I work for a tax preparation service and see this issue frequently with VA state refunds, especially during peak filing season. What many people don't realize is that Virginia uses a third-party vendor for printing and mailing refund checks, which can add additional delays beyond the "issued" date shown in their system. The 6+ week timeline you're experiencing is unfortunately becoming more common this year - we've had at least a dozen clients report similar delays. Here's what I recommend: 1) Call VA Tax at 804-367-8031 first thing Monday morning (they're less busy early in the week), 2) Have your SSN and exact refund amount ready, 3) Ask specifically about "delivery confirmation" status, not just issuance status, and 4) Request they initiate both a payment trace AND a stop payment on the original check simultaneously. Don't let them tell you to wait longer - 6+ weeks is well beyond reasonable delivery timeframes. Also, consider requesting the replacement be sent via certified mail for an additional $3.50 fee - it's worth it for the tracking and security.

I had the exact same issue with my VA state refund last year! Check was "issued" on February 3rd, and I didn't receive it until April 8th - that's over 9 weeks. Turns out it was a combination of issues: the original check got lost in the mail (likely stolen from my apartment complex's mailbox area), and then VA's replacement process took forever because they had to verify the original wasn't cashed. What finally worked for me was being persistent with their phone line and documenting everything. I called every few days after the 6-week mark and kept detailed notes of who I spoke with and what they told me. Eventually got connected with a supervisor who expedited the replacement check process. One thing that might help - if you have any neighbors who received VA refunds around the same timeframe, ask them about their experience. In my case, two other people in my building also had VA checks go missing around the same time, which helped establish a pattern of mail theft that made VA more willing to fast-track the replacement. Don't give up! It's frustrating but you will eventually get your money. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these situations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Landon. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're grieving. After reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to share my experience from when my mother passed last year and left me her property. I was in almost the exact same situation - sold about 7 months after she passed and was worried about determining the FMV. What really helped me was understanding that the stepped-up basis rules are actually designed to make this straightforward, not complicated. Since you sold within 6 months, using the sale price as your FMV is not only reasonable - it's exactly what the IRS expects in these situations. Here's what I did for documentation that gave me complete peace of mind: 1. Created a simple one-page memo explaining my reasoning (property inherited X date, sold Y date, no major improvements, used sale price as FMV due to short timeframe) 2. Got the county tax assessment from around the date of death (this was free and took one phone call) 3. Asked our realtor to pull just 2-3 comparable sales from that time period (she did this for free since we'd worked with her) Having those three data points all in the same general range made me feel completely confident in my approach. The IRS wants to see that you made a good faith effort to determine fair market value, and this clearly demonstrates that. Your estate attorney's advice is spot-on, and you shouldn't feel "lazy" about this approach. The stepped-up basis exists specifically to prevent you from paying capital gains on your mother's appreciation. Having nearly identical basis and proceeds is exactly how it's supposed to work. You're handling this correctly!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Landon. Having lost my own father recently and dealt with similar property valuation challenges, I completely understand how overwhelming this feels when you're already grieving. Reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how consistent the advice is - you're absolutely on the right track. The stepped-up basis rules under IRC Section 1014 are specifically designed for situations exactly like yours, where inherited property is sold relatively quickly after death. What really helped me gain confidence in my approach was understanding that having nearly identical cost basis and sale proceeds isn't a red flag - it's literally the intended outcome of the stepped-up basis rules. You're supposed to avoid paying capital gains tax on appreciation that happened during your mother's lifetime. Given your 6-month timeline and arm's length sale, using the sale price as FMV is not only reasonable but well-supported by IRS guidance in Publication 559. Treasury Regulation 20.2031-1(b) specifically supports using sales prices as evidence of fair market value when they occur close to the valuation date. If you want additional peace of mind without the expense of a formal appraisal, I'd suggest what several others have mentioned: - Get the county tax assessment from around the date of death (usually free) - Create a simple one-page memo documenting your reasoning - Consider asking a realtor for comparable sales from that time period Your estate attorney's advice aligns perfectly with established tax practice. Trust that you're handling this correctly - the tax code is actually working in your favor here, and that's exactly how Congress intended it to work.

