This is such a common confusion for international students! Based on what you've described, you're likely still considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes. Here's the key thing about F-2 to F-1 transitions: F-2 visa holders are "exempt individuals" for their first 5 calendar years, and F-1 students have their own separate 5-year exemption period. Since you were on F-2 from 2019-2024 (about 5+ years) and just switched to F-1 in May 2024, you're now in your first year of F-1 status. For the substantial presence test, your F-2 days likely don't count because of the exempt individual rules. Your F-1 days starting in May 2024 also don't count since you're in the beginning of that 5-year exempt period. When filling out investment applications, you'll probably need to indicate you're a nonresident for tax purposes and complete a W-8BEN form instead of a W-9. But definitely verify this with a tax professional or the IRS directly since visa timing and transitions can have nuances that affect the calculation. Don't forget you'll also need to file Form 8843 each year to document your exempt status!

I went through almost the exact same situation a couple years ago! Was on F-2 from 2018-2023, then switched to F-1. The confusion is totally understandable because the rules around exempt individuals and visa transitions aren't straightforward. What helped me was keeping detailed records of all my entry/exit dates and visa status changes. Even though you've been in the US for nearly 6 years total, the time on F-2 status counts as "exempt individual" time that doesn't go toward the substantial presence test. When you switched to F-1 in May 2024, you essentially started a new 5-year exempt period for that status. For investment accounts, I had to file W-8BEN forms as a nonresident alien. The brokerage actually walked me through it when I explained my visa situation. Just make sure you understand the tax implications - different withholding rates apply to dividends and capital gains for nonresidents. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep copies of your I-94 records and any status change documents. You'll need these dates for Form 8843 each year and potentially for future residency determinations. The CBP website lets you pull your travel history if you need to verify specific dates. Getting official confirmation from the IRS (whether through their phone line or services like the ones mentioned above) is probably your safest bet before making any investment account decisions.

I'm going through this exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My $1,380 refund was sent to an account I closed back in January, and I've been worried sick about it for the past two weeks. After reading everyone's experiences here, I called my old bank this morning following all the great advice in this thread. They confirmed they rejected an IRS deposit in my name on April 6th, which was such a huge relief to get that concrete confirmation. Just knowing the specific date when the rejection happened makes the whole process feel much more manageable. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been completely useless throughout this whole ordeal - it still shows "refund sent" even though I know the bank rejected it almost two weeks ago. It's so frustrating that the official IRS tools don't provide better information during this process, but reading everyone's experiences here shows that's totally normal. I'm planning to submit Form 8822 today to make absolutely sure the IRS has my current mailing address. Even though I'm confident they do, I don't want to take any chances with the paper check potentially going to the wrong place. Based on all the timelines everyone has shared, I'm cautiously optimistic my check should arrive within the next week or so. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money for bills and expenses, but seeing that every single person who went through this process eventually received their refund gives me so much hope. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, timelines, and practical advice - this community support has been absolutely invaluable during such a stressful time. I'll make sure to update when my check arrives to help future people dealing with this same situation!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My $1,650 refund was sent to an account I closed back in December, and I've been absolutely stressed about it for the past 16 days. After reading all the helpful advice here, I called my old bank yesterday and they confirmed they rejected an IRS deposit in my name on April 4th. Getting that specific date was such a relief - it's incredible how much peace of mind comes from just knowing the process is actually moving forward, especially when the "Where's My Refund" tool is completely unhelpful and still shows "refund sent." I submitted Form 8822 earlier this week to ensure the IRS has my current address after seeing so many people recommend it. Even though I'm pretty sure they have the right information, I didn't want to risk the paper check going to an old address. Based on all the timelines shared here, I'm really hoping my check arrives in the next few days. The waiting is definitely the hardest part when you're counting on that money for rent and other bills, but seeing that literally everyone in this thread eventually got their refund gives me so much confidence. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this community support has made such a huge difference during this stressful situation. I'll definitely update when my check arrives to add another success story for anyone else going through this nightmare!

Thank you all for these incredibly detailed insights! This has been exactly the kind of real-world perspective I was hoping to find. I'm particularly struck by how much the work setting (BigLaw vs. mid-size vs. government vs. in-house) seems to impact both hours and predictability. A few follow-up questions based on what I've read: 1. For those who mentioned government positions having better work-life balance - what's the trade-off in terms of career growth opportunities and long-term earning potential compared to private practice? 2. The distinction between transactional and controversy work is really helpful. Are there other subspecialties within tax law that have notably different lifestyle characteristics? 3. Several people mentioned the importance of staying current with tax law changes. How do you typically structure this ongoing education - is it mostly self-directed reading, formal courses, or a mix? I'm leaning toward exploring mid-size firms based on the feedback here, but I want to make sure I understand all the options before making any commitments. The resource recommendations and practical tools mentioned have also been really valuable - it's helpful to know what kind of investment in software and education to expect early in my career.

