This is such a timely discussion! I'm currently dealing with a wage repayment situation from 2022 where I had to return about $9,200 to my former employer. Like many others here, I figured out the federal and state tax deduction parts, but the FICA piece has been confusing. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I should definitely try contacting my former employer's payroll department first before going the Form 843 route. I'm a bit nervous about that conversation since our relationship wasn't great when I left, but if they can benefit from recovering their matching portion, maybe they'll be more willing to help. One question I haven't seen addressed - if you do get the FICA refund directly from your employer, do you need to report that anywhere on your current year's tax return? Or is it just a separate transaction that doesn't affect your taxes? Want to make sure I handle everything correctly if I'm lucky enough to get cooperation from them. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here - this thread has been more helpful than hours of googling!

I just wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING related to your wage repayment. I learned this the hard way when I had to file Form 843 for my FICA refund. The IRS asked for additional documentation that I hadn't thought to save initially, including the original pay stubs from when I first received the wages, bank records showing the actual repayment transaction, and even correspondence with my former employer about the repayment arrangement. Also, if anyone is dealing with a situation where they received wages in one state but had to repay them while living in a different state, there can be additional complications with state tax treatment that might affect your overall refund calculations. I ended up having to file amended state returns in both states to get everything sorted properly. The whole process took about 6 months from start to finish, but I eventually recovered about $1,100 in FICA taxes that I would have lost otherwise. It's definitely worth pursuing even if it seems complicated at first!

Everyone's giving good advice about claiming a domestic partner, but don't forget to consider the future! When your partner finishes law school and starts working, your tax situation will change dramatically. My wife and I were in the same boat (I supported her through med school), and we actually ended up paying MORE in taxes after marriage because of the marriage penalty when both people have good incomes.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in tax preparation - you're on the right track! Based on your description, your domestic partner would likely qualify as a "qualifying relative" dependent. The key things to document are: 1. Keep receipts for all the expenses you're paying (rent, utilities, groceries, phone, insurance) 2. Get a statement of his total student loan disbursements for the year 3. Track any income he earns from tutoring or other sources Since you mentioned he only makes about $2,500 from tutoring and the loans only cover tuition/books while you handle all living expenses, you should easily meet both the income test (under $5,000) and the support test (you're providing more than 50% of total support). One thing I always tell clients - calculate the actual dollar amounts to be sure. Add up everything: tuition, books, rent, food, utilities, transportation, clothing, medical expenses, etc. Then make sure your contributions are more than half of that total. It sounds like they definitely are, but having the numbers documented will give you confidence and protection if questions ever arise. The dependent exemption can be a significant tax benefit, so it's worth claiming if you qualify!

18 Pro tip: Always take screenshots of your payment confirmation page when e-filing. I've had issues in the past where the IRS claimed they never received payment authorization, but having that screenshot saved me from penalties. Also, never cut it too close to the deadline - IRS systems get overwhelmed and banking transfers can take longer than expected.

Based on my experience, the IRS usually processes direct debit payments within 1-3 business days after accepting your return, but it can extend to 5-7 business days during peak filing season. Since you filed Monday and it's Thursday, you're still within the normal timeframe. A few things to check: 1. Log into your IRS online account to verify the payment is scheduled 2. Make sure you didn't accidentally select a future payment date (like April 15th) when filing 3. Check that your bank account has sufficient funds - some banks may delay processing if the account balance is low If the payment fails, the IRS will mail you a notice, but you won't get immediate penalties. You'd have time to make alternative payment arrangements. The key is acting quickly once you receive any failure notification. Don't stress too much yet - Thursday after a Monday filing is pretty normal timing for the withdrawal to appear.

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed in late February claiming the Child Tax Credit for my son and just discovered my return is suspended about 2 weeks ago. This entire thread has been such a godsend - I was starting to panic thinking I'd made some major error on my tax return. The daily transcript checking has definitely become an unhealthy habit for me too! I've been refreshing it every morning hoping to see some change. At least now I know about the 570 code (which I can see on mine) and what it actually means thanks to everyone here. What's really frustrating is how the IRS doesn't explain anywhere that claiming child tax credits can automatically trigger these lengthy verification delays. If they just put a simple notice saying "expect 6-8 week delays for Child Tax Credit verification" it would save so many families from this stress, especially when we're counting on that money for bills and expenses. Haven't received my CP05 letter yet, but knowing it's coming and will actually explain what's happening gives me hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - it's such a relief to know this is routine verification that's just taking way longer than usual this year, not something we messed up. Hoping we all see movement on our returns soon!

I'm going through this exact same situation! Filed in early February with child tax credits and my return has been suspended for about 3 weeks now. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to think I'd made some major mistake on my return. The daily transcript checking obsession is so real! I've been refreshing it constantly hoping to see any changes. At least now I know about the 570 code (which I can see on mine) and what to look for with the eventual 571 code when things get resolved. What really bothers me is how the IRS doesn't make it clear upfront that claiming child tax credits can trigger these automatic verification delays. If they just put a simple notice saying "Child Tax Credit claims may cause 6-8 week processing delays" it would save so many families from unnecessary panic, especially when we're depending on that refund for bills and expenses. I haven't received my CP05 letter yet, but knowing from everyone's experiences here that it's coming and will explain what's happening gives me some peace of mind. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines - it's such a relief to know this is routine verification that's just taking much longer than usual this year, not something we did wrong on our returns.

Another quick tip - if you're filling out multiple W9s for different clients, make sure you're consistent with how you write your name and business info across all of them. I learned this the hard way when one client's 1099 didn't match my tax return because I abbreviated my middle name on one W9 but wrote it out fully on others. Created a headache during tax season that could have been easily avoided! Also, keep copies of all the W9s you submit. It helps when you're doing your taxes and need to cross-reference with the 1099s you receive.

Pro tip from someone who's been filing W9s for years: I actually keep a master document with all my standard info (full legal name exactly as it appears on tax returns, SSN, address, etc.) that I copy from every time I need to fill out a new W9. This ensures I'm always consistent across all forms. I also take a photo or screenshot of each completed W9 before submitting it - way easier than keeping track of physical copies. When tax season comes around, I have a folder on my phone with all my W9s that I can reference when the 1099s start arriving. One more thing - if you ever move or change your name legally, make sure to update ALL your clients with new W9s. Otherwise you'll get 1099s with your old info that won't match your current tax return. Learned that one the hard way too!