Something to keep in mind with amended returns - make sure you're tracking your refund the right way. The regular "Where's My Refund" tool doesn't work for amendments. You need to use the "Where's My Amended Return" tool specifically. Also, if you filed your original return with direct deposit, don't assume your amended return refund will come the same way. They often send amended refunds as paper checks even if you previously got direct deposit. Learned this the hard way last year when I kept checking my bank account while the check sat in my mailbox for a week!

One tip I learned from my accountant - if you e-file your amendment, you can check the status online after about 3 weeks. But if you mail a paper amendment, you should wait at least 16 weeks before even trying to check the status. I mailed my amended return for 2022 last year (for a similar mortgage interest issue) and tried checking after 8 weeks - the system couldn't find any record of it. Nearly had a heart attack thinking it was lost! Called the IRS in a panic only to be told paper amendments don't even get entered into their electronic system until they're assigned to a processor, which can take 12+ weeks.

Just FYI - the IRS recently announced a crypto compliance initiative. They're sending letters to thousands of taxpayers they suspect haven't properly reported crypto transactions. They're using blockchain analysis tools to identify potential non-compliance, even for smaller amounts. A friend of mine got one of these letters for only about $3k in unreported gains from 2020. The penalties and interest ended up nearly doubling what he would have paid if he'd just reported it originally. Better to just report it properly now than deal with the headache later. Schedule D and Form 8949 aren't that complicated for a small number of transactions.

Friendly reminder that wash sale rules don't technically apply to crypto (yet) since the IRS classifies crypto as property, not securities. This is actually one advantage for crypto traders. If you have any losses, you can sell and rebuy immediately to harvest the tax loss without waiting 30 days like you would with stocks. Could help offset those gains. Just make sure you're using crypto tax software that handles this correctly, as many general tax programs incorrectly apply wash sale rules to crypto.

Just wanted to add for the original poster - don't forget that foreign interest may also be subject to the Foreign Tax Credit if your brother paid Australian tax on that interest income. Form 1116 would be used for that, which is another form entirely. It gets complicated fast with foreign income!

Something nobody has mentioned yet - if your brother's foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point during the year, he'll need to file FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) separately from his tax return. The penalties for not filing this are insanely high, like $10,000+ for non-willful violations.

I've used both H&R Block and TurboTax, and honestly for simple returns they're basically the same service with different interfaces. The real difference comes with more complex situations. One thing nobody mentioned is that many credit unions and local banks offer their members completely free access to TurboTax or other premium tax software. Check with your bank before paying for anything! My credit union gives members free access to TurboTax Deluxe which would normally cost $60.

Honestly as a former tax preparer at one of those big chains, I'll tell you the secret - most of the people working at places like H&R Block during tax season are seasonal employees with minimal training. We literally took a 1-week course before handling people's taxes. The software does most of the work, and many of us were just data entry folks. For basic returns, you're way better off using software yourself or finding a year-round accountant who actually specializes in tax if your situation is complex.

Something no one has mentioned yet - you might actually be OWED money by the IRS if you had any withholding from that W2 job when you were 17. If you were under the filing threshold but had taxes withheld, you could have been due a refund. Unfortunately, you can only claim refunds for 3 years back, so that money is probably gone now. But going forward, make sure you're looking at the whole picture - it's not always just about what you owe them.

I work in construction too and my boss paid me under the table for years. Finally got caught when I tried to get a mortgage and couldn't prove my income. My advice - fix this BEFORE you need a loan, want to buy a house, or try to do anything that requires proof of income. Not filing makes life complicated in ways you don't expect until you hit them. Plus, you're missing out on things like Social Security credits that will matter when you're older.