As another F1 student who went through this exact situation, I completely understand your confusion! That $1400 is definitely the third Economic Impact Payment (EIP3) that was incorrectly sent to many non-resident aliens during the pandemic relief distribution. I was in the same boat - filing 1040NR forms consistently but still received the payment due to IRS system errors that didn't properly distinguish between resident and non-resident filers. The 290 code on your transcript is likely related to the processing of this payment. Here's what I did: I returned the payment immediately by sending a money order for $1400 to my regional IRS processing center, along with a detailed letter explaining that I was a non-resident alien on F1 status who received the payment in error. I included my SSN, the payment amount, and sent everything certified mail. About 7 weeks later, I received an official acknowledgment letter from the IRS confirming they processed my returned payment. Having that documentation was crucial for peace of mind, especially considering how immigration applications scrutinize tax compliance. My strong recommendation: contact your university's international student office right away. They likely have experience with this issue and can provide you with the correct IRS processing center address for your region, plus template letters that have worked for other students. Don't wait for the IRS to discover the error later - being proactive protects you during future OPT applications or status changes. This was definitely a widespread issue, so you're not alone in dealing with it!

I'm also an F1 student and received the same unexpected $1400 payment about three months ago! Initially I was completely confused since I've been consistently filing 1040NR forms as a non-resident alien. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's clear this was the third Economic Impact Payment that got incorrectly distributed to many of us due to IRS system errors. I ended up following the same approach that others have described. I contacted my university's international student office and they confirmed this was a widespread issue they'd helped many F1 students resolve. They provided me with the correct IRS processing center address for my region and a template letter that had worked well for other students. I sent a money order for $1400 made out to "United States Treasury" along with a detailed explanation letter that included my SSN, F1 status, and clear statement that I was returning an Economic Impact Payment received in error. Everything went via certified mail so I'd have proof of delivery. About 6 weeks later, I received an official acknowledgment letter from the IRS confirming they had processed my returned payment. Having that documentation gives me huge peace of mind, especially knowing how thoroughly immigration applications review tax compliance history. My advice would be to act quickly and contact your international student office right away. They likely have all the resources you need to handle this properly. Better to be proactive now than risk any complications when you apply for OPT or future status changes!

11 Does anyone know if classes that were paid for in 2023 but taken in 2024 count for the 2023 or 2024 tax year? My 1098-T is showing Box 1 amount for what I paid out of pocket, but I'm confused about which year I claim it since the payment and the actual classes are in different tax years.

Just want to clarify something important about the timing issue mentioned - if your employer paid for Spring 2025 classes in December 2024, those expenses would typically count for your 2024 tax year (not 2025) since that's when the payment was made. However, there's an exception for academic periods that begin in the first three months of the following year. Since Spring 2025 likely starts in January-March 2025, you might have the option to claim those expenses on either your 2024 or 2025 return, but not both. The IRS allows this flexibility for payments made in the last few months of the year for the next year's spring semester. Also, regarding the W-2 reporting - if your employer paid $5,953 and it was through a Section 127 educational assistance program, only the amount over $5,250 (so $703) should appear as taxable income on your W-2. The first $5,250 is tax-free regardless of whether the education is job-related or not.

Great question about the Medicare enrollment timing! The general rule is that you become ineligible for HSA contributions on the first day of the month you're entitled to Medicare benefits, not necessarily when you formally enroll. So if your wife became entitled to Medicare benefits on April 1st (which is typical for someone turning 65 in April), she would be ineligible starting April 1st, making her eligible for only January, February, and March - that's 3 months, not 4. However, if she had a delayed enrollment situation or became entitled later in April, the calculation could be different. The key date is when she became "entitled" to Medicare Part A benefits, which usually happens automatically at age 65 even if someone doesn't formally apply. I'd definitely recommend getting the exact entitlement date from Social Security or Medicare records to be sure. This distinction can affect hundreds of dollars in contribution limits, so it's worth getting it exactly right. Also, just to add to the earlier discussion about family vs individual coverage - I've seen cases where the insurance company initially gives incorrect information about the coverage classification, so definitely get that determination in writing and consider double-checking with a tax professional if the dollar amounts are significant.

