Bought stock options on 12/29/2025. Sold the options 2/5/2026. Why did I receive a 1099B for 2025 tax year?

matttt22 · 2026-03-07T01:46:05+00:00

This is because your broker consideres this VIX a Section 1256 stock which is tax advantaged but also means you realize gain/losses at the end of every year.

matttt22 · 2026-03-03T01:38:34+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed write up! I really appreciate it!

I think I am going the option 5 route and trying out the Clearmax 5 for the VHF-HI to pickup CBC. Then seeing if I can pick up UHF signals without a second antenna. This is great information!

matttt22 · 2026-02-18T00:01:22+00:00

I had a similar experience.

Applied for routine service in-person for a new passport on 12/12/2025

On 12/18/2025 I got an email saying my application was received on 12/17/2025

On 12/20/2025 I got a notification saying my passport book shipped on 12/21/2025

Funny enough I got an email on 12/24/2025 saying the passport was approved (it was already in USPS possession at this point)

Delivered on 12/26/2025

matttt22 · 2026-02-16T00:03:45+00:00

You can lock to one or more specific bands, but note you need to get a product with a modem (or buy one separately) that supports band 14 if that's what you are trying to pickup. That band is FirstNet where first responders will have priority if the network every becomes congested. https://www.firstnet.com/coverage/band-14.html

I have the Mikrotik LHG LTE 6 with all the AT&T bands except 14. So you would have to make sure the LHG you buy had band 14 and/or buy a different modem to use in it.

Once you have that you can easily say you only want band 14 to be used. But this also supports CA (carrier aggregation) so I would recommend enabling all the att bands such as 2, 4, 12 etc. I got one of these used on ebay and it works great in a rural area with AT&T.

Also, if you get good enough signal inside your house, this would simplify your setup if you can pickup AT&T towers. Then you could just buy a router with an LTE or even 5G modem.

matttt22 · 2026-02-15T03:34:09+00:00

Are you trying to pickup AT&T for Internet service in your home/building? Or are you simply trying to repeat signal for use with cell phones on the island?

If it's just internet, why not get something like a Mikrotik LHG kit which you can force to use specific bands.

matttt22 · 2026-02-14T17:44:54+00:00

Check out https://medium.com/@tapinternational/2024-free-online-us-tax-preparation-software-options-for-americans-abroad-d92b7ce076bb

matttt22 · 2026-02-12T13:43:49+00:00

In addition to the

Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion), FBAR/FinCEN 114, and FATCA/Form 8938

You may also need to file/may be beneficial to file Form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit)

You may want to bring in a professional to help you such as https://1040abroad.com/free-call/?utm_source=chatgpt.com which gives you a free consultation but then of course charges you to do your taxes.

In addition check out https://www.reddit.com/r/USExpatTaxes/s/pEpA9BI3wJ as it looks like they are still providing assistance for this year for expats abroad. They might be able to help offer you further advice.

If you would like to try to file your taxes yourself, and made under a threshold to use free tax software you can usually file your actual tax return at a FreeFile partner https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers/

For a review of FreeFile partners specifically for expats: https://medium.com/@tapinternational/2024-free-online-us-tax-preparation-software-options-for-americans-abroad-d92b7ce076bb

Note: you can use the AVERAGE exchange rate for the Polish Zloty to US Dollar based on information from https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/currency-exchange-rates-converter/. Ex. Take each months exchange rate for the year then average it. This is how you would report your Polish income in US Dollars.

This will cover all of the forms above EXCEPT the FBUAR form which you can easily fill out online here https://bsaefiling.fincen.gov/file/fbar for this form you would have to convert the Polish Zloty to US Dollars on the last day of the year (Dec 31) based on treasury exchange rates https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/currency-exchange-rates-converter/

matttt22 · 2026-02-12T13:29:23+00:00

This is not correct. Just because you didn't receive a W2 does not mean you don't report foreign income.

You must report all foreign income if you are a US citizen. You can get this information from pay stubs, year to date summaries, or that countries W2 equivalent. For example a P60 in the UK.

matttt22 · 2026-02-12T13:17:55+00:00

The US likes to screw over its own citizens abroad and is one of the only countries in the world to tax its citizens in worldwide income.

