As someone who's dealt with similar payment nightmares, I feel your pain! The lack of clear communication from these payment processors is infuriating. One thing that might help while you're stuck in customer service limbo - document everything. Take screenshots of the declined transactions, note the exact times you called, and keep records of any reference numbers they give you. If this turns into a bigger issue, having a paper trail will be crucial. For the PayPal auto-switching issue, that's actually a known problem with their system. You can usually dispute this type of transaction since you didn't explicitly authorize that specific card to be charged. Call the customer service line for the card that was incorrectly charged and explain that PayPal processed the payment on the wrong card without your consent. Also, for future reference, some people have had success using services like Plastiq for large tax payments when credit card limits are an issue, though they have their own fees and processing times to consider. Really hoping you get through to a human soon - 3 hours on hold is absolutely ridiculous!

Ugh, this exact scenario happened to me two years ago and it was a complete disaster! I was trying to hit a signup bonus on a new Citi card and thought paying my $9,200 tax bill would be perfect. Got declined multiple times, then somehow ended up with THREE partial payments on different cards because I kept trying different approaches in frustration. The worst part was that each failed attempt still showed as "pending" on my credit cards for days, even though the IRS never received the money. This tied up my available credit and made it even harder to figure out what was actually processed. One thing I learned that might help you - if you're still on hold with payusatax, try calling early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) or late evening. Their wait times are usually much shorter outside of normal business hours. I got through in under 20 minutes when I called at 7:30 AM compared to the 4+ hour nightmare during peak hours. Also, for your PayPal situation, definitely dispute that charge on your everyday card. PayPal's terms actually state that they should get explicit permission before switching payment methods, so you have grounds to challenge it. Just be persistent with both PayPal and your card company - it took me three calls but I eventually got it reversed. This whole experience made me swear off using credit cards for tax payments unless the signup bonus is absolutely massive. The stress just isn't worth it for most rewards.

Don't overlook the liability aspects too! Being a partner potentially exposes you to more business liability than being just an employee, depending on how the partnership is structured. If it's a general partnership interest, you could have unlimited personal liability for the business's debts and legal issues. If it's a limited partnership interest, your liability is usually capped at your investment. Since you mentioned it's an LLC, you should have some liability protection, but make sure to understand exactly what your partnership agreement says about this. Also check if the company maintains proper liability insurance for partners.

One aspect that hasn't been fully covered is the potential impact on your Social Security benefits calculation. As an employee, your employer pays half of your Social Security taxes, but as a partner, you'll pay the full 15.3% self-employment tax on your earnings (though you can deduct half of it). However, this actually means more of your income will count toward your Social Security earnings record, which could result in higher future Social Security benefits when you retire. Also, regarding the 401(k) loss - while you'll lose access to any employer matching, a Solo 401(k) as a partner can actually allow you to contribute both as the "employee" (up to $23,000 for 2024, or $30,500 if over 50) AND as the "employer" (up to 25% of compensation), potentially letting you save much more for retirement than a traditional employer plan. The key is running the numbers for your specific situation. The immediate tax changes might look concerning, but the long-term wealth-building potential of ownership, combined with the tax advantages available to business owners, often makes it worthwhile.

Don't forget to check if your father had a safe deposit box or if there's a filing cabinet somewhere with a "property" or "real estate" folder. My dad was also terrible with records but had one secret place where he kept all important documents. Also, if he worked with a specific realtor for these purchases, they sometimes keep transaction records for longtime clients. Worth tracking down if you know who he worked with.

I went through something very similar with my grandmother's properties after she passed. One thing that really helped was checking with the title insurance company that handled the original closings. Even if it was decades ago, many title companies keep their records digitally archived now and can pull up the original HUD-1 settlement statements that show exactly what was paid. Also, don't overlook homeowner's insurance records if your dad kept those. Insurance companies often have the original insured value when the policy was first written, which can give you a ballpark estimate of the purchase price from that time period. If you're still stuck, consider hiring a forensic accountant who specializes in estate tax issues. They know all the tricks for reconstructing financial records and can provide documentation that will satisfy the IRS. It might cost a few hundred dollars but could save you thousands in overpaid capital gains taxes.

Just wanted to add another perspective for anyone dealing with foreign income taxes. I'm a freelance graphic designer living in Portugal, and I went through this same confusion about Form 2555-EZ last year. What really helped me was breaking down Form 2555 into smaller chunks rather than trying to tackle it all at once. I created a simple checklist: 1. Gather all foreign income documents (pay stubs, 1099s, etc.) 2. Document your physical presence days (I used a simple spreadsheet) 3. Calculate housing expenses if applicable 4. Work through each part of Form 2555 systematically The key thing I learned is that even though Form 2555 looks intimidating compared to what the EZ version probably was, most expats with straightforward situations only need to fill out about half the form. Parts like III (revocation of exclusion) and VIII (business expenses) often don't apply to teachers and remote workers. Also, definitely keep detailed records of your days in and out of the country. I wish I had started tracking this from day one instead of trying to reconstruct it later from passport stamps and flight records!

I'm also teaching abroad (in Japan) and went through this exact same frustration last year! Just to confirm what others have said - Form 2555-EZ was indeed discontinued after 2018, so you'll need to use the regular Form 2555. Don't let the length intimidate you though. As a fellow English teacher with a single income source, you'll likely only need to complete these main sections: - Part I (basic info) - Part II (qualifying test - probably Physical Presence Test since you're teaching) - Part IV (foreign earned income) - Part VI (housing expenses if you qualify) - Part VII (calculating your exclusion) Since you're in South Korea, definitely look into the US-Korea tax treaty provisions for teachers that someone mentioned earlier. There might be additional benefits available to you beyond just the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. One practical tip: start gathering your documentation now - all pay stubs, housing receipts, and definitely create a calendar tracking your days in Korea vs any trips back to the US. The Physical Presence Test requires you to be physically present in a foreign country for 330 full days during a 12-month period, so accurate day counting is crucial. You've got this! The form looks worse than it actually is for straightforward teaching situations like ours.

Has anyone actually tried getting their transcripts directly from the IRS website recently? I keep reading horror stories about identity verification problems.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I was refinancing my home! Here's what worked for me: First, definitely try logging into your TurboTax account - they keep copies of your returns for several years and you can download them immediately as PDFs. Since you used them for the last 3 years, this should cover your 2022 and 2023 returns that your lender specifically requested. For the older H&R Block returns, if you filed at a physical location, definitely call them first before going the IRS route. When I called my local H&R Block office, they were able to email me copies of my 2019 and 2020 returns the same day for $25 each. If those options don't work out, the IRS transcript route that others mentioned is solid. I had to do this for one year where my tax preparer had gone out of business. The online system worked fine for me, but if you run into ID verification issues, you can always request by mail using Form 4506-T - it's free and took about 2 weeks when I did it. Pro tip: Call your mortgage lender and explain the situation. Many will accept tax transcripts instead of full returns, and some will even give you a short extension on document deadlines if you can show you've already requested the transcripts. Good luck with your closing!