I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My employer switched from QuickBooks to ADP halfway through last year and I got two W-2s that were nearly identical except for some withholding amounts. The key thing that helped me was realizing this isn't actually that uncommon - payroll companies often generate separate W-2s for different periods when there's a mid-year system change. However, you're absolutely right to be concerned about the different EINs and the Statutory Employee classification change. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1. **Call the employer ASAP** - Ask to speak directly with whoever manages payroll or the person who handled the system transition. Don't settle for "both are correct" - ask them to explain WHY both are needed. 2. **Focus on the EIN difference** - This is the biggest red flag. Same company should generally have the same EIN unless there was a legitimate corporate restructure. 3. **Question the Statutory Employee change** - This classification affects your tax liability significantly, so if it wasn't intentional, you need a corrected form. 4. **Don't file yet** - I made the mistake of filing with confusing W-2s once and had to amend later. It was a nightmare that delayed my refund by months. The good news is most employers want to fix these issues once they understand the problem. Document everything when you call and don't be afraid to escalate if the first person you talk to can't give you clear answers. You're being smart by catching this before filing!

This is a really common issue when employers switch payroll systems mid-year, so don't stress too much! The key red flag here is definitely the different EINs - that's not normal for the same employer and could cause problems with the IRS if not resolved. Before calling the employer, I'd suggest gathering all the documentation first: both W-2s, your boyfriend's final paystub from December (if he has it), and maybe even his last paystub from before the payroll system switch. This will help you verify if there's any double-counting of income. When you do call, ask specifically for the payroll manager or whoever handled the system transition. The questions others have suggested are spot-on: why are the EINs different, is the Statutory Employee classification intentional, and can they confirm the total wages are accurate for the full year. One thing I'd add - if they can't give you satisfactory answers or seem to be guessing, ask for the contact information of their payroll processing company (like ADP, Paychex, etc.). Sometimes the third-party processor can explain what happened better than the employer's internal staff. Don't file until this is resolved. I know it's frustrating to delay, but dealing with IRS notices or having to amend later is way more complicated than taking a few extra days to get correct documentation upfront. You're being smart by catching this early!

Great thread! I'm actually going through the EFIN application process right now for my own side practice. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the bonding requirements for your personal EFIN. The IRS requires a surety bond (usually $5,000 minimum) which can add to your startup costs. Also, if you're planning to offer direct deposit or refund transfer services to clients through your personal EFIN, there are additional requirements and fees with the bank partners. For software recommendations, I've been looking at TaxSlayer Pro - they have a pay-per-return option that might work better than the flat annual fee if you're uncertain about volume in your first year. Has anyone tried their platform for smaller practices?

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been operating with dual EFINs for over 5 years. Everything mentioned here is spot-on, but I'd emphasize one additional point that saved me a lot of headaches: set up completely separate QuickBooks accounts (or whatever accounting software you use) for tracking the income and expenses from each EFIN. This becomes crucial during tax season when you're preparing your own Schedule C - having clean separation makes it much easier to pull reports and ensures you don't accidentally mix business expenses. I learned this the hard way my first year when I tried to track everything in one system with different classes/categories. Also, don't forget about quarterly estimated taxes on your Schedule C income! The self-employment tax can catch you off guard if you're not setting aside money throughout the year. I typically set aside about 30% of my side practice income to cover both income tax and SE tax. One last tip: consider getting a separate business phone line or Google Voice number for your personal EFIN clients. Helps maintain that professional separation and makes it easier to track business vs personal calls for expense purposes.

One thing no one's mentioned yet is that you should file Form 4868 ASAP to request an automatic extension if you haven't filed yet. This won't get you out of paying what you owe, but it will reduce some of the failure-to-file penalties.

I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been fully addressed - you absolutely should file your taxes even though you've missed the deadline. The IRS has consistently maintained that tax compliance and immigration enforcement are separate functions, and they actively encourage everyone to file regardless of status. Since you have a legitimate SSN from your legal entry, you're in a better position than many. You'll file using the same forms as any other taxpayer. For your Zelle income, treat it as self-employment income on Schedule C, and don't forget you'll need to file Schedule SE for self-employment tax. The failure-to-file penalty is much steeper than failure-to-pay, so getting your return filed should be your immediate priority. If you owe taxes and can't pay the full amount, the IRS offers payment plans that can make it manageable. The key is getting compliant - it shows good faith and stops the clock on the harsher penalties. Consider using the Free File options on IRS.gov if your income qualifies, or look into VITA sites as mentioned earlier. Both are confidential and focused solely on tax compliance.

Kinda related question but has anyone actually successfully carried forward an NOL on their taxes using TurboTax? I tried last year and the software kept getting confused about my carryforward amount.

Just wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations - make sure you understand the difference between business losses and capital losses when calculating your NOL. As a freelance graphic designer myself, I made the mistake of mixing up equipment depreciation with direct capital losses in my first year. Your expensive computer and design software should typically be depreciated over several years (or you might qualify for Section 179 expensing), but this is different from capital asset sales that are subject to the $3,000 annual limit you mentioned. For your NOL calculation, focus on your Schedule C business income/losses rather than capital gains/losses. The business losses from your design work, office rent, and legitimate business expenses can contribute to an NOL, but make sure you're categorizing everything correctly. I learned this the hard way when I had to file an amended return! Also keep excellent records of everything - client contracts, invoices, business bank statements, receipts. The IRS tends to scrutinize creative businesses more closely, so documentation is key if you ever get audited.

One important distinction to make: an offset and a refund are two different things. The offset happens after your tax return is processed and a refund is determined. If you owe federal debts, the Treasury takes your refund to pay those debts before sending you any remainder. Refund advances are typically based on your expected refund amount, not what you'll actually receive after offsets. Most legitimate tax preparation services will run a debt indicator check before approving an advance, which will show if you're likely to have an offset. If they see an indicator, they'll typically deny the advance.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with a student loan offset. Here's what I learned the hard way: most major tax prep companies (H&R Block, TurboTax, etc.) will run a debt check before approving any refund advance, and if they see you're flagged for an offset, they'll automatically deny you. However, some smaller storefront tax preparers might not run these checks as thoroughly. BUT - and this is a big but - if they give you an advance and your refund gets offset, you're still 100% responsible for paying back that advance plus any fees. I ended up owing $347 more than the advance amount after fees and interest when my $2,800 refund got completely offset. My advice? Call the Treasury Offset Program first at 1-800-304-3107 to confirm your offset amount, then explore alternatives like a personal loan from your bank or credit union - the interest rates are usually way better than refund advance fees anyway.