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Quick tip from someone who's been audited twice - keep detailed records of how you calculated everything on Form 14900. My second audit went much smoother because I had a spreadsheet showing exactly how I determined each number, including the average balance calculation. The IRS auditor actually commented that it made their job easier and they appreciated the transparency.
Does the IRS provide any worksheet or official calculation method for this average balance? Or are we just expected to figure it out ourselves?
The IRS doesn't provide a specific worksheet for the average balance calculation on Form 14900, but the general methodology is outlined in Publication 936. You're essentially expected to figure it out based on the principle of calculating a weighted average over the time period you held the debt. For a simple case like yours where you got the mortgage in March and held it through December, you'd calculate: (March balance + April balance + ... + December balance) ÷ 10 months. If you don't have monthly statements, the beginning balance plus ending balance divided by 2 is an acceptable approximation, as long as you didn't make significant extra payments. I'd definitely recommend creating a simple spreadsheet showing your calculation method - it demonstrates good faith effort and makes any future questions much easier to resolve.
I just went through this exact same situation last month! For a mortgage that started mid-year like yours (March 2022), you're correct that you only need to calculate the average for the months you actually had the mortgage. Here's what I did and what the IRS accepted: I took my initial loan balance from March 2022 and my December 2022 ending balance, added them together, and divided by 2. Since you made regular monthly payments but no large extra payments, this simple method should be fine. One thing that helped me was to also document which months I had the mortgage (March through December = 10 months) in case they asked follow-up questions. And yes, you're absolutely right about putting zeros for the grandfathered debt and pre-2017 sections since your mortgage is from 2022. The key is being able to show your work if they ask. Keep your mortgage statements handy and maybe jot down your calculation method in case you need to explain it later. Good luck with your audit - you've got this!
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This is such helpful information! I'm in a similar situation planning to move to Turkey later this year. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like buying the Apple Watch in the US before moving is definitely the way to go. I'm leaning toward the GPS-only aluminum model to minimize the tax impact. The 20-22% rate is much more reasonable than the 35%+ for cellular models. Plus with that temporary exemption program Sarah mentioned, I might be able to save even more if I time it right. Has anyone dealt with declaring multiple personal electronics when moving? I'll also be bringing my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. I want to make sure I don't accidentally trigger any red flags at customs by having "too much" tech, even though it's all legitimately for personal use.
Welcome to the community! For multiple personal electronics, you should be fine as long as you have documentation showing they're genuinely personal items. I brought my iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch when I moved to Turkey in 2024 without any issues. The key is having proof of purchase dates (ideally 3+ months old) and evidence of personal use - photos of you using the devices, wear patterns, personal data/apps installed, etc. Turkey allows reasonable personal electronics for relocated individuals, but customs officers do look for patterns that suggest commercial import. One tip: spread out your electronics across different bags/luggage rather than having them all in one tech bag. This makes it look more natural and less like you're importing to sell. Also, make sure everything is clearly used - don't bring anything in original packaging or with protective films still on screens.
Great thread everyone! As someone who works in international tax consulting, I can confirm most of the information here is accurate. One additional tip for anyone planning this move: keep detailed records of when you first started using each device. Turkey's customs officials have become more sophisticated in recent years and sometimes cross-reference social media posts or digital footprints to verify personal use claims. I've seen cases where people had issues because they posted photos of their "new" Apple Watch on social media just weeks before traveling, even though they claimed months of ownership. Also, regarding the material classifications that Natalie mentioned - this is still true in 2025. The customs codes differentiate between aluminum (lower luxury classification) and premium materials like titanium or ceramic (higher luxury tax bracket). The difference can be 5-10% in total tax burden. For those using tools like taxr.ai, make sure you're inputting the exact model specifications including case material, as this significantly affects the final calculation. The tool should ask for these details if it's comprehensive.
This is incredibly valuable insight, thank you! I hadn't considered the social media aspect at all. That's a really smart point about cross-referencing digital footprints - I should probably avoid posting about any new tech purchases on my accounts if I'm planning to bring them as "personal items" later. The material classification detail is especially helpful. I was already leaning toward the aluminum model for cost reasons, but knowing it could save me an additional 5-10% in taxes makes it an even easier decision. One follow-up question for you as a tax consultant - do you know if there are any specific documentation requirements Turkey prefers for proving personal use? Like, are bank statements showing the purchase date sufficient, or do they prefer other types of evidence?
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Does anyone know if there's a way to recreate the Schedule P Part 2 if you didn't properly track this in prior years? I've got functional currency amounts but never maintained the separate dollar basis tracking until now.
