Quick question - if this turns out to be identity theft, should I file a police report too? Or is the FTC report enough?

This happened to my brother last year, but with a 1099-K from Etsy for supposedly selling $18k in merchandise. Turned out someone had created an Etsy shop using his stolen identity. The most frustrating part was that even after proving it wasn't him, the IRS computer systems still expected taxes on that income and automatically generated notices. Make sure whatever solution you use gives you physical documentation you can keep sending back every time another automated notice comes. It took about 6 months and 3 rounds of sending the same evidence package before the IRS fully resolved it in their systems.

Check if you can open a case with USPS. Sometimes they can track it down if its lost

Had the same issue last month - my check was mailed on Jan 15th and didn't arrive until Feb 3rd. That's almost 3 weeks! I called the IRS after 2.5 weeks and they said mail delays are super common right now. They can do a payment trace if it's been 4+ weeks, but honestly just hang tight a bit longer. The stress isn't worth it when most checks do eventually show up.

Is there a way to know in advance if Form 1116 would give a better result than the simplified credit? I have about $450 in foreign taxes paid across several funds, so I'm right in the middle where either might be better.

Looking at your specific numbers, I'd recommend starting with the simplified method since your foreign tax paid is only $6.28 (well under the $300 threshold). However, there's an important detail in your post that caught my attention - you mentioned the "Ordinary Dividends" shows nothing for 2024 but $765.84 paid/adjusted in 2025 for 2024. This timing difference might affect which tax year you can claim the credit. Generally, you claim the foreign tax credit in the year the foreign taxes were actually paid or accrued, not necessarily when the dividend was received. Since your foreign tax of $6.28 was likely withheld when the dividends were paid by the foreign companies, you should be able to claim it for 2024. For your situation, just take the $6.28 credit directly on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 1. No need to complicate things with Form 1116 unless you have other foreign investments that push your total foreign taxes over $300. The simplified method will give you the full credit amount in your case.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - make sure to keep track of any expenses related to the sale! Lawyer fees, real estate commissions, transfer taxes in the foreign country, etc. Those can all be deducted from your proceeds to reduce any potential gain.

Great question! As someone who recently dealt with a similar situation involving inherited property in Canada, I can confirm what others have said about the stepped-up basis rules. Since you inherited the property at fair market value and are selling for essentially the same amount, you shouldn't have any capital gains tax liability. However, make sure you get proper documentation of the property's value at the time of inheritance - this becomes your basis for tax purposes. An official appraisal or comparable sales data from around the date of death will be important if the IRS ever questions your basis calculation. Also, don't forget to check if your wife's home country has any inheritance or transfer taxes that might apply to the sale. Some countries have withholding requirements on property sales by non-residents, even if the property was inherited. The timing of when you actually receive the sale proceeds could affect which tax year you need to report everything in. One last tip - if you're planning to keep the sale proceeds in a foreign account, make sure you understand the FBAR reporting thresholds. The $10,000 limit applies to the highest balance at any point during the year, not just year-end balances.

Don't waste money on a tax person! I was in your exact situation last year - main job around $90k and a side gig around $8k. I tried both doing it myself and going to a professional. The "professional" charged me $350 and got me the EXACT SAME result I got using FreeTaxUSA which cost me $0 for federal and $15 for state. The key with multiple jobs is understanding how to adjust your withholding. The second job income pushes some of your money into a higher tax bracket, which is probably why you owed last year. I fixed this by putting an additional $50 withholding on each paycheck from my main job (line 4c on the W-4 form). As for claiming your mom, if she lived with you all year and you provided more than half her support, you'll likely qualify for Head of Household filing status which gives better tax rates and a higher standard deduction!

Based on your situation, you definitely need to report that $7.5k from your second job - all income gets combined when calculating your taxes. The withholding issue others mentioned is spot on - each employer withholds as if they're your only job, so you're likely under-withheld overall. For your mom as a dependent, since you're providing full support and she's living with you, you should qualify for Head of Household status (assuming you're unmarried). This gives you better tax brackets and a higher standard deduction than filing single, which could significantly help your tax situation. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - consider making quarterly estimated tax payments if you plan to keep the second job. This can help you avoid the big tax bill at filing time. You can calculate what you need using Form 1040ES. As for tax preparers, I'd suggest looking for an Enrolled Agent who specializes in multi-income situations. They're federally licensed and can represent you before the IRS if needed. Ask potential preparers specifically about their experience with Head of Household filing and multiple job withholding strategies before you hire them.