Has anyone used TurboTax or similar software to handle this kind of international situation? I'm in almost the exact same boat (moved to Germany in 2023, have US rental property) and wondering if regular tax software can handle the complexity or if I need something specialized.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation - moved to Germany in late 2023 and have been struggling with understanding how the tax treaty applies to my US rental income. From what I've researched, the key is that rental income from US property remains primarily taxable in the US under Article 6 of the treaty, but Germany will still include it in your worldwide income calculation. One thing I learned that might help: make sure you're properly calculating your German tax residency date. If you moved in September 2023, you likely became a German tax resident immediately upon arrival with intention to stay permanently. This affects how much of your 2023 income Germany will want to tax. For the rental property, you'll need to report it on both returns but can claim foreign tax credits to avoid double taxation. The German tax advisor's quote does seem excessive - I've seen quotes ranging from €800-1500 for similar complexity. Have you considered getting a second opinion from another German Steuerberater? Also, don't forget about depreciation on your rental property - you can claim it in both countries, which can significantly reduce your taxable rental income.

I'm at week 15 myself and completely feel your pain! Filed my amended return on March 5th to correct some 1099 income reporting that was missed on my original return. Still stuck on "received" status despite being so close to that 16-week mark. What's been driving me crazy is how random the processing seems to be. I've tracked posts on various forums and there really doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to who gets processed when. I've seen people who filed simple amendments in April already getting their refunds, while others with basic corrections from February are still waiting. The one thing that's given me some peace of mind is reading that the IRS is actually processing MORE amended returns than usual this year, but they're being extra thorough due to increased fraud detection measures. So the delays might actually be a sign that they're being more careful, which could be good in the long run. I'm planning to call next week when I hit 16 weeks, but honestly after reading all the experiences here about getting through to them, I might try one of those callback services if the regular phone lines don't work. At this point I just want to know my return isn't lost in some black hole somewhere! Stay strong - sounds like most people eventually get their refunds, it's just a matter of when!

I'm at week 10 with my amended return (filed March 20th to correct some retirement account distributions) and this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong, but it sounds like everyone is dealing with similar delays. What's been helpful for me is setting a reminder to check the "Where's My Amended Return" tool just once a week instead of obsessively checking it daily. It was driving me crazy to see the same "received" status over and over. Now I check every Friday morning and it's much less stressful. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that certain types of amendments (like retirement account corrections, stock sales, or credit claims) often get routed to specialized review teams, which can add extra time. That might explain why some of us with more complex amendments are waiting longer than others with simple income corrections. I'm going to wait until week 16 before calling, but reading about the callback services here has me curious. If the regular IRS phone lines don't work out, I might give one of those a try rather than spending hours on hold. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know we're all in this together!

Be extremely careful when searching for IRS phone numbers online. I found what I thought was a legitimate number on a tax help website, called it, and it turned out to be a scam operation. They started asking for my SSN and payment info to "verify my identity." The ONLY safe place to get IRS contact info is directly from IRS.gov or the official IRS publication you received. Don't trust random Google search results like I did - lesson learned the expensive way.

For property tax deduction questions specifically, you might want to try the Individual Tax Line at 800-829-1040 and specifically ask to be transferred to someone who handles Schedule A itemized deductions. When you call, have your prior year returns ready and be prepared to explain that your question relates to property tax deductibility - this helps them route you to the right specialist faster. I'd also recommend calling right at 7am when they open, as the wait times are typically shortest then. If you're dealing with SALT (State and Local Tax) limitation issues on your property taxes, mention that specifically since it requires someone familiar with the $10,000 cap rules.

Is your friend enrolled as an Electronic Return Originator (ERO)? If so, he can access e-Services online and might have an easier path to resolving this. Also worth checking if he has a dedicated IRS agent through the Practitioner Priority Service - experienced accountants often have this resource and it can bypass many of the normal wait times.

I work at a mid-size CPA firm and we've dealt with this exact scenario before. Here's what I'd recommend for your friend: 1) Call EFTPS immediately at 1-888-353-4537 (not the number mentioned earlier - that's the old one). Explain it's an emergency with multiple clients and pending deadlines. They can issue temporary PINs over the phone that are valid for 30 days. 2) If he can't get through quickly, have him fax a signed letter on his letterhead to 855-264-3287 explaining the situation with a list of all affected EINs. Include his PTIN number if he has one. They usually respond to emergency fax requests within 24-48 hours. 3) As a last resort, clients can make payments directly through their bank's online bill pay system using the "Federal Tax Deposit" option - most major banks offer this and it posts same-day if done before 8 PM ET. The key thing is to document everything he's doing to resolve this. Even if some payments are a day or two late, showing he took immediate action usually results in penalty abatement when you can prove reasonable cause. I've successfully gotten penalties waived in similar situations by providing this documentation to the IRS. Don't let him stress too much - this is more common than people think and there are definitely solutions!

Just my two cents, but I think you should definitely tell your tax preparer about the unfiled 2023 return during your appointment for 2024. They deal with this situation ALL THE TIME, trust me. When I worked as a server, I had a similar issue where I owed money multiple years and got overwhelmed. My tax guy handled everything - filed my back taxes, set up a payment plan, and even got some penalties reduced. It was way less painful than I expected. Don't try to handle the 2023 return yourself if you're already planning to see a professional for 2024. Let them handle both and do it right. The peace of mind is worth it, and they might save you money in the long run.

You're definitely not in as much trouble as you think! Missing one year happens more often than you'd expect, especially with multiple W-2s and website issues like you experienced. The lack of IRS notices is actually pretty normal - they're still working through backlogs and it often takes 12-18 months before they start sending letters about unfiled returns. Don't let that false sense of security fool you though - it's better to get ahead of it. Since you mentioned most of your income was from serving, there's a decent chance you might have had enough taxes withheld to cover what you owe, or you might even be due a refund. Server wages often have higher withholding rates, and if you're young, you might qualify for credits you don't know about. Definitely bring up the 2023 situation with your tax preparer at your scheduled appointment. They can handle both years efficiently and help you understand exactly where you stand. In the meantime, start gathering those 2023 W-2s - contact the employer with the website issues directly if needed, or you can request wage transcripts from the IRS. Don't stress too much about this. You're being proactive now, which is what matters. The penalties for late filing aren't pleasant, but they're manageable, especially if you file before the IRS gets around to creating a substitute return for you.