You're definitely not alone in this situation! I made the same mistake when I got married in 2019 and didn't update my W4 for almost two years. The good news is that if your joint tax returns have been coming out okay, you might have accidentally found a decent balance. Here's what I learned: when one spouse withholds as "single" (higher withholding rate) and the other as "married" (lower rate), it can sometimes work out better than both selecting "married" which often leads to underwithholding. That said, you should definitely get this sorted properly. I'd recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool - it's free and will give you personalized recommendations based on both your incomes. You can find it by searching "Tax Withholding Estimator" on irs.gov. The current W4 form is much better designed for dual-income households than the old version. If you both have just one job each, you can simply check the box in Step 2(c) on both your W4s. This tells the system to account for the second income and withhold appropriately. Don't stress too much about the past few years - focus on getting it right going forward so you avoid any surprises next tax season!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Got married in 2020 and just realized I never updated my W4 either. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea that just switching to "married" on both W4s could actually cause underwithholding. The explanation about how withholding tables for "married" assume only one income makes so much sense. No wonder some people end up with surprise tax bills! I'm definitely going to try the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator that everyone's recommending before making any changes. Quick question though - if I update my W4 now (we're already partway through the year), will that mess up my withholding for the rest of 2024? Or does the system automatically adjust to make sure the right amount gets withheld by year-end?

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.

Just wanted to add a quick tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if your company uses ADP like you mentioned, there's often a "pending" status that shows up even when your W4 change goes through successfully. The system sometimes takes 24-48 hours to update the display, but the actual change might already be processed on the backend. You can check with your next paycheck to see if the withholding changed, or call your HR department to confirm the status. I was worried my change didn't go through for a whole week until I realized it was just a display lag in the system. Also, since you mentioned you're counting on maximizing your summer earnings - once you get the exempt status sorted, you might want to track your total earnings throughout the summer to make sure you stay under the standard deduction threshold. That way you can avoid any surprises at tax time next year!

I went through this exact situation last year with my summer internship! The good news is that yes, you can absolutely submit a new W4 to correct this - it's not permanent and employers deal with these changes regularly. Here's what worked for me: I went directly to HR with a printed, corrected W4 form rather than relying solely on the online system. I explained that I had made an error on my initial form and needed to claim exempt status. They processed it within a few days and my next paycheck had zero federal withholding. Unfortunately, you won't get the money already withheld back directly - that will come as part of your tax refund when you file next year. But the bright side is if you truly qualify for exempt status (which it sounds like you do based on your summer earnings expectations), you'll get all of that federal withholding back as a refund. One important thing to remember: if you file as exempt, you'll need to submit a new W4 by February 15th next year to maintain that status, otherwise it automatically reverts to maximum withholding. Also, don't forget that Social Security and Medicare taxes (7.65%) will still be withheld regardless of your exempt status - that's totally normal. Go talk to HR in person with a corrected form - they should be able to help you get this sorted quickly!

Just to add another perspective - I've been volunteering with a disaster relief nonprofit for 3 years and learned some nuances about volunteer deductions the hard way. One thing that caught me off guard: if you volunteer at an event where they provide meals, you generally CAN'T deduct the "value" of those meals even though you're not paying for them. The IRS doesn't consider free meals as reducing your charitable contribution. Also, if you use your personal vehicle for volunteer work, keep a detailed log! I track date, starting/ending locations, miles driven, and purpose of the trip. The 14 cents per mile adds up quickly - I deducted over $400 last year just from driving supplies to different volunteer sites. One last tip: if you're volunteering regularly at the same location, consider asking if they need any ongoing supplies. Sometimes buying things like paper towels, cleaning supplies, or office materials for the organization can be more tax-advantageous than just volunteering your time, since those are fully deductible as charitable contributions.

This is such a common misconception! I volunteer as a tax preparer through the VITA program and see this question every year. You definitely cannot deduct the value of your lost wages or time - the IRS is very clear that volunteer time has no deductible value regardless of your professional rate or what you gave up to volunteer. However, don't overlook the expenses you CAN deduct! Beyond the obvious mileage (14 cents per mile), you can deduct: - Any supplies you purchase specifically for the nonprofit - Special clothing/uniforms required for volunteer work (but not suitable for everyday wear) - Travel expenses if you volunteer away from home overnight - Parking fees and tolls during volunteer activities I'd recommend keeping a dedicated folder for all volunteer-related receipts and mileage logs. Even small expenses add up over the year, and proper documentation is key if you ever get audited. The nonprofit should also provide you with an acknowledgment letter for your records, even though your time isn't deductible. Your heart is in the right place wanting to maximize your charitable impact - just remember that the tax code rewards actual out-of-pocket expenses, not the opportunity cost of your time.

Just wanted to share my experience with a similar situation. I had an LLC that I formed but never used for about 4 years. When I finally decided to dissolve it, I discovered a few things that might help you: 1. Federal level: Since you had zero activity, you likely don't need to file any federal tax returns. However, if you obtained an EIN, it's good practice to send a letter to the IRS notifying them you're closing the business. 2. State level: This is where it gets tricky. Most states require annual reports and franchise taxes regardless of activity. I ended up owing about $2,000 in back fees and penalties to my state just for having an active LLC registration. 3. Check if your LLC was administratively dissolved: Some states automatically dissolve LLCs that don't file required reports for a certain period. You might want to check your state's business entity database to see your LLC's current status. My advice would be to contact your state's Secretary of State office first to understand your specific obligations before proceeding with dissolution. Each state has different rules and penalties for inactive businesses.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Had an LLC sitting dormant for 2 years and was stressed about the tax implications. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, you're probably fine on the federal level. Since you had zero income, expenses, or transactions, there's typically no federal tax filing requirement. However, I'd still recommend sending a simple letter to the IRS if you got an EIN, just to formally notify them you're closing the business. The real gotcha is usually at the state level. Most states charge annual franchise taxes or require annual reports regardless of business activity. I got hit with about $800 in back fees in my state just for having the LLC registered, even though it never conducted any business. My suggestion: Before you start the dissolution process, check your state's business entity database online (usually through the Secretary of State website) to see if your LLC is still in "good standing" or if it was already administratively dissolved for non-compliance. If it was auto-dissolved, that might actually save you some headaches and fees. Also, call your state's business filing office directly - they're usually pretty helpful in explaining what you owe and what steps you need to take. Some states have streamlined processes for dissolving inactive entities that can reduce penalties. Good luck cleaning up those loose ends!