If part of your relocation package included temporary housing expenses, check if those were also included in your W-2. My company provided 60 days of temporary housing during my relocation, and that benefit (about $7,200) was added to my taxable income as well. I nearly missed it because it wasn't included in the amount they initially told me would be grossed-up!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm going through a similar situation with my work relocation from last year. One thing I want to add that caught me off guard - if your employer helped with any real estate costs (like realtor fees for selling your old home or closing costs on your new home), those are typically taxable too. My company covered $12,000 in realtor fees when I sold my house, and that entire amount was added to my W-2 income along with the gross-up. I only found out when I got my final paystub and saw a much larger "relocation taxable income" line than I was expecting. Also, Emma, definitely look into what Diego mentioned about tax equalization policies. My company had one but didn't mention it during the initial relocation discussions - I only found out about it when I specifically asked HR about additional tax impacts six months later. They ended up reimbursing me about $3,400 after I filed my taxes!

This is a textbook example of why religious property tax exemptions need stricter oversight. As someone who works in tax compliance, I see these questionable arrangements more often than you'd think, and they're usually motivated by the exact scenario you're describing - shifting significant tax burdens to other property owners. The sequence of events you've outlined is particularly concerning: purchasing a personal residence, then "selling" it to a self-controlled religious organization at a dramatically inflated price right as property values (and taxes) were climbing. This looks like a classic tax avoidance scheme disguised as legitimate religious activity. A few additional red flags I'd point out: **Organizational Structure**: Legitimate religious organizations typically have independent boards, proper governance structures, and documented religious activities. A "church" that exists primarily to hold one person's residence is highly suspect. **Fair Market Value**: That $215K to $950K transfer should have been supported by independent appraisals. If the organization paid above market value, it could constitute prohibited self-dealing. **Ongoing Compliance**: Even if this arrangement was somehow initially legitimate, religious organizations must continue to use exempt property for exempt purposes. A parsonage that doesn't support active ministry fails this test. Given your $27K annual property tax burden, this represents serious money being shifted to you and your neighbors. I'd definitely pursue reporting this through both county and federal channels - these agencies have the tools to investigate and often recover back taxes when exemptions are improperly claimed.

As a taxpayer dealing with similar property tax burdens, this situation is deeply frustrating and unfortunately not uncommon. The pattern you've described - personal residence transferred to a self-controlled "religious organization" at an inflated price with no actual religious activities - is a classic red flag for tax exemption abuse. What makes this particularly egregious is the timing and scale. Transferring a $215K property for $950K right as property values were climbing suggests this was purely tax-motivated rather than serving any legitimate religious purpose. Your $27K annual property tax bill really puts this in perspective - that's significant money being shifted from this property owner to you and other legitimate taxpayers in your community. I'd strongly recommend taking action on multiple fronts: 1. **County Level**: Contact your tax assessor's office to report the questionable religious exemption. They have the authority to investigate and can often recover several years of back taxes plus penalties. 2. **Federal Level**: File IRS Form 3949-A to report suspected tax fraud, focusing on both the questionable "church" status and the potentially fraudulent property transfer. 3. **Documentation**: Gather all the public records you can - property transfers, tax assessments, business registrations (or lack thereof), and any evidence about the organization's actual activities. These agencies do investigate these reports, especially for high-value properties where the tax impact is significant. The enforcement consequences can include back taxes, penalties, interest, and in serious cases, criminal charges. More importantly, it helps ensure that tax exemptions serve their intended purpose rather than becoming vehicles for wealthy individuals to shift their tax burden to working families like yours.

Don't forget about state taxes too! Some states are really aggressive about keeping you as a tax resident even after you move abroad. Which state are you currently in? Some states like California and New York will try to claim you still have domicile there unless you take specific steps to establish that you've permanently moved.

Welcome to the expat tax world! I've been living in the UAE for 3 years now and went through the exact same confusion when I first moved. The advice here is spot-on - you'll definitely need to file US returns annually regardless of your dual citizenship status. One additional thing to consider: since you're moving to a zero-tax jurisdiction like Saudi Arabia, you won't have any foreign taxes to credit against your US liability. This makes the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion even more valuable for you compared to expats in high-tax countries who might benefit more from the Foreign Tax Credit. Also, start thinking about your banking situation now. Many US banks will close accounts for expats due to compliance issues, so you might want to research expat-friendly banks or credit unions before you move. And definitely keep a US address (family/friend) for banking and IRS correspondence - a lot of financial institutions require it. The learning curve is steep but manageable once you get the hang of the annual filing requirements. Good luck with the move!

Has anyone tried H&R Block's self-employed software? My situation is similar to the original poster - about $80k income, minimal expenses. Not sure if it's worth the higher price compared to TaxAct or TurboTax Self-Employed.

I made the switch from an accountant to DIY last year and it was honestly easier than I expected! For someone at your income level with straightforward expenses, you're probably right about saving money. I ended up going with TurboTax Self-Employed because it integrates well with QuickBooks if you decide to use that for tracking during the year. The software does a good job walking you through Schedule C and catches a lot of deductions I might have missed - things like business use of home, professional subscriptions, even some travel expenses I hadn't thought about. One tip: start tracking everything now rather than trying to reconstruct it all at tax time. Even if you just use a simple spreadsheet or app to categorize expenses as you go, it'll save you hours come April. The mileage deduction alone can add up to significant savings if you drive for work at all. The peace of mind was worth way more than the software cost, and I actually learned a lot about my business finances in the process!

11 I've been filing 1099s wrong for years! I thought any business with a name (even "Joe's Plumbing") didn't need a 1099. Just found out many of these are sole proprietorships with DBAs and DO need 1099s. My tax software never flagged this!

Don't panic about past years! The IRS is generally more concerned with current compliance than going back to penalize small businesses for honest mistakes on 1099 reporting. However, if you paid the same vendors significant amounts in recent years, it might be worth consulting with a tax professional about whether amended returns make sense. The key going forward is getting those W-9s from everyone. I learned this the hard way too - "ABC Construction LLC" sounds like a corporation but could be a single-member LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship, which definitely needs a 1099. The business name alone doesn't tell you the tax classification. One thing that helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet with vendor name, total payments for the year, business type from W-9, and whether 1099 is required. Makes January much less stressful when you're not scrambling to figure out who needs what forms.