the irs site is literally the WORST. crashed on me 3 times during verification last month. keep trying tho, eventually worked on like the 4th attempt 💀

Pro tip from someone who's done this multiple times: if you're having trouble with the ID.me verification, try using a different browser or clearing your cache first. Also, make sure you're doing it during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) when their servers aren't as overwhelmed. I've found that Tuesday-Thursday mornings work best. The whole process is definitely frustrating but once you get through it the first time, accessing your transcripts becomes super easy!

If you're still having trouble after following the steps above, make sure you're selecting the right tax year - the system defaults to the current year but you might need an older one. Also, if you filed jointly with a spouse, both of you need to be verified with ID.me to access joint transcripts. The "Account Transcript" usually has the most comprehensive info including any adjustments or notices.

Quick heads up - if you're using Safari, try switching to Chrome or Firefox. Safari sometimes has issues with the IRS site after ID.me login. Also, make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings. I've seen people get stuck on blank pages because their browser was blocking scripts. Once you get to the transcript page, you can choose between Account Transcript (shows payments, adjustments, balances) or Return Transcript (shows what you filed). Account Transcript is usually what most people need.

You're definitely not alone in this situation! I made the same mistake when I got married in 2019 and didn't update my W4 for almost two years. The good news is that if your joint tax returns have been coming out okay, you might have accidentally found a decent balance. Here's what I learned: when one spouse withholds as "single" (higher withholding rate) and the other as "married" (lower rate), it can sometimes work out better than both selecting "married" which often leads to underwithholding. That said, you should definitely get this sorted properly. I'd recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool - it's free and will give you personalized recommendations based on both your incomes. You can find it by searching "Tax Withholding Estimator" on irs.gov. The current W4 form is much better designed for dual-income households than the old version. If you both have just one job each, you can simply check the box in Step 2(c) on both your W4s. This tells the system to account for the second income and withhold appropriately. Don't stress too much about the past few years - focus on getting it right going forward so you avoid any surprises next tax season!

Don't stress too much about waiting a few years to update this! The fact that your joint returns have been working out fine suggests you might have accidentally found a decent balance. When one spouse withholds as "single" (which takes out more tax) and the other as "married" (which takes out less), it can sometimes offset the underwithholding issues that many dual-income couples face. That said, you should definitely get this properly sorted out rather than relying on luck. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is your best friend here - it's free, accurate, and will give you personalized recommendations based on both your incomes. Just search for it on irs.gov and have your recent pay stubs handy when you use it. Since you're both working full-time with regular W2 jobs, you also have the simple option of just checking the box in Step 2(c) on both your new W4 forms. This tells the system "there are two jobs total" and adjusts the withholding accordingly. Both of you need to check this box for it to work properly. The current W4 form (redesigned in 2020) is much better for married couples than the old version, so don't look for "single" vs "married" checkboxes - they're gone. Just follow the current form's instructions and you'll be in much better shape going forward!

One tip - take before and after photos if you haven't already! I got audited last year for QBI on my rental and having dated photos of all the renovation work saved me. Shows proof the work actually happened even without all receipts.

I've been through a similar situation with rental property documentation for QBI, and I want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully addressed here - the IRS specifically looks for "contemporaneous records" but they do accept reconstructed records if they're created in good faith and supported by other evidence. Here's what worked for me when I had to recreate my activity log: I went through my credit card and bank statements month by month, then cross-referenced them with my calendar, text messages with tenants, and even emails about the property. For each expense, I documented what the repair was for, approximately how long it took me, and any supporting evidence (photos, tenant communications, etc.). The key is being realistic and consistent. Don't inflate your hours, but do count all qualifying activities: driving to/from the property, time spent researching contractors, cleaning, painting, minor repairs, tenant communications, showing the property, etc. Many landlords undercount their actual time spent. One thing I learned - keep a simple log going forward. Even just 5 minutes at the end of each property visit to note what you did and how long it took will save you massive headaches later. The IRS audit guidelines actually state that reconstructed records combined with supporting documentation can be acceptable, so you're not automatically disqualified by missing receipts.

Does anyone know if there's a good tax software that makes calculating these estimated payments easier? I've been using TurboTax but it doesn't seem to have a good way to project for the upcoming year or help me figure out these quarterly amounts.

I've been dealing with estimated taxes for years as a small business owner, and I think there's another important point that hasn't been mentioned yet. The IRS actually gives you some flexibility with the safe harbor rules that can make this whole process less stressful. If you pay either 90% of this year's tax liability OR 100% of last year's tax liability (110% if your AGI was over $150,000) through withholding and estimated payments, you won't face underpayment penalties - even if you end up owing more when you file. This means you can use last year's tax return as a baseline for your quarterly payments, which is especially helpful if your income varies significantly. For the uneven quarterly periods, I've found it easier to just set up automatic payments for the same amount each quarter based on last year's taxes. It's not perfectly optimized, but it keeps me safe from penalties and I can adjust when I file my return. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth paying a little extra during the year.