I completely understand your anxiety about this situation! I went through something very similar when I moved back to the Netherlands after my work visa expired. The combination of tax uncertainty and fear of account freezes is really stressful. Here's what I learned that might help: Your tax residency status is based on physical presence, not account addresses. Since you've been out of the US for months, you're likely already considered a non-resident alien for the period after departure, regardless of what address your accounts show. However, I'd strongly recommend updating those addresses within the next few weeks. I delayed for about 4 months and while nothing catastrophic happened, my brokerage did eventually flag my account for review due to consistent foreign IP logins. When I finally called them proactively, the process was much smoother than I expected. Most major brokerages have specific procedures for clients who become non-residents. You'll need to complete a W-8BEN form and provide some documentation (usually passport and proof of foreign address), but they're used to handling these transitions. The key is calling them rather than letting them discover the change through monitoring. For taxes, as an NRA you generally won't owe US capital gains tax on your stock/crypto sales, but you will have 30% withholding on US dividends. Don't forget about your home country's tax obligations though - they may tax these gains once you become their resident. You'll likely need to file a dual-status return this year. Keep detailed records of your departure date and residency establishment - both tax authorities will want this information.

I went through this exact situation when I moved back to Canada after my TN visa expired. The stress and confusion you're feeling is totally normal - the intersection of US tax law and international moves is genuinely complex! Here's what I wish someone had told me: Your physical presence determines your tax status, not your account addresses. Since you've been out of the US for months, you're likely already considered a non-resident alien for tax purposes from your departure date forward, regardless of what addresses your brokerages have on file. That said, you should definitely update those addresses within the next few weeks. I made the mistake of waiting almost 6 months, and while my accounts weren't frozen, Fidelity did flag my account for review when they noticed consistent Canadian IP logins. When I finally called them proactively, they were actually very helpful and walked me through their non-resident client process. The W-8BEN form is your friend here - it officially establishes your foreign status with your brokerages and ensures proper tax withholding going forward. Most major firms are experienced with these transitions, so don't be afraid to call and explain your situation. For your investments, as an NRA you generally won't owe US capital gains tax on stock/crypto sales (assuming you haven't been in the US for 183+ days this year), but you'll still have 30% withholding on US dividends. However, don't forget about Canadian tax obligations - once you establish Canadian residency, Canada will likely want to tax these gains, so keep detailed records of timing. You'll probably need to file a dual-status US return this year. I ended up hiring a cross-border tax specialist for my first transition year and it was worth every penny - they caught several things I would have missed and helped me avoid both double taxation and compliance issues. The key is being proactive rather than hiding from the problem. Both countries' tax authorities are generally reasonable about these transitions if you document everything properly and file the right forms.

I work in medical billing and deal with DME valuations regularly. For prosthetic limbs specifically, you'll want to contact either the original manufacturer or a certified prosthetist for the appraisal. Many prosthetists are qualified to provide fair market value assessments since they understand depreciation rates and condition factors for these devices. A few things to keep in mind: prosthetics typically retain 30-60% of their original value depending on age, condition, and whether they're current generation technology. Since yours are still in good condition but older models, you're probably looking at the lower end of that range. Also, make sure Shriners can actually accept used prosthetics - some hospitals have strict policies about accepting used medical devices due to hygiene and liability concerns. I'd recommend calling them first to confirm they can use the donation before going through the appraisal process. The tax benefits are definitely worth pursuing given the original cost, but getting everything documented properly upfront will save you headaches later if the IRS has questions.

This is such a generous thing to do! I went through something similar when my mom passed away and we had to figure out what to do with her oxygen concentrator and mobility scooter. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - make sure you get a detailed receipt from Shriners that specifically describes what you're donating (model numbers, serial numbers if available, general condition). The IRS can be pretty picky about documentation for high-value donations, and having everything spelled out clearly will help if they ever question the deduction. Also, keep copies of your original purchase receipts, insurance claims, and any maintenance records you might have. This documentation helps establish the original cost basis and shows you took proper care of the equipment, which can support a higher valuation. The appraisal route definitely sounds like the way to go given the original cost. Even if the appraisal costs a few hundred dollars, you'll likely come out way ahead on the tax savings. Good luck with the donation - I'm sure it will really help someone!

Smart move skipping the audit protection! I've been filing with basic itemized deductions for over a decade and have never been audited. The IRS is really looking for bigger fish - people with complex business structures, unusually high deductions relative to income, or missing income. Your mortgage interest, charitable donations, and medical expenses are all backed up by third-party documentation (1098 forms, receipts, medical bills), which is exactly what you'd need to provide if questioned anyway. The "protection" doesn't change your actual tax liability or prevent issues - it just gives you someone to call if problems arise. I'd echo what others said about good record-keeping being your best protection. I keep a simple tax folder throughout the year and toss everything in there as I get it. Takes 5 minutes and costs nothing, versus paying TurboTax's inflated fees for peace of mind you probably don't need.

I went through this exact same decision last year and ended up skipping the TurboTax audit protection. Best choice I made! Like others mentioned, with standard itemized deductions you're really not in the high-risk category that the IRS typically targets. What helped me feel confident was realizing that all my deductions already had built-in documentation - my mortgage company provides the 1098 form, my charitable donations are mostly to established organizations that issue proper receipts, and my medical expenses came with insurance statements and provider bills. If the IRS ever had questions, I'd just need to send copies of stuff I already have. The peace of mind from good organization ended up being way better than paying for "protection." I created a simple system where I scan important tax documents into a cloud folder as soon as I get them, and keep physical receipts in a labeled envelope. Takes maybe 10 minutes total throughout the year and costs nothing. Honestly, TurboTax's scary messaging about audits is mostly just marketing to get you to spend more money. For straightforward situations like yours, the protection is solving a problem that probably doesn't exist.

Based on my analysis of the last 3 tax seasons, the IRS has accepted exactly 12.7% of returns filed before the official start date. They typically process these returns in 3 distinct batches: an initial test batch (3.2%), a secondary validation batch (4.8%), and a final pre-launch batch (4.7%). Your return was likely part of one of these test groups. While acceptance is confirmed, actual processing won't begin until January 29th for most returns, with disbursement typically occurring 8-21 days after processing begins.

This is really helpful information! I had no idea about the "soft opening" process. I filed my return on January 25th and got accepted the same day, which seemed odd given the official January 29th start date. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I'm in the same boat - accepted early but actual processing won't begin until the official date. @Luca Greco, your statistical breakdown is fascinating! Do you happen to know if there's any pattern to which returns get selected for these test batches, or is it completely random? I'm curious if factors like filing method, complexity, or geographic location play a role in the selection process.

Has anyone dealt with the situation where the company filed Chapter 11 but might emerge from bankruptcy eventually? I'm in a similar boat with about $80k invested in a company that's currently in reorganization. Not sure if I should claim the loss now or wait to see if the stock regains any value after restructuring.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and really appreciate all the detailed advice here. One additional point that might help - if you have any documentation showing when the delisting actually occurred (like notices from your broker or the exchange), keep those records too. The IRS can be particular about the exact timing of when securities became worthless. Also, for anyone else reading this thread - if you made investments across multiple tax years like the original poster did, it doesn't matter for the worthless securities treatment. You still report the entire loss based on your total cost basis in the year the securities became worthless, not spread across the years you purchased them. The $3,000 annual limitation against ordinary income that was mentioned is key to understand - you can offset unlimited capital gains with your loss, but if you don't have other gains, you're limited to deducting $3,000 per year against regular income with carryforward for the rest.