Friendly reminder that if you're claiming these credits for 2023 or planning to amend previous returns, make sure you're using the correct version of Form 7202 for the specific tax year. The IRS updated this form several times as the programs changed and extended. Also, double-check if your state offers any additional credits or benefits for self-employed people affected by COVID. Some states implemented their own programs that you might also qualify for on top of the federal credits!

Adding to all this great advice - one thing that really helped me was keeping a simple calendar or log of the days I couldn't work due to COVID-related issues. I marked down sick days when I had symptoms, quarantine periods, and all the days I had to stay home with my kids when their school/daycare was closed. This documentation made filling out Form 7202 much easier because I had exact dates and could clearly separate the sick leave days from the family leave days. The IRS wants you to be able to substantiate the periods you're claiming, so having that timeline ready is super helpful. Also, don't forget that you can claim these credits even if you didn't have any federal income tax liability that year - they're fully refundable, so you'll get the money as a refund check. This was huge for me since my income was way down in 2020-2021 due to all the canceled gigs.

I went through something similar with a travel giveaway from TikTok last year! The company kept giving me the runaround on the 1099 too. What really helped me was creating a detailed timeline of all my communications with them - dates, what they promised vs. what was delivered, screenshots of the original giveaway post, etc. Since they're already past the January 31st deadline for sending the 1099, I'd recommend sending them one final demand via certified mail with a clear deadline (maybe 10 business days). In that letter, specifically mention that you need the 1099-MISC for tax filing purposes and that they're already late on their legal obligation. Meanwhile, start gathering your own documentation for fair market value calculation. You mentioned having flight receipts which is perfect. For the accommodation, even though it was a personal home, research what similar properties would rent for in that area during your stay dates. The $250 gift card is straightforward to value. If they still don't respond, you can file your taxes reporting the actual value received as "Other Income" and keep all your documentation. The IRS is pretty understanding when taxpayers make good faith efforts to comply despite uncooperative prize sponsors. Just make sure your valuation is reasonable and well-documented!

What a frustrating situation! You're absolutely right to be concerned about this. Since you filled out a W-9 and the prize value likely exceeds $600, they should have sent you a 1099-MISC by January 31st - they're already well past that deadline. Here's my take: Document everything you actually received versus what was promised. You have the flight receipts (great!), the $250 gift card, and you stayed at their personal vacation home. The key is that you only owe taxes on the fair market value of what you actually received, not the inflated promotional value. For your tax filing, I'd calculate it like this: - Flight costs (you have receipts) - Fair market value of the vacation home stay (research comparable Airbnb/VRBO properties in that area for your dates) - $250 gift card value Send them one final certified letter demanding the 1099 with a specific deadline (maybe 10 business days). If they don't respond, proceed with reporting the actual fair market value as "Other Income" on your tax return. Keep all your documentation showing how you calculated the value. The IRS understands when prize sponsors are uncooperative, so as long as you make a good faith effort to determine reasonable fair market value and keep detailed records, you should be fine. Don't let their poor communication put you at risk for penalties!

Just adding another data point - I'm from Montreal and I used the US Consulate route last summer. Made an appointment online, brought my passport + W-7 + tax return, and they certified the copy right there. Took about 25 minutes total. Mailed everything to the IRS and had my ITIN in about 7 weeks. One tip they gave me at the consulate: make sure you call ahead to confirm they offer the passport certification service specifically for ITIN purposes. Some smaller consulates apparently don't offer it or have limited hours for this service.

Great thread with lots of helpful info! I went through this process as a Canadian in 2023 and wanted to add a few practical tips: 1. **Timing is everything** - If you're applying during tax season (January-April), expect longer processing times. I applied in May and got my ITIN in 6 weeks, but friends who applied in February waited 10+ weeks. 2. **Double-check your W-7 form** - The most common mistake I see other Canadians make is in Section 6a where you select your reason for needing an ITIN. Make sure you're checking the right exception box based on your specific situation. 3. **Keep copies of EVERYTHING** - The IRS will return your certified passport copy, but sometimes things get lost in the mail. I made photocopies of all documents before sending them. 4. **US Consulate appointment booking** - Book your consulate appointment ASAP. In Toronto especially, they can be booked weeks out. You can find the online booking system on the US Consulate website. The certified copy route is definitely the way to go - never send your original passport! I was traveling internationally while my application was processing and had zero issues.

I went through this exact situation when my mom's trust became irrevocable. The key thing to understand is that the trust's tax obligation exists regardless of whether you actually distribute the money or reinvest it. What helped me was getting a clear picture of the trust's "accounting income" versus "taxable income" - they're not always the same thing. The IRS looks at what the trust earned, not what you did with those earnings afterward. One strategy that worked for my situation was making small distributions to the beneficiaries (my siblings' kids) and having those funds go directly into 529 education savings accounts in their names. This way the income got taxed at their lower rates instead of the trust's compressed brackets, but the money was still being saved for their future benefit. You'd need to check if your trust document allows this kind of arrangement and whether it makes sense for your family's situation. Also, don't forget that the trust can deduct certain administrative expenses like trustee fees, accounting costs, and investment management fees. These deductions can help offset some of the tax burden.

This is a common confusion that many new trustees face! The key insight here is that irrevocable trusts are separate tax entities, so they owe taxes on income they retain regardless of whether that income is reinvested or sits in cash. The $2600 "distributed" amount you're seeing in TaxAct might be a software quirk or it could be related to how the program is calculating potential distributions under the trust's terms. I'd double-check your entries to make sure you haven't accidentally indicated any actual distributions. A few practical suggestions: 1. Consider consulting with a tax professional who specializes in trusts - the compressed tax brackets make this worth the investment 2. Review your trust document carefully to see if you have authority to make distributions now, as this could shift tax burden to your children at lower rates 3. Keep detailed records of all trust income and expenses, as the trust can deduct legitimate administrative costs Remember, as trustee you're responsible for ensuring the trust pays its taxes, but those taxes come from trust assets, not your personal funds. The trust should have its own bank account and tax ID number for this purpose.

I completely understand your confusion - this exact situation trips up a lot of first-time independent filers! The key thing to remember is that the 1095-A form follows the policyholder (the person who purchased the insurance), not necessarily who was covered by it. Since your parents are listed as recipients on the 1095-A, they should include this form on their tax return, even though they're no longer claiming you as a dependent. This is because they were the ones who enrolled in the marketplace plan and potentially received advance premium tax credits. For your return, you'll simply need to indicate that you had qualifying health insurance coverage for the year (to satisfy any coverage requirements), but you won't attach or reference the 1095-A form itself. TurboTax should walk you through this pretty clearly in the health insurance section - just make sure to select that you had coverage but weren't the policyholder. Don't worry, this is actually a pretty common scenario and you're handling it exactly right by asking questions first!

Great question! I went through this exact same situation a couple years ago when I first filed independently. The confusion is totally understandable - it seems weird that your parents keep the 1095-A when you're the one covered, but that's exactly how it works. Since your parents were the policyholders (their names on the form), they need to keep the 1095-A for their tax return to reconcile any advance premium tax credits they may have received throughout the year. This is true even though they're no longer claiming you as a dependent. For your return, you just need to check the box indicating you had health insurance coverage for the year (which you did!), but you won't include any 1095-A information since you weren't the policyholder. One thing to double-check - make sure your parents know they still need to include this 1095-A on their return even though their tax situation has changed with you no longer being their dependent. Sometimes parents assume they don't need to deal with it anymore, but they absolutely do since they were the ones who received any tax credits.