I've been through this exact situation multiple times ordering from Amazon US to North Macedonia! The $0 tax display is definitely confusing at first, but as others mentioned, it's because Amazon doesn't collect Macedonian customs fees. For your $170 order, here's what you can realistically expect: - 18% VAT on the full value = ~$30.60 - Import duty (varies by product, usually 5-10% for electronics) = ~$8.50-$17 - Courier handling fee = €10-15 (about $10-16) So total additional costs will likely be around $50-65 on top of your $170 purchase. One thing to watch out for: make sure your items are properly categorized. I once had a phone case classified as "telecommunications equipment" with a much higher duty rate than it should have been. If something seems off with your customs bill, don't be afraid to question it - sometimes items get miscategorized and you end up paying more than necessary. Also, keep all your Amazon receipts and order confirmations. Customs may ask for proof of purchase value, and having the documentation ready speeds up the process significantly.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who regularly orders tech stuff from Amazon US to Macedonia. The advice here about expecting 18% VAT plus import duties is spot on - I typically budget an extra 25-30% on top of the purchase price to account for all fees. One tip that might help: if you're ordering multiple items, consider whether it makes sense to split them across separate orders. Sometimes keeping individual shipments under certain value thresholds can result in lower duty rates, though you'll pay multiple shipping and handling fees. It's worth calculating both scenarios. Also, I've found that DHL and FedEx are generally more reliable for international shipments from the US, even though they're pricier than standard shipping. They handle customs clearance more efficiently and their tracking is much better. With regular mail, packages sometimes get stuck in customs limbo for weeks without any updates. The tools mentioned like taxr.ai are definitely worth checking out - having a realistic estimate upfront helps avoid sticker shock when the package arrives!

This extension is such a relief! I was scrambling to get everything organized for my small business taxes - between all the receipts, mileage logs, and client payments, April 15th was looking impossible. The extra month gives me time to actually review everything properly instead of rushing and potentially missing deductions. Quick question for anyone who knows - does this May 17th deadline also apply to quarterly estimated tax payments for Q1 2025, or is that still due April 15th? I've been making quarterly payments for my freelance work but want to make sure I don't miss that deadline while focusing on getting my 2024 return filed.

This is such welcome news! As someone who's been putting off organizing my tax documents (guilty as charged), this extension feels like a lifesaver. I've been dreading dealing with the crypto transactions I made last year - trying to figure out cost basis and all those different trades has been overwhelming. The extra month will let me actually sit down and go through everything methodically instead of just throwing numbers together at the last minute. I'm also relieved to hear that the payment deadline is extended too, not just the filing deadline. Last year I had to scramble to come up with the money I owed by April 15th, so having until May 17th for both filing AND payment takes a lot of pressure off. Does anyone know if this extension affects state taxes too? I know some states follow federal deadlines automatically but others don't. I'm in California and want to make sure I'm not missing anything there.

Has anyone actually had the IRS question their return over this specific issue? I have the same problem with my W-2 but I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle of getting a corrected form if the IRS doesn't typically flag this.

This is exactly why proper W-2 reporting is so important! I work in tax preparation and see this mistake frequently. Your employer definitely needs to issue a corrected W-2 because the IRS computers are programmed to flag dependent care FSA amounts over $5,000 in Box 10. The transportation benefits should have been handled completely separately - they reduce your taxable wages in Box 1 but don't belong in Box 10 at all. When you contact HR again, you can reference IRS Publication 15-B which clearly states that qualified transportation fringe benefits are reported differently than dependent care assistance. If you're filing soon and can't wait for the correction, you could file with Form 8862 attached explaining the employer error, but getting the corrected W-2 is definitely the cleaner approach. Don't let them tell you it "doesn't matter" - it absolutely does for IRS matching purposes.

Am I the only one who thinks it's absolutely ridiculous that Robinhood references boxes that don't exist on their actual forms?? Every year I go through this same confusion. Why can't they just format their 1099bs like everyone else??? Or at least include a guide that matches THEIR form instead of some standard form they don't actually use!

I completely understand your frustration with the Robinhood 1099-B format! I went through this exact same issue this year and it drove me crazy too. After digging through everything, I finally figured out that what they call "box 12" is actually the "Basis Reported to IRS" information that appears in the transaction details section as a Y/N column. The key thing to understand is that Robinhood consolidates everything into their own format instead of using the traditional 1099-B layout with numbered boxes. When tax software or instructions reference "box 12," they're asking whether your cost basis was reported to the IRS - which you can find by looking at that Y/N indicator column in your transaction details. If you see mostly "Y" entries, it means Robinhood reported your cost basis to the IRS and you can use their numbers directly on Schedule D. Just make sure to also account for any wash sale adjustments that are shown in another column. Hope this helps clear up the confusion!

Something nobody mentioned - check if any of those investments could be considered qualified education expenses in the coming year. If your daughter is starting college, you might be able to time selling some investments with paying tuition and have them count toward education tax benefits like the American Opportunity Credit.

One thing to consider that might help with timing - if your daughter will be 18 during 2025 and truly providing more than half of her own support through work/internships, you could potentially avoid kiddie tax entirely by waiting. But be careful about the "more than half support" test - it includes tuition, room, board, everything. Also, don't forget about gift tax implications if you're funding her investment account. The annual exclusion is $18,000 for 2024, but if this account has grown from gifts over the years, make sure you're tracking that properly. Another strategy: if she has any investments that are currently at a loss, consider harvesting those losses this year to offset some of the gains. Even though she's subject to kiddie tax, capital losses can still offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar before the kiddie tax calculation even comes into play.