Just wanted to add one more important point - make sure you keep copies of all your documentation! Since you're crossing the border frequently from Canada, I'd recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet or calendar tracking your entries and exits. Even if you don't have perfect records now, start documenting going forward. Also, if you're unsure about any specific dates, you can request your I-94 travel history from CBP's website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov). This will show your official entries and exits which can help fill in gaps in your records. As a Canadian, some of your crossings might not show up if you didn't go through formal inspection, but it's still worth checking. The key thing is to be as accurate as possible on Form 8843 since it establishes your tax residency status. Good luck with your filing!

Just to add to all the great advice here - I went through this exact same situation two years ago as a Canadian F-1 student! One thing that really helped me was contacting my school's international student services office. They often have staff who are familiar with Form 8843 and can review your completed form before you submit it. Also, since you mentioned you live 15 minutes from the border, you might want to check if your bank or credit card statements can help reconstruct some of your travel dates. I used my transaction history to figure out which days I was on which side of the border when I didn't have other documentation. The most important thing is to be consistent and honest about your day counts. The IRS understands that border crossers don't always have perfect records, but they want to see that you made a good faith effort to be accurate. Don't stress too much - you're asking the right questions and getting good guidance here!

Code 290 on your transcript means "Additional Tax Assessed" but don't panic! In most cases, when you see 290 with $0.00 next to it, it's actually a positive sign - it means the IRS reviewed your return and didn't find any errors that would change your refund amount. It's basically their way of saying "we double-checked your math and everything looks good." The code can stick around for a few weeks during processing, which is totally normal. If there WAS an actual issue, you'd see a real dollar amount next to the 290 code. So if yours shows $0.00, you're likely in good shape and just need to wait for normal processing to complete! 🙂

Code 290 definitely freaked me out too when I first saw it! But everyone here is right - if it shows $0.00 next to it, you're actually in a good spot. I had the same code for about 3 weeks before my refund finally hit. The IRS is just being extra thorough this year it seems. Try not to check your transcript too obsessively (easier said than done, I know!) because the waiting game is the worst part. Your refund is probably just working its way through their system normally!

Is there any software that specifically helps with optimizing the salary vs dividend split for C Corp owners? I'm using turbotax for business now but it doesn't really give guidance, just calculations after you've already decided.

Great question! You're absolutely right that the double taxation fear is often overblown for small C Corp owners. I've been running my consulting business as a C Corp for 3 years now and the salary deduction works exactly as you described. One thing I learned the hard way though - make sure you're paying payroll taxes on your salary (FICA, unemployment, etc.). Some new C Corp owners forget that even as the owner, you're technically an employee when you pay yourself a salary, so all the normal employment tax obligations apply. Also, don't overlook the benefits of being able to retain earnings in the corporation at the lower corporate tax rates (21% federal) if you're not ready to take distributions yet. Sometimes that's actually better than pass-through taxation depending on your personal tax bracket. The key is really understanding your specific cash flow needs and tax situation rather than just following generic "C Corps have double taxation" advice.

This might sound obvious but have you tried just calling Computershare and EQ directly? I've found their international support lines are actually pretty helpful with tax form issues. When I had a similar mix-up (I'm Canadian but lived in the US temporarily), the Computershare rep walked me through exactly what forms to submit and even sent me the correct forms by email.

Just to add one more thing that others haven't mentioned - check if any taxes have already been withheld at the US person rate (usually no withholding) instead of the non-resident rate. If dividends have been paid while your W-9 was on file, you might need to address this specifically.

Don't forget, even though you need to file Form 709 for the excess amount, you probably won't owe any actual gift tax unless you've already given away millions over your lifetime. The form is basically just tracking your lifetime exemption usage. I filed one last year for a late 2021 gift and it was pretty straightforward with TurboTax.

Great question! I went through something similar last year. Yes, you absolutely need to file Form 709 for the $6,500 excess, but don't panic - it's definitely not too late. The IRS doesn't have a strict deadline for gift tax returns when no tax is actually owed. Regarding the rent situation, that gets a bit tricky. If you were staying there occasionally and getting some personal benefit, you might be able to argue that only a portion of the rent payments were gifts. The IRS looks at the "fair market value" of what you received versus what you paid. I'd definitely document how often you stayed there and keep any records of the arrangement. One thing that might help reduce your reportable gift amount - if any of that $22,500 was paid directly to educational institutions (tuition, fees, etc.), those payments don't count toward the annual exclusion limit at all. But since you mentioned giving the money to your niece directly, it sounds like the full amount would count as a gift. For filing help, I'd suggest starting with tax software like TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA - they both handle Form 709 and are much cheaper than hiring a professional for something this straightforward. You're likely just reporting against your lifetime exemption with no actual tax owed.