One important thing nobody's mentioned - if you take 529 distributions for your mortgage, you CANNOT also claim those same housing expenses for other education tax benefits like the Lifetime Learning Credit. That would be double-dipping and is definitely not allowed. Make sure you're maximizing your overall tax benefit by figuring out which approach saves you more in your specific situation!

Great point about not double-dipping with other education tax benefits! This is something I actually learned the hard way when my tax preparer caught it during review. I'd been planning to use 529 funds for my mortgage AND claim the Lifetime Learning Credit for my tuition, but you have to choose one path or the other for any overlapping expenses. In my case, the 529 withdrawal ended up being more beneficial since I could cover a larger portion of my housing costs tax-free, rather than getting a smaller credit. For anyone in this situation, I'd recommend running the numbers both ways before deciding. Sometimes the education credits might actually save you more money than the tax-free 529 withdrawal, especially if you're in a lower tax bracket. It really depends on your specific income level and how much you're planning to withdraw from the 529. Also worth noting - you can still use 529 funds for some expenses (like housing) and claim education credits for others (like tuition and fees), as long as you're not double-counting any single expense. Just keep very clear records of which expenses you're applying to which tax benefit!

Something nobody's mentioned yet - if you have a lot of dividend income, you might need to file state tax returns too, even as a non-resident alien. Some states like California are aggressive about taxing investment income with any connection to their state. I learned this the hard way when I got a letter from California FTB even though I've never set foot in California. Apparently my brokerage has an office there, which was enough for them to claim nexus. Check if your broker is based in a state with income tax.

I've been filing 1040NR for several years now and can confirm that TaxAct handles dividend reporting correctly. Your dividends should definitely go on Schedule NEC as non-effectively connected income, which is exactly what TaxAct is directing you to do. The key thing to remember is that you'll need to manually enter your tax treaty information to get the reduced withholding rate. Don't expect the software to automatically know your country's treaty provisions - you'll need to look up the specific article that covers dividend income and enter that information yourself when claiming treaty benefits. One tip: keep a copy of your country's tax treaty handy while filing. You'll need the exact article number and language for Form 8833. Also, make sure your 1099-DIV shows the correct amount of tax withheld - sometimes brokerages make errors that you'll need to catch and correct on your return. The dividend reporting process can seem confusing at first, but once you understand that most investment income for non-residents goes on Schedule NEC rather than the regular dividend schedules, it becomes much clearer.

I think you should check if your husband accidentally created an IP PIN through the IRS portal? My partner did this last year without realizing what it was - thought it was just extra security but didn't understand it would be REQUIRED for future filings.

This exact thing happened to me two years ago! It's so frustrating when you're sure you never signed up for an IP PIN but the system keeps rejecting your return. Here's what worked for me: First, check ALL your mail from the IRS going back to last December/January - the IP PIN notices sometimes look like generic IRS correspondence and are easy to overlook. Second, if you can't find the letter, try logging into your IRS online account or use their "Get an IP PIN" tool on the IRS website. In my case, it turned out my spouse had been automatically enrolled after we moved and updated our address with the IRS - apparently address changes can sometimes trigger automatic IP PIN assignment as a security measure. We found the PIN buried in his online account under the IP PIN section. If all else fails, you can always file a paper return, but definitely try the online retrieval first since you still have time before the deadline. Good luck!

Same thing happened to me! They offset about $3,200 of my refund for old student loans. I got the CP504 notice about 2 weeks later explaining the offset, and then received the remaining $800 of my refund about 3 weeks after that. The whole process took about a month from when I originally expected my refund. Definitely look into the Fresh Start program if your loans are in default - it can help prevent future offsets and get your loans back in good standing.

Just went through this myself! They took $2,800 of my $3,500 refund for defaulted loans from college. Got the CP504 notice about 10 days later explaining the offset amount, and the remaining $700 came automatically about 2-3 weeks after that. No action needed on my part for the remainder - it just showed up as a separate deposit. Definitely caught me off guard since I hadn't received any advance notice, but the timeline was pretty consistent with what others are saying here. Looking into that Fresh Start program now to avoid this happening again next year!

One thing that really helped me during my audit was creating a simple timeline of events leading up to the audit notice. Write down when you filed your return, when you received the audit letter, and any relevant business activities from 2023. This helps you stay organized mentally and shows the agent you're taking the process seriously. Also, if you're missing receipts for legitimate expenses, don't panic. The IRS often accepts alternative documentation like bank statements, credit card statements, or even contemporaneous records (like a business calendar showing client meetings). For your home office deduction, measure the space used exclusively for business and take photos showing it's clearly a dedicated workspace. Remember that the vast majority of audits result in either no changes or minor adjustments. The IRS isn't trying to "get you" - they're just verifying that your deductions are legitimate and properly documented. Stay calm, be honest, and stick to the facts.

I went through a Schedule C audit two years ago as a freelance photographer, so I totally understand your anxiety! Here are some practical tips that helped me get through it smoothly: **Before the meeting:** - Gather everything you can find related to your claimed deductions, even if it's not perfect documentation - Create a simple folder system organized by expense category (office supplies, equipment, travel, etc.) - Write down brief explanations for your major deductions so you don't forget important details when nervous **During the meeting:** - Arrive 10-15 minutes early and bring a small notebook - Be polite but don't try to be overly friendly - keep it professional - Answer questions directly without over-explaining or volunteering extra information - If you don't have a receipt, mention what alternative documentation you brought (bank statements, credit card records) **Key mindset shift:** The agent isn't trying to "catch" you doing something wrong. They're verifying that your business expenses are legitimate, which yours sound like they are. Most audits for small businesses like ours are routine verification processes. You've got this! The fact that you're being proactive and asking for advice shows you're approaching this the right way. Let us know how it goes!