Has anyone actually looked at the Terms of Service for this company? I had a similar issue with another US retailer and found that buried in their terms was language about "all applicable taxes and fees may be charged based on internal company policies." Basically giving themselves wiggle room to charge whatever they want. It might not be legally enforceable, but they could argue you agreed to their terms which include potentially paying these fees. Might be worth checking if there's something like that in their terms.

This is a classic case of incorrect sales tax application on international orders. As someone who's dealt with similar issues, I can confirm that you should absolutely NOT be charged US sales tax as a UK resident receiving goods in the UK. The key principle here is that US sales tax is destination-based, not origin-based. Since your goods are being consumed in the UK (where you'll pay UK VAT and duties), they should qualify for the export exemption from US sales tax. The company's claim about collecting tax based on shipping "FROM" a US jurisdiction is completely backwards - that's not how sales tax works. My suggestion would be to escalate this beyond regular customer service. Ask to speak with their tax department or compliance team, and specifically mention the "export exemption" for goods shipped internationally. Reference IRC Section 4221(a)(2) if you need to cite specific tax code - it covers exemptions for exported articles. If they continue to refuse, consider filing a complaint with the attorney general's office in the state where they're located (Kentucky or New Jersey, based on your post). Companies sometimes change their tune quickly when they realize they might face regulatory scrutiny for improper tax collection. Don't let them keep money they have no legal right to collect!

Does anyone know if TurboTax eventually asks for the EIN? I'm in the same boat with a $5.12 dividend and no 1099-DIV, but I'm still early in my return and worried I'll get stuck later when it asks for info I don't have.

I had this exact situation a couple years ago with a tiny dividend from some old stock I'd forgotten about. The whole process was way simpler than I expected once I figured it out. In TurboTax, when you get to the dividends section, just select "I'll enter my dividend information myself" instead of importing a 1099. You'll see fields for the company name and dividend amount - that's literally all you need for small amounts like yours. Put in the company name and your $8.73 in the ordinary dividends box. TurboTax will probably throw up some yellow warning messages about missing EIN or other details, but you can just ignore those and continue. The IRS doesn't expect you to have information that wasn't provided to you. As long as you report the income amount and identify who paid it, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to do. Don't overthink it - you're being more careful than most people would be over $8.73, which shows you're handling your taxes responsibly!

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your spouse is a citizen of a country that has a tax treaty with the US, there might be additional considerations. I'm married to a Canadian citizen who lives in Toronto while I'm in Boston, and we discovered some specific treaty benefits. Check if your spouse's European country has a tax treaty with the US - it could affect your filing options and potential tax benefits. The IRS Publication 901 (U.S. Tax Treaties) has more info on this.

Has anyone in this thread actually just filed as Single despite being married to someone overseas? I mean what's the realistic chance of the IRS finding out if your spouse has no US presence, income, or SSN/ITIN? Asking for a friend...

Has anyone actually been audited because of trading activity? I'm in the same boat with hundreds of pages of transactions and wondering if the IRS really looks at this stuff or if it's just a formality.

I feel your pain with the massive 1099-B! I'm a day trader too and dealt with this exact situation last year with my broker's 600+ page document. One thing I learned is that you should definitely keep a copy of your certified mail receipt or delivery confirmation - the IRS processing centers can be slow to update their systems, and having proof of delivery saved me when I got a notice months later claiming they never received my documents. Also, make sure you're sending it to the correct IRS processing center address listed in your TurboTax instructions - different states have different mailing addresses for Form 8453 submissions. I initially sent mine to the wrong center and had to resend everything, which was a nightmare. The good news is that once they process it (which can take 6-8 weeks), you shouldn't have any issues as long as your summary data matches what you e-filed. Just budget for the shipping costs as part of your trading expenses - it's deductible!

Has anyone actually passed using just IRS pubs? I started that route & got so frustrated. The language is so dense & the pubs aren't organized in a way thats helpful for learning. I ended up just buying Gleim & passed all 3 parts first try.

I actually did pass using primarily IRS publications, though I'll admit it wasn't easy! The key was creating a structured approach rather than just reading them cover to cover. What worked for me was printing out the content outlines Connor mentioned, then mapping specific sections of each publication to the exam topics. I'd read a section, then immediately try to explain it in my own words or create examples. This helped combat the dense language issue. I also joined a few Facebook groups for EA candidates where people would post questions about confusing sections - that community discussion really helped clarify difficult concepts. The IRS pubs definitely aren't written as study guides, but they contain all the information you need if you're willing to put in the extra work to organize it properly. That said, if budget allows, the commercial programs are definitely more efficient. But for those who want to go the free route like the OP, it's absolutely doable with the right strategy and a lot of patience!