Another option if you want to be extra thorough is to use TurboTax's "Export to PDF" feature once you get to the review stage. Look for it in the File menu or sometimes there's an option that says "Save/Print Return for Your Records." This will generate a complete PDF of your entire tax return with all forms and schedules before you pay anything. You can then review the PDF at your own pace and make sure everything looks correct. It's especially helpful for complex returns like yours with multiple income sources since you can easily flip between forms and cross-reference numbers. Much better than trying to navigate back and forth through the software screens!

I went through this exact same situation last year with my rental properties and side business! What worked best for me was a combination of approaches. First, use the "View Tax Summary" feature that Santiago mentioned - it's usually in the review section before payment. But don't stop there! For complex returns like yours, I highly recommend also doing what Sophia suggested and exporting the entire return to PDF. This gives you a complete paper trail to review offline. Pay special attention to your Schedule E (rental income/expenses) and Schedule C (business income) - these are where most errors happen with complicated returns. One thing I learned the hard way: even if TurboTax says everything looks good, manually verify that your rental property depreciation is calculated correctly and that all your business expense categories make sense. The software sometimes miscategorizes things, especially if you have overlapping business and rental expenses. Take your time with the review - it's worth spending an extra hour now versus dealing with amendments later!

Has anyone else had issues with Vanguard's online system showing incorrect information about tax forms? I withdrew from my 401k last year too (different reason) and initially got the same message about no forms being available. When I called, they said the form was actually generated but just not showing online for some reason.

I went through something very similar with my Vanguard 401k hardship withdrawal last year. The key thing to understand is that their online portal can be unreliable for displaying certain types of distributions, especially hardship withdrawals. When I called Vanguard directly, I learned that hardship withdrawals sometimes get flagged for manual processing to ensure the proper exception codes are applied. In your case, since you used it for a first-time home purchase, they need to verify this qualifies for the penalty exception on the first $10,000. Here's what I'd recommend: Call Vanguard's retirement services line and specifically ask about "hardship distribution tax reporting" rather than just asking about a 1099-R. Have your withdrawal date, amount, and reason ready. They should be able to tell you the status of your form generation and can often expedite it if there's been a delay. Also, keep in mind that even though you'll avoid the 10% penalty on the first $10,000, you'll still owe regular income tax on the full $28,000. The withholding they took might not cover your entire tax liability, so be prepared for that when you file.

Worked at H&R Block for 7 years. One trick I've seen people use is to look at Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) instructions. It specifically mentions that you can deduct contributions to "A religious organization (church, synagogue, etc.)" without saying they have to be US-based. Some people deduct tithes to foreign religious organizations based on this language. Not sure if that helps with ICRC but thought I'd mention it.

I can add some clarity here from a tax preparer's perspective. The ICRC is actually one of the few foreign organizations that IS deductible for US taxpayers, but the confusion comes from their unique status. They're what's called a "Friends of" organization - they have legitimate US operations through the ICRC Washington Delegation office, which allows them to qualify for deductible donations despite being headquartered in Switzerland. This is different from most foreign charities that don't qualify. The key is that your donation needs to go to their US operations (which it does when you donate through their main website). The outdated 2014 information you found was from before they established their current US status. For future reference, Publication 526 has the official rules, but honestly for international donations, it's worth getting confirmation directly from the organization or the IRS rather than trying to interpret the complex rules yourself. The $350 donation to ICRC should be deductible on your Schedule A.

Your friend is definitely in a good position to claim those stimulus payments! I went through this exact process with my neighbor last year. One thing I'd add is to make sure they gather any W-2s or 1099s from 2021, even if they think their income was too low to require filing. The IRS sometimes has these on file already, and if there's a mismatch, it can delay processing significantly. Also, if they're expecting a large refund from multiple stimulus payments, consider having them set up direct deposit - paper checks for these late-filed returns can take even longer to arrive. The whole process took about 5 months for my neighbor, but she ended up getting over $3,000 in missed payments, so it was definitely worth the wait!

I'd definitely recommend starting this process soon! I work at a local tax prep office and we see this situation all the time. Your friend should gather their Social Security card, photo ID, and any income documents from 2021 (even if minimal). One thing people often overlook - if they received any unemployment benefits in 2021, there were special tax breaks for that too, so they might be eligible for additional refunds beyond just the stimulus payments. The IRS tends to be more thorough with first-time filers, so having complete documentation upfront will save headaches later. Also, make sure they keep copies of everything they mail since paper returns can sometimes get lost in processing. Good luck helping them navigate this - it's really great that you're stepping up to help someone get the money they're entitled to!

I think the IRS intentionally makes these forms confusing lol. Has anyone had their Form 8802 rejected? How long did it take to get a response? I'm supposed to start a position in Korea in 6 weeks and I'm worried about timing.

I went through this exact same nightmare with Form 8802 about 6 months ago! For line 4a when you check "Individual," you literally just need to write your full name exactly as it appears on your most recent tax return - nothing more, nothing less. Don't add your SSN, don't add extra info, just your name. Since you're working for a Singapore company, make sure you're also including copies of your most recently filed 1040 and any relevant schedules (like Schedule C if you have any self-employment income). The IRS uses this to verify your U.S. tax residency status for the foreign tax authority. One tip that saved me - call the IRS practitioner priority line if you get stuck. The regular customer service line is useless, but the practitioner line (even though you're not technically a practitioner) sometimes gets you through to someone who actually knows about international forms. Good luck with your deadline!