Great advice everyone! I'm actually a tax preparer and wanted to add a few key points that might help clarify things: 1. **The timing matters less than total support**: Even though you lived with your parents for 8 months, if you earned enough to cover more than half your annual expenses (including the months at home), you likely provided your own support. 2. **Calculate your total annual expenses**: Add up EVERYTHING for the year - food, housing, transportation, personal expenses, etc. If your earnings covered more than 50% of this total, your parents can't claim you. 3. **The $4,700 gross income test**: Since you mentioned earning over this amount, you automatically fail the qualifying relative test regardless of support. 4. **Document everything**: Keep records of your pay stubs, lease agreement, and major expenses. If there's ever a question from the IRS, you'll need proof. Based on what you've described, you should definitely file independently. Just make sure to coordinate with your parents so you don't both claim the same exemption and trigger an IRS notice. Good luck!

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I can definitely relate to the stress you're feeling! The good news is that based on what you've shared, it sounds like you should be filing independently. The key factors working in your favor are: 1) You're over 23 and not a full-time student, so you can't be a "qualifying child," 2) Your income is over $4,700, which automatically disqualifies you from being a "qualifying relative," and 3) You've been financially supporting yourself since September. Even though you lived with your parents for most of the year, the IRS looks at who provided the majority of your financial support for the entire year. Since you've been paying all your own major expenses (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.) and have a full-time job, you're likely providing more than 50% of your own support. My advice: Do the math on your total annual expenses versus what your parents covered, have that conversation with them before either of you file, and then confidently file independently to claim that $1,350 refund. You've earned it by being financially responsible and supporting yourself!

Husband and I went through this in 2023. Pro tip: if they're asking for business expense docs, separate everything by category (office supplies, travel, equipment, etc) and include a spreadsheet that totals each category to match what you reported. Makes it super clear where each number on your return came from. Also don't miss the deadline! They can be strict about those 30 days. If you need more time, call and ask for an extension BEFORE the deadline passes. Most agents will give you 2-4 more weeks if you ask politely.

Color-coding can definitely help with organization! I'm a visual person too and found that using different colored dividers or folders made it much easier to navigate my documentation package. Just make sure your cover letter clearly explains what each color represents so the IRS agent reviewing it doesn't get confused. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple table of contents at the front that listed each section with its color and what types of documents were included. For example: "Blue Section - Office Supplies ($2,400)" followed by a list of the specific receipts in that section. The key is making it as easy as possible for the reviewer to find what they need quickly. A well-organized, color-coded response actually shows you're taking their request seriously and can work in your favor.

This has been an incredibly informative thread! As someone who works in international tax compliance, I wanted to add a few technical points that might help clarify the domicile vs. tax residency distinction for @Chloe Martin and others in similar situations. First, it's important to understand that "domicile" and "tax residency" are actually separate concepts, though they often overlap. Domicile is more of a legal concept about your permanent home and intent, while tax residency can be determined by various tests (physical presence, closer connection, etc.). For US citizens, you'll always be subject to US taxation on worldwide income regardless of domicile - but establishing foreign domicile can be crucial for: 1) Qualifying for Foreign Earned Income Exclusion 2) State tax purposes (as others mentioned) 3) Estate planning implications 4) Potential future expatriation decisions Regarding your specific Singapore situation - the lack of a tax treaty actually makes documentation even more important. Without treaty protections, you want to be absolutely clear about your status to avoid any double taxation issues. One practical tip: consider getting a formal legal opinion from a tax attorney about your domicile change, especially given the value of NYC real estate. The cost upfront could save significant issues later if the IRS questions your position. The physical presence test for Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (330 days in any 12-month period) might be easier for you to meet than the bona fide residence test initially, so track your days carefully from day one of your move.

