


Ask the community...
Something nobody's mentioned yet - you should check if the debt collector properly renewed the judgment. In most states, judgments expire after a certain period (often 7-10 years) unless the creditor files paperwork to renew it. If yours was from 2013 and they never renewed it properly, it might have expired. You can check this by contacting your county clerk's office and asking about any judgment renewals filed against you. If they didn't renew it and the original judgment has expired, you might be able to challenge the garnishment on those grounds. I went through something similar with an old credit card judgment from 2010. They tried to garnish my bank account in 2022, but I discovered they never renewed the judgment which expired after 10 years in my state. The court immediately terminated the garnishment order when I pointed this out.
Thank you for this suggestion! I hadn't even thought about checking if they properly renewed the judgment. I'll definitely contact my county clerk tomorrow. Do you happen to know if I need any specific information when I call them? I'm not even sure what the case number would be since I never received the original paperwork.
You'll need to provide your full legal name as it would appear on court documents. Some counties have online systems where you can search by name, while others require you to call or visit in person. They can usually find judgments against you just with your name and possibly your address. If they locate the judgment, ask specifically about renewal filings. The clerk should be able to tell you if and when any renewals were filed. If the original judgment has expired without renewal, get documentation of this to present to both the creditor and the tax authorities.
Just want to add that if the majority of your income is from SSD, you might qualify to file Form 982 "Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness" which can help if you're considered insolvent. This might not stop the current garnishment but could prevent future tax consequences if some of your debt gets discharged. Also, many states have homestead exemptions or wildcard exemptions that protect certain amounts of your assets and income from creditors, even after a judgment. These vary dramatically by state though - where are you located? Might be able to point you to specific state resources.
Curious what tax software people recommend for filing the partial year returns after conversion? I'm going through this exact scenario and usually use TurboTax Business but not sure if it handles this situation well.
I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Just want to add a few additional considerations that might help with your decision timing: 1. **Quarterly estimated taxes** - If you're making quarterly payments as a C Corp, converting mid-year will complicate your Q3 and Q4 estimates since you'll need to calculate them based on your new entity structure. 2. **Employee benefits** - If you have employees or provide yourself benefits through the C Corp (health insurance, retirement plans), these will need to be restructured. Some benefits that were tax-deductible for the C Corp might not be for an LLC. 3. **State franchise taxes** - Many states charge annual franchise taxes for C Corps that are calculated differently than LLC fees. Converting mid-year might still leave you liable for the full year's C Corp franchise tax in some states. The timing really depends on your specific situation, but given the complexity everyone's outlined here, waiting until your accountant returns might be worth the delay. Two weeks could save you from making a costly mistake, especially since you'll need professional help with those dual tax filings anyway.
Based on your detailed description, you have an extremely strong case for the Bona Fide Residence Test. Your situation checks all the major boxes: continuous residence since 2012, permanent resident status since 2016, property ownership, and strong ties to your foreign country without maintaining a US home. The flexibility you're seeking is exactly what the Bona Fide Residence Test provides - it's designed for people like you who have genuinely established their life abroad but need occasional US travel flexibility. The Physical Presence Test is really better suited for shorter-term assignments or digital nomads. Don't worry about the audit concern. Switching tests is completely legitimate when your circumstances support it, and your documentation is solid. The IRS actually prefers the Bona Fide Residence Test for long-term expats because it demonstrates genuine commitment to foreign residence. One suggestion: start keeping a simple travel log documenting the purpose of your US visits (work, family, etc.) and evidence of your intent to return to your foreign home. This creates a clear paper trail showing the temporary nature of your US trips. Your permanent resident visa and property ownership are particularly strong evidence. You're making the right move!
Your situation is absolutely perfect for the Bona Fide Residence Test! I made this exact switch three years ago when I was living in the Philippines, and it was one of the best tax decisions I've made. The key factors that make your case so strong: - 13+ years of continuous residence (since 2012) - Official permanent resident status since 2016 - Property ownership (even leasehold counts) - No maintained US home - Clear intent to remain abroad long-term I was initially nervous about the switch too, but the IRS guidance is actually very clear that people can qualify under different tests at different times as their circumstances evolve. Your documentation looks solid. One practical tip: when you file Form 2555 using the Bona Fide Residence Test, make sure to attach a brief statement explaining your residence history and ties to your foreign country. I included a simple timeline showing my visa progression, property purchase, and community involvement. It helps paint the complete picture. The flexibility you'll gain is worth it - I can now visit the US for extended periods without constantly counting days or worrying about losing my exclusion. Your permanent resident visa gives you an even stronger position than most expats have. Go for it! Your case is as straightforward as they come for the Bona Fide Residence Test.
This is really encouraging to hear from someone who's actually made this transition! The timeline statement you mentioned is a great idea - I hadn't thought about proactively explaining my residence history. Quick question: when you attached that statement, did you include it as a separate document or just add it to the Form 2555 itself? And did you mention specific community ties like local memberships, or just focus on the legal/financial aspects like visa status and property? I'm feeling much more confident about making this switch after reading everyone's experiences. It sounds like the IRS is actually quite reasonable about this as long as you have genuine ties to your foreign country, which I definitely do.
I included it as a separate one-page attachment to Form 2555, titled "Bona Fide Residence Statement." I kept it concise but covered both legal and community aspects: Legal/Financial: Timeline of visa progression (tourist β temporary resident β permanent resident), property purchase date and type, local bank account opening, and cessation of US ties (closed US bank accounts, no US property, etc.) Community Ties: I mentioned a few key ones like local gym membership (showed ongoing commitment), participation in expat community groups, and local professional associations. Nothing overly detailed - just enough to demonstrate genuine integration into local life. The statement was maybe 10-12 bullet points total. I think the key is showing both the legal framework supporting your residence AND the practical reality of your daily life being centered there. Your confidence is well-placed! The combination of your long residence history, permanent status, and property ownership makes this a very clear-cut case. The IRS guidance even specifically mentions that bona fide residents can travel to the US for extended periods without jeopardizing their status - exactly the flexibility you're looking for.
Has anyone received their Mississippi refund after filing in March? I filed on March 15th and I'm trying to figure out if I should expect it before my mortgage payment is due on May 1st. In previous years it seemed faster, but everything I'm reading here suggests I shouldn't count on it.
I filed my Mississippi return on March 22nd and just received my refund yesterday (April 15th) - so exactly 3.5 weeks for me! I was pleasantly surprised since everything I'd read suggested 4-6 weeks minimum. I did e-file with direct deposit and had a pretty straightforward return with no credits or complications. For what it's worth, I never got any email notification - the money just appeared in my account. So there's definitely hope for those March filers! π€
That's really encouraging to hear! I filed March 18th so we're in a similar timeframe. Did you notice any pattern with when they actually deposit - like was it on a specific day of the week? I've been obsessively checking my account every morning but maybe I should focus on Tuesdays and Thursdays like someone mentioned earlier.
Luca Ferrari
Michigan resident here - filed same day as you and got my refund yesterday. Maybe double check your routing/account info?
0 coins
Freya Nielsen
β’Everything looks correct on my end... guess im just unlucky πͺ
0 coins
Isabella Costa
I'm in the same situation! Filed my Michigan return on 2/9 and still waiting. The Michigan Treasury website is pretty slow to update compared to federal. I've heard from others that Michigan can take up to 6 weeks for processing this time of year, especially if you have any credits or deductions they need to verify. Try not to stress too much - you're definitely not alone in this wait!
0 coins