I work as a benefits administrator and see these Medicare transition HSA questions frequently. One critical detail that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you need to be very careful about any employer HSA contributions that might have continued after your wife became Medicare-eligible. If your employer made any HSA contributions to either of your accounts after your wife's Medicare entitlement date (likely April 1st), those would be considered excess contributions in her name and subject to the 6% penalty tax until removed. This includes any employer matching or automatic contributions that might have continued. Also, regarding the coverage classification question - I always recommend requesting a "Certificate of Coverage" or similar documentation from your insurance carrier that specifically states whether your plan is classified as individual or family coverage for each month of the year. Phone representatives sometimes give inconsistent information, but written documentation protects you if there are any questions during an audit. One more thing to consider: if you're planning to use the last-month rule that was mentioned earlier, make absolutely sure you'll remain HSA-eligible through the entire following year. I've seen people get hit with unexpected penalties when their employment situation changed or they became eligible for Medicare themselves during the testing period.

This is exactly the kind of confusion that happens every tax season! You're absolutely right that the IRS delayed the lower 1099-K threshold - it's still $20,000 AND 200+ transactions for 2023. Since you sold personal items at a loss (which is super common when decluttering), you don't need to report those sales as income. The IRS doesn't consider the sale of personal-use items at a loss to be taxable events. Your $3,300 in sales from cleaning out your closet and garage falls into this category perfectly. The key thing is keeping some basic records just in case - even rough estimates of what you originally paid for items. But honestly, with everything sold at a loss and no 1099-K being issued, you're in the clear. The IRS isn't going to flag someone for NOT reporting personal item sales that resulted in losses. Don't stress about it - you're handling this exactly right by asking questions and being cautious!

Great discussion here! I had a very similar situation last year and want to share what I learned. I sold about $4,200 worth of personal items on eBay - old camera equipment, some vinyl records, and furniture - all at losses from what I originally paid. After doing research and talking to my tax preparer, I confirmed that personal items sold at a loss don't need to be reported as income. The IRS treats these as personal consumption items that naturally depreciate over time. Since you won't receive a 1099-K at your sales level, and everything was sold at a loss, you're good to go. One tip though - I started keeping a simple spreadsheet after that experience with columns for the item, estimated original cost, sale price, and platform. Even though losses on personal items aren't reportable, having the records gives me peace of mind and helps me track my overall decluttering progress. Plus if I ever do sell something at a profit (like that one vintage record that surprised me), I'll have the documentation ready. You're being appropriately cautious by asking these questions, but you can relax - the IRS isn't going to come after someone for clearing out their garage and selling everything at a loss!

Similar issue happened to me. I just claimed an adjustment on my tax return instead of going through the hassle of getting a corrected W-2. If you use tax software, there should be a section for "unreported income adjustments" or something similar. I entered a negative amount for the cell reimbursement to offset what was incorrectly included in Box 1. It's technically not the most proper way to handle it, but my accountant said it's fine as long as I keep documentation showing why the adjustment was valid. Been doing it this way for years with no issues.

This is a really common issue! I went through something similar last year. The key thing to understand is that cell phone reimbursements can be non-taxable, but only if your employer has set up what's called an "accountable plan" and the reimbursement is primarily for business purposes. From what you're describing, it sounds like your employer may have incorrectly included the reimbursement as taxable income. Here's what I'd recommend: 1) First, check with your HR/payroll department to understand their policy. Ask specifically if they consider their cell phone reimbursement program an "accountable plan" under IRS guidelines. 2) If they've made an error, push for a corrected W-2 (Form W-2c). This is the cleanest way to handle it. 3) If they refuse to issue a correction and you're confident they're wrong, you can handle it on your tax return, but you'll need solid documentation showing the business purpose and that you properly accounted for the reimbursement. The $900 difference is definitely worth pursuing - that could save you $200+ depending on your tax bracket. Don't let slow HR discourage you from getting this fixed properly!