Just to add a bit of perspective - I've been living abroad for 15+ years and have filed Form 2555 many times. The "tax home" concept gets easier with time. A tip that helped me: keep a simple log of your physical location each day of the year. I use a Google spreadsheet with dates and countries. This helps prove your physical presence test and also documents your tax home. IRS doesn't require this documentation upfront, but if you're ever audited, having this record is invaluable.

As someone who went through a similar situation when I first moved abroad, I can confirm what others have said - Australia would be your tax home established in 2017, regardless of which cities you lived in within the country. One thing I'd add that might help: since you mentioned you were initially a student and then transitioned to work, make sure you understand how this affects your qualifying period. The IRS generally considers your tax home established when you move to a foreign country with the intention of remaining there indefinitely, which can include periods of study if you later transition to work in the same country. For the Physical Presence Test, your 2-week trip to New Zealand actually works in your favor since you were still outside the US. Just make sure you count the days carefully - partial days of travel usually don't count toward the 330-day requirement. Also, since you're in Australia, don't forget to consider whether claiming the Foreign Tax Credit might be more beneficial than the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, especially if you're in a higher Australian tax bracket. You can't use both on the same income, but you can choose whichever gives you better tax treatment.

Dont forget you might also need to file estimated quarterly taxes throughout the year depending on how much youre making. The IRS expects you to pay taxes as you earn income, not just once a year. Since you dont have an employer withholding taxes from your paychecks, you gotta do it yourself. I learned this the hard way and got hit with penalties my first year of self-employment :

Quick tip - make sure your tax software is calculating your Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A). This is a deduction that lets self-employed people deduct up to 20% of their business income in addition to regular business expenses. Some free tax software might not include this automatically.

call the irs advocate line! they helped me figure out why mine was delayed

Looking at your transcript, the 846 code on 4/30 means they definitely issued your refund. Since you had that debt offset situation that got reversed, there might have been some confusion in their system about your payment method. The additional tax assessments (290 codes) in May suggest there was still some processing happening after the refund was issued. I'd give it another week or two for a mailed check - sometimes they take longer than the usual 5-7 days when there's been transcript complications like yours. If nothing by then, definitely call the taxpayer advocate service.

Email works better than phone tbh. Look up your local office and send them a message through the portal

Don't panic! I went through this exact same thing last year. Missing their call doesn't hurt your case at all - they know how hard it is to coordinate schedules. What worked for me was calling the main TAS number (877-777-4778) and explaining I missed my advocate's callback. They were able to schedule another appointment time that worked better for both of us. Also make sure you're calling during your advocate's specific office hours since they work different schedules than regular IRS staff.

Don't forget about state and local options too! Many states have their own payment plans with better terms than the IRS. And since you mentioned a city tax, check if they have assistance programs. I live in NYC and discovered they have a hardship program that reduced my city tax debt by 40% when I showed proof of my financial situation. Just had to fill out some paperwork and provide bank statements.

I want to echo what others have said about filing ASAP even if you can't pay - this is absolutely critical. But I also want to address the emotional side of what you're going through because I've been there. The shame and secrecy around financial struggles can make everything feel so much worse. You mentioned your girlfriend doesn't know how bad things are. While I understand wanting to protect her from worry, having someone in your corner who understands your situation can be a huge relief. You don't have to go through this alone. Beyond the practical tax advice (which is all solid), consider looking into free financial counseling through nonprofits like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. They can help you create a realistic budget and develop strategies for managing your freelance income more predictably. Also, many areas have free tax preparation services through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs. Even though you've probably already filed or are about to, they might be able to review your return to make sure you're not missing any deductions before you submit. The stress you're feeling is completely understandable, but you have more options than you realize. This situation is temporary and manageable with the right approach.