Has anyone tried e-filing an amendment from 1040 to 1040NR? I'm in the same situation and wondering if there's any way to avoid the paper filing nightmare.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and want to emphasize a few critical points that might save you some headaches: First, when you mail your amendment package, use certified mail with return receipt. The IRS processing centers can be overwhelmed, and having proof of delivery is crucial if your package gets lost. Second, regarding the refund repayment calculation - make sure you're accounting for any interest you might owe. If it's been more than a few months since you received the original refund, the IRS may assess interest on the amount you need to pay back. Include this in your payment to avoid additional notices. Third, prepare for a long wait. My 1040 to 1040NR amendment took about 6 months to process, which is typical for paper amendments. Don't panic if you don't hear back for several months - that's normal. Finally, keep detailed records of everything. I created a folder with copies of all forms, supporting documents, the certified mail receipt, and notes from any phone calls with the IRS. This documentation proved invaluable when I had questions about my case later. The good news is that once it's processed correctly, you'll have peace of mind knowing your tax situation is properly resolved.

Has anyone had success with just omitting the account number entirely? I'm using FreeTaxUSA and it seems to let me leave that field blank without generating any errors.

I had this exact same issue with my Fidelity 1099-R last year! The 20-digit account number drove me crazy until I figured out what was happening. What worked for me was using only the last 17 digits when entering it into my tax software (I use H&R Block online). The way I think about it is that Fidelity includes their internal routing/classification codes at the beginning of the account number, but for tax purposes you only need the actual account identifier portion. I called Fidelity's tax line to confirm this approach and they said it was correct. One thing I'd suggest - if you're really worried about it, you can always attach a statement to your return explaining that you truncated the account number due to system limitations. But honestly, I don't think it's necessary. The IRS is used to dealing with this kind of formatting issue between different financial institutions. Good luck with your filing, and congrats on the new home!

One thing nobody's mentioned - your sister might qualify for the Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A) which could reduce her taxable income by up to 20% of her net business profit. This is available to most self-employed people and small business owners. So while she does need to pay self-employment tax on her 1099-NEC income (by filing Schedule C), this deduction could help offset some of the income tax on that amount. It's automatically calculated in most tax software when you report self-employment income correctly. Don't try to game the system by filing incorrectly - instead, take advantage of all the legitimate deductions and credits available to self-employed individuals!

I just went through this exact situation with my son who does YouTube sponsorships! The confusion about "non-employee compensation" is so common - I thought the same thing initially. What really helped us was understanding that the 1099-NEC form is basically the IRS saying "this person paid you as a contractor, not an employee." It doesn't mean you avoid self-employment taxes - it means you're running a business and need to report it properly. For your sister's situation, she's essentially running a personal brand/marketing business. All that 1099-NEC income needs to go on Schedule C, but the good news is she can deduct a lot of business expenses that might not be obvious: - Equipment for creating sponsored content (camera, lighting, tripods) - Portion of phone/internet bills used for business - Travel to sponsored events or photo shoots - Athletic gear required specifically for sponsorship activities - Professional photography/videography services - Marketing materials or business cards - Even a portion of her training expenses if they're tied to maintaining her sponsored athlete status The self-employment tax hurts at first, but properly tracking these expenses can really reduce her taxable income. Plus, as someone mentioned, the QBI deduction can save up to 20% on the income tax portion. Better to file correctly now than deal with IRS notices later!

For anyone doing short-term trading on apps like CashApp - what tax software are y'all using? I tried TurboTax last year but it was a nightmare trying to enter all my trades manually.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned after my first year of active trading - make sure you understand the difference between "trader" and "investor" status with the IRS. Most people doing casual day trading like you described are considered investors, which means your trading losses are capital losses (limited to $3,000 deduction per year against ordinary income). However, if you were doing this as a business (trading frequently, substantial time commitment, seeking short-term profits), you might qualify for trader status, which has different tax implications. With your $46k in trades on a $52k salary, it's probably worth understanding this distinction. Also, since you mentioned some same-day flips - just be aware that day trading can sometimes trigger pattern day trader rules with brokers (though that's more about account requirements than taxes). The tax treatment is the same whether you hold for minutes or weeks, as long as it's under a year it's all short-term capital gains/losses. Your $790 loss will definitely help reduce your tax bill, not increase it!

Another money-saving option for your state taxes: check if your state has a free filing option directly through their tax department website. Many states offer free filing portals that aren't advertised as much as the paid services. For example, I live in California and was able to file for free using CalFile directly through the state franchise tax board. I had a similar situation where FreeTaxUSA wanted to charge for state filing after I did federal for free.

Pro tip: If you're filing back taxes just for FAFSA purposes, you can also request your tax transcript directly from the IRS after filing your federal return. This is free and often processes faster than waiting for your full return to be processed. The FAFSA verification process will accept tax transcripts if they need to verify your information.