6 Is anyone using TurboTax instead of H&R Block? I'm having the exact same issue with negative foreign tax values in TurboTax and wondering if there's a similar fix.

I've been dealing with international dividend taxation for several years now, and I wanted to add some clarification that might help others avoid confusion. The foreign tax credit is definitely worth claiming - it's essentially getting back taxes you've already paid to another country. The $300 threshold for the simplified method ($600 if married filing jointly) is per tax year, so if you're consistently investing in international stocks, you'll want to track this annually. One thing I learned the hard way: keep good records of your foreign tax credits. If you can't use the full credit in one year because your US tax liability is lower than the foreign taxes paid, you can carry the unused portion forward for up to 10 years. But you'll need Form 1116 for carryovers, even if the original amount was small enough for the simplified method. Also, make sure the foreign taxes you're claiming actually qualify - they need to be income taxes, not other types of foreign taxes or fees. The 1099-DIV should clearly show "Foreign Tax Paid" in Box 7 if it qualifies for the credit.

One thing to watch out for when comparing platforms: some will advertise a big refund upfront but then hit you with fees at the very end of the process. I've had situations where Platform A showed a $50 higher refund than Platform B, but then charged $75 more in filing fees, making it actually worse overall. Make sure you go all the way to the payment screen on each platform to see the TRUE final amount you'll receive after all fees are deducted!

Great question! I've been doing this for years and it's totally allowed. The IRS only cares about the one return you actually submit - they have no visibility into how many different software programs you used to prepare it. I'd definitely recommend trying both TurboTax and H&R Block for your situation since you have both W-2 and freelance income. In my experience, TurboTax tends to be more user-friendly for self-employment stuff and walks you through business deductions really well. H&R Block sometimes catches things differently though. A few tips from someone who does this annually: - Keep a spreadsheet of all your numbers so you enter them exactly the same way in each platform - Don't just look at the refund amount - factor in the filing fees too since they can vary significantly - Pay attention to how each platform categorizes your freelance expenses, as that's usually where the biggest differences show up You're being smart about maximizing your refund. Just remember to only hit "submit" on whichever platform gives you the best net result after fees!

7 Would recommend checking if you qualify for the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures if you haven't been filing while abroad. It lets you catch up on filing requirements without penalties if you can certify your failure to file was non-willful. I used it after living in Japan for 3 years and realizing I should have been filing.

Great thread with lots of helpful info! I'm in a similar situation - been living in the UK for 6 months with no income. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: even if you don't need to file a tax return due to the income threshold, you should still consider filing Form 8938 (FATCA) if your foreign financial assets exceed certain thresholds. For someone living abroad and filing single, you need to file Form 8938 if your foreign financial assets exceed $200,000 on the last day of the year OR more than $300,000 at any point during the year. This is separate from FBAR and has different thresholds. Most people with zero income probably won't hit these thresholds, but it's worth knowing about if you have any investments or larger savings accounts abroad. The penalties for not filing Form 8938 when required can be significant too. Also, if you're planning to stay abroad long-term, it might be worth establishing your tax residency status early even with zero income, as it can affect future filing requirements when you do start earning.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who works in HR and deals with relocation packages regularly, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help with your specific timeline. First, since you're only going to be in Oregon for 3 months, I'd strongly recommend getting everything in writing from your Oregon employer about their repayment and W-2 adjustment process BEFORE you even start. Some companies have strict policies about when adjustments can be made, and with such a short employment period, you want to ensure they can actually process the reversal if you repay in the same tax year. Second, consider asking your California employer if they can structure their relocation package as a "relocation loan" initially, which converts to a grant after you meet certain tenure requirements. This might help you avoid having two large taxable relocation payments in the same year while you're sorting out the Oregon repayment. Also, given the multi-state complexity, you might want to establish a dedicated savings account just for tracking all the relocation-related transactions. Keep every receipt, email, and document related to both packages - the IRS and state tax authorities love detailed records when situations get this complicated. The advice about timing everything within the same tax year really is golden if you can make it work with your job transition timeline. Have you been able to discuss any flexibility in your start dates with the California employer?

As someone who's navigated a similar complex relocation situation, I'd add one more crucial consideration - make sure you understand the difference between "moving expense reimbursements" and "relocation bonuses" for tax purposes. If any portion of your $13,500 is categorized as qualified moving expense reimbursements (for actual moving costs like transport, temporary lodging, etc.), those portions might have different tax treatment than lump-sum relocation bonuses. However, keep in mind that under current tax law, moving expense deductions are suspended for most taxpayers through 2025, so even "qualified" moving expenses are generally taxable. Also, consider the timing of your actual physical moves. If you're moving from Oregon to California in the same tax year, you might be able to deduct some of the California move expenses if you meet the IRS distance and time tests, which could help offset some of the tax burden from the Oregon relocation income. One strategy that worked for me: I asked my new employer to pay certain relocation expenses directly to vendors (moving company, temporary housing, etc.) rather than reimbursing me. This reduced the taxable amount I received directly while still getting the same relocation benefits. Worth discussing with your California employer if they have flexibility in how they structure their $13,500 package. Document every mile, every receipt, and every day you're physically present in each state - this will be invaluable for both federal and state tax filings!

I'm in almost exactly the same situation - just realized I missed reporting $56 in dividend income from my TD Ameritrade account due to automatic reinvestment. Like everyone else here, I'm a relatively new dividend investor and had no idea those reinvested dividends were taxable events until the 1099-DIV showed up after I'd already filed. This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It's amazing to see how common this oversight is among new investors. The consistent advice from people with actual experience seems to be that for amounts under $100, the IRS generally doesn't pursue these discrepancies due to cost-benefit considerations and their current resource constraints. Based on all the shared experiences here, I'm definitely going with the "wait and see" approach. The additional tax would probably be around $11-14 in my bracket, and even with potential penalties would be far less than paying for a professional amendment. The insights about the AUR system thresholds and IRS staffing issues make this feel like a very reasonable decision. I'm also taking notes on everyone's suggestions for better tracking next year - definitely setting up an investment account checklist and maybe quarterly dividend logging. It's clear this is just one of those "rite of passage" mistakes that most new dividend investors make at least once. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - it's so much more valuable than generic tax advice!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - missed reporting $39 in dividend income from my Charles Schwab account because of automatic reinvestment. As someone who just started dividend investing last year, I had no idea that reinvested dividends were still taxable events until I received the 1099-DIV after already filing my return. Reading through everyone's experiences here has completely changed my perspective on this situation. Initially, I was panicking and considering paying a tax professional to file an amendment, but seeing the consistent advice from people with real experience has been incredibly reassuring. The fact that so many folks have been in similar situations with minimal to no consequences really highlights how common this oversight is for new dividend investors. Based on all the practical wisdom shared here, I'm definitely going with the "wait and see" approach. The potential tax impact would probably be around $8-10 in my bracket, which is far less than the cost of amending proactively. The insights about AUR thresholds and current IRS resource constraints make this feel like a very reasonable calculated risk. I'm also taking detailed notes on everyone's suggestions for next year - definitely setting up an investment account checklist and maybe quarterly dividend tracking to avoid this headache again. It's clear this is just one of those learning experiences that most new dividend investors go through. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!