I completely understand your frustration! I went through the exact same thing earlier this year. Credit Karma Tax was such a reliable free option, and when I couldn't find it, I thought I'd have to start paying for tax software too. The good news is that Credit Karma Tax still exists, just under a new name - Cash App Taxes. When Intuit bought Credit Karma, they were required by antitrust regulators to sell off the tax filing portion, which was purchased by Square/Block (the company behind Cash App). Cash App Taxes is essentially the same service you're used to - same interface, same ease of use, and most importantly, still completely free for both federal and state returns with no income limits. You can access it directly at cash.app/taxes without needing to download the Cash App mobile app or create a payment account. I used it for my 2024 return and it handled everything just like Credit Karma used to - W-2s, investment income, and even some freelance work on Schedule C. The whole experience was basically identical to what I was used to with Credit Karma Tax. If Cash App Taxes doesn't work out for some reason, FreeTaxUSA is another solid backup option (free federal, small state fee). But I think you'll find Cash App Taxes is exactly what you're looking for to avoid those TurboTax fees!

I can definitely help clarify this situation! You're absolutely right that Credit Karma Tax is no longer available, but the good news is that the service lives on under a new name. When Intuit acquired Credit Karma in 2020, they were required by antitrust regulators to divest the tax filing portion of the business, which was then purchased by Block (formerly Square). The service is now called Cash App Taxes and you can access it directly at cash.app/taxes. It's essentially the exact same platform you've been using for the past 6 years - same interface, same question flow, same comprehensive tax support - just with new branding. Most importantly, it remains completely free for both federal and state returns with no income restrictions. You don't need to download the Cash App mobile application or link any payment methods. You can use it entirely through their website just like you did with Credit Karma Tax. I used it for my 2024 return and the experience was virtually identical to what I was accustomed to with Credit Karma. The service handles all the same tax situations - W-2s, 1099s, investment income, business expenses, rental properties, and more. For your simple return, it should work perfectly and save you from having to pay TurboTax's $89+ fees. If for any reason Cash App Taxes doesn't meet your needs, other solid free alternatives include FreeTaxUSA (free federal, $15 state) and the IRS Free File program if your income qualifies. But I'm confident Cash App Taxes will be exactly what you're looking for!

Great question about where to start! Based on everything shared in this thread, I'd recommend these first three steps before considering paid services: 1. **Check your old tax returns first** - This is free and often reveals crucial information. Look for Schedule B (dividends) and any previous Schedule D forms that might show partial sales of the same stock. Even dividend income from Disney proves you owned the stock during specific tax years, which helps establish a timeline. 2. **Contact Disney's investor relations directly** - Since you mentioned it's Disney stock, call their investor relations department and ask about historical corporate actions (stock splits, spin-offs, etc.) during your estimated ownership period. Disney has had several stock splits that could help you work backwards to determine your original purchase details. 3. **Request "cost basis election records" from all three brokers** - Don't just ask for regular statements. Specifically request "legacy acquisition data" and "cost basis election records" from each broker's compliance department. Sometimes this data exists in archived systems even when regular customer service says it doesn't. These three steps cost nothing but time and often uncover information that eliminates the need for expensive specialists. Only after exhausting these free options would I move on to forensic accountants or reconstruction services. Since it's inherited stock, also check if you have any of your grandmother's old financial documents - sometimes beneficiaries don't realize they need to look beyond just the inheritance paperwork itself. Good luck with your search!

I've been lurking on this thread for a while because I'm dealing with a similar situation with some old GE stock, and I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful everyone's experiences have been. The amount of practical, actionable advice here is amazing. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you ever moved and filed a change of address with USPS, sometimes old brokerage statements get forwarded to mail recovery services. I actually found some ancient E*TRADE confirmations in a box of mail that had been forwarded to me years ago when I moved apartments. It was buried under a pile of other forwarded junk mail, but those confirmations had the exact purchase dates and costs I needed. Also, for anyone dealing with inherited stock like Margot, don't forget that you might be eligible for a "stepped-up basis" at the date of inheritance rather than the original purchase price. This could actually work in your favor tax-wise. You'd need to establish the fair market value on the date your grandmother passed away, which might be easier to document than finding her original purchase records. The persistence everyone is showing here is really inspiring. I was ready to give up and accept zero basis, but reading all these success stories has motivated me to keep digging. Thanks to this community for turning what felt like an impossible situation into a manageable challenge with multiple potential solutions!

Honestly, with just a single rental unit in a duplex, TurboTax should be fine. I've used it for 5 years with my triplex (live in one, rent two). Just make sure you keep good records of your expenses and know which ones need to be split between personal and rental use. The only time I'd pay for a professional is if you have multiple properties or complicated situations like 1031 exchanges.

