Have you considered going to your local Taxpayer Assistance Center instead of calling? I had a similar issue last year after my separation and spent hours preparing for a phone call that never connected. I finally made an appointment at my local TAC (you have to call 844-545-5640 to schedule), brought all my documentation (divorce decree, previous tax returns, ID, etc.), and got everything resolved in one 30-minute visit. Just make sure you ask what documents to bring when you schedule. Do you know what specific questions you need answered about your filing status?

I went through this exact situation two years ago and want to share what worked for me. The in-person route that Omar mentioned is honestly your best bet if you have a TAC nearby. I tried calling for weeks with no success, but the TAC appointment got everything sorted in one visit. For your specific situation with a divorce finalized last month, you'll definitely want to bring: your final divorce decree, your 2023 tax return if already filed, your ex-spouse's SSN (if you have it), and any documentation about custody arrangements if you have kids. The agent will walk you through whether you should file as Single, Head of Household, or if you need to amend anything. Much less stressful than the phone marathon!

Has anyone tried using TaxAct's direct crypto import options instead of creating a separate PDF? They supposedly added support for some exchanges, though I don't know if Binance.US is one of them.

I just went through this exact process last week with my crypto trades from multiple exchanges. The key insight that saved me hours of frustration is that TaxAct treats the attachment feature differently for crypto than for other investments. First, make sure you're selecting "Category A" instead of Category C if you have any transaction records from your exchange, even without a 1099-B. Category C is really meant for situations where you have zero documentation. Since you have Binance.US records, Category A is more appropriate. Second, as others mentioned, you MUST enter your summary totals in TaxAct's Schedule D section first. Calculate your total proceeds, total cost basis, and total gain/loss from your 15,000+ transactions and enter those numbers. This is what triggers the attachment option to appear later. The attachment option only shows up during the final filing process, specifically in the "Review & File" section, not during preparation. Look for "Supporting Documents" or "Attachments" - the exact wording varies by TaxAct version. One more tip: if your PDF is still large after compression, consider breaking it into multiple smaller PDFs by date ranges. TaxAct allows multiple attachments, and smaller files are less likely to cause upload errors during peak filing times.

Has anyone mentioned estate tax yet? Depending on how big the trust is, you might need to file Form 706 (estate tax return) even if no tax is due. For 2023, the federal exemption is $12.92 million, but some states have much lower thresholds. Also, don't forget about potential state inheritance taxes depending on where you live. Pennsylvania, for example, has an inheritance tax even when federal estate tax doesn't apply.

I went through almost the exact same situation with my mother's trust two years ago - two properties, bank account, and my sister and I as co-trustees. Here are a few additional things I learned the hard way that might help you: Make sure you get date-of-death valuations for ALL assets, not just the properties. Even the bank account balance needs to be documented as of your father's date of death, since any interest earned after that date is taxable income to the trust. If either property has been vacant since your father passed, don't forget about ongoing expenses like property taxes, insurance, and utilities. These are deductible on the trust's tax return and can help offset any income the trust earned. One thing that caught me off guard - when my sister wanted to put her inherited property into her own trust (similar to your brother), we had to be very careful about the timing and documentation to make sure it was treated as a distribution from dad's trust to her personally, then a separate transfer into her new trust. Otherwise the IRS might view it as a direct trust-to-trust transfer with different tax implications. Also consider getting an EIN for any new trust your brother creates before the transfer happens. The paperwork flows much smoother when everything is set up in advance. Good luck navigating all this - it's overwhelming but you're asking the right questions!

Another thing to check - make sure you're looking at the right numbers on TurboTax. Sometimes people look at the total tax WITHHELD (what came out of your paychecks) and mistake that for their expected refund. Your refund is just the difference between what you owed and what was already withheld. Double-check your TurboTax summary to make sure you're looking at the "refund" line and not something else.

Don't panic - this is actually pretty common! The $2,500+ difference between what TurboTax calculated and what you received suggests the IRS made adjustments to your return. Since this is your first time filing, there are a few likely culprits: 1. **Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)** - If TurboTax calculated this credit but you didn't actually qualify based on your specific situation, the IRS would remove it 2. **Education credits** - These have strict eligibility requirements that software sometimes misses 3. **Filing status** - If there was any confusion about whether you can file as independent vs. dependent The good news is that you should receive a detailed notice (CP2000 or similar) explaining exactly what they changed and why. Since you moved, definitely contact USPS about mail forwarding ASAP, or create an online IRS account to access your records digitally. Your state refund will come separately - that part is totally normal. Each state processes at their own pace, so don't worry if it takes several more weeks. Focus on getting that IRS explanation letter first to understand the federal adjustment!

I've been preparing taxes for friends and family for over 10 years, and this is a very common misunderstanding. Your federal and state returns are completely separate systems. Many people don't realize that the IRS (federal) and your state's department of revenue are entirely different agencies with different rules, forms, and processing systems. They do share information eventually, but an error on one doesn't automatically affect the other. If your federal return was accepted, it's in process regardless of what happens with your state return. The only time you'd need to worry is if the information you provided on both returns contradicts each other significantly.

Hey Muhammad! I totally get the stress - tax season as a new grad is already overwhelming enough! 😅 Just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying: your federal return is completely safe! Think of it this way - the IRS and your state tax agency are like two different companies that don't share the same computer system. Your federal acceptance has nothing to do with your state error. Since you're just starting out with taxes, here's a pro tip for the future: always double-check your state info before hitting submit, especially things like state ID numbers or addresses. TurboTax is usually pretty good about catching errors, but it can't catch everything. While you're waiting for that state letter, you can track your federal refund progress using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. It should show up there within a few days of acceptance. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