Dont forget to check ur state return too! If u amend federal u usually gotta amend state also. I forgot this and got a nasty letter from my state tax ppl even tho IRS was fine with my amendment.

I amended my 2021 return last year for a similar situation - missed home office deduction as a contractor. The process was actually pretty straightforward and I didn't get audited. A few things that helped me: - Used Form 1040X and clearly explained each change in Part III - For home office, I measured my dedicated workspace (10x10 room = 100 sq ft) and used the simplified method ($5/sq ft = $500 deduction) - Included a floor plan sketch showing the office space - Made copies of everything before mailing The education credit from your 1099-T should be no problem at all - that's a very common amendment reason. Just make sure you're eligible for the American Opportunity Credit if you're claiming that one (only available for first 4 years of college). One heads up: you mentioned 2021, so double-check your deadline. You typically have 3 years from the original due date to amend, which would be April 2025 for most 2021 returns. Don't wait too long! Got my additional refund in about 16 weeks. Totally worth it for the peace of mind and extra money back.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! Filed my taxes with an incorrect home office calculation and realized it about 10 days later. I was also torn between the simplified method vs. actual expense method. Here's what I learned: definitely amend if the difference is significant (sounds like yours would be). The IRS processing time for amendments is currently running about 16-20 weeks, but the extra refund was worth the wait for me. I ended up getting back an additional $780. One thing to keep in mind - when you file next year with the correct square footage, just make sure you have good documentation (photos, measurements, etc.) in case they do ask questions. But honestly, they're more concerned with people overclaiming deductions than underclaiming them. The Form 1040-X isn't too complicated if you use tax software to generate it. Just make sure to clearly explain in Part III what you're changing and why. I wrote something like "Correcting home office deduction calculation - using proper square footage and simplified method per IRS guidelines." Good luck with your amendment!

Based on the details you've provided, I'd definitely recommend filing the amendment. A $2,440 additional deduction could result in significant tax savings - potentially $300-600+ depending on your tax bracket. Since you're already showing a business loss, the additional deduction would reduce your taxable W2 income, likely resulting in a meaningful refund increase. Don't worry about the IRS flagging the square footage increase next year. Business spaces genuinely change, and as long as you have proper documentation (measurements, photos), you'll be fine. The IRS is much more concerned with overclaimed deductions than underclaimed ones. For the amendment process, I'd recommend using the same tax software you used originally to generate the 1040-X - it'll be much easier than doing it manually. Make sure to clearly explain the changes in Part III of the form. Something like "Correcting home office deduction: updated square footage from 108 to 122 sq ft and changed from actual expense method to simplified method per IRS Publication 587." Keep good records of your current office setup with photos and measurements. The simplified method at $5 per square foot is often the better choice for smaller spaces, so you made the right calculation switch. Yes, it's annoying to catch this after filing, but at least you caught it early enough to amend easily. The processing time is long (4-5 months typically), but the extra money is usually worth the wait.

Just wanted to mention that recreating a depreciation schedule isn't necessarily super expensive. I'm surprised your new tax pro is making a big deal about it. When I switched accountants, mine recreated 8 years of depreciation schedules for about $150. They said it was pretty straightforward since residential rental property typically uses straight-line depreciation over 27.5 years. You might want to ask for a specific quote before assuming it'll be expensive. Also worth considering is that you'll need this documentation whenever you sell the property to properly calculate your adjusted basis and depreciation recapture, so it's an investment in proper record keeping.

I'm a CPA and this situation is unfortunately more common than it should be. Your previous preparer was absolutely required to file Form 4562 if they were claiming depreciation on your rental property - there's no way around it in legitimate tax software. What likely happened is one of two scenarios: 1) They were filing the form but just not giving you copies (which is still poor practice), or 2) They were manually entering depreciation amounts without properly completing the required schedule (which is concerning from a compliance standpoint). Before paying to recreate everything, I'd strongly recommend requesting your complete tax return transcripts from the IRS first. You can do this online through the IRS website or by calling them. The transcripts will show exactly what forms were filed with your returns. If Form 4562 was actually filed, you can request complete copies of your returns including all schedules. If the forms weren't filed properly, then yes, recreating the depreciation schedule is necessary and worth the investment. Just make sure your new preparer gives you copies of everything going forward - you should always have a complete copy of your tax return including all schedules and supporting documentation.

Make sure you file a statement with your joint return! My husband is on a J1 and I'm a citizen - we file jointly and have to include a statement that says "XXX [non-resident spouse name] and YYY [US citizen spouse name] are making the election to file a joint tax return pursuant to section 6013(g) of the Internal Revenue Code for the tax year 2023." You sign and date it and attach to your 1040. If you don't include this statement, the IRS might reject your return or question your filing status later! We learned this the hard way lol.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was on a J1 visa and my husband was a US citizen finishing his PhD with minimal income. After running the numbers both ways, we definitely saved money filing jointly. The key things that made filing jointly beneficial for us were: 1. Higher standard deduction ($25,900 vs $12,950 for married filing separately) 2. Access to education credits for my husband's tuition expenses 3. Potential eligibility for other credits like the Child Tax Credit if you have kids However, you'll need to be aware that by filing jointly, you're electing to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes, which means: - You'll report your worldwide income (not just US income) - You may lose certain tax treaty benefits available only to nonresidents - You'll need to include the election statement that others mentioned I'd strongly recommend calculating your taxes both ways before deciding. Also, don't forget that if you file jointly, your spouse will need an ITIN if they don't have an SSN. The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I understood the requirements!

Is anyone here familiar with whether theres any tax benefit to donating some of these kinds of collections instead of selling? I heard something about being able to deduct the full value if you donate to a museum or something?

One thing to keep in mind is the holding period for inherited assets - since you inherited these baseball cards, they're automatically considered "long-term" regardless of how long you actually hold them before selling. This means you'll qualify for long-term capital gains treatment (which for collectibles is that 28% max rate Luis mentioned) even if you sell them right away. Also, if you're planning to sell the entire collection, consider spreading the sales across multiple tax years if the amounts are substantial. Since collectibles are taxed at that higher 28% rate rather than the preferential rates for stocks, managing the timing of sales can help with tax planning, especially if it keeps you in lower overall tax brackets. Make sure to keep detailed records of each sale - the IRS likes to see documentation for collectible transactions, so track the specific items sold, sale prices, and your basis in each piece. Good luck with those home renovations!