This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a travel PT who's been struggling with similar tax home issues. One thing I'd add based on my experience - document EVERYTHING about your intent to return permanently to your tax home. The IRS looks closely at whether you truly intend your travel assignments to be temporary. Keep records showing you're actively planning your return: renewal of professional licenses in your home state, maintaining voter registration, keeping your kids enrolled in local schools if applicable, continuing relationships with local healthcare providers, etc. Also, for the state tax filing complexity you mentioned - I learned the hard way that some states have "convenience of employer" rules that can trip up remote workers. New York is notorious for this. Your husband should definitely check if any of the states you'll be in have these rules, as they might try to tax his entire income even if he's just temporarily there with you. One last tip: consider getting a tax professional who specializes in itinerant workers BEFORE you start traveling. The upfront cost pays for itself when you avoid mistakes that could trigger an audit or penalties later.

Great question about room consistency! From my experience (went through a similar situation in 2022), the IRS cares more about maintaining *exclusive use* of some space rather than it being the exact same room. I actually switched between two different bedrooms in my house based on seasonal rental demand and my tax attorney said this was fine as long as I documented which space was mine during each period. The key is that you always have a designated personal space that renters can't access. Keep photos showing your personal belongings stored there, and make sure your rental agreements specifically exclude that area. I used simple door locks and clearly marked which spaces were off-limits in my rental contracts. As for property management companies - I'd be cautious. You need detailed records of rental income/expenses, maintenance costs, and proof that you're maintaining personal use of part of the property. Many property managers don't understand the tax home nuances and might not provide the documentation you need. If you do use one, make sure they understand your specific requirements and can provide monthly reports breaking down all the details you'll need for tax purposes. I ended up managing the rentals myself using Airbnb and VRBO, which actually worked out better because I had complete control over the documentation trail.

Just want to add some clarity on the timing aspect that might be helpful. Since you mentioned the sale occurred in February 2023 and you're still working on the 1041, make sure you're aware that the capital loss from the selling expenses will be reported on the 1041 for the tax year when the sale occurred (2023), not when you file the return. Also, if this is the final 1041 for the estate, any unused capital losses will pass through to the beneficiaries on their K-1s. But if the estate continues beyond 2023, the losses would first offset any capital gains the estate might have in future years before passing through. One practical tip: when you prepare the K-1s for beneficiaries, make sure to include a statement explaining the nature of the capital loss so they understand it came from selling expenses on the residence. This helps them (and their tax preparers) properly report it on their personal returns.

This is excellent advice from everyone here. I'm currently dealing with a similar situation as the executor of my grandmother's estate. One additional consideration that hasn't been mentioned - if the estate has other capital gains from stock sales or other assets, those gains can offset the capital loss from the property sale before the loss passes through to beneficiaries. In my case, we had about $15K in capital gains from selling stocks and the $22K loss from selling the house (after commissions and legal fees). The net $7K capital loss will pass through to the beneficiaries on their K-1s rather than the full $22K loss. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all selling expenses - not just the obvious ones like realtor commissions. Title insurance, transfer taxes, repairs needed for sale, staging costs, and even utilities during the marketing period can all be legitimate selling expenses that reduce your proceeds and increase the deductible loss. The timing Sofia mentioned is crucial too. Since your sale was in February 2023, that loss needs to be reported on the 2023 estate return, even if you're filing it now in 2024.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed 18 days ago with some index fund sales and dividend income, and my return is still processing with the 570 code while my sister who filed around the same time already received her refund. It's so nerve-wracking when you see others getting theirs faster, but after reading all these responses, I feel much more at ease knowing this is completely normal for investment income. The verification process for capital gains makes sense from a compliance standpoint, even though it's frustrating for us taxpayers. Thanks for posting this question, Alexander - it's really helpful to see that so many others have experienced the same timing differences!

I'm experiencing something very similar! Filed my return 11 days ago with some stock sales and dividend income, and it's still showing processing status while my spouse's straightforward W-2 return was approved in just 6 days. Initially I was worried something was wrong, but after reading through all these responses, it's clear that investment income just takes longer due to the additional verification steps the IRS runs. The 570 status code seems to be standard for returns with capital gains - not a cause for concern. It's actually kind of reassuring to know their system is thoroughly checking the broker-reported data against our filings, even if it means waiting a bit longer. Thanks for asking this question, Alexander - it's really helpful to see so many others sharing the same experience!

