This whole situation is exactly why the tax code needs to be simplified. It's ridiculous that getting married can actually increase your tax burden. I've been using a really thorough spreadsheet to project my taxes each year since getting married in 2021. I can share it if anyone wants it - it lets you compare Single vs MFJ vs MFS side by side so you can see the differences. The most important thing I learned is that withholding and filing status are completely separate things. You can have your employer withhold at the higher single rate even when you're married by completing your W4 correctly. This has saved me from owing at tax time.

I completely understand your frustration - this is such a common shock for newlyweds! The marriage penalty is real and hits hardest when both spouses earn similar incomes in certain brackets. Here's what's happening: When you were single, your income got its own trip through the tax brackets. Now married, even filing separately, the tax brackets for MFS are exactly half of the MFJ brackets - which often works out worse than the single brackets you used to enjoy. It's like the tax code is designed assuming married couples will always file jointly. A few practical things that might help: - Since you keep finances completely separate anyway, definitely run the numbers for both MFJ and MFS. Sometimes MFJ comes out better overall even if it feels wrong given your separate financial lives - The Child Tax Credit phases out at different income levels for MFS vs MFJ, which could be affecting your calculations - Consider having additional tax withheld from both your paychecks going forward (line 4c on the W4) to avoid this surprise next year The tax software is correct that you can't file as Single - your marital status on Dec 31st determines your filing options. But don't give up! Sometimes there are deductions or credits available to married filers that can help offset the penalty. Have you tried itemizing vs taking the standard deduction?

I actually found a working H&R Block discount code recently through a method nobody's mentioned yet - checking with your employer's HR department! Turns out my company has a partnership with H&R Block that I never knew about. They had a special landing page with automatic discounts built in, no code needed. Also wanted to add that if you're a AAA member, Costco member, or belong to certain professional associations, they often have tax prep partnerships too. I saved $45 this way last year just by logging in through my AAA member portal. Since you mentioned you're already deep into the process with H&R Block, don't give up now! The time you've invested in entering your info is worth preserving. Even a 15-20% discount will probably save you more than the hour it takes to hunt down a legitimate code. And honestly, paying full price for software that correctly handles your 1099 work is still cheaper than paying a CPA to do it manually.

Another angle worth trying - if you have a student email address (even from years ago if it still works), H&R Block often offers student discounts that can be pretty substantial. I used my old .edu email from graduate school last year and got 30% off the Deluxe version. Also, since you mentioned you've been using H&R Block for 3 years, try logging into your account and checking if they have any loyalty discounts or "returning customer" offers in your account dashboard. Sometimes they don't advertise these prominently but they show up once you're logged in. One more tip - if you end up not finding a code, consider waiting until closer to the April deadline. H&R Block typically releases "last chance" promotions in the final weeks of tax season to capture procrastinators. Obviously don't wait if you're expecting a refund, but if you owe money, the discount might be worth the strategic delay. The fact that you're already halfway through means you've done the hard part! Don't let the discount hunt derail your progress completely.

Don't forget about the stimulus payments from 2024 that were tied to dependents! If he incorrectly claims your daughter, it could affect any remaining credits you're entitled to receive. Make sure you correctly report any advance payments you received for her during the year on your tax return. Also, as the custodial parent, you qualify for Head of Household filing status which gives you a higher standard deduction than filing Single. Make sure you're claiming that benefit too!

I'm going through something very similar right now with my ex-husband. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you should also keep records of any expenses you paid for your daughter throughout the year - things like clothing, school supplies, extracurricular activities, medical copays, etc. The IRS looks at who provided more than half of the child's support, not just where she lived. Since you mentioned you're the one handling all her paperwork and she lives with you 280+ days, you're clearly the custodial parent. But having those expense records helps prove the support test too, especially if your ex tries to argue that his child support payments mean he provided more support. I'd also suggest taking screenshots of any text messages where he acknowledges that she lives with you most of the time, or where he's inconsistent about paying support. That kind of documentation can be really helpful if the IRS needs to investigate. Good luck with your filing!

I'm confused about something related to this... if I have both W-2 income from my main job AND 1099 income from side gigs, do I combine them or file separately? My 1099 is only like $900 but my W-2 job pays over $45k.

Just to add one more important point that might help you feel less overwhelmed - even though you need to file, the good news is that with only $1,924 in DoorDash income, your actual tax burden will likely be pretty small after deductions. Don't forget you can deduct business expenses like: - Mileage (probably your biggest deduction - 67¢ per business mile for 2024) - Phone bill percentage (if you use it for deliveries) - Insulated delivery bags - Car phone mounts or other equipment - Even parking fees or tolls during deliveries Many gig workers find that after legitimate business deductions, their net profit drops significantly, which reduces both their income tax and self-employment tax. The self-employment tax on your net earnings will be around 15.3%, but you also get to deduct half of that self-employment tax when calculating your income tax. Since this is your first time with 1099 income, consider using tax software that handles Schedule C and Schedule SE, or consult with a tax professional to make sure you're claiming all eligible deductions.

Quick clarification question - I'm a US citizen working in Japan and visit home for about 3 weeks every Christmas. For Form 2555, do I need to prorate my foreign housing exclusion for those days I'm in the US, or can I claim the full amount?

Great question! As someone who's been helping expats with Form 2555 for years, I can confirm that you should use 365 days as your qualifying period. Since you've been a bona fide resident of Spain since 2012, your 22-day visit to the US for your mom's surgery doesn't disrupt that status. The key factors the IRS looks at for bona fide residence are: 1) Your permanent home is in Spain, 2) You have no definite plans to return permanently to the US, and 3) Your temporary visit had a clear purpose (family emergency) with intent to return to Spain. You're correctly reporting those US days in Part II Question 14 - that's just for documentation. But for your qualifying period calculation, you remain a bona fide resident for all 365 days of 2024. This means you can exclude the full amount of your foreign earned income (up to the annual limit), regardless of those 22 days spent in the US. The IRS Publication 54 specifically addresses this scenario. After 12+ years of residence in Spain, brief visits for family emergencies absolutely don't change your bona fide residence status. You're good to go with 365 days!