Anybody know if this same rule applies to other rental expenses too? Like if I buy cleaning supplies that I use at both properties, do I need to split that cost too?

Great question! I actually had a similar situation last year with two rental units in the same building complex. After consulting with my CPA, I learned that the correct approach is definitely to split the mileage proportionally - not claim the full amount for each property. Here's what I do now: I keep a simple spreadsheet where I log each trip with the total miles, then note what percentage of time/work was spent at each property. For your example, if you spent equal time at both units, you'd allocate 7 miles to each property on their respective Schedule E forms. The IRS views this as one business trip that served multiple properties, so the expense should be divided accordingly. Claiming 14 miles on both would indeed be double-dipping and could raise red flags during an audit. I've found that being conservative and well-documented with these allocations has saved me headaches down the road. One tip: I also photograph my odometer readings and keep brief notes about what work I did at each property. Makes tax time much smoother!

Make sure you check if your US company needs to have you fill out Form W-8BEN to certify your foreign status. Many US companies require this form before they'll honor the tax treaty provisions. Without it, some will withhold 30% automatically regardless of the treaty.

As someone who's been through this exact situation as a contractor from Mexico working with US companies, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: 1. **Get organized early** - Create a folder system now for all your tax documents. You'll need your 1099, contract agreements, proof of Argentine residency, and records of any US visits. 2. **Consider quarterly estimated payments** - Even though your company isn't withholding taxes, you might still owe US taxes depending on how the treaty applies to your specific situation. Making quarterly payments can help avoid underpayment penalties. 3. **Document your work location meticulously** - I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking where I physically perform work each day. This becomes crucial evidence if the IRS ever questions your treaty position. 4. **Connect with other Argentine contractors** - There are some good expat tax groups on Facebook where people share their experiences with the US-Argentina treaty specifically. The nuances can be quite different from other countries' treaties. The learning curve is steep but totally manageable once you get the system down. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the filing process!

Make sure when you start this new legit job, you fill out your W-4 correctly! If you've had untaxed income so far this year, you might want to have extra withholding taken out of your new paychecks to cover what you'll owe for the first part of the year. You can put an additional dollar amount on line 4(c) of the W-4 form. Also, open a separate savings account and start putting 25-30% of any "under the table" money aside for taxes. That way you won't be shocked at tax time.

Just want to add - since you're 19 and this is your first real job, don't beat yourself up about not knowing the tax rules. The system is confusing and your employer should have handled this properly from day one. That said, definitely file for this year and consider whether you need to file for any previous tax year where you had income. The good news is that if you're owed a refund from previous years (which is possible if you had other jobs with proper withholding), there's no penalty for filing late returns when the IRS owes YOU money. One practical tip: when you do file, you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit since you're young and likely don't have high income. This could actually get you money back even though no taxes were withheld. Sometimes people in "under the table" situations are pleasantly surprised to find they get refunds rather than owing money.

Has anyone actually transferred from a Coverdell to a 529? I'm wondering about the practicalities. Do you just call your 529 provider and tell them you want to do a rollover? Does the Coverdell administrator handle it? I'm confused about the actual process.

One important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet is the impact of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on inherited accounts. If you pass away before the funds are used, Coverdell ESAs have stricter rules - the beneficiary must use the funds by age 30 or face penalties. With 529 plans, there's more flexibility for inheritance planning since there's no age limit. Also, many states offer additional tax benefits for 529 contributions that don't apply to Coverdell ESAs. Since you mentioned your daughter starts college in 3 years, you might want to calculate whether any state tax deductions for future 529 contributions would outweigh keeping the current setup. The certificate renewal timing actually gives you a good opportunity to reassess. If you're not planning to make additional contributions beyond the $2,000 annual Coverdell limit, and your state offers 529 tax benefits, the rollover might make sense. But if the investment options in your current Coverdell are performing well and you like the flexibility, staying put could be fine too.

one other thing to consider is the state tax implications. Some states hav different rules for investment property losses than the federal government. I had a similar situation in California and was able to deduct the loss federally but not on my state return because they had different standards for what constituted an investment property vs personal residence. might want to check your state rules too.

Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you have a strong case for treating this as an investment property loss. The key factors working in your favor are: 1) Clear establishment of a new primary residence when you moved to the suburbs, 2) Zero personal use of the downtown condo after moving out, 3) Documentation showing investment intent (the staging contract prohibiting personal use is particularly compelling), and 4) The 15-month holding period demonstrating you were waiting for market conditions to improve. For reporting, you'll use Form 8949 and Schedule D to claim this as a long-term capital loss. The $95,000+ loss is substantial and can offset other capital gains or up to $3,000 of ordinary income annually (with carryforward for the remainder). Don't forget that your selling expenses and some of the carrying costs during that 15-month period may also be deductible. I'd recommend keeping detailed records of everything - the staging contract, utility bills showing minimal usage, communications with your realtor about market timing, and any other evidence that supports your investment intent. This documentation will be crucial if the IRS questions the classification. Given the complexity and the large loss amount, it might also be worth having a tax professional review your specific situation to ensure everything is reported correctly.