After struggling with this exact issue last filing season, I found that the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant (www.irs.gov/help/ita) has a specific tool called "Who Can I Claim as a Dependent?" It walks you through all the requirements step by step. In my case, I was able to claim my disabled brother (32) even though my parents provided some support. The key was documenting that I covered over 50% of his total support costs. I created a spreadsheet tracking every expense, including a portion of my mortgage, utilities, food, medical costs not covered by insurance, and transportation. Make sure to print and save this documentation in case of audit.

As someone who went through a similar situation with my disabled adult child last year, I can confirm what others have said about documentation being absolutely critical. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you should also check if your sister qualifies for the disabled dependent credit in addition to the regular dependency exemption. Since you mentioned she's 30 and disabled, she might qualify for this additional benefit if she's permanently and totally disabled. Also, make sure to factor in the fair market rental value of the room she occupies in your house - this is often the largest single support item and can easily push you over the 50% threshold. I used Zillow's rental estimates for comparable rooms in my area to calculate this. The IRS accepts reasonable estimates as long as you can justify your methodology.

One more thing to consider - remember that resident vs. non-resident status affects which tax forms you use and what income you report. As a non-resident (which you likely are based on the visa history you described), you'd file Form 1040NR, not the regular 1040. The big difference: non-residents only pay taxes on US-source income, while residents pay taxes on worldwide income. If you have income from your home country, this distinction makes a HUGE difference!

This is exactly the kind of situation where getting professional help or at least multiple verification sources is crucial! Your visa history with multiple F1, B2, and J1 entries creates a complex exemption calculation. A few key points that might help clarify: 1. **F1 exemption period**: Your 2017-2019 F1 days would count toward your 5-year exemption period for F1 status 2. **J1 exemption period**: Your 2023 J1 days get a separate 2-year exemption period 3. **B2 days always count**: Your 2022 B2 visits (about 60 days total) definitely count toward substantial presence since B2 is not an exempt status So your calculation might actually be: 0 (J1 days exempt) + 60/3 (2022 B2 days) + 0 = 20 days, which would make you a non-resident for 2023. The fact that Sprintax is giving you a different result suggests there might be an input error or the software isn't properly handling your mixed visa history. I'd definitely recommend getting a second opinion through one of the methods mentioned above - whether that's calling the IRS, checking with your school's international office, or using a specialized tool to verify the calculation. Don't rush this decision - resident vs non-resident status affects your entire tax return!

Has anyone used TurboTax or similar software to file multiple years of back taxes? I'm in a similar situation (4 years unfiled) and wondering if the consumer software can handle this or if I need a professional.

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who went through this exact situation. I was 5 years behind on filing (contractor making $60-80k annually) and was absolutely terrified about criminal charges. The reality is that the IRS wants their money, not to prosecute regular people who got behind. What really matters is showing good faith effort to get compliant once you're aware of the problem. I ended up owing about $45k total with penalties and interest, but was able to set up a payment plan for $650/month. The key things that helped my case: I filed all back years at once (showed I wasn't selectively filing), I was honest about my situation when I finally called them, and I immediately started making payments even before the full assessment was complete. The agent I spoke with actually thanked me for being proactive instead of waiting for them to hunt me down. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - the failure-to-file penalty is much worse than failure-to-pay penalty, so even if you can't pay everything, filing the returns stops the worst penalties from accumulating. Don't let fear keep you from taking action!

Check if these are actually from the IRS or Department of Treasury, or if they might be scams. Real IRS letters have a notice number (usually CP followed by numbers) in the upper right corner. If the letter just says "Department of Treasury" without specific IRS markings, be suspicious!

This is definitely a serious situation that needs immediate attention. Given the amounts involved ($22K and $123K) versus your actual income during college years, this screams either identity theft or a major IRS error. The fact that the letters cut off mid-sentence is also a red flag that something went wrong in their system. Here's what I'd do right away: 1. Call the IRS immediately using the number on the notices to get complete information 2. Request your tax transcripts for 2010-2011 online at irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946 3. Pull your credit reports to check for any accounts or employment you don't recognize 4. Gather all your tax documents from those years (W-2s, 1099s, tax returns) Don't panic, but also don't delay. Even if this is completely wrong, ignoring it will only make things worse. The IRS has powerful collection tools, but they also have procedures to fix errors when they happen. You have rights as a taxpayer, and if this is identity theft or their mistake, it can be resolved - it just takes persistence and proper documentation.

Make sure u have a written agreement!!! I loaned my cousin $11k with a handshake deal and when he stopped paying after 6 months, I couldn't claim it as a bad debt because I didnt have proper documentation. The IRS denied my deduction and said I needed to show it was a legitimate loan with expectations of repayment. Lesson learned the hard way lol

Great question! You're getting caught up in two different rules that don't actually contradict each other. The $10,000 threshold you're seeing is for gift tax reporting (Form 3520 for large gifts received), but since you're charging interest, this is clearly a loan, not a gift. For your situation, you only need to report the interest income you actually receive each year. Since you've only received a small portion of interest so far, you'll report that on Schedule B of your tax return - even if it's under $600, you still need to report it as income. The key thing is you structured this correctly by charging interest. Without interest, the IRS could potentially treat the entire $15,000 as a gift subject to gift tax rules. Keep good records of all payments received and make sure your written agreement clearly shows the loan terms, interest rate, and repayment schedule. You're doing everything right - just report the actual interest income you receive each tax year, nothing more complicated than that!