As someone who recently went through a similar international move, I wanted to share some practical insights that might help with your planning. The domicile question is definitely nuanced, but the key thing to remember is that keeping your NYC apartment doesn't automatically mean you're maintaining US domicile - it's really about your overall life pattern and intent. Since you're moving your family to Singapore and keeping the apartment unfurnished, that actually supports establishing Singapore as your new domicile. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Start documenting your Singapore ties immediately - open local bank accounts, get utility bills in your name, register with local authorities, etc. The earlier you start building this paper trail, the stronger your position. 2) Be strategic about your US ties. Things like maintaining your US driver's license or keeping extensive personal belongings in the NYC apartment could work against you. Consider what you truly need to keep vs. what might send mixed signals about your intent. 3) Track your physical presence meticulously. Even if you establish foreign domicile, spending too many days back in the US visiting your apartment could still trigger tax residency under other tests. 4) Since Singapore has no tax treaty with the US, you'll want to understand Singapore's tax residency rules too. You don't want to accidentally become a tax resident of both countries without proper planning for double taxation. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion will likely be your best friend here, and the physical presence test (330 days abroad in any 12-month period) might be easier to meet initially than proving bona fide residence. Consider consulting with a tax professional before you move to set up the transition properly - it's much easier to plan ahead than to fix issues after the fact!

Just curious - what kind of PFIC investments required you to file Form 8621? I'm looking at some foreign ETFs and trying to figure out if I'll need to deal with this form too. Seems super complicated!

I've been through this exact situation! When I forgot to include my Form 8621 with my mailed return, I ended up doing what several others here suggested - sent the form with a brief cover letter explaining it was meant to accompany my already-filed return. The key things that worked for me: I included my full name, SSN, tax year, and the approximate date I mailed my original return. I also attached a copy of page 1 of my 1040 to help them match it up. Made sure to mail it to the same processing center where my original return went. It took about 6 weeks, but I eventually got a letter confirming they had received and processed the supplemental form. The IRS is actually pretty good at matching up documents as long as you give them enough identifying information. Don't stress too much - this happens more often than you'd think and they have procedures in place to handle it!

This is such a stressful situation, especially when you need the money for something as important as your mortgage payment! I went through a similar bank hold on my tax refund two years ago and it was absolutely maddening. Based on what others have shared here, you definitely need to escalate this beyond basic customer service. When I called my bank, I specifically mentioned that holding my pre-existing account balance along with the tax refund seemed like an overreach since those funds weren't part of whatever triggered their fraud detection. One thing that really helped me was being very specific about the financial hardship this was causing. I explained that I had bills due and that this wasn't just an inconvenience - it was creating a genuine emergency. I also asked them to document in my file that I was disputing the hold on my pre-existing balance specifically. The CFPB complaint route that Jackie mentioned is definitely worth trying - I wish I had known about that when I was dealing with my situation. And definitely be proactive with your mortgage company about the potential delay. Most servicers are understanding if you contact them before missing the payment rather than after. Stay persistent and don't let them brush you off with vague timelines. You have rights here, and your money being held up for their "review" process shouldn't mean you have to suffer financially. Good luck getting this resolved quickly!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress, especially as newlyweds trying to make your first mortgage payment! This situation is unfortunately becoming more common as banks tighten their fraud detection systems. A few things that might help based on what I've seen work for others: First, when you call back, ask specifically for their "Funds Availability Department" or "Exception Review Team" - these departments have more authority than general customer service. Explain that you have a documented financial hardship (your mortgage payment deadline) and request an expedited review. Second, definitely push back on them restricting your entire account balance. The funds that were in your account before the tax refund deposit should not be subject to their hold - that's an overreach on their part. Ask them to separate the holds so you can at least access your pre-existing balance. Third, consider filing a CFPB complaint online at consumerfinance.gov - several people here have mentioned that banks often respond much faster once they see regulatory oversight. Finally, call your mortgage servicer TODAY to explain the situation. Most will work with you on timing if you're proactive about communicating the issue rather than waiting until after you've missed the payment. Stay persistent and document everything. Your money will be released, but you shouldn't have to suffer financially while they take their time with reviews. Good luck!