The "As of date" is essentially the IRS's internal timestamp showing when they last processed any activity on your account - it's not related to your actual filing date at all. Your January 27th filing date remains locked in their system permanently. When you submitted your amended return in March, that triggered new processing activity, which is why you're seeing the "As of date" change. During the amendment review process, this date will continue to update periodically as your return moves through different stages - sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly depending on where it sits in their processing queue. The key thing to understand is that these date changes are actually a good sign! It means your amendment is actively moving through their system rather than sitting idle. I went through a similar situation last year and noticed the "As of date" started updating more frequently (sometimes multiple times per week) about 2-3 weeks before my refund was finally issued. Don't worry about the 16-20 week timeframe - many people get their amended refunds sooner, especially if you're seeing regular updates to your "As of date." The changing dates indicate progress, not problems with your return.

The "As of date" is basically the IRS's way of showing when they last updated anything on your account - think of it like a timestamp on a computer file that shows when it was last modified. Your actual filing date from January 27th is still recorded separately and never changes. When you filed your amended return in March, that created new activity on your account, which is why you're seeing the "As of date" update. This will continue to change throughout the 16-20 week processing period as your amendment moves through different review stages in their system. Here's what I learned from my own amended return experience: the date changes are actually a good thing! It means your return is actively moving through their processing pipeline rather than just sitting in a pile somewhere. Sometimes it updates weekly, sometimes monthly, depending on what stage of review it's in. One pattern I noticed - when my amendment was getting close to completion, the "As of date" started updating more frequently, sometimes multiple times in a week. That seemed to be when it hit the final review stages before my refund was issued. So if you start seeing more frequent updates, that could be a positive sign that you're approaching the finish line! The waiting is definitely frustrating, but those date changes show your amendment is progressing through their system as it should be.

Hi Lena! 👋 As a newcomer to this wonderful community, I just wanted to add to all the great advice you've already received about Code 971! I'm a single parent of two, and I remember my first encounter with mysterious IRS codes - it's absolutely nerve-wracking! But after lurking in this community for months and learning from all these experienced members, I can tell you that Code 971 is actually one of the GOOD codes to see. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I first saw it: **The Reality Check:** - Code 971 appears on roughly 1 in 3 tax returns (super common!) - It's literally just the IRS saying "we're mailing you something" - With three kids, you're probably looking at Child Tax Credit or EITC verification - The IRS computer systems flag returns with multiple dependents for routine review **My Personal Experience:** Last year, my Code 971 turned out to be a notice saying they corrected a small math error on my Child and Dependent Care Credit - and they actually INCREASED my refund by $47! The notice arrived exactly 6 days after the transcript date. **What's Probably Happening:** The IRS is just being extra careful with returns claiming multiple children (which is actually reassuring - it means they're doing their job!). They're likely verifying that your three kids are eligible for all the credits you claimed. I know juggling kids' schedules while decoding IRS mysteries feels impossible, but this community has taught me that 99% of the time, these "scary" codes end up being totally routine. You've got this, mama! 💪 And please update us when your notice arrives - I have a feeling it's going to be wonderfully anticlimactic! 😊

Hi Lena! 👋 As someone who's been part of this community for a while, I can definitely echo what everyone else has said about Code 971 - it's truly one of the most routine codes you'll encounter! I wanted to share a slightly different perspective though. As a tax preparer who helps families navigate these situations regularly, I've noticed that Code 971 notices for parents with multiple children often fall into these categories: **Most Common Scenarios (in my experience):** • Child Tax Credit amount verification (especially if kids are close to age limits) • Earned Income Credit confirmation with multiple qualifying children • Simple math corrections on dependent-related deductions • Address confirmation notices (boring but necessary!) **What I Tell My Clients:** The IRS has actually gotten much better at sending explanatory notices rather than the cryptic letters they used to send. When your notice arrives, it should clearly explain what they're verifying or adjusting, and most importantly, whether you need to take any action. **Red Flag vs. Green Light:** If this were something serious, you'd likely see additional codes like 810 (freeze), 420 (examination), or multiple 971 codes with different dates. A single 971 with a future date is almost always routine processing. With three kids in activities, I know you have enough on your plate without tax stress! The good news is that in 15+ years of doing taxes, I've never seen a single Code 971 that ended up being a major problem - they're genuinely administrative notices. Take a deep breath, mama - you've got this! 💙 And this community will be here to celebrate with you when that boring notice arrives! 😊