This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm scheduled to receive my green card next month and I've been losing sleep over how to handle my foreign assets. I own several properties and investment accounts back home that have appreciated significantly over the past decade. Reading about the step-up basis rule is such a relief - I had assumed I'd be taxed on all gains from the original purchase dates. The fact that I only need to pay US taxes on appreciation after becoming a resident makes so much more sense from a fairness perspective. I'm definitely going to start gathering documentation now to establish fair market values around my green card approval date. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like I should get formal appraisals for my real estate and account statements from my brokers for the investment accounts. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with foreign business ownership in this context? I own a small business back home that I'll eventually need to sell. I'm assuming the same step-up basis principle would apply, but I imagine the valuation process for a private business might be more complex than real estate or public securities. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the helpful resources - this community is amazing for navigating these complex immigration tax situations!

As someone who works in international tax compliance, I want to emphasize how important it is to get this right from the start. The step-up basis rule for new immigrants is one of the most beneficial provisions in the tax code, but it requires proper documentation. A few additional points that might help others in similar situations: 1. **Timing matters for residency determination** - If you were on a work visa before your green card, your tax residency likely started earlier under the substantial presence test. This could significantly impact your step-up basis date. 2. **Keep contemporaneous records** - While you can get appraisals after the fact, having documentation close to your actual residency date is much stronger. Bank statements, broker reports, or property tax assessments from around that time can all support your position. 3. **Consider professional help for complex situations** - While the online tools mentioned here are great for straightforward cases, if you have multiple foreign entities, rental properties, or business interests, the reporting requirements get complex quickly. Forms 3520, 5471, 8865, and others might be needed beyond just the capital gains reporting. 4. **State taxes vary** - Don't forget that your state might have different rules. Some states don't recognize the federal step-up basis adjustment for immigrants. The relief you're all expressing about this rule is completely understandable - it really does make the tax system much fairer for new Americans!

This is a great learning thread! I'm facing a similar situation soon - considering selling some of my business equipment but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've gone through this, how did you handle the timing? Emma mentioned the money hit her account last month, but I'm wondering if there are strategic timing considerations for when to actually complete the sale. Like, would it make sense to wait until early in a tax year vs late in the year to have more time to plan offsetting strategies? Also, has anyone here worked with a tax professional specifically for equipment sales like this? I'm wondering if the complexity justifies hiring someone beyond just using software or online services.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now - just sold my welding and fabrication equipment for $180k after running my business for 6 years. Like you, I didn't really think through the tax implications until after the fact. One thing I learned from my CPA is that you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments for this year if you haven't already. Since this is such a large one-time gain, you could face underpayment penalties if you wait until next April to pay everything. Also, double-check your depreciation records carefully. I found some equipment that I had been depreciating on the wrong schedule, which affected my recapture calculations. The difference between 5-year and 7-year property depreciation schedules can be significant when you're calculating what gets recaptured. Are you planning to continue any business operations, or was this a complete exit? If you're staying in business, you might have opportunities to purchase new equipment before year-end that could help offset some of the tax impact through Section 179 deductions or bonus depreciation.

As someone who recently navigated the permanent resident tax filing maze, I can confirm that the International Taxpayer Services line (267-941-1000) mentioned by @NeonNebula is absolutely the way to go. I called the main IRS line five times over three weeks and kept getting transferred to departments that couldn't help with PR-1 specific questions. When I finally found the international line, the representative immediately understood my situation and walked me through the dual-status taxpayer requirements. They explained how to handle the transition period and which forms I needed based on when I actually became a permanent resident during the tax year. One additional tip: if you're dealing with any foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) requirements or have foreign assets, mention this upfront. They can address multiple international tax obligations in one call rather than having you contact different departments. The wait time on the international line was about 35 minutes when I called at 10 AM EST, which is significantly better than the 2+ hours I experienced on the general line. They also seemed much more patient and knowledgeable about the nuances of permanent resident tax situations. Good luck with your filing - the system is frustrating but once you reach the right people, they're actually quite helpful!

For permanent residents specifically, I'd also recommend having your I-551 (green card) and any previous ITIN documentation ready when you call. The IRS representatives will often need to verify your immigration status timeline to provide accurate guidance. One thing I learned the hard way: if you previously filed with an ITIN and now have an SSN as a permanent resident, make sure to mention this transition upfront. The IRS needs to link your previous tax records to your new SSN, and this can significantly impact how they handle your current filing questions. Also, consider calling on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between 10 AM - 2 PM EST. Based on my experience with various government agencies, these tend to be lower-volume times compared to Mondays (everyone calling after the weekend) and Fridays (people trying to resolve issues before the weekend). The International Taxpayer Services line that others mentioned really is your best bet. When I called, I specifically said "I'm a new permanent resident with questions about dual-status filing requirements and need to speak with someone familiar with immigration-related tax changes." This seemed to get me routed to the right specialist immediately rather than going through multiple transfers. Document everything - date, time, representative name/ID, and get reference numbers for your calls. The IRS system isn't perfect, and having this information has saved me from having to re-explain my entire situation on follow-up calls.

8 Has anyone else noticed that Square's transaction counting seems really inconsistent? I'm also under the 200 transaction threshold according to them, but I definitely had more individual customers than that. I'm wondering if they're counting batched payments differently.

23 Just to clarify for everyone - the 1099-K threshold was actually supposed to change to $600 with NO minimum transaction count for 2022, but the IRS delayed implementing that change. They're sticking with the $20k AND 200 transactions rule for now, but be aware this will likely change in the future. When it does change, most of us with payment apps will get 1099-Ks even for much smaller amounts. So keep good records now and get in the habit of properly categorizing all your income. The IRS is getting more serious about payment app reporting.

I can definitely relate to your anxiety about this! I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago - owed about $3,800 through TurboTax and was constantly checking my bank account waiting for the withdrawal. The anticipation is honestly the worst part when you're not used to owing taxes. Based on my experience and what I've learned since then, TurboTax automatic payments typically take 3-5 business days from your scheduled date to actually process. Since you scheduled for April 10th, you should see the withdrawal sometime between now and early next week. The most important thing to remember is that the IRS considers your payment made on April 10th (when you scheduled it), not when the money actually leaves your account, so you're completely protected from any late penalties. A few things that helped me get through the waiting period: - Keep a buffer in your account until you see the withdrawal (don't move money around yet) - Save screenshots of your TurboTax payment confirmation for your records - Try to check your account only once a day instead of multiple times (I know it's hard!) - Remember that TurboTax batches payments which adds 1-2 extra days compared to paying directly through IRS.gov You did everything correctly by scheduling before the deadline, so try not to stress too much. The IRS processing system is just naturally slow, especially during peak tax season. You're going to be fine!

I totally understand your anxiety! I went through something very similar last year when I owed about $2,650 through TurboTax - also my first time owing instead of getting a refund. The constant bank account checking is so real! From my experience, TurboTax automatic payments typically take 3-5 business days from your scheduled date. Since you scheduled for April 10th, you should see the withdrawal by early next week at the latest. The key thing that gave me peace of mind was understanding that the IRS considers your payment made on April 10th (when you scheduled it), not when the money actually comes out of your account. A few tips that helped me through the waiting: - Keep plenty of buffer money in your account until you see the withdrawal - Save screenshots of your TurboTax payment confirmation - Try to limit checking your account to once per day (I was checking like 20 times a day and driving myself crazy!) - Remember that TurboTax batches payments which can add an extra day or two compared to paying directly through IRS.gov You did everything right by scheduling before the deadline, so try not to stress too much. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you're covered! The IRS processing system is just slow, especially during tax season.