This thread has been incredibly insightful! As someone who's been working as a tax attorney in government (state revenue department) for about 6 years, I wanted to add my perspective on the government track since several people asked about it. The work-life balance really is excellent - I consistently work 40-42 hours per week with very rare exceptions. However, what Harper mentioned about advancement being slow is absolutely true. I'm still making around $82k after 6 years, while my law school classmates in private practice are well into six figures. That said, there are some unique advantages to government tax work that aren't often discussed: 1) You develop deep expertise in specific areas of tax law because you see the same issues repeatedly, 2) You get to work on cutting-edge policy issues and rulemaking, 3) The pension and benefits are genuinely excellent, and 4) There's something satisfying about working in the public interest rather than just minimizing taxes for wealthy clients. One subspecialty worth considering is state and local tax (SALT) - it's growing rapidly due to remote work complications and e-commerce issues. The hours tend to be more predictable than federal tax work, and there's high demand for expertise in this area. I've seen SALT attorneys at mid-size firms have very successful practices with reasonable hours. For continuing education, I do a mix: formal CLE courses for credits, daily reading of tax news (Tax Notes, Bloomberg Daily), and attending 2-3 specialized conferences per year. The key is making it routine rather than trying to catch up periodically.

I was in almost the exact same situation as you about 2 years ago - fascinated by tax strategy but no desire to prepare returns for clients. I ultimately decided to pursue the EA certification and it's been one of the best investments I've made. Here's what I learned: the EA exam forces you to understand not just what tax strategies exist, but WHY they work and when they apply. This deeper understanding has been invaluable for my own businesses. I can now spot opportunities my previous accountant was missing and have meaningful conversations about complex strategies. The time investment is real though - I spent about 250 hours studying over 8 months while working full-time. But consider this: those hours gave me knowledge that saves me thousands every year and will continue to do so for decades. One unexpected benefit: having the EA credential gives you credibility when discussing strategies with other professionals. My attorney and financial advisor take my tax planning ideas much more seriously now, which has led to better overall wealth planning. If you're truly passionate about tax law like you describe, I'd say go for it. The knowledge compounds over time, especially as your business ventures grow more complex.

I'm actually facing a very similar decision right now! Like you, I have a solid W-2 job but am starting to expand into multiple income streams - rental properties, consulting work, and potentially an online business. The tax complexity is growing quickly and I find myself constantly second-guessing whether I'm optimizing things correctly. What really caught my attention in your post is the part about "wasting time consulting your current EA about random ideas." I'm experiencing the exact same thing. I'll have an idea about something like cost segregation for my rental or whether I should convert my consulting income to an S-corp structure, but I never know if I'm asking the right questions or if there are even better strategies I'm not considering. The tools mentioned in other comments (like taxr.ai) seem interesting for getting some strategic insights without the full EA commitment. But I'm leaning toward your original instinct - actually learning this stuff properly so I can think strategically on my own rather than always being dependent on others. One thing I'm curious about: have you considered that having EA knowledge might actually open up new business opportunities you haven't thought of yet? Even if you don't want to do traditional tax prep, there might be consulting or advisory roles that could emerge as your businesses grow.

I'm sorry for your loss, Katherine. Dealing with trust taxation on top of grieving is never easy. From what you've described, you're looking at a relatively straightforward trust capital gains situation, but the devil is definitely in the details of your specific trust document. A few additional considerations that might help as you prepare: 1) Make sure your uncle as trustee gets a clear read on whether the trust requires or permits distribution of the property before sale. Some trusts have mandatory distribution provisions that could affect your tax strategy. 2) If you do get the step-up basis (which sounds likely with a revocable trust), remember that basis also includes any capital improvements made to the property after your grandmother's death. Keep receipts for anything substantial like roof repairs, HVAC updates, etc. 3) Consider the timing of the sale carefully. If this pushes anyone into a higher tax bracket, it might make sense to coordinate the timing with other tax planning strategies. The folks mentioning professional appraisals and state tax implications are spot-on. Each state handles trust taxation differently, and if you're beneficiaries in different states, that adds another layer of complexity. Best of luck navigating this - it sounds like you're being smart about getting educated before making decisions.

I've been through a similar situation with my family's trust and wanted to share a few practical tips that might help: First, make sure you understand exactly what type of trust this is - while you mentioned it was revocable, the fact that it continued after your grandmother's death suggests it may have converted to an irrevocable trust at that point. This distinction can affect the step-up basis calculation. Second, consider asking your uncle to get quotes from multiple tax professionals who specialize in trust taxation before making the sell-vs-distribute decision. The tax savings from choosing the right approach could easily pay for the consultation fees multiple times over. One thing that caught my attention - you mentioned your father had the right to live there until he moved or passed away. Depending on how this life estate was structured, there might be some complexity around what portion of the property actually gets the step-up basis. Some life estate arrangements can affect the basis calculation in ways that aren't immediately obvious. Also, don't forget to factor in selling costs (realtor commissions, repairs, staging, etc.) when calculating your potential capital gains. These can be substantial and are typically deductible from your gain. The 2+ year gap you mentioned between your grandmother's death and the planned sale actually works in your favor for documentation purposes - you'll have a clearer picture of the property's value at both points in time.