One important thing nobody has mentioned - make sure you understand how the title is currently held. Is it joint tenancy? Tenants in common? The way the ownership is structured on the deed makes a huge difference in how the gift tax works. In joint tenancy, each person owns an equal share. With tenants in common, the ownership can be split in any proportion (like 70/30). This affects the gift calculation when someone is removed. I learned this the hard way with my own family property!

This is definitely a complex situation that requires careful planning. One thing I'd strongly recommend is getting a professional appraisal of the property before any transfers happen. You'll need this to establish the fair market value for gift tax purposes. Also, consider the timing carefully. If your in-laws are older, there might be estate planning benefits to keeping them on the deed versus removing them now. Sometimes it's better from a tax perspective to inherit property rather than receive it as a gift because of the "stepped-up basis" rules. Before making any moves, I'd suggest consulting with both a tax professional and an estate planning attorney. The gift tax implications are just one piece of the puzzle - you also need to consider capital gains tax when you eventually sell, property tax reassessment in your state, and how this affects your in-laws' estate planning. The $375k value minus $220k mortgage leaves $155k in equity. If your in-laws own 50% of that equity, we're talking about a potential $77,500 gift per person, which would require gift tax reporting but likely no actual tax due given the lifetime exemption amounts.

Anyone know if you have to amend previous tax returns if you never got these 1099-INTs from security deposits in past years? Just realized I've never reported this kind of interest before. 😬

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key thing to remember is that even though it's a small amount, the IRS computer systems automatically match 1099 forms to tax returns, so you definitely want to report it to avoid any automated notices later. One tip that helped me: when you're entering it in TurboTax, make sure you enter the exact amount shown in Box 1 of the 1099-INT, even if it seems like an odd number. Don't round it. The software will handle all the calculations and put it in the right place on your return. Also, keep that 1099-INT with your tax records! If you ever get an IRS notice (unlikely for such a small amount, but possible), having the original form makes resolving it much easier.

Just used taxr.ai for mine and it was spot on about my refund date. Worth every penny tbh

Code 291 is actually great news for you! It means the IRS has completely reversed your original tax liability of $7,812. This typically happens when an amended return is processed and they determine you didn't actually owe that tax in the first place. Your negative balance of $5,695 does indeed mean you have a refund coming. Here's the breakdown: - Original tax owed: $7,812 - Credits applied: $5,695 (EIC + other credits + withholding) - After code 291 reversal: $0 tax owed - Refund due: $5,695 The refund freeze from 2023 appears to be cleared since there's recent activity. You should see your refund within 2-4 weeks of the November 4th adjustment, assuming no other holds exist on your account. Keep monitoring your transcript for any deposit codes (846) which will show when it's actually sent out.

Everybody already explained SBTPG, but I just wanted to add - keep an eye on your account to make sure the full amount arrives. Last year they messed up my deposit and I had to call TurboTax to get it fixed. The difference between your expected refund and what you got should exactly match your tax prep fees plus their transfer fee (usually around $40).

This exact same thing happened to me last year and I was so confused! SBTPG is totally legit - they're the company that processes refunds when you chose to have your tax prep fees deducted from your refund instead of paying upfront. What happens is the IRS sends your full refund to SBTPG first, then they take out the tax software fees plus their own processing fee (usually around $35-40), and then deposit the remainder to your account. That's why you got less than expected and why the timing is different from your DDD. It's actually pretty common for SBTPG deposits to hit a few days before the official direct deposit date. You should be all set - this is your actual refund, just processed through the third party!

Did you receive any advance child tax credit payments in 2024? I had a similar issue where my 846 amount was about $900 less than I expected. Turns out that they had records showing I received advance payments that needed to be reconciled with my refund.

This exact same thing happened to me last year! My 846 code showed $2,847 but only $1,961 actually deposited. I was panicking for days thinking the IRS made some huge mistake. Turns out I had completely forgotten about an old debt from my college days that went into default. The Treasury Offset Program had taken $886 to pay it off. The notification letter explaining the offset arrived about a week AFTER my refund deposited, which is why I was so confused at first. My advice would be to call the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107 first thing Monday morning. They can tell you immediately if any portion was offset for debt collection. It's usually much faster than trying to reach the IRS directly, and they have access to all the offset information in real time. Also double-check your transcript for any 971 notice codes that might indicate an adjustment was made to your return. Sometimes those are easy to miss when you're focused on the 846 code. Really hoping it's just a bank processing issue and the full amount shows up when it posts!