Does your cousin happen to have owned more than 5% of any US company whose stock he sold? That's the only scenario I can think of where a non-resident might owe tax on capital gains - if they had a substantial ownership interest in a US corporation.

Just to add some clarity for anyone following this thread - the original poster's situation is straightforward, but I want to emphasize that non-resident tax rules can have surprising exceptions. For example, if your cousin had been a "dual-status alien" (resident for part of the year), or if he had any US business activities beyond just holding investments, the analysis would be completely different. Also, some states have their own rules for non-residents that can catch people off guard. The good news is that based on what you've described - Australian resident, no US presence, simple stock sales through a brokerage - you're definitely on the right track with just filing the 1040NR and Schedule OI. The capital gains sourcing rules are pretty clear in this case. One small tip: make sure you keep good records of the stock transactions even though you're not reporting them as taxable income. If the IRS ever questions the return, having documentation of purchase dates, sale dates, and amounts will help explain why the gains weren't subject to US tax.

Based on everyone's discussion here, it sounds like your Lexus LX600 definitely qualifies for Section 179 treatment due to its 7,230 lb GVWR, but you'll be subject to the luxury SUV cap of around $30,400 for 2025. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider your total business income when planning this deduction. Section 179 can't exceed your business's taxable income for the year - so if your business only made $20,000 in profit, you can only deduct up to $20,000 even though the SUV limit is higher. Any unused portion can be carried forward to future years though. Also, since you mentioned your accountant wasn't 100% sure about the specifics, you might want to consider getting a second opinion or using one of the services others have mentioned here. Vehicle deductions can be complex, especially for luxury SUVs, and getting it wrong can be expensive if you're audited. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with a high-value vehicle like the LX600.

I just want to add one more important consideration that hasn't been fully addressed - the timing of when you actually start using the LX600 for business matters a lot for tax planning. Since we're getting close to year-end, make sure you have a clear business purpose and documentation for when you first put it into service. Also, don't forget about state tax implications. Some states have different rules for vehicle deductions or may not conform to federal Section 179 treatment. I learned this the hard way when I took a large federal deduction but my state (California) had different limitations that created a big state tax bill I wasn't expecting. Finally, consider whether taking the full $30,400 deduction this year makes sense for your overall tax situation, or if spreading it out might be more beneficial. Sometimes it's worth running the numbers both ways, especially if you're already in a high tax bracket or expecting income changes in future years.

Just went through this yesterday! The refund advance option showed up right after I entered all my info and TurboTax calculated my refund amount - it was on the page where they show you the breakdown of federal/state refunds. But honestly, after reading all these comments about the fees, I decided to skip it. My refund is only like $800 anyway so probably wouldn't qualify. Thanks everyone for the heads up about those crazy interest rates! 🙏

Just a heads up for anyone considering the refund advance - I work at a tax prep office and we see people get burned by these every year. The APR can be anywhere from 25-36% depending on the amount and your credit. Plus there's usually an origination fee on top of that. If you absolutely need cash fast, check if your bank offers overdraft protection or a small line of credit first. Those are usually way cheaper than these refund advances. The IRS is actually processing returns pretty quickly this year anyway, so you might only save yourself like a week or two max.

I've had both the Serve card and direct deposit to my credit union. With my credit union, I consistently get the refund 2 days before the DDD. With Serve, it's been exactly on the DDD or occasionally 1 day early. It's similar to how some people with Chime or Cash App get their regular paychecks 2 days early, while traditional banks stick to the official payday. For what it's worth, my brother-in-law who also uses Jackson Hewitt with the Serve card got his refund yesterday when his DDD was set for tomorrow.

I'm in a similar boat with my Jackson Hewitt Serve card! Got my DDD of 2/22 this morning and immediately started obsessing over whether it might come early 😅. From what I've seen in various tax groups, Jackson Hewitt seems to be pretty good about getting funds to the Serve card as soon as they receive them from the IRS. Last year mine came exactly one day early, but my sister got hers right on the DDD date. I think it really just depends on the ACH processing timing that week. The good news is that unlike some other tax prep companies that seem to hold funds, JH appears to push them through pretty quickly once they get the green light from the IRS. Keep us posted on when yours hits - always curious to see the patterns!

Did the company that ran the class provide any kind of detailed receipt that breaks down the cost? Sometimes these business courses on cruises will actually itemize what portion covers materials, instruction, meals during sessions, etc. If they did that, you might be able to deduct more than just the base cost.

I went through something very similar last year with a continuing education course on a cruise. Here's what I learned after consulting with my CPA and getting through to the IRS: The $850 course fee is definitely deductible as a business education expense on Schedule C, assuming it directly relates to skills needed in your current business. Keep that certificate and any course materials as documentation. However, since you mentioned it was a Caribbean cruise, the vessel was almost certainly foreign-flagged, which means the cruise costs themselves (the $1,875 fare plus $450 in fees) are not deductible under IRC Section 274(h). This applies even though the course was the primary reason for your trip. One thing to watch out for - make sure you can demonstrate that this course maintains or improves skills for your existing business, not training you for a new line of work. The IRS can be picky about that distinction. Also, don't try to get creative with allocating cruise costs based on time spent in class - with foreign vessels, those costs are simply excluded regardless of the business purpose. Your best approach is to claim the clean $850 deduction and have solid documentation ready. It's a legitimate business expense that shouldn't raise any red flags.