One thing to keep in mind with your Germany situation is the timing of when you can claim the Foreign Tax Credit. Since Germany operates on a calendar year like the US, you should be able to claim the €8,500 you paid for 2024 on your 2024 US return. However, make sure you have proper documentation from the German tax authorities showing the exact amount paid and that it was indeed income tax (not social security or other types of taxes). The IRS can be very particular about this documentation, especially during audits. Also, since you mentioned using TurboTax, be aware that the software sometimes struggles with complex international situations. You might want to double-check its calculations manually or consider getting a consultation with a tax professional who specializes in expat taxes. The Foreign Tax Credit can get complicated when you factor in different tax rates, timing differences, and the interaction with potential state tax obligations. One last tip: keep detailed records of your days in Germany vs any time spent in California or other US states. This documentation could be crucial if California ever challenges your residency status.

One more thing to consider that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're planning to stay in Germany long-term, you might want to look into whether you qualify for the "bona fide residence test" vs. the "physical presence test" for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. The bona fide residence test can be more flexible than the physical presence test (which requires 330 days outside the US in a 365-day period). If you establish bona fide residence in Germany, you don't have to count days as strictly, which gives you more flexibility to visit California without jeopardizing your tax benefits. Also, since you mentioned working remotely for a US company, make sure your employer isn't withholding California state taxes from your paychecks while you're abroad. I've seen cases where payroll departments continue withholding state taxes for remote workers overseas, which creates a mess when you're trying to establish non-residency. If they are withholding, you'll want to update your state tax withholding status immediately and potentially file for refunds of any California taxes already withheld for 2024. The combination of Foreign Tax Credit on federal plus establishing non-residency in California could save you thousands compared to paying both German AND California taxes on the same income.

Don't forget about quarterly estimated tax payments! I do similar expert calls and got hit with an underpayment penalty my first year because I wasn't making quarterly payments. Since you don't have taxes withheld from these payments like your regular job, you're supposed to pay as you go.

Great question about quarterly payments! Generally, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes when you file your return, you should make quarterly estimated payments. With 4-5 calls at $350-500 each, you're probably looking at $1,400-2,500 in additional income, which could easily put you over that threshold when you factor in self-employment tax. The safe harbor rule is helpful here - if you pay at least 100% of last year's total tax liability through withholding and estimated payments (110% if your prior year AGI was over $150k), you won't face penalties even if you owe when you file. I'd recommend calculating roughly 25-30% of your consulting income and setting it aside for taxes. You can always adjust if needed, but it's better to overpay slightly than get hit with underpayment penalties.

Has anyone just printed out Form 4684 and done it manually? You can still e-file the rest of your return through TurboTax and just mail in the 4684 separately with a 1040-X later when it becomes available. That's what I did last year with a delayed schedule.

I'm dealing with this exact same Form 4684 issue right now! Based on all the suggestions here, it sounds like there are several viable paths forward. For those considering the professional software route that Freya mentioned - I actually called Drake Software yesterday and they confirmed Form 4684 is fully available in their system. The rep said they prioritize getting all forms ready by mid-January since tax professionals can't afford to wait. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone tried contacting TurboTax directly to see if they'll extend your subscription to next year as compensation for this delay? Seems like they should offer something for the inconvenience, especially for long-time customers like the original poster. Also wanted to mention that if you do decide to switch software mid-stream, make sure to keep detailed records of what you've already entered. Even if the new software can't import your TurboTax file, having everything organized will make the re-entry process much faster.

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration and reading through all these strategies is giving me hope! The early morning timing advice (7:05-7:15am on Tuesday/Wednesday) seems to be the most consistent recommendation across everyone's experiences. One thing I wanted to add that worked for me recently - if you're using a smartphone, download an auto-redialer app. I used "Auto Redial" and set it to call every 30 seconds starting at exactly 7:00am. That way I didn't have to manually keep hitting redial and could focus on listening for when the menu actually started. Got through on attempt #23 around 7:18am using this method. Also, since you mentioned needing this for post-divorce expenses, you should definitely document how this delay is affecting your financial obligations. The Taxpayer Advocate Service takes cases involving divorce-related financial hardship seriously, and having specific examples of bills/obligations you can't meet because of the refund delay will strengthen your case if you need to file Form 911. The transcript analysis suggestion is spot-on too - I found transaction code TC 766 on mine which indicated a credit freeze that was causing my delay. Having that info ready when I finally got through to an agent made the call so much more productive. Don't give up! This community has proven there are ways to beat this broken system with the right strategy and persistence.

I've been through this exact nightmare and it's absolutely soul-crushing! After reading through all the brilliant strategies shared here, I'm amazed at how this community has basically reverse-engineered the IRS phone system to find ways around their broken infrastructure. The timing consensus around 7:05-7:15am on Tuesday/Wednesday mornings is really encouraging, and I love how people have shared specific menu sequences and tricks like the ## after SSN or the 2→1→0 callback escalation. The auto-redialer app suggestion from @Liam McGuire is genius - why didn't I think of that earlier? Since you mentioned this is affecting your post-divorce financial situation, I'd definitely recommend starting the Taxpayer Advocate Service process immediately while continuing your call attempts. File Form 911 online and be very specific about how the refund delay is preventing you from meeting court-ordered obligations or essential expenses. TAS has special authority to expedite hardship cases that regular customer service simply can't match. Also, pulling your tax transcript first (as several people suggested) is crucial - those transaction codes can tell you exactly what type of hold or issue you're dealing with before you even get someone on the phone. TC 570, TC 971, TC 766, etc. all mean different things and having that info ready will help the agent resolve your case much faster. Document every single call attempt with dates, times, and outcomes. This shows TAS you've exhausted normal channels and helps establish the timeline of how long this has been affecting your finances. You've got an entire playbook of proven strategies now - don't let this broken system defeat you!

just wanted to add that TurboTax will actually calculate your return both ways (jointly and separately) and tell you which one saves you more money! I use it every year and it always compares them automatically. super easy.

I went through this exact same dilemma when I got married! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all our deductions and credits under both scenarios. Since you mentioned using TurboTax, definitely take advantage of their comparison feature, but also consider these factors: if either of you has high medical expenses, significant charitable donations, or if one spouse has much higher income than the other. The two-state situation actually isn't as complicated as it seems - most tax software handles it pretty smoothly regardless of filing status. My advice? Run the numbers both ways in TurboTax first, then if you're still unsure or the difference is small, consider getting a second opinion from a tax professional or one of those analysis tools others mentioned. Better to spend a little time now than leave money on the table!