You might want to consider submitting Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application) if this is causing financial hardship or if your PCS timeline creates special circumstances. The Taxpayer Advocate can sometimes expedite processing when there are compelling reasons. The normal 20-week processing timeframe might be problematic with your military relocation timeline.

@Geoff Richards I completely understand your frustration as a military spouse! The processing times are definitely longer than they used to be. One thing that might help with your PCS timeline - if you're moving overseas or to a combat zone, you may qualify for extended filing deadlines which could give you more breathing room. Also, make sure you keep detailed records of your amended return submission since military families sometimes need to reference tax documents for security clearances or other military processes. Have you considered reaching out to the legal assistance office on base? They sometimes have contacts who can help navigate IRS issues for military families. Hang in there! 🇺🇸

Don't forget to check if you need to make estimated tax payments to California's Franchise Tax Board too! The FTB has their own payment system separate from the IRS called WebPay. Since you mentioned you're a California resident, you'll likely owe state taxes on that property sale as well. I made this mistake last year and only focused on the federal portion. Ended up with a penalty from California because I didn't make my estimated payment on time. The California tax on my property sale wasn't small either!

I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago when I sold my investment property and had to handle everything while backpacking through Southeast Asia. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely set up your electronic payment BEFORE you leave. I used IRS Direct Pay and it was seamless - no enrollment required and you can schedule the payment in advance. With $95k, you'll want to double-check the daily/monthly limits on your Bank of America account for ACH transfers. Second, consider making your payment in installments if cash flow is tight. The IRS allows you to set up payment plans online, and the fees are pretty reasonable compared to the stress of coming up with the full amount at once. Most importantly - and I can't stress this enough - file for the extension if you haven't already, even though CA residents get the automatic October extension. Having that official extension on file gives you extra protection if anything goes wrong. One last tip: Download the IRS2Go mobile app before you leave. You can check the status of your return and payments from anywhere, which gave me huge peace of mind while I was dealing with spotty WiFi in rural Thailand. Safe travels and don't let tax stress ruin your trip! You've got plenty of time to get this sorted before you leave.

According to the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing a backlog of verification cases. The letter notification is almost certainly legitimate. The TaxpayerAdvocate.org site specifically mentions that the WMR tool showing a letter status is accurate in 97% of cases, even when the systems seem misaligned. I'd recommend preparing documentation like your W-2s, 1099s, and identity verification just in case that's what they're requesting.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago and can share what happened in my case. The WMR status change you're describing is usually triggered when the IRS needs additional verification - in my case it was a CP05 notice requesting income verification because one of my W-2s didn't match what their systems had on file from my employer. The letter took exactly 2.5 weeks to arrive, and once I provided the requested documentation through their online portal, my refund was released within 3 weeks. I'd recommend checking your tax transcripts online now if you can access them, as they often show the specific notice codes before the physical letter arrives. Given that you're caring for your mother and need the refund, having that advance knowledge of what's coming can help you prepare the right documents ahead of time.

Don't forget about tax treaties! Depending on your home country, there might be specific provisions in a tax treaty with the US that affect your filing status or provide certain exemptions. These can override the general rules sometimes. What country are you from?

Sweden has a favorable tax treaty with the US! Under Article 20 of the US-Sweden tax treaty, students and trainees (including researchers) can exclude up to $5,000 of their income from US taxation, and in some cases even more depending on the source of funding. Since you're a J1 researcher from Sweden, you should definitely look into claiming treaty benefits using Form 8833. This could potentially save you money regardless of whether you file 1040 or 1040NR. The treaty provisions might also affect your residency determination. I'd recommend reviewing IRS Publication 901 which covers the US-Sweden tax treaty specifics, or consulting with a tax professional who understands international tax treaties. Given the complexity with your exempt individual status AND potential treaty benefits, it might be worth getting professional guidance to make sure you're optimizing your tax situation.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you have foreign bank accounts over $10,000 combined at any point during the year, you might need to file an FBAR form (FinCEN Form 114), even if you don't need to file a tax return. This is separate from the tax filing and has different rules.

Just want to add another perspective here - I moved from Ireland on an H1B in November 2023 (so similar dual status situation) and had zero US income during my brief resident period. I didn't file anything for 2023 and never heard from the IRS. However, what I wish I'd known then is that establishing good recordkeeping from day one is really important. Even though you don't need to file, I'd recommend keeping documentation of your arrival date, visa type, and evidence that you had no income during the resident portion. This becomes useful context when you file your first full-year return in 2025. Also worth noting - if you're planning to apply for citizenship eventually, having a clean compliance record from the start (even if it's just documentation showing you correctly determined no filing was required) can be helpful during the naturalization process. The USCIS sometimes asks about tax compliance history.