I totally understand your stress about this! I went through something similar last year when I started getting anxious about all my Venmo activity. Here's what helped me get peace of mind: First, remember that the IRS processes millions of tax returns and they're not sitting there analyzing every Venmo transaction. The 1099-K is just reporting gross payment volume - it's up to you to report your actual taxable income. For your specific situations, you're absolutely right that these aren't taxable: - The $8,500 vacation reimbursements are clearly not income since you were just collecting money to pay expenses on everyone's behalf - The monthly transfers to help your sister with rent are gifts (and well under the $17,000 annual gift exclusion) My advice: Start keeping better records now for peace of mind. Create a simple spreadsheet noting what larger payments were for, save screenshots of Venmo transactions with clear descriptions, and keep any supporting docs (like receipts for the vacation expenses you paid). The reality is that most people in your situation never hear anything from the IRS. You report your actual taxable income, and if there's ever a question down the road, you have documentation showing these were legitimate reimbursements and personal transfers. Don't let the anxiety consume you - this is way more common than you think, and the system is designed to handle it!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I run a small neighborhood babysitting co-op where parents Venmo me throughout the year for shared childcare expenses - things like paying sitters for group playdates, splitting costs for a shared nanny during school breaks, etc. Last year it was probably close to $15,000 flowing through my account, but obviously none of it was income since I was just collecting and redistributing the money to actual childcare providers. Reading everyone's advice here, I'm realizing I need to get much better about documentation. I've been pretty casual about Venmo notes, but I'm going to start being super specific like "March nanny share - your portion" or "Group playdate sitter reimbursement." One thing I'm wondering - since this involves childcare expenses, should I also be keeping receipts from when I pay the actual sitters/nannies? It seems like having that paper trail showing the money going back out would be good evidence that I was just acting as a middleman rather than providing services myself. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's such a relief to know this is a common situation and that the IRS isn't going to assume every dollar on a 1099-K is taxable income!

One thing to watch out for - the filing requirements can also be triggered if your child has earned income plus unearned income that together exceed the standard deduction (around $14,600 for 2025). My teenager had a summer job AND investment income, and even though neither would require filing on their own, the combination did. The tax software I was using completely missed this!

Great question! Yes, the filing thresholds do change annually based on inflation adjustments. For 2025, the unearned income threshold for dependents is $2,300, so you're absolutely right that your kids likely don't need to file this year. Looking at your numbers: $190 (ordinary dividends) + $1,850 (capital gains distributions) = $2,040 total unearned income per child. Since this is under the $2,300 threshold, no Form 8615 filing should be required. Just double-check that the $190 in ordinary dividends already includes the qualified dividends (it usually does on most brokerage statements), so you don't want to add the $165 qualified dividends on top of that. Also keep good records of any reinvested distributions for future cost basis calculations, even if you're not filing now. The IRS publishes these updated thresholds each year in Publication 929 if you want to bookmark it for future reference!

This is such a timely question! I just went through this exact situation when I sold some rare baseball cards I'd been collecting for years. The confusion about collectible tax rates is totally understandable - even tax software sometimes gets it wrong. You're absolutely correct in your understanding. Collectibles are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, but capped at 28%. So if you're in the 12% bracket, you pay 12% on collectible gains. If you're in the 32% bracket, you only pay the maximum 28%. One thing I learned the hard way is to keep really detailed records of what you originally paid for each comic, including any fees for authentication, grading, or storage. These all count toward your cost basis and can significantly reduce your taxable gain when you sell. Also, don't forget that if you hold the comics for less than a year before selling, they're taxed as short-term capital gains at your full ordinary income rate with no 28% cap protection. So there's definitely an advantage to holding collectibles for more than a year if you're planning to sell them.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been buying and selling vintage collectibles for a few years now, I can confirm everything that's been said about the collectible tax rates. One additional point that might be useful - if you're dealing with multiple collectibles sold throughout the year, you might want to consider bunching your sales into years when your overall income is lower. Since collectibles are taxed at your ordinary income rate (capped at 28%), strategic timing can really make a difference. For example, I had a big bonus year where I was temporarily in the 32% bracket, so I held off selling some collectibles until the following year when I was back down to 24%. Saved me 4% on the gains, which added up to real money. Also, if you're serious about collecting comics or other items as investments, consider keeping a detailed log of market research, time spent researching purchases, and any educational materials you buy about collecting. While you can't deduct these as business expenses if you're treating it as investment activity, having detailed records shows the IRS that you're approaching this seriously as an investment rather than just a hobby.