I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding the "Special Situations" option in TurboTax, it sometimes appears under different names depending on your TurboTax version. In TurboTax Deluxe, I found it listed as "W-2 has limited information" and in the online version it was under "Advanced W-2 Options." Also, make sure you're entering the W2s in the right order - enter the complete one first, then the state-only one second. That seemed to make a difference for me. The system recognized the pattern better that way and automatically suggested the state-only option when I got to the second form. One more tip: if you're still getting stuck, try clearing your browser cache or restarting the TurboTax desktop application before trying again. Sometimes the error gets "stuck" and a fresh start helps the software recognize the special situation properly.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this same headache a few months ago! I also received two W2s from my employer - one complete and one with only state tax info in boxes 18-20. What worked for me was calling my employer's HR department first to confirm this was intentional. They explained that they switched payroll systems mid-year and the new system automatically generates separate federal and state W2s for employees who worked across multiple pay periods during the transition. For filing, I ended up using FreeTaxUSA instead of TurboTax because their interface was more straightforward about handling split W2s. They have a clear prompt that asks "Does this W2 contain only state tax information?" right when you start entering the second form. No hunting through menus or special situations - just a simple yes/no question. Filed electronically without any issues and got my refund in about 2 weeks. Sometimes switching tax software is easier than fighting with the one that's giving you trouble!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned after going through this exact situation last year! I received about $30,000 from my parents through Zelle and Venmo for my law school expenses and also got hit with multiple 1099-K forms. The panic you're feeling is totally normal - I thought I was going to owe thousands in taxes on money that was clearly just family support. But after working with a tax professional, I learned that the 1099-K is really just a reporting mechanism and doesn't change the fundamental nature of what the money actually was. Here's what really helped me get organized: I created a simple three-column document showing (1) the date and amount of each transfer, (2) what specific expense it covered (like "September rent" or "Fall semester books"), and (3) any communication from my parents about that transfer. This made it crystal clear that these were ongoing gifts for legitimate educational expenses. The key thing I learned is that you DO need to address the 1099-K on your tax return - you can't just ignore it since the IRS has a copy. But most tax software now has specific workflows for handling payment app 1099-Ks that aren't actually taxable income. You'll report the form but then categorize the appropriate portions as non-taxable gifts. Don't stress too much about this - you're definitely not alone in dealing with this issue, and there are established ways to handle it properly!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with almost the exact same situation - got a 1099-K from PayPal for around $28,000 in transfers from my parents during my doctoral program. Like everyone else here, I initially panicked thinking I'd have to pay taxes on what was clearly family support for my education. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring. The advice about documentation is spot-on - I've been going through my records and I have tons of evidence showing these were gifts (text messages, emails, even some handwritten notes from my mom when she'd send money). The timeline approach that Emily mentioned is brilliant - I can clearly show how the transfers lined up with tuition due dates, rent payments, and other school expenses. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called my university's financial aid office to ask if they had any guidance on this situation, and they said they're seeing it constantly now. They even mentioned that some students are starting to ask family members to send larger, less frequent transfers (staying within the annual gift limits) specifically to avoid triggering as many 1099-K forms from payment apps. For anyone still worried about this - the key thing I've learned is that receiving a 1099-K doesn't change what the money actually was. Family gifts for education are still family gifts for education, regardless of what forms PayPal decides to send out!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Jamal! That's really reassuring to hear. I'm in a similar boat - just realized I might have made an error with my dependent claim and I've been stressing about it for days. Your timeline is super helpful to know. Quick question though - when you say the adjustment amount was a payment you had to make, does that mean you ended up owing money because of the dependency change? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect to owe something back or if it could go either way. Also, did TurboTax charge an additional fee for filing the amendment?

I went through this exact situation two years ago and can confirm that TurboTax's amendment process works really well for dependency changes! A few additional tips from my experience: • Make sure to gather ALL documents related to the dependent before starting - birth certificates, SSN cards, proof of residence if applicable • The system will automatically recalculate ALL related credits (Child Tax Credit, EITC, etc.) so you'll see the full impact upfront • TurboTax does charge around $50 for the amendment service, but it's worth it for the convenience and accuracy • If you're claiming someone NEW as a dependent (rather than removing one), be extra careful about the qualifying tests - TurboTax has good guidance but double-check residency and support requirements The electronic filing really is much faster than paper. My amendment was processed in about 8 weeks vs the 16-20 weeks they quote for paper filing. And yes, your original refund processes completely separately, so you won't have delays there. Good luck!

I've been in a similar situation and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that worked for me was calling around to smaller, local banks and credit unions in your area - they're often more flexible than the big chains. I found a small community bank that cashed my $3,200 refund check for just a $10 fee, even though I wasn't a customer. They required two forms of ID and had me fill out some paperwork, but it was totally worth it to avoid the crazy fees at check cashing places. Also, try calling the banks first before going in person - some have different policies for government checks that the tellers might not know about, but the managers do. Don't give up, there are options out there!

I know this is a really frustrating situation! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is trying check cashing places specifically that advertise "government checks" - they often have higher limits than regular retail stores. Places like Check Into Cash, ACE Cash Express, or Money Mart sometimes go up to $5k for tax refunds, though you'll pay around 2-4% in fees. Also, if you have any prepaid debit cards (like Green Dot or NetSpend), some of them allow you to deposit checks through their mobile apps with higher limits than traditional mobile banking. It's worth checking if you already have one of those cards sitting around. The mobile deposit might take a few days to clear but could be a good backup option!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with a similar FBAR amendment situation. Just wanted to share that I found my old account numbers by checking the "account details" section in my email - turns out when I initially opened those foreign accounts, the bank sent welcome emails with full account information that I had completely forgotten about. Also, for anyone still struggling with this, I discovered that some banks will provide account numbers if you fill out a formal "account information request" form on their website, even when they won't give the same information over the phone. It's worth checking if your bank has this option in their customer service portal. The partial number approach with "XX" definitely seems to be the standard solution based on everyone's experiences here. The key really is documentation - I'm keeping a detailed log of every attempt I make to get complete information, including screenshots, email confirmations, and reference numbers from phone calls. Better to have too much documentation than not enough when it comes to FBAR compliance!

I wanted to add another angle that might help - if you have any old credit reports from when you lived abroad, they sometimes list foreign bank account numbers in the "foreign financial accounts" or "international banking relationships" sections. I found this when I was going through old paperwork for a mortgage application. Also, if you used any international money transfer services like Wise (formerly TransferWise), Remitly, or even traditional services like Western Union to move money to/from these accounts, their transaction records often include the full destination account numbers. You can usually access several years of transaction history through their websites or by contacting their customer service. One more thing to consider - if you had any automatic payments or direct deposits set up with those accounts (like salary deposits when working abroad, or automatic bill payments), check your employment records or utility company records from that time period. They often keep the banking details on file and might be able to provide them even if the bank won't. The bottom line everyone's established here is solid - use the partial numbers with "XX" and document your efforts. But these additional sources might help you find the complete numbers and make your filing even more straightforward.