Has anyone had experience with how state taxes work with dual-status federal returns? I'm in a similar situation but also worried about state filing requirements. California seems particularly aggressive about taxing people with any connection to the state.

I went through a very similar situation last year and can confirm you'll need to file as dual-status. The IRS is pretty strict about this - if you change residency status during the tax year, dual-status filing is mandatory regardless of how simple your income situation might seem. For your capital gains, since you sold the stocks while physically present in the US (before May 2025), they'll be reported on the Form 1040 portion of your return, not the 1040NR. This is because the US has taxing rights on capital gains realized while you were a US resident for tax purposes. One thing to watch out for - make sure you're calculating your exact residency termination date correctly using the substantial presence test. It might not be exactly when you physically left in May, depending on your presence history in prior years. The IRS has specific rules about this that can affect which form certain income items go on. I ended up hiring a CPA who specializes in international tax because the dual-status rules are genuinely complex, but I know that's not always budget-friendly. If you do go the DIY route, make sure to attach a statement to your return explaining the dual-status filing and clearly marking which periods each form covers.

Just wanted to point out something important - if your spouse doesn't have a Social Security Number yet, you might not be able to file jointly anyway. You usually need valid SSNs for both spouses to file a joint return. In some cases, you can use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) instead, but that needs to be applied for in advance.

Your situation is actually pretty common, and the answer is clear - if you're married and filing a joint return with your spouse, you cannot be claimed as a dependent on your mom's tax return. The IRS Joint Return Test specifically prevents this, regardless of who paid for your education expenses. However, there's an important point about your spouse's documentation that others have mentioned. If your spouse doesn't have an SSN yet, you'll need to get an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to file jointly. This requires submitting Form W-7 with your tax return, and the process can take 7-11 weeks. Given the timing, you might want to file an extension to avoid missing the deadline. As for your mom, she may still be able to claim education credits for the tuition she paid directly to your school, even without claiming you as a dependent. The Lifetime Learning Credit or American Opportunity Tax Credit might be available to her if she meets the income requirements. This could be a good compromise - she gets some tax benefit for helping with your education, but you still file correctly with your spouse. I'd suggest having a calm conversation with your mom explaining that this isn't about choosing sides, but about following tax law correctly. Her accountant should understand these rules, and if they don't, that's concerning.

Does anyone know if TurboTax handles this box 14 stuff correctly? My W-2 has dental insurance premiums in box 14 and I'm worried TurboTax might count it as income or something.

I went through this exact same confusion last year! After reading through all these comments, I want to add that if you're still unsure about your specific situation, you can also check your final paystub from December. It should show year-to-date totals for various deductions including health insurance premiums. Compare what's shown on your paystub for health insurance deductions with what's in Box 14 of your W-2. If they match, then your employer is correctly reporting your pre-tax premium contributions in Box 14. This is totally normal and legitimate - you're not getting "screwed over" as someone mentioned earlier. The key thing to remember is that pre-tax health insurance premiums actually SAVE you money on taxes because they reduce your taxable income. So whether it's in Box 12 or Box 14, as long as those premiums were deducted pre-tax from your paycheck, you're benefiting tax-wise.

Pro tip: if u have access to your last years tax return, the IP PIN should be on there. check line 6 of form 1040

Check if you have any IRS notices from this year - they sometimes include the new IP PIN. Also, if you filed through a tax preparer last year, they might have a copy of your PIN. Another option is to try the IRS2Go mobile app - sometimes it works when the website doesn't. Good luck!

Does anyone know if state taxes follow Box 1 or Box 5 numbers? My state tax seems higher than it should be and I'm wondering if they're calculating based on the Box 5 amount instead of Box 1.

This is a great question and totally understandable confusion! As others have mentioned, the difference between Box 1 and Box 5 is usually due to pre-tax deductions. Since you mentioned this is the first year you've seen this difference, it sounds like you may have started or increased contributions to things like a 401(k), health insurance, or flexible spending account. To verify everything is correct, I'd recommend checking your final paystub from December 2024. Look for any "pre-tax" deductions and add them up - that total should roughly match the $5,800 difference between your boxes. Common culprits are: - Traditional 401(k) contributions (very common if you got a raise and decided to save more) - Health/dental/vision insurance premiums - Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions - Dependent care assistance If the math doesn't add up or you can't find deductions that explain the difference, then it would be worth contacting HR. But in most cases, this difference is completely normal and actually beneficial since those pre-tax deductions reduce your federal income tax liability!