly. Also, something I learned the hard way - make sure to notify your bank in advance about the incoming large international wire transfer. Even though it's legitimate, I've seen cases where banks temporarily freeze accounts when large unexpected international transfers arrive, especially if it's not typical activity for your account. A simple call to your bank's wire department beforehand explaining the expected transfer can save you potential headaches. Lastly, consider opening a separate savings account specifically for setting aside the tax money as soon as the funds arrive. With current interest rates, you can at least earn something on the money you'll eventually owe to the IRS rather than letting it sit in checking. Just make sure it's easily accessible for when you need to pay quarterly estimated taxes or your final tax bill. You're being very smart to plan this out in advance - most people don't think about these implications until after they've already received the money!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Just got slammed with a $15,000 special assessment on my rental townhouse for roof replacement after storm damage. Reading through all these responses has been a huge help. One thing I learned from my property manager is to also check if your landlord insurance might cover any portion of the special assessment. Mine actually covered about 30% since it was for storm damage repairs, which reduced the amount I had to worry about for tax purposes. Also wanted to add - if you're working with a CPA, bring them the HOA meeting minutes from when the assessment was approved. Mine had detailed discussions about what was repair vs improvement that really helped clarify the tax treatment. Sometimes the formal assessment notice doesn't have all the context you need. The timing on this stuff is so stressful when you're trying to file taxes! Hope you get it sorted out soon.

This is such a complex situation, and I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! I'm actually dealing with something similar on my rental condo - got hit with an $11,000 assessment for elevator modernization and common area repairs after a code violation notice. What's been most helpful from reading through this thread is understanding that I need to really dig into the specifics of what the money is being used for. My HOA just sent a one-page notice that basically said "building improvements and repairs" which clearly isn't going to be sufficient for tax purposes. I'm planning to request the detailed breakdown that several people mentioned, plus the meeting minutes from when this was approved. It sounds like the difference between immediate deduction vs depreciation could be thousands of dollars in tax impact, so it's definitely worth the extra paperwork hassle. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with assessments where the work hasn't been completed yet? My HOA collected the money but the elevator work won't start until next month. I'm wondering if that affects when I can claim the deduction or if it's based on when I paid the assessment.

bruh just call them... waited 2 hrs but finally got my transcript ordered

Had the same issue last month! What finally worked for me was disabling all browser extensions (especially ad blockers) and using incognito/private browsing mode. Also make sure your ID.me account info matches EXACTLY what's on your tax return - even small differences in address formatting can cause the loop. If all else fails, you can also try the IRS2Go mobile app which sometimes works better than the website.

Has anyone here tried filing Form 8822 for address change despite what the website says? I sent one in about 4 weeks ago and wondering if they're actually processing them now.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I moved across the country. After trying multiple approaches, here's what actually worked for me: The IRS online account option is your best bet if you can access it. Go to IRS.gov and create an account if you don't have one - you can update your address there without having to call or mail anything. The verification process takes a few days but once you're in, address changes are instant. If that doesn't work, calling is unfortunately your most reliable option. I know the wait times are brutal, but here's a tip that saved me: call right when they open at 7 AM on Tuesday or Wednesday. I got through in about 30 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hours. One thing to keep in mind - if you're expecting any refunds or correspondence soon, make sure to also file a change of address with USPS so mail gets forwarded while the IRS processes your update. The systems don't talk to each other, so you need both. Whatever you do, don't just ignore it hoping it'll sort itself out. I learned that lesson the hard way when I almost missed an important notice about an amended return!

Has anyone else noticed that HR Block software doesn't group wash sales properly? Last year I had similar issues and switched to TurboTax, which actually combined my wash sales into summary transactions correctly. Saved me about 100 pages on my return. Might be too late for OP this year but worth knowing for next time. Also, getting an ITIN for your spouse will solve the paper filing issue in future years too. The form is W-7 and you can submit it with your return.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Also married to a non-resident alien and having to file MFS with paper returns. The wash sale rules are definitely making everything more complicated than it needs to be. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you can actually request an extension (Form 4868) to buy yourself more time to figure out the best approach. This might give you breathing room to explore some of the summary options people mentioned here, or even get that ITIN application started for your spouse. Also, regarding the wash sales specifically - if you're showing a net loss anyway, you might want to double-check that HR Block is calculating the wash sale adjustments correctly. Sometimes the software can be overly aggressive in flagging transactions as wash sales when they might not technically qualify under the 30-day rule. Have you considered consulting with a tax professional who specializes in international tax situations? They might have experience with creative solutions for these exact circumstances that could save you from printing a novella!