I work for a tax prep company and see this all the time. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're entering the IP PIN in the right field. Some versions of TurboTax have both a "Primary Taxpayer IP PIN" and "Spouse IP PIN" field, and if you accidentally put it in the wrong one it'll still show up but the system won't recognize it. Also try typing it manually instead of copy/pasting if that's what you were doing. Copy/paste can sometimes bring invisible characters that mess things up.

Had this exact problem last month! What finally fixed it for me was completely deleting the IP PIN, then going to a different section of TurboTax (like the personal info page), saving that, then going back to the IP PIN section and entering it fresh. Sometimes the form gets "stuck" and needs to be reset this way. Also double check that you're not accidentally hitting space before or after the PIN - that invisible character will make it reject every time even though it looks right to you.

Does anyone know if church employees can opt out of paying Social Security taxes altogether? I heard some religious workers can file for exemption.

I work as a church bookkeeper and handle payroll for our staff, so I can confirm what others have said. The key is looking at your W-2 - if boxes 4 and 6 show Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld, you're all set to file as a regular employee. Our church participates in FICA, so all our non-ministerial staff get regular W-2s with standard withholding. They file just like any other employee. However, I've worked with churches that opted out of FICA, and those employees do need to pay self-employment tax on Schedule SE even though they receive W-2s. Since your church is already withholding FICA taxes from your paychecks, you don't need to worry about self-employment taxes. Your friend likely works for a church that elected out of FICA participation, which is why their situation is different from yours.

Pro tip: if you're having trouble accessing your healthcare.gov account (forgot password, security questions, etc.), you can also call the marketplace customer service and they can mail you a paper copy of your 1095-A. It takes longer but it's a good backup option if you're locked out of your online account. They'll verify your identity over the phone and send it to your address on file. Just make sure to give yourself enough time before the tax deadline!

Quick note for anyone filing taxes - make sure you keep a copy of your 1095-A after you download it! I made the mistake of just viewing it online last year and then had trouble accessing it again when my tax preparer needed another copy. Save it as a PDF to your computer or print it out. Also, double-check that all the information matches what you remember about your coverage - if there are any discrepancies, contact the marketplace before filing your taxes to get it corrected.

This is such a relief to find this thread! I've been losing sleep over this exact issue. My withholding went from about $11,200 last year to only $6,800 this year, and I thought I was going crazy because I know I didn't change anything. What's really concerning me is that I'm already in December, so there aren't many pay periods left to fix this through increased withholding. Based on what everyone is saying about making estimated payments, I think that's probably my best option at this point. Does anyone know if there's a deadline for making estimated tax payments to avoid penalties? And should I be calculating this based on what I owed last year or what I expect to owe this year? I'm worried about getting hit with both a big tax bill AND penalty fees on top of it. I'm also definitely going to check out some of the tools people mentioned here. It sounds like the IRS withholding estimator is a good starting point, but I might need something more detailed given how messed up my situation is right now.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - my withholding dropped from around $9,800 last year to just $5,200 this year with similar income. Like many of you, I discovered this completely by accident and had no idea the withholding tables had changed so dramatically. I just used the IRS withholding estimator that several people recommended, and it's showing I'll likely owe about $3,400 when I file. Since we're already in December, I think making an estimated payment is my best option rather than trying to adjust my W-4 for the remaining pay periods. What I'm wondering is whether anyone has actually filed their taxes yet this year to see how accurate these estimates turned out to be? I'm hoping the IRS calculator is on the conservative side, but I'd rather be prepared for the worst case scenario. Also, for those who mentioned updating your W-4 for next year - are you planning to use the same additional withholding amount, or do you think the tables might change again? I want to make sure I don't overcorrect and end up giving the government an interest-free loan all year! Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread issue and not something I somehow messed up on my end.

This is such a thoughtful approach to help your mom! I went through a similar situation with my dad last year when he was short on Social Security credits. One thing I'd emphasize is making sure you document everything properly from day one. The IRS wants to see that this is a legitimate business arrangement, not just disguised family support. Here's what worked for us: - Created a simple written contract outlining duties (meal prep, cooking, cleanup) - Set regular work hours and pay schedule (we did $16/hour for 12 hours weekly) - Used a time tracking app so he could log his hours - Paid through direct deposit to create clear records - Had him submit simple weekly invoices listing what he cooked The key is treating it exactly like you would any other employee. We also made sure the wage was competitive with local personal chef rates by checking Care.com and local meal prep services. My dad earned all 4 Social Security credits in 8 months this way, and the IRS has never questioned it because we have solid documentation. The extra paperwork was totally worth it knowing he'll have proper benefits when he retires. One bonus tip: consider having your mom get a food handler's permit or basic food safety certification. It's usually under $50 and adds legitimacy to the professional cooking arrangement.

This is a brilliant way to help your mom build Social Security credits! I actually helped my grandmother set up a similar arrangement a couple years ago when she was in the exact same situation. One thing I'd add to all the excellent advice here - consider starting with a trial period first, maybe 2-3 months, to work out any kinks in your system before committing long-term. This lets you figure out realistic hours, iron out the paperwork process, and make sure the arrangement works for both of you. Also, don't underestimate the value of what she's already doing! Professional meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleanup easily justifies $12-18/hour in most areas. When I researched rates for my grandmother, I was surprised how much personal chef services actually cost. The Social Security credits add up faster than you'd think. At $1,730 per quarter for each credit, paying her even $500/month consistently will get her significant progress toward those missing credits. The peace of mind knowing she'll have proper retirement benefits is absolutely worth the extra tax paperwork. Just make sure you both understand this counts as taxable income for her, so help her set aside money for taxes. But honestly, seeing my grandmother's relief when she realized she'd qualify for full Social Security benefits made all the administrative work totally worthwhile.