its crazy how some agents help and others dont even try. like do ur job fam 🤡

Stuck in the same boat since March. Gonna try calling tomorrow morning thanks for the hope lol

Anyone else notice that the IRS seems way more backlogged this year compared to previous years? My brother filed in March and already got his refund, but my February filing is still stuck. Makes no sense.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Filed February 8th, accepted immediately, and my transcript has been completely empty ever since. It's now been over 2 months and I'm getting seriously worried. Called the IRS last week and they gave me the same "system glitch affecting early filers" story and said it should be resolved soon, but I've heard that excuse before. What's really frustrating is seeing people who filed weeks after me already getting their refunds while we early filers are stuck in limbo. Has anyone actually seen their transcript update after being told about this supposed "fix" they implemented in March? I'm starting to wonder if I should file an amended return or contact a tax advocate at this point.

One thing to keep in mind is timing - make sure you report this on the correct tax year. Since you bought and sold the tickets in the same calendar year, both transactions go on this year's return. But if you had bought them in December 2023 and sold them in January 2024, for example, you'd still report the entire transaction on your 2024 return (the year of the sale). Also, don't forget that Ticketmaster probably charged you fees on both the original purchase and the resale. Those fees are part of your cost basis and selling expenses respectively, so include them in your calculations. Your actual loss might be even higher than the $540 difference in ticket prices once you factor in all the fees.

Just wanted to chime in with my experience from last year when I had to resell some Broadway tickets at a loss. One thing that really caught me off guard was that even though I lost money, I still had to report the transaction - but the good news is that capital losses are actually pretty valuable for reducing your tax burden. A few practical tips that helped me: First, make sure you save ALL the documentation now while it's fresh - not just the purchase and sale confirmations, but also any email correspondence with Ticketmaster customer service, screenshots of the resale listing, etc. You never know what might be helpful if you need to provide additional documentation later. Second, if you're planning to use tax software, start a draft return early and enter this information as soon as you have all the documents. Don't wait until the last minute because if you run into any issues or have questions, you'll have time to get help or call the IRS (using that Claimyr service others mentioned if needed). Finally, consider this a learning opportunity for future ticket purchases. I now factor potential resale difficulty into my ticket buying decisions, especially for events that are months away. Sometimes paying a bit more for refundable tickets or buying closer to the event date can save you from these tax headaches altogether. Your $540 loss (plus fees) will definitely help offset other income, so while it stings financially, at least you'll get some tax benefit from the situation!

If anyone is still looking for the Sprintax discount code box - I just used it yesterday and found another way to get there. If you click on "Payment Options" in the top navigation, it takes you to a page where the discount code section is much more visible than on the regular checkout page. Also, pro tip: if your university discount code doesn't work for some reason, try googling "Sprintax discount code 2025" - I found a general 10% off code that worked when my university one had expired.

As someone who works in tax preparation, I want to add some important context to this discussion. While I'm glad Dylan found the discount code box, I'd encourage everyone to be very careful about the advice being shared here. Some of the services mentioned in these comments appear to be promotional rather than genuine recommendations. When dealing with tax preparation, especially as an international student, it's crucial to use established, reputable services that are specifically designed for nonresident tax situations. Sprintax, despite its interface quirks, is actually one of the more reliable options because it's specifically built for international students and has proper certifications. The VITA program suggestion from Yara is excellent - that's a completely legitimate IRS-approved free service that many universities offer. If you're struggling with Sprintax or any tax software, I'd recommend contacting your university's international student office first. They usually have relationships with approved tax preparation services and can provide guidance on which options are best for your specific visa situation.

Has anyone tried the VITA program? They do free tax prep but I'm not sure if they handle international stuff like UK investments.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with foreign assets (investments in Germany) and have been overpaying for years. One thing I'd add is that when you're interviewing potential preparers, ask them specifically about their experience with the exact forms you need rather than just "international experience." I learned this the hard way when a CPA said they had international experience but had never actually filed a Form 8938 before. Also, don't be afraid to ask for references from other clients with foreign assets. Most good preparers who work with international situations will have other clients they can refer you to (with permission, of course). I found my current EA this way - she charges about $800 for my return versus the $2,200 I was paying the international specialist, and she's been doing foreign asset reporting for 8 years. The key really is understanding exactly what level of expertise you need for each part of your return. Once you know that, you can find someone who's qualified without paying for expertise you don't actually need.