Does anyone know if we have to file Form 8843 electronically or if it has to be mailed in? I've been using TurboTax for my regular returns but I'm not sure if they support attachments for the statement required for line 12.

I just went through this process myself as a 6th year F-1 student. After reading all the helpful advice here, I wanted to add that when drafting your statement, it's important to be very specific about your ties to your home country rather than just making general statements. For example, instead of just saying "I have family back home," I wrote something like "My parents and two siblings reside in [home country], where I maintain close relationships and visit annually during academic breaks." I also mentioned specific details like maintaining a bank account there, owning property jointly with family members, and having professional licensing that's only valid in my home country. The key is demonstrating that your life is genuinely centered in your home country despite your temporary presence in the US for education. I also made sure to mention my specific graduation timeline and concrete post-graduation plans (job offer, research position, etc.) to show that my stay in the US has a definite end date. My return was accepted without issues, so being detailed and specific in the statement definitely seems to work well.

If you're still having trouble with ID.me recovery, you can also try calling the IRS directly at 1-800-908-9946. They can sometimes help you access your account information over the phone if you verify your identity with them. It's usually a long wait but might be worth it if the other methods aren't working for you.

Had this exact same problem last year! Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Clear your browser cache completely, 2) Try using a different browser or incognito mode, 3) Make sure you're using the exact same device/browser you originally signed up with if possible. ID.me is really picky about device recognition. Also if you have multiple email addresses, double check you're using the right one - I was trying to recover with the wrong email for weeks! 🤦‍♀️

Has anyone here actually read the actual Australia-USA tax treaty text? I did (don't recommend unless you enjoy bureaucratic torture) and found Article 7 and Article 22 most relevant to your situation. The treaty basically says business profits are taxable primarily where you're a resident (Australia in your case), BUT if you have a "permanent establishment" in the US (like an office), the US can tax profits attributable to that establishment. Then Australia gives you credit for US tax paid. The GST issue is separate from the treaty though - that's purely Australian domestic law. Once you hit that $75k threshold from worldwide turnover, you're in the GST system for Australian sales only.

I've been through a similar situation with dual Australia-US income, and here's what I learned after consulting with a tax specialist who focuses on the Australia-USA treaty: The key thing to understand is that as an Australian tax resident, you're caught in Australia's worldwide taxation net. This means: 1. Yes, you must declare ALL income (including your $25k USD) to the ATO 2. Your GST registration is triggered by worldwide business turnover, so you'll need to register once you hit $75k combined 3. You cannot choose to be a US tax resident just for tax purposes - residency rules are strict and based on where you actually live and have ties However, the treaty does protect you from true double taxation through the foreign income tax offset system. You'll file in both countries but get credit in Australia for legitimate US taxes paid. One important note about permanent establishment that @Mei Lin mentioned - for consulting work, this usually requires a fixed place of business or staying more than 183 days. Working from clients' offices or coworking spaces temporarily typically doesn't create a PE. My advice: keep meticulous records of where each dollar was earned and what expenses relate to each jurisdiction. The ATO is getting increasingly sophisticated about tracking international income flows, especially with US reporting agreements in place. Consider getting professional advice specific to your situation - the treaty has many nuances that can significantly impact your tax liability.

Since nobody mentioned this yet - you should seriously consider whether your LLC is being treated as a corporation or disregarded entity for US tax purposes. If you never filed Form 8832 to elect corporate treatment, a single-member foreign-owned LLC is by default treated as a disregarded entity. This distinction matters because filing requirements are different. A disregarded entity owned by a foreign person still needs to file Form 5472, but attached to a pro forma Form 1120 (not a full tax return). Understanding this might help you file the correct forms now.

I went through almost the exact same situation with my Delaware LLC that I abandoned after formation. The stress and panic you're feeling is completely understandable, but there is hope! Here's what I learned from my experience: Yes, you do need to file Form 5472 and a pro forma Form 1120 for each year, even with zero activity. The key is acting quickly now and putting together a strong reasonable cause statement. For your reasonable cause letter, emphasize these points: 1) You're a non-US resident who was genuinely unaware of the filing requirements, 2) The LLC had absolutely no business activity or transactions, 3) You're coming forward voluntarily to correct the situation, and 4) This was an honest mistake, not willful non-compliance. I filed my delinquent returns with detailed reasonable cause statements and requested penalty abatement. While I can't guarantee your outcome will be the same, the IRS did accept my reasonable cause and waived most of the penalties. The fact that your LLC truly had no activity works strongly in your favor. Don't let the $25,000 penalty amount scare you into paralysis - that's the maximum statutory penalty, but the IRS has discretion to reduce or waive penalties when there's reasonable cause. Get those returns filed ASAP with solid documentation of your circumstances.

This is exactly the kind of situation that keeps me up at night as a small business owner! Thank you Justin for sharing your story - it's both terrifying and reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's made these kinds of mistakes. What really stands out to me from all these responses is how much the IRS seems to value good faith efforts and honest communication. It sounds like being proactive and documenting everything you tried to do right is almost as important as the actual compliance itself. I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice about First Time Penalty Abatement, getting extensions on deadlines, and even the deductibility of backup withholding payments are all things I never would have known about. It's amazing how much critical tax information isn't readily available to small business owners when we need it most. For anyone else reading this in a similar situation - it seems like the key takeaways are: don't ignore the notices, document your good faith efforts, ask specifically for First Time Penalty Abatement, and don't be afraid to get help whether that's through professional services or just getting connected to the right IRS representative. This community is incredibly valuable for sharing these real-world experiences!

As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, I felt compelled to share after reading through all these responses. I went through almost the identical situation with Form 945 backup withholding about 18 months ago, and I wish I had found advice like this back then! What I want to emphasize is that the emotional toll of these tax issues can be just as challenging as the financial impact. I remember feeling like a complete failure as a business owner and losing sleep for weeks. But the reality is that these compliance gaps are incredibly common for new businesses - you're definitely not alone in this, Justin. One thing I learned that hasn't been mentioned yet is to keep detailed records of ALL your interactions with the IRS throughout this process. Dates, times, names of agents you speak with, reference numbers - everything. I had to call back multiple times during my case, and having that information made each subsequent call much smoother because agents could see the history of our discussions. Also, while the financial aspect is scary, remember that small businesses survive these situations all the time. The IRS has programs specifically designed to help businesses get into compliance, not to shut them down. Focus on the solutions people have outlined here rather than the worst-case scenarios your mind might be creating. You've already taken the hardest step by asking for help and being proactive about addressing this. That puts you way ahead of business owners who just ignore IRS notices and hope they go away!