This is such a complex situation, and I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's been dealing with similar back tax issues, I wanted to add a few thoughts. First, regarding the statute of limitations - it's worth noting that while you generally can't get a refund after 3 years, the IRS can still apply overpayments as credits to other tax years even beyond that timeframe in certain circumstances. The key is how you handle the filing process. One thing I learned the hard way is that the ORDER you file multiple years matters tremendously. If you file 2017 first and request the overpayment be applied to 2018, then file 2018 showing that credit, it's processed differently than if you file them simultaneously or in reverse order. Also, don't forget about estimated tax payments you may have made for 2019 that could be applied back to 2018 if needed. The IRS has more flexibility with moving payments between adjacent tax years than most people realize. I'd strongly recommend getting everything professionally reviewed before filing - the potential savings from doing this right the first time far outweigh the cost of professional help. Missing these nuances could cost you thousands in lost credits or unnecessary penalties.

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a very similar situation with unfiled returns from 2016-2018. One thing I want to emphasize is the importance of acting quickly once you decide to file these old returns. The longer you wait, the more interest and penalties accumulate, and you risk losing additional credits. I procrastinated for an extra year after discovering my situation, and it cost me about $800 in additional interest that I could have avoided. Also, something that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet tracking all my payments, estimated taxes, and what I owed for each year before I started filing. This gave me a clear picture of exactly how much I could recover and helped me set realistic expectations. When I finally filed, I was able to recover about 60% of what I thought I'd lost to the statute of limitations by following a strategic filing order and including the right forms. The key was understanding that while I couldn't get cash refunds for the older overpayments, I could still use them to offset other tax debts. Don't let the complexity paralyze you - even an imperfect filing is better than continuing to let these returns sit unfiled. The IRS is generally more willing to work with taxpayers who are making an effort to get compliant.

Does anyone know if there's a way to see how close you are to the $600 threshold on PayPal? I've been selling some stuff from around the house and I'm not sure if I'm tracking it correctly.

This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation with my small online business. One thing I'd add is that it's worth keeping detailed records of all your transactions throughout the year, not just when tax season comes around. I use a simple spreadsheet to track each PayPal payment as it comes in, noting whether it's for goods/services or personal, the amount, and what it was for. This makes it so much easier to calculate your totals and prepare for taxes, whether you hit the $600 threshold or not. Also, don't forget that if you do cross the threshold and receive a 1099-K, you can still deduct legitimate business expenses against that income - things like materials, shipping costs, PayPal fees, etc. So even if you get the form, your actual taxable income might be much lower than the gross amount reported.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! I'm about 8 months into receiving SSI and have been sitting on this exact same question for weeks. I have a bunch of old textbooks, furniture, and electronics from before I became disabled that are just taking up space, but I've been terrified to sell anything because of all the conflicting information online. What's really reassuring is seeing so many people share their actual experiences with SSI reviews where this came up, and how well things went when they had proper documentation and were transparent with their caseworkers. The distinction between selling personal items at a loss versus running a business makes so much more sense now. I think I'm going to follow the approach that seems to work for everyone here - start with a few items, create that simple spreadsheet with photos that people mentioned, keep all my eBay/PayPal records, and then proactively reach out to my caseworker to show them what I'm doing. The fact that they actually appreciate transparency rather than trying to hide things is such a relief to know. Has anyone here dealt with selling furniture specifically? I have a dining set and some other pieces that I paid probably $1200 for a few years ago, but would probably only get $200-300 for on Facebook Marketplace or similar. Just wondering if larger items like that follow the same rules as the smaller collectibles and electronics everyone's been discussing.

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm about 4 months into receiving SSI and have been in the exact same boat as so many of you - sitting on a bunch of personal items I could sell but being completely paralyzed by fear about how it might affect my benefits. What's been most reassuring is seeing actual real-world experiences from people who've gone through SSI reviews where selling personal items came up. The consistent message seems to be that proper documentation and transparency with your caseworker makes all the difference. I love how everyone emphasizes that SSA distinguishes between converting personal assets to cash (selling your own stuff at a loss) versus generating business income. I have a closet full of old clothes, shoes, and accessories that I accumulated over the years - probably spent $2000+ on everything but would be lucky to get $400-500 if I sold it all on Poshmark or similar platforms. Based on all the wisdom shared here, this should clearly qualify as selling personal items at a significant loss. My plan is to follow the approach that's worked for everyone: start with just a few items, create a simple spreadsheet with photos like people suggested, keep all my sales platform records, and then proactively contact my caseworker to show them exactly what I'm doing. The fact that transparency is actually appreciated rather than seen as suspicious is such a huge relief! Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to discuss these complex issues with real experiences rather than just theoretical advice. This is exactly the kind of community guidance that makes navigating SSI rules so much less scary!

Based on everyone's responses here, it sounds like you're definitely on the right track - you don't need to check the multiple jobs box since you're only working one job currently. One thing I'd add is that if you're worried about your withholding being accurate (especially with the salary increase from $62k to $71k), you might want to run the IRS withholding calculator in a few months once you have a couple paystubs from your new job. That way you can see if you need to adjust anything for the rest of 2025. Also, keep in mind that having that gap between jobs might actually work in your favor tax-wise since your total 2024 income was probably lower than it would have been if you'd worked the full year at either salary level.

Great question! I went through something similar when I switched jobs last year. Everyone here is absolutely right - that multiple jobs checkbox is only for when you're working more than one job at the same time, not for sequential employment like your situation. Since you're only working one job now, you can skip that entire section. The W4 is all about setting up proper withholding going forward from your current employer, not accounting for what happened earlier in the year. One tip though - since your new job pays more ($71k vs $62k), you might want to check the IRS withholding estimator in a month or two once you have a few paystubs. The higher salary could put you in a different tax situation, and it's better to catch any underwithholding early rather than owe a big chunk next April! But for now, just fill out the W4 as if this is your only job (because it is), and you should be all set.

One more thing - did your 1099-INT from Robinhood have any entries in Box 2 (Early withdrawal penalty)? I'm also an NRA and noticed that even though the interest itself is exempt, if there are any early withdrawal penalties, those are handled differently.

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have the proper documentation to support the NRA exemption. Even though the interest is generally exempt, you should keep records showing your non-resident status. If Robinhood didn't have your proper tax status on file (Form W-8BEN), they might have withheld taxes at 30%. In that case, you'd actually need to file Form 1040NR to get a refund of the overwithholding, even though the underlying interest income isn't taxable. Also, double-check that your 1099-INT specifically shows interest from bank deposits versus money market funds. While both are typically exempt for NRAs, the specific exemption sections are different and it's good to understand exactly which applies to your situation.