I just went through this exact process and got my FIRPTA certificate last month, so I can share some very recent experience. My timeline was 49 days from submission to receiving the certificate, which was actually faster than I expected based on all the horror stories I'd heard. A few key things that I think helped my case move smoothly: **Documentation was absolutely critical** - I included literally everything: original purchase documents, every improvement receipt (even small ones like new faucets), property tax records showing increased assessments after improvements, and photos with timestamps for major renovations. I organized it all chronologically with a cover sheet summarizing the total adjusted basis calculation. **Professional help was worth every penny** - I used a CPA who specializes in international tax issues. They caught several mistakes in my initial basis calculation that would have definitely caused delays or rejections. The fee was substantial but nothing compared to the stress and potential delays of doing it wrong. **The cover letter approach works** - I included a one-page letter explaining my closing timeline constraints and why I needed the certificate by a specific date. Can't prove it made a difference, but the timing worked out perfectly. For your 5-week timeline, you're definitely cutting it close but it's not impossible. I'd recommend getting professional help immediately and also setting up that escrow arrangement others mentioned as a backup plan. The escrow option saved several people in my situation when certificates came in just after closing dates. Good luck - the stress is real but most people do eventually get through this process successfully!

I went through this process about 6 months ago and can definitely share some insights on realistic timelines. My FIRPTA withholding certificate took exactly 58 days from the date I mailed my Form 8288-B to receiving the approved certificate back. This was with what I thought was perfect documentation, but the IRS actually requested one additional document about halfway through (which added about 10 days to the process). Given your 5-week timeline, you're really going to need to move fast and have a solid backup plan. Here's what I'd recommend: **Immediate action items:** - Get your 8288-B prepared and submitted within the next week if possible - Make sure your adjusted basis calculation is rock solid and well-documented - Include a cover letter explaining your urgent timeline **Backup plan:** Definitely explore the escrow arrangement that others have mentioned. My buyer initially resisted this but agreed once I explained it protected them from liability while giving me access to funds once the certificate arrived. The reality is that even with perfect paperwork, 5 weeks is optimistic for IRS processing. But I've seen people get certificates in 35-40 days when everything goes smoothly. The key is having your documentation absolutely bulletproof to avoid any back-and-forth requests. For Miami professionals, I'd also suggest checking with Crowe LLP - they have a strong international tax practice and experience with FIRPTA applications. Don't delay on getting professional help - the cost is minimal compared to the risk of delays from errors.

I've been through this exact situation and understand how frustrating it is when your ex violates the custody agreement like this. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, you're absolutely right that this isn't fair and she can't just decide she "needs the tax break more" when you have a court order. The tax benefits for claiming a dependent can be substantial - potentially $2,000+ with the child tax credit alone, plus the dependent deduction. My advice: Start documenting everything immediately. Save screenshots of all her texts refusing to sign Form 8332. If possible, send her a written message (text or email) stating something like "According to our custody agreement dated [date], 2025 is my year to claim [son's name] as a dependent. Please sign Form 8332 as required by our agreement." Her response (or lack of response) becomes evidence. If she continues refusing, you have two main paths: 1) Have your family law attorney send a formal demand letter (usually costs $150-300 but often effective), or 2) File for contempt of court. The legal fees are almost always less than the tax benefits you're entitled to. Don't file your taxes claiming him without Form 8332 unless you're prepared for an audit and potential penalties. The IRS doesn't care about custody agreements - they only recognize Form 8332 for non-custodial parents. Time is running short, so I'd recommend calling your attorney ASAP to discuss sending that formal letter. Good luck!

I went through this exact nightmare last year and it's absolutely maddening when your ex decides to ignore a court order just because they want extra money. Here's what finally worked for me after months of frustration: The key is escalation with clear deadlines. I sent my ex a certified letter (not just text) stating exactly what our custody agreement said about taxes, referencing the specific paragraph and date. I gave her 10 business days to sign Form 8332 or I would file for contempt of court. When she still refused, I had my attorney file a motion for contempt AND a motion to modify the custody agreement to include stronger language about tax compliance and penalties. The judge was NOT happy with her for violating a clear court order. She ended up having to pay my attorney fees ($800) on top of signing the form. The whole process took about 6 weeks, but I was able to file an amended return and still got my full tax refund including the $2,000 child tax credit. More importantly, our modified agreement now includes automatic penalties if either parent refuses to sign tax forms as required. Don't let her walk all over the court order. Document everything, send that certified letter with a deadline, and follow through with legal action. The tax benefits are absolutely worth fighting for, and judges take custody agreement violations seriously.

