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Question about the TFSA distribution - if I closed my account and transferred everything to a US account like OP did, do I need to report this on Form 3520 every year going forward, or just for the tax year when I made the transfer? I'm thinking about doing the same thing to simplify my tax situation.
You would only need to report the distribution on Form 3520 for the tax year in which you received the distribution - not for future years. So if you closed your TFSA and transferred everything to a US account in 2024, you'd report it on your 2024 Form 3520 (filed in 2025). After that, since the account is closed, you wouldn't need to continue reporting it in future years. This is actually a common strategy for US persons with Canadian TFSAs - closing them to simplify US tax compliance since the tax advantages of TFSAs are generally not recognized by the US anyway.
I went through a very similar situation with my Canadian TFSA last year and can confirm what others have said about the extension. Form 4868 does automatically extend Form 3520 to October 15th - you don't need to file a separate extension form. For your specific TFSA situation, the IRS generally treats Canadian TFSAs as foreign trusts (unlike RRSPs which have treaty exceptions). Your $28,000 distribution in January 2024 would likely need to be reported on Form 3520 as a distribution from a foreign trust. The good news is that if you're filing under extension, you have until October 15th to get everything sorted out. One piece of advice - consider getting professional help with this if the amounts are significant. The Form 3520 penalties are severe (the greater of $10,000 or 35% of the trust distributions), so it's worth making sure you get it right. The complexity of foreign trust reporting combined with the harsh penalty structure makes this one area where professional guidance often pays for itself.
irs.gov website but good luck getting in. Its always down š¤”
This is such a relief to hear! I've been seeing so many horror stories about 971 codes that I automatically assumed the worst when mine appeared yesterday. Thanks for sharing the positive outcome - gives me hope that mine might just be a routine adjustment too. Did you get any indication on your transcript about what caused the increase?
Watch out for scammers during this waiting period! I had someone call me claiming to be from the IRS saying they could "expedite" my paper check for a fee. Total scam! ⢠Never pay anyone who claims they can speed up your refund ⢠The IRS never calls about refunds without sending a letter first ⢠Don't give personal info to anyone who calls claiming to be IRS ⢠The only legitimate way to check status is through irs.gov/refunds My paper check took 23 days after bank rejection. No way to speed it up despite what scammers claimed.
I went through this exact situation in January! My bank rejected the direct deposit due to a closed account, and I was stressed about the timing too. Here's what actually happened: ⢠Day 1: Bank rejection occurred (I found out through my bank app) ⢠Day 3: Where's My Refund updated to show "refund sent to bank" changed to "processing" ⢠Day 12: Status updated to "refund mailed" with a date ⢠Day 16: Check arrived in my mailbox Total time was 16 days from rejection to receiving the physical check. The IRS customer service rep I eventually reached (after a 2-hour wait) told me 2-3 weeks is standard, but mine came on the earlier side. Pro tip: Keep checking Where's My Refund daily - it will update with the exact mailing date once your check is processed, which helps with planning. Also double-check that your current address matches exactly what's on file with the IRS! Hope this helps with your contractor expense planning - 16-23 days seems to be the realistic range based on recent experiences shared here.
This timeline is really helpful! I'm in a similar situation and your day-by-day breakdown gives me hope that it won't take the full 28 days I was worried about. Did you have to do anything special to make sure your address was correct with the IRS, or did you just assume it matched what was on your return? I'm paranoid now after reading about people's checks getting lost due to address issues.
I just want to point out that while that $1 check is legit, make sure to double check EVERYTHING about any check you get that claims to be from the IRS. There are some sophisticated scams out there. A real IRS check will be printed on US Treasury paper, have the Treasury seal, and be drawn on the US Treasury. If they ask you to call a number to "verify" before cashing, that's a huge red flag for a scam.
Thanks for the warning! How can I tell for sure if it's printed on real Treasury paper? Are there specific security features I should look for?
Real Treasury checks have several security features including watermarks that become visible when held up to light, ultraviolet markings (though you'd need a special light to see these), microprinting that looks like a solid line but actually contains tiny words when viewed with magnification, and color-shifting ink on the dollar amounts that changes from copper to green when tilted. Most importantly, if you have any doubts, you can verify if a check is legitimate by calling the Treasury directly at 1-800-826-9434. Never call a number printed on the check itself or provided in an accompanying letter, as scammers often include fake verification numbers.
For anyone who's curious about the exact rules on IRS interest payments: they're required by law to pay interest if they issue your refund more than 45 days after the tax filing deadline OR more than 45 days after you actually filed (if you filed after the deadline). The interest rate they pay changes quarterly. Right now it's around 5% annually, which explains why these amounts are usually tiny unless your refund was huge or extremely delayed.
Is that interest taxable? I'm guessing it probably is because the government loves to tax everything lol.
Unfortunately yes, IRS interest payments are considered taxable income. They'll send you a 1099-INT form if the total interest for the year is $10 or more. Even if it's less than $10 and you don't get the form, you're still technically supposed to report it on your tax return. So that $1 check might end up costing you a few cents in taxes next year!
Emily Sanjay
I filed 3/25 and my transcript updated this morning with a DDD of 4/8, so that'll be 14 days total. I claimed EIC too, so I was surprised it moved so quickly. I think they're catching up on the backlog from earlier in the season.
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Alicia Stern
ā¢That's actually impressive for an EIC return this late in the season. They must be processing faster now that the early rush is over.
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GalacticGuardian
Filed 3/29 here and still showing "received" on WMR. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like there's really no rhyme or reason to the timing this year! Some getting it in 8 days, others taking the full 21. I have a pretty straightforward return - just W-2 and standard deduction, no kids or credits - so hopefully I'll be on the faster side. Thanks for sharing your timelines everyone, it helps to know I'm not the only one obsessively checking every morning!
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