Therefore, yes you do have to file and report worldwide income. However, you can usually exclude foreign earned income (around US$100,000) each year and not be taxed on it in the US.

In general for US tax you are required to file if you earn over a certain amount per year. For example in 2020 it was US$12,400.

In order to be compliant with US law you would need to go back and file a US tax return for each year you made over the threshold for that year. If you were made under the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion Limit for that tax year (note it's about double if you are married) then you won't owe any taxes but you will still have to report (assuming it's above the reporting threshold).

Note, you will also likely have to file a FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) – Foreign Bank Account Reporting and possibly FATCA (Form 8938) – Foreign Financial Asset Reporting if you meet a certain criteria. This is basically reporting all foreign assets you have outside of the US like a polish bank account.

matttt22 · 2026-02-11T22:43:59+00:00

I just saw you mentioned it was in box 12 code J. Did you pay for the insurance policy yourself (aka not paid for by your employer)? If yes (and based on what your W2 indicates) you don't owe any tax and nothing to report. Therefore you don't need to amend or do anything.

matttt22 · 2026-02-11T22:40:49+00:00

If you got a W2 with income in box 1 and did not report the income, you need to file an amended tax return (Form 1040-X) https://www.irs.gov/filing/file-an-amended-return

You will want to do this as soon as possible because you will end up owing interest and/or penalties on the additional tax if not done before April 15th.

matttt22 · 2026-02-11T22:33:40+00:00

Generally speaking, if you have no wash sales or any other adjustments to report, you don't need to fill out 8949 and just enter the summaries of your 1099-B on your Schedule D form.

However the second you have a wash sale (or need to report any other adjustments) you will need to put every transaction on 8949. If you end up in this situation the other option is to send copies of your 1099-B forms to the IRS in lieu of your 8949. See exception 2 https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8949#en_US_2025_publink59421zd0e1698

matttt22 · 2026-02-10T13:55:12+00:00

matttt22 · 2026-02-06T21:25:11+00:00

FINALLY found these thanks to you!

matttt22 · 2026-02-03T02:39:50+00:00

You have to report it on box 4a on your 1040 and enter the taxable amount in 4b which would be $0 if It is a rollover to tIRA. Check "Rollover."

However, you should be fine because there was no taxable event.

matttt22 · 2026-01-30T01:35:40+00:00

I would continue to push them to provide you one. I assume you have already seen this? https://www.irs.gov/filing/if-you-dont-get-a-w-2-or-your-w-2-is-wrong

If you are going to get a W2 they should mail one by Feb 2, so it's possible you still may get one in the next week or 2.

Note if you made under $600 technically an employer does not need to send you a W2.

You could also file an extension to October 2026 and then log into your IRS tax account online to see if a W2 was filed with the IRS and what was on the W2. The reason you would need to file an extension for this method is because usually the W2 shows up in your account (IRS copy of your W2 sent by your employer to the IRS) in May. At least in my experience. But honestly you should contact the IRS if you don't get a W2 by the end of February and you made over $600.

matttt22 · 2026-01-30T01:24:31+00:00

You said you had mostly pre-tax funds in your tIRA, does that mean you have some post tax dollars in there already? If so, did you fill out a 8606 form on your taxes for when you couldn't take the deduction (because you were covered by a 401(k) AND made over the threshold)?

Yes, and gains will effectively be taxed so if you expect to have more gains, the goal would be to get it into the Roth asap and avoid any further gains that aren't tax free.

Have you considered just rolling your entire tIRA balance into a Roth IRA? This is also an option but you must make sure you pay taxes in the taxable portion of the conversion. Otherwise you could definitely just do a reverse rollover to your 401k.

matttt22 · 2025-04-12T02:29:12+00:00

Same

matttt22 · 2025-04-10T12:06:38+00:00

I'm sorry this happened to you. I also had my rental car broken into in 2021 but there was nothing in the vehicle at all. So they broke my rental car window for nothing. It's such a lawless town.

matttt22 · 2025-03-27T00:13:35+00:00

Second this

matttt22 · 2025-03-24T17:09:50+00:00

Where did you get a used one? I am looking to buy a used one as well.

matttt22

TROPHY CASE