I totally understand your frustration with Form 2210! I went through something very similar last year with unexpected 1099 income and it was maddening trying to figure out the correct calculations. One thing that might help clarify the situation is understanding that there are actually several different methods you can use to calculate (or avoid) the underpayment penalty on Form 2210: 1. **Safe Harbor Method** - This is what you're trying to use, and it sounds like you should qualify! If your total withholding for 2024 equals at least 100% of your 2023 total tax (or 110% if your 2023 AGI exceeded $150k), you're protected regardless of timing. 2. **Current Year Method** - Pay at least 90% of your current year tax liability through withholding and estimated payments. 3. **Annualized Income Method** - Useful if your income was uneven during the year, which might apply to your situation with the 1099 income and capital gains. For Line 8 specifically, if you're using the safe harbor method and your 2023 AGI was under $150k, you'd put the exact amount from Line 16 of your 2023 Form 1040. If it was over $150k, you'd put 110% of that amount. Since you mentioned having 100% of your 2023 tax withheld in 2024, definitely double-check that your actual withholding amount matches or exceeds your 2023 Line 16 tax. If it does, you shouldn't owe any penalty at all! Sometimes tax software gets confused about these calculations, so don't be afraid to override it if you're confident about meeting the safe harbor requirements.

You're absolutely right to be frustrated with this situation! Form 2210 Line 8 can be really confusing, but based on what you've described, you should definitely qualify for the safe harbor exception. For Line 8, you'll want to use the total tax amount from Line 16 of your 2023 Form 1040. Since you mentioned having 100% of your 2023 tax withheld in 2024, this should completely eliminate any underpayment penalty regardless of when you received your 1099 income or capital gains during the year. The safe harbor rule is designed exactly for situations like yours - as long as your withholding meets the threshold (100% of prior year tax if AGI was under $150k, or 110% if over $150k), you're protected even if your income timing was irregular. I'd suggest ignoring what TurboTax is telling you for now and manually checking your numbers: 1. Find Line 16 on your 2023 Form 1040 2. Compare that to your total 2024 withholding 3. If your withholding equals or exceeds that amount, you qualify for safe harbor You might need to override TurboTax's automatic calculation and complete Form 2210 manually to claim this exception. The software sometimes misses these situations where timing doesn't matter due to safe harbor qualification.

Make sure to file your taxes on time even if you're missing the W2!! You can always file an amended return later if the numbers end up being different when you finally get the W2. The penalty for filing late is much worse than filing with slightly incorrect information and amending later.

I went through something very similar last year and here's what worked for me: Don't panic! You have several good options that others have mentioned. My recommendation is to start with calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 first thing Monday morning. They'll contact your employer directly and also send you Form 4852. While you're waiting for that form to arrive, gather your final paystub from that employer - you'll need the year-to-date totals for wages, federal tax withheld, Social Security, Medicare, and any state taxes. The key thing that helped me was realizing that the free filing software (I used FreeTaxUSA) does let you manually enter W2 information when you select "Enter W2 manually" instead of importing. You just enter the numbers from your Form 4852 exactly like you would a regular W2. One thing to keep in mind - if you end up owing money on your return, make sure to pay by the April deadline even if your return isn't completely finalized. You can always file an amended return later if needed, but avoiding late payment penalties is crucial. Don't let your employer's disorganization stress you out too much - the IRS deals with this situation all the time and has clear procedures to help taxpayers in your situation!

Anyone know if TurboTax actually needs the information from these forms entered manually? Or do they just want to know which forms you have? Last year I remember answering questions about insurance but never entering anything from the actual 1095 forms.

Just to add some clarity for future reference - the key difference is really about WHERE you got your insurance from: - 1095-A: You bought insurance through Healthcare.gov or your state's marketplace - 1095-B: You had insurance from a private company, Medicare, Medicaid, or other qualifying coverage - 1095-C: Your employer (with 50+ employees) offered you health insurance Since you have B and C forms, it sounds like you had employer-sponsored insurance. When TurboTax asks about the 1095-A, just answer "No" - you don't need to hunt for one because you wouldn't have received one with employer coverage. The forms are mainly there to help you answer TurboTax's questions about what months you had coverage. You typically don't need to enter specific details from the forms themselves, just use them to confirm your coverage periods were accurate.