Something everyone's missing - check if you even needed to file! If your income is only 4100 Swiss francs annually (roughly $4500 USD), that's below the filing threshold for most years. For 2022, the standard deduction was $12,950 for single filers, so if you earned less than that, you weren't even required to file a US return. For your retired mom, it depends on her income sources and amounts, but the thresholds are different for seniors. Don't waste money on expensive tax specialists until you determine if you even had a filing requirement based on your income level!

Just wanted to add some reassurance from someone who went through this exact situation! I'm a dual citizen (US/German) who hadn't filed US taxes in 8 years while living in Berlin. I was absolutely terrified about traveling to the US for my sister's wedding. Like everyone else has said, there's zero connection between IRS tax compliance and border control. I've traveled to the US multiple times while getting my tax situation sorted out, and it was never an issue. The border agents only care about your passport validity and standard security screening. I used the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures to catch up on my filings. With your income level and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you'll likely owe nothing. The process took about 6 weeks total, but I didn't wait to travel - I started the process after my trip. Your dad should be fine too. Retired expats are actually in a better position since pension income often has favorable tax treaty treatment. Just enjoy your Boston trip and deal with the tax compliance when you return. The anxiety is so much worse than the actual reality!

i had same issue with hubby last yr. our tax guy said easiest fix is just put "SINGLE" on w4 even tho ur married. been doing that for 2 years now and withholding is perfect!!! they take out more but no surprise tax bill in april!!

I feel your pain - I went through the exact same nightmare with my spouse's withholding! The 2020 W-4 changes really threw everyone for a loop. Here's what finally worked for us after two years of getting it wrong: Don't rely solely on the IRS calculator - it's helpful but can miss nuances. Instead, look at your previous year's tax return and calculate roughly what your tax liability should be for this year based on your expected income. For a $40,000 salary with only $212 withheld, your spouse's W-4 is definitely treating them as if they have no other household income. Make sure you check the "Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works" box in Step 2(c), but more importantly, use the worksheet that comes with the W-4 form to calculate the additional amount needed in Step 4(c). As a quick fix for this year, I'd recommend having your spouse add at least $100-150 per paycheck in additional withholding on line 4(c) to catch up. You can always adjust it down later if it's too much. Better to get a refund than owe a huge amount plus penalties! The key is coordination - both spouses need to fill out their W-4s together, not separately.

One thing nobody's mentioned is that collectibles are taxed at a higher rate than other capital gains - up to 28% instead of the normal lower capital gains rates. If you did make a substantial profit on some rare comics or cards, it might be worth talking to a tax professional.

I worked at a collectible shop for years. Unless you've got some really valuable cards or rare comics, most people lose money on this stuff when you factor in inflation. Don't stress too much if most of what you sold was medium-value collectibles. The IRS is looking for major unreported income, not the $50 you made on your old X-Men comics.

Don't be afraid to stand your ground on the pricing. I had a similar experience with Jackson Hewitt - they quoted me $250 initially then tried to charge $675 when finished due to "complexity." I refused to pay more than $300 and they eventually agreed after I spoke with the manager. You have leverage here - they've already done the work and would rather get something than nothing.

I've been in a similar situation with H&R Block charging excessive fees for complex returns. Here's what I learned: You absolutely have the right to get your original documents back without paying anything for incomplete work. They cannot hold your personal tax documents hostage. Before you go in, call and speak firmly but politely: "I need to collect my original tax documents. The service was not completed and I was not informed of the full pricing structure upfront." Don't let them pressure you into paying for work you didn't authorize at those prices. For next steps, I'd recommend FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct for your Schedule C and capital gains. Both handle complex returns well and cost under $100 total. The software walks you through each section with explanations, and since you already have your business expenses organized, you're well-prepared to do it yourself. The "empty forms" excuse is nonsense - the IRS doesn't require submission of blank forms. That's just a way to inflate their per-form charges. Get your documents back and file yourself. You'll save hundreds and have better control over your return.

Looking at the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing a higher volume of manual reviews than normal for this time of year. The 570/971 combination specifically indicates a refund hold pending review completion rather than an audit. If you check your transcript again in 7-10 days, you might see a Transaction Code 776 (which means they've sent a letter requesting information) or a 420 (which indicates examination/audit). The specific code will tell you much more about your situation than the general 120-day timeline.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got the 570/971 codes last week and the waiting is really stressful when you have financial obligations. One thing that helped me was calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They can sometimes expedite reviews if you can demonstrate financial hardship, especially for medical expenses. Since you're caring for an elderly parent, that might qualify as hardship. Also, make sure to check your online account daily rather than weekly - I've seen people miss important updates because they weren't checking frequently enough. The IRS sometimes releases refunds earlier than their quoted timeframes if you stay on top of any requests for additional documentation.