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After waiting nearly a year, my GE application was conditionally approved last Saturday. To my surprise, I was offered either a Zoom or an in-person interview. Scheduled for yesterday at 5:30 pm, took less than 5 minutes, and I'm now fully approved. I had to read out my passport and drivers...

Following a house sale we have a large tax payment to make. I would like to do this with a wire transfer, but the IRS seems determined to make this as difficult as possible. There's a worksheet to be filled out: https://tinyurl.com/bds5jp4t One of the entries is a 'tax type', but nowhere...

Received a letter telling me that my doctor is now part of an Accountable Care Organization. There were a few threads a while back on this topic, but no definite conclusions reached as far as I can tell. Attached was a BS document from the ‘Medicare Shared Savings Program’. It promised me...

We're moving house in a couple of weeks time. Termite inspection for the new place found no issues, but of course the report is full of qualifiers - 'can't see what's happening under the insulation, etc'. I'm wondering whether it's worth getting the place fumigated before we move in, just in...

Submitted Federal and State returns online. Both rejected, State because Federal, Federal because 'spouse AGI does not match IRS database'. But we file jointly, and there is only one AGI, which is correct according to my 2020 filing. Tried entering 0, same result. Tried entering nothing, same...

My understanding of the safe harbor rule is that no underpayment penalty will apply providing you pay at least 110% of last year's tax. Is this true even if there is a large capital gain? I would prefer to underpay the tax due, until later in the year, when all other income has been finalized...

How would I 'uncontain' the containment area?

Making a offer on a new house raises the question of where the money comes from. Suppose I sell stocks from my taxable account. Capital gains tax will of course be payable. The funds released would be applied to a cash offer on the new house. After the old house sells, I'd reinvest in...

Received a credit card text message saying that there was a transaction charged to my card that was over my preset alert limit. Not an order that I had placed. Called the card company who swiftly reversed the transaction. I should be getting a replacement card tomorrow. A bit later I checked...

My wife has a small sole proprietor consulting business, and it does appear that we will qualify for the QBI deduction. However, after entering all the data into TurboTax, the final amount is lower than I expected (and have calculated from the IRS rules). The root of the discrepancy is that the...

Planning to install a new wooden front entry door. Contractor wants to use Simpson, and they are recommending their 'water barrier technology'. This is essentially a thin layer of waterproof material that overlays all the flat surfaces of the door. We're a little skeptical, since the existing...

Our MAGI for 2016 was quite a bit less than for 2015. Last mnonth I filled out form SSA-44, expecting that there would be a retroactive adjustment for the already-paid 2016 premiums. Not so. After a bit of digging, I found the relevant part of POMS...

It seems I have somewhat elevated intraocular pressure, and some slight reduction in peripheral vision. Glaucoma, in other words. I've been offered either drops or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. Internet says both are good ways to control further problems, but I was wondering if anyone here...

I'm currently paying Medicare B directly, since I delayed SS. In January, my SS payments will be starting, and Medicare will be subtracted. But Medicare B is payable in advance, while SS is paid in arrears, so I'm wondering how the timing works. I'm guessing that the January Medicare...

I just logged into my TT account and was asked to check e-mail for a code. Has anyone else seen this? I'm hoping it's not because someone else has accessed my account. If so, they could be locking the stable door etc ... Is there any way to check if someone has already filed using my account...

I understand that calculation of Medicare B premiums is based on information from the IRS for 2 years before the current year. So, for 2015, it would be the 2013 tax return. My wife is expecting to stop work later this year, so our 2015 MAGI will be less than it was in 2013, and lower again...

There are various statements on the SSA site to the effect that 30 years of substantial earnings will result in zero WEP reduction. I had assumed that this meant 30 years of earnings up to the time when you start to draw social security. But is this right? I think the 30 years may be up to the...

I recently received a CP11 notice from the IRS. In essence, this says that there is a mistake on my return and that I owe them money. It’s not a large amount; changes a $71 refund to a $29 liability. I think they have it wrong. So does TurboTax. Question is, what to do? They give a phone...

Answered my own question ... sorry for 'vacant post' Peter

I notice that the YTD return for FINPX, the Fidelity TIPS fund, is 5.63%. How do they do this? Interest rates now are about the same as they were at the start of the year, and YTD CPI inflation is about 2.3%. I must be missing something? Peter

I do consulting work about 10-15 hours per week, and expect this to tail down close to zero in the near future. Piggy bank has enough in it to last me approx 40 years, assuming a comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle. That is, if it was just me. But life is not that simple ... My girlfriend...

First post here, although I've been lurking for some time! FireCalc and similar tools use standard measures for inflation (e.g. CPI) but these don't necessarily reflect the actual inflation any individual might expect to see. In my own case, if I add up medical insurance, homeowners...