I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA two years ago for my duplex taxes and it's been great. Like others mentioned, it handles Schedule E rental income/expenses just fine and costs way less. The interface isn't as polished as TurboTax but it gets the job done. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're tracking ALL your expenses throughout the year, not just at tax time. I use a simple spreadsheet with categories like repairs, utilities, insurance, etc. Also, don't forget about depreciation on appliances and improvements you make to the rental side. TurboTax was actually better at prompting me for these details, so with FreeTaxUSA I had to be more proactive about remembering everything. The $700 savings you'd get by doing it yourself is definitely worth it for a simple duplex situation, especially if you're organized with your record keeping.

I've been in almost the exact same situation for about 18 months now! My partner and I bought a condo together, but only my name is on the mortgage due to his employment gap at the time. He transfers me $600 monthly for his portion of the mortgage and HOA fees. I had the same concerns you did initially, but after researching and speaking with my accountant, I learned that this is completely normal and not reportable income. The IRS views these transfers as expense reimbursement between domestic partners, not taxable income to you. What really helped ease my mind was understanding that banks only report specific things to the IRS - mainly interest income, large cash deposits over $10K, and suspicious transaction patterns. Regular monthly transfers between partners for shared living expenses are extremely common and don't trigger any reporting requirements. I keep a simple note in my phone each month showing the breakdown (total mortgage payment, my portion, his portion) just for documentation, but honestly after 18 months of this arrangement, it's never come up in any way. Your $750 monthly transfers are textbook expense-sharing between unmarried partners - definitely nothing to stress about!

I was in a very similar situation about a year ago and had the exact same worries! My girlfriend and I bought a house together but only put it in my name due to her student loan situation affecting her debt-to-income ratio. She transfers me $850 monthly for her share of the mortgage and property taxes. I spent weeks stressing about this until I finally called a local CPA who explained it perfectly: what we have is a standard cost-sharing arrangement between domestic partners. The money she gives me isn't income - it's reimbursement for her portion of expenses that benefit both of us. Since we both live in the house and both get the benefit of having shelter, her contribution is just her fair share of legitimate housing costs. The CPA also confirmed that banks don't report regular person-to-person transfers like this to the IRS. They mainly report interest income, large cash deposits over $10K, and suspicious patterns that might indicate illegal activity. Monthly transfers between partners for shared expenses are completely normal and expected. I started keeping a simple monthly text to myself showing "Mortgage: $1,700, my half: $850, [girlfriend's name] half: $850" just for peace of mind, but the CPA said even that wasn't necessary given how straightforward our arrangement is. After a full year of this setup, we've never had any questions or issues. Your $750 monthly arrangement sounds identical to what millions of other unmarried couples do when sharing housing costs. You're definitely overthinking this - it's a totally normal and legitimate way to split expenses!

I work as an ERISA attorney and have handled dozens of cases exactly like yours. Your employer is absolutely required to make a QNEC - their benefits team's response shows they fundamentally misunderstand the law. Under ERISA Section 404(a)(1), plan fiduciaries must act solely in the interest of participants and follow the plan document. When you made a valid deferral election and they failed to implement it, they breached their fiduciary duty regardless of the reason. The IRS correction under EPCRS isn't optional - it's mandatory when operational defects like this are discovered. Your employer faces significant penalties if they don't correct this properly, including potential plan disqualification which would create taxable events for ALL participants. Here's what I'd recommend: Send a formal demand letter to your CEO and CFO (not just benefits) citing ERISA Section 404, IRC Section 401(k), and Revenue Procedure 2021-30. Include a calculation showing the QNEC amount owed plus lost earnings. Give them 30 days to respond. If they refuse, file a complaint with the Department of Labor's EBSA and consider an ERISA lawsuit for breach of fiduciary duty. Most employers cave quickly once they realize the legal exposure - the cost of making you whole is nothing compared to potential plan disqualification. Document everything and don't let them pressure you into accepting anything less than a proper QNEC with full tax advantages. You have the law completely on your side here.

I'm a newcomer to this community but had to chime in after reading your situation - this is absolutely maddening and unfortunately way too common. Your employer's "no deductions were taken" excuse is complete nonsense and shows they either don't understand their own legal obligations or are hoping you'll just give up. What strikes me most is that you're apparently the ONLY person out of 1200+ employees who had this happen. That actually works in your favor legally - it shows this wasn't a systematic plan failure but rather a specific operational error affecting your individual account, which makes the correction requirements even clearer. The fact that they found the error during their own audit is also important. Under EPCRS, when employers discover operational defects through their own processes (rather than through an IRS audit), they get more favorable correction terms. But that also means they can't claim ignorance - they KNOW there's a problem and are legally required to fix it. Based on all the excellent legal advice already given here, I'd suggest going nuclear and sending that formal demand letter directly to the C-suite. Include language about how their refusal to make a proper QNEC creates ongoing fiduciary breaches and puts the entire plan's qualified status at risk. Most companies will fold immediately once their lawyers explain the potential liability. Don't let them wear you down with bureaucratic runaround. You have every legal right to this correction, and the longer they delay, the worse their compliance position becomes.