Has anyone used those donation receipt tracking apps? I tried ItsDeductible last year and it was ok but not great for higher value items.

Your 18% donation rate is actually quite reasonable and shouldn't be a red flag by itself. I've seen clients donate 25-30% of windfalls without issues, especially when it's a one-time event like a property sale. The most important thing is having proper documentation for each donation. Since you mentioned keeping all receipts, make sure you have written acknowledgments from each charity for donations of $250 or more. These need to include the donation amount, date, and a statement that no goods or services were provided in exchange (or describe what was provided). One tip for future years: if you're planning to continue higher donation levels, consider establishing a pattern by documenting your charitable giving philosophy or creating a simple giving plan. This shows intentionality rather than randomness, which auditors prefer to see. The fact that TurboTax isn't flagging anything is also a good sign - their built-in audit risk assessment is pretty conservative. Your documentation sounds solid, so I wouldn't stress too much about it.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there's a tax treaty between the US and Ecuador that might help with this situation? I know some countries have agreements to prevent double taxation.

Based on what you've described, I'd strongly recommend getting professional tax advice before your grandfather sends any money back. The IRS tends to look at the economic reality of transactions rather than just the labels you put on them. Since your grandfather "considers you a partial owner" and you're expecting returns based on business performance, this could easily be viewed as an investment arrangement rather than a simple loan, even without formal ownership papers. This means any payments beyond your original $15,000 might be taxable as business income or capital gains. A few key points to consider: 1. Keep detailed records of your original $15,000 transfer with documentation showing it as startup capital 2. Any "thank you" payments tied to business success will likely be taxable income 3. True gifts from your grandfather (unrelated to the business) have different reporting requirements but aren't taxable to you 4. You'll definitely need to file FBAR if these international transfers put you over the $10,000 threshold The informal nature of your current arrangement is actually working against you tax-wise. Consider formalizing this as either a proper loan with interest or an actual investment with documented ownership percentages. This will make your tax obligations much clearer and help you avoid potential issues with the IRS down the road. Don't wait until the money starts flowing to figure this out - the structure you set up now will determine your tax liability later.

Something to consider - if you're paying more than half your mom's support and she qualifies as your dependent, make sure to look into the medical expense deduction too. Since she has dementia, there are probably substantial medical costs. If you itemize deductions, you can deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. This includes costs for diagnosis, treatment, equipment, and even some home modifications if medically necessary. Long-term care services and insurance can also qualify.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my father's retirement account that got transferred incorrectly. One thing that really helped me was getting everything documented properly from the beginning. Make sure you have copies of all the original annuity paperwork, the transfer documents, and any correspondence with the insurance company about reversing the ownership. You'll want to keep detailed records of exactly how much of that annuity income goes toward your mother's care - not just the direct deposits to her account, but any expenses you pay on her behalf using those funds. This documentation will be crucial if the IRS ever questions the dependency claim or support calculation. Also, consider talking to an Elder Law attorney if you haven't already. They often have experience with these exact situations and can help you navigate both the tax implications and make sure you're properly set up to handle her finances going forward. Some even offer free consultations for caregiving families. The good news is that once you get the ownership transferred back to her, this shouldn't happen again in future tax years. But definitely get professional help for this year's filing - the dependency claim combined with the income reporting makes this too complex for DIY tax software to handle properly.

These clowns at the IRS need to get it together fr... why we gotta jump thru all these hoops just to get OUR money back 🤡

Been in a similar situation - got my advocate assigned 3 weeks ago and finally got movement yesterday! They called me back within 48 hours of my initial voicemail which was promising. Make sure you answer when they call because they don't always leave detailed messages. In my case, they needed one additional document but once I faxed it over, they said 2-3 weeks for resolution. The wait is brutal but you're definitely in the home stretch now 🙏

Anybody using TurboTax to check refund status? The app keeps showing different info than the IRS website and its making me nervous. IRS says my refund is approved but TurboTax still says "return received"??

I can share my recent experience! My refund was approved last month with a deposit date of January 15th, and it actually showed up in my account on January 13th - two days early! I bank with a local credit union, and they seem to process ACH deposits pretty quickly. From what I've noticed over the years, the IRS date is more of a "by this date" guarantee rather than an exact arrival time. Once they release the funds to your bank, it really depends on how fast your financial institution processes incoming transfers. Some banks hold them until the official date, while others make them available immediately. Since you're already seeing "approved" status, you're in great shape! I'd say there's a decent chance you could see it a day or two before February 23rd, but I wouldn't stress too much if it comes exactly on that date. The important thing is that it's been approved and is on its way to you. Good luck with those bills!