This is exactly the type of complex situation where proper documentation becomes crucial. I went through something similar when I converted my condo to a rental property mid-year. The key insight that helped me was understanding that the IRS views this as two separate "loans" once the conversion happens - even though it's technically the same mortgage. The personal residence portion (those 17-18 days) gets treated under the mortgage interest deduction rules with the $750k limit, while the rental portion goes to Schedule E as a business expense. One thing I'd recommend is taking photos of your move-in date to House B and any documentation showing when you started advertising House A for rent. The IRS likes clear evidence of the conversion date. Also, if you're working with a property management company, get a copy of the management agreement as it establishes the "placed in service" date for rental purposes. Keep detailed records of all expenses during the transition period too - things like cleaning, minor repairs, or staging costs can often be deducted as rental expenses once the property is available for rent, even if you don't have a tenant immediately.

One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to consider setting up a separate bank account for your rental property expenses once House A is converted. This makes record-keeping much cleaner and helps establish that clear business purpose the IRS looks for. Also, since you mentioned you've been reading IRS publications but getting confused - Publication 527 (Residential Rental Property) has a specific section on converting personal use property to rental use that might help clarify things. It walks through examples similar to your situation with the day-by-day calculations everyone's been discussing. Another consideration: if you're planning to potentially move back into House A someday (like if it's in a great school district for future kids), be aware that there are rules about how long it can be a rental before you lose certain tax benefits when you convert it back to a personal residence. Just something to keep in mind for long-term planning!

Just went through this process myself about a month ago! The key things that helped me: 1) Called ahead to make an appointment (saved SO much time), 2) Brought extra copies of everything just in case, and 3) Had my last few years of tax returns with me even though they didn't ask for them. The IRS agent was actually really helpful and walked me through each step. Whole thing took about 30 minutes once I was called back. Don't stress too much - it's way more straightforward than it seems!

I had my appointment last month and it went smoother than expected! Make sure to bring the original verification letter, two forms of photo ID, and your Social Security card. They also asked me about my filing status and dependents from my return. Pro tip: if you've moved recently, bring proof of your current address too - saved me from having to reschedule. The whole thing took about 25 minutes once I got called in. You got this! 👍

This discrepancy between SBTPG's phone system and website is unfortunately very common and nothing to worry about! I went through this exact same thing a few weeks ago and it drove me absolutely crazy. The phone system updates in real-time when the IRS releases your refund to SBTPG, while their website seems to run on some ancient batch processing system that can lag 24-72 hours behind. When you hear "paid" on the phone, that's the reliable indicator - it means your refund is in SBTPG's hands and will typically hit your bank account within 1-3 business days. I'd recommend setting up mobile banking alerts so you know the moment it arrives, because the SBTPG website will probably still be showing "unfunded" even after your money is already deposited! Just try to be patient (easier said than done, I know) and check your bank account rather than obsessing over their website updates.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The SBTPG phone system told me "paid" for THREE DAYS while their website kept showing "unfunded" - I was starting to think I was losing my mind. Turns out their website is just ridiculously slow to update. What helped me stay sane was calling my bank directly to ask if they had any pending deposits coming in. My bank could actually see the ACH transfer was in progress before SBTPG's website ever updated. The money showed up on a Wednesday morning, and their website STILL said "unfunded" until Thursday afternoon. It's honestly embarrassing how outdated their web systems are compared to their phone system. My advice? Trust the phone status and maybe give your bank a call to see if they can spot any incoming transfers. At least then you'll have a third source of information to help triangulate what's actually happening!

I got audited last year specifically for not reporting my crypto! I had only made about $3,000 in profit and thought it wasn't worth reporting. Big mistake. The IRS sent me a letter asking why I didn't report my cryptocurrency transactions. They didn't say how they knew, but I assume either Coinbase provided info or they noticed deposits to my bank account from Coinbase. The penalties and interest added almost 40% on top of what I owed! Plus I had to pay an accountant to help me deal with the audit. Don't risk it - just report your crypto correctly. The stress of going through an audit was way worse than just paying the taxes would have been.

I'm a CPA and want to emphasize something crucial that hasn't been mentioned yet - the IRS has a "Voluntary Disclosure Practice" that can help if you realize you've made mistakes with crypto reporting in past years. If you're reading this thread and thinking "oh no, I didn't report crypto gains from previous years," you can still come forward voluntarily. The key is doing it BEFORE the IRS contacts you. If you proactively file amended returns and pay what you owe (with interest), they typically won't pursue criminal charges or the harshest penalties. But once they initiate contact with you first, your options become much more limited. For anyone in that situation, I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional who specializes in crypto before taking any action. The rules are complex and the consequences of handling it wrong can be severe.

Hot tip: go to https://irs.gov/refunds and check your status there. It's the most accurate source for refund status. TurboTax estimates are just that - estimates. Your return hasn't been fully processed yet.

Don't panic! This is actually super common this year. The "RETURN NOT PRESENT" message just means your return hasn't been fully processed into their main system yet, even though it was accepted. Think of it like your return is sitting in their inbox but hasn't been filed into the cabinet yet. A few things that might help while you wait: - Check the IRS Where's My Refund tool daily (it updates more frequently than transcripts) - If you claimed EITC or Child Tax Credit, there's an automatic delay until mid-February that can extend processing - The IRS is processing returns in batches, so yours might be in a queue waiting for the next batch run I know it's frustrating when you're counting on that money, but unless you get an actual notice from the IRS saying there's a problem, your refund should come through. Most people in your situation see their transcript update within 2-3 weeks, then get their refund within a week after that. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this!