Quick question - has anyone had this issue with TurboTax or other tax software? I'm trying to file both my federal and local returns through TurboTax but it keeps flagging the missing boxes and won't let me proceed.

Don't panic - this is actually more common than you think! The blank boxes 18-20 on your W-2s simply mean your employers didn't withhold local municipality taxes from your paychecks during the year. This doesn't mean you don't owe them - it just means you'll need to pay them now when you file. For your municipality filing, here's what you should do: - Use the wage amount from Box 1 (your federal wages) as your local taxable wages - Enter "0" for local tax withheld since nothing was taken out - For the locality name, use the municipality where you physically worked (or your employer's location) The reason your third W-2 has this information filled in is probably because that employer was located in your municipality and properly withheld local taxes throughout the year. You should also ask your employers (the ones with blank boxes) why they weren't withholding local taxes - they might need to correct this going forward so you don't face a big tax bill again next year. Some employers don't realize they need to withhold for the municipality where their employees live or work.

Hey there! I was in almost the exact same situation when I first started filing taxes. The mix of W-2 income and cash payments can definitely feel confusing at first, but you've got this! A few quick tips from my experience: - For record-keeping with cash jobs like babysitting, even a simple note in your phone with dates and amounts helps. Going forward, try to track it as you go - The $400 threshold for self-employment income that others mentioned is key - since you made $2,800 babysitting, you'll definitely need to report it - Don't stress too much about not having perfect records this time. The IRS understands that cash payments don't always come with formal documentation. Just make your best honest estimate One thing that really helped me was understanding that filing taxes gets SO much easier after your first time. All the forms and terminology that seem scary now will make perfect sense next year. You're learning a valuable life skill! Also, definitely have that conversation with your parents about the dependent status before you file. It affects both your taxes and theirs, so you want to make sure you're on the same page about who's claiming what.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works in tax preparation - you're asking all the right questions! A few additional points that might help: Since you mentioned your parents have always claimed you as a dependent, definitely confirm this with them before filing. The IRS has specific tests for dependency - age, residence, support, etc. Being 18 and working doesn't automatically disqualify you from being their dependent if you're still a student and they provide more than half your support. For your babysitting income, keep in mind that as self-employment income, you can also deduct legitimate business expenses. Things like transportation costs to/from babysitting jobs, any supplies you bought for the kids, etc. These deductions can help reduce your self-employment tax burden. One more tip - if this is your first time filing and you're feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to visit a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site. They offer free tax help for people making under $60,000, and they're specifically trained to help with situations like yours. You can find locations on the IRS website. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding your tax obligations shows great financial responsibility. Many people your age just wing it or ignore the cash income entirely, which can cause problems later. You're on the right track!

Has anyone dealt with the issue of DeGiro not providing proper French tax forms? When I was with a French broker, they used to give me a "Imprimé Fiscal Unique" that made declarations super easy, but DeGiro doesn't do this.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I opened my DeGiro account. Here's what I learned from speaking with a tax advisor: 1. **Form 3916** is mandatory every year for ANY foreign account, regardless of balance or activity. Even if you just opened it and haven't invested anything yet, you must declare it. 2. **Form 2047** is for reporting actual income (dividends, capital gains, interest) from foreign sources. If you haven't earned anything yet, you still need the 3916 but can skip the 2047 for now. 3. **Timing matters** - you need to declare the account for the tax year in which it was opened, even if it was December 31st. 4. **Documentation** - Keep all your DeGiro statements and correspondence. The French tax authorities can ask for proof of the account details at any time. One thing that caught me off guard was that even my unused cash sitting in the DeGiro money market fund counted as a "foreign investment" and needed to be reported differently than just cash in a bank account. The good news is that once you've done it the first time, subsequent years are much easier since you just update the same forms with current balances and any new income.

If your keeping the loan under 10k, make sure neither of you already gave each other gifts that year that would push you over the annual exclusion when combined with the "imputed interest" amount. The IRS looks at the total benefit transferred in a year, not just individual transactions.

Great question! I went through something similar when my sister needed help with a down payment. Here's what I learned from my tax advisor: The key is proper documentation - even for family loans. Create a simple promissory note that includes: - Loan amount ($13,500) - Payment schedule (monthly payments over 3 years) - 0% interest rate explicitly stated - Both signatures and date Since your loan is over $10k, your friend technically should report imputed interest income based on the current Applicable Federal Rate (AFR). However, if you're using the money for personal expenses (not investments), the imputed interest amount is usually pretty minimal. One alternative that worked for us: we structured it as two separate $6,750 loans with slightly different start dates to keep each under the $10k threshold. This completely avoided any imputed interest issues while still giving us the full amount we needed. Whatever you decide, keep records of every payment made. The IRS wants to see it's truly functioning as a loan, not a disguised gift.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been stressing about this exact issue with my twin sons starting college next fall, I feel much more confident about the documentation approach now. The consensus seems clear: keep records of major expenses (rent, meal plans, big grocery trips), maintain a simple tracking system showing you stayed within the school's published room and board allowances, and don't worry about every small purchase. The real-world audit experience shared by @Yara Sabbagh is particularly reassuring - it sounds like the IRS is looking for reasonableness, not perfection. I love the idea of using a dedicated checking account for college expenses funded by 529 withdrawals. That's definitely going on my to-do list before the boys start school. It would make year-end tax prep so much cleaner and create that clear paper trail everyone's talking about. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - does anyone know if there are differences in documentation requirements between in-state vs out-of-state schools, or public vs private institutions? The room and board allowances vary so dramatically between different types of schools, I'm wondering if that affects how carefully the IRS looks at these expenses. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex tax issues!

This has been such a helpful discussion! I went through this same confusion last year when my daughter started college. After reading everyone's experiences, I think the key takeaway is that the IRS wants to see reasonableness, not perfection. What worked for me was creating a simple system: I keep the school's official cost of attendance letter in a file, maintain receipts for major expenses (rent, meal plan charges, large grocery trips over $100), and use a basic spreadsheet to track monthly totals. For smaller daily expenses like coffee or snacks, I just estimate based on what seems reasonable for a college student. The most important thing I learned is that staying UNDER the school's published room and board allowance gives you a huge safety buffer. If the school says room and board costs $12k per year and you only spend $10k, you're in great shape even without perfect documentation. One practical tip: I take photos of receipts with my phone right when I get them, then organize them into folders by month. It takes 30 seconds but creates a digital backup that's easy to access if needed. Much better than trying to dig through shoe boxes of paper receipts later! Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - especially those who've actually dealt with IRS questions about this. It's so much more helpful than just reading the vague official guidance.