Thanks! I've got all my prior forms so I'll dig through them. One more question - once I reconstruct the dollar basis amounts, do I need to amend any prior returns if I find I should have recognized 986(c) gains or losses that I didn't report?
That's a great question about amending returns. Generally, if you discover unreported Section 986(c) gains or losses from prior years, you should consider amending those returns, especially if the amounts are material. The IRS can assess penalties for underreporting foreign currency gains. However, if you're reconstructing everything now and going forward with proper tracking, you might want to consult with a tax professional about whether to amend or if there are any voluntary disclosure options available. The statute of limitations is typically 3 years, but it can be longer for international issues if there were substantial omissions. @1dc1fac72b82 You'll want to be careful about how you handle this reconstruction to avoid creating more problems down the road.
I've been dealing with Form 5471 for several years now and can confirm what others have said - you absolutely need to carry forward the dollar basis amounts from your 2022 Schedule P Part 2 ending balance to your 2023 beginning balance. Don't convert using 2023 rates. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also make sure you're properly categorizing any new 2023 inclusions by the correct PTEP category (Section 951(a), Section 951A, etc.) when you add them to your basis amounts. Each category needs to be tracked separately because they have different distribution ordering rules. Also, if you had any actual distributions during 2023, make sure you're reducing your basis amounts in the proper LIFO order and calculating the Section 986(c) gain/loss on the difference between your dollar basis and the dollar value of the distribution. This is where a lot of people mess up the currency calculations.
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I'm currently dealing with a 570 code that appeared on my transcript 5 days ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring! I filed claiming the EITC and Child Tax Credit, so I'm guessing that might have triggered the review. Has anyone noticed if filing early vs. late in the season affects how long these reviews take? I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're expecting that refund for bills.
I can relate to the anxiety of waiting! From what I've observed in my own experience and from reading other cases, filing timing doesn't seem to significantly impact review duration - it's more about the specific triggers and complexity of your return. The EITC and CTC combo you mentioned is pretty common and usually resolves within 2-3 weeks from what I've seen. Try to stay positive - most 570 codes are just routine verification and clear up without any action needed on your part!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got the 570 code on my transcript about 10 days ago and have been checking obsessively every day since. Filed with both EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit, so I'm pretty sure that's what triggered the review. The waiting is honestly the worst part - not knowing if it's going to be 2 weeks or 2 months. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel a lot better though. Seems like most people get it resolved within 3 weeks or so. Fingers crossed we all get our refunds soon! 🤞
I totally understand that obsessive checking feeling! I'm in the same boat - got my 570 code about a week ago and I've been refreshing my transcript multiple times a day. It's so nerve-wracking not knowing the timeline. Your combination of EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit is really common and from what I've been reading here, those usually clear up pretty quickly. I'm trying to remind myself that no news is often good news with the IRS - if there was a major issue, they'd probably contact us directly. Hang in there! 🤞
William Schwarz
Anyone know if the OP can just file without the spouse this year (as married filing separately) to meet the deadline, then amend later when the ITIN comes through? Would avoid any concerns about the deadline entirely.
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Lauren Johnson
•That's actually what I did in a similar situation. Filed my return as married filing separately to meet the deadline, then amended to married filing jointly once my spouse's ITIN came through. It was a bit of extra paperwork but avoided any deadline issues completely. Just make sure you file the amendment within 3 years.
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Chloe Anderson
Just to add some reassurance here - I went through this exact situation two years ago with my spouse's ITIN application. Filed about a week late due to similar circumstances with Acceptance Agent availability, and since we were expecting a refund, there were absolutely no penalties or issues. The key thing to remember is that the IRS isn't in a hurry when they owe YOU money - the penalties only kick in when you owe them. Your refund will be delayed by the ITIN processing time (took about 9 weeks in our case), but filing a day or even a week late won't add any additional delays or costs. Don't stress about it - get your W-7 completed properly rather than rushing it. A correctly submitted ITIN application is way more important than meeting the extension deadline by one day when you're getting a refund anyway.
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Austin Leonard
•This is really helpful to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! I've been losing sleep over this deadline issue, but you're absolutely right that getting the ITIN application done correctly is way more important than rushing to meet a deadline by one day when there are no actual penalties involved. Did you have any issues with the IRS when your return was processed, or did everything go smoothly once the ITIN was assigned? Also, did the 9-week processing time include getting your refund, or was that just for the ITIN approval itself?
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