dont forget to save all your receipts whatever option you choose. learned that one the hard way lol

Another option to consider is an Education Savings Account (ESA/Coverdell ESA) if you qualify - it allows up to $2,000 annually in after-tax contributions that grow tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualifying education expenses including K-12. The income limits are pretty strict though (phaseout starts around $95k-$110k depending on filing status). Also worth noting that some employers offer backup childcare benefits that might help with occasional PreK costs!

I've been with Wells Fargo for about 3 years now and can confirm they're pretty strict about waiting until the exact date. Unlike some of the smaller banks and credit unions that release early, Wells Fargo processes these right on schedule. Your June 12th date should be solid - I'd expect it to hit your account sometime during business hours that day. The one thing I've noticed is that if June 12th falls on a weekend, they usually process it on the Friday before, but since you're looking at a weekday you should be good. Just don't refresh your app at midnight expecting it to be there immediately - these usually post during normal banking hours.

Based on my experience with Wells Fargo, they're pretty conservative with deposit timing - they'll release your refund exactly on June 12th as shown on your transcript, not earlier. I switched to Wells Fargo two years ago from a local credit union that always gave me deposits 1-2 days early, so I totally understand the adjustment! The good news is that Wells Fargo is very reliable - if your transcript says June 12th, you can count on getting it that day (usually sometime during business hours). Just manage your expectations and don't expect the early release you were used to with your credit union. For future refunds, you might want to consider keeping a secondary account with an online bank like Chime or SoFi if early access to funds is important to you - many people do this specifically for the early deposit feature while keeping their primary banking with traditional banks.

Has anyone tried getting W2s directly from ADP or other payroll companies? I know several of my former jobs used ADP for payroll, and they supposedly keep records for many years. Just wondering if that's a viable option before I go through the IRS transcript hassle.

Don't feel bad about being behind on your taxes - you're definitely not alone in this situation! I went through something similar a few years back and it felt overwhelming at first, but it's totally manageable once you get started. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline of my work history first. Even if you can't remember exact dates or company names, try to recall the general timeframe and locations where you worked. Then cross-reference that with your bank statements if you still have access to old ones - look for direct deposits or paychecks that might help you identify employers. Also, don't let perfect be the enemy of good here. The IRS is generally pretty reasonable when you're making a good faith effort to catch up on back taxes, especially if you're being proactive about it. Focus on getting the information you can gather easily first, then tackle the harder-to-find stuff. You mentioned this is technically your first time filing - consider getting help from a tax professional who deals with back taxes regularly. They often have experience with these exact situations and can guide you through the process while making sure you don't miss any deductions or credits you might be entitled to.

Just to add a data point - I traveled internationally last year owing about $8k to the IRS. Had zero issues with my passport. The $55k threshold is real, I confirmed with my tax professional. You should be totally fine with $2,200. But definitely keep making those payments!

@McKenzie Shade - You can breathe easy! Your $2,200 debt is nowhere near the $55,000 threshold that would trigger passport restrictions. I went through something similar last year when I owed about $3,800 and was panicking about a work trip to Europe. Called the IRS frantically and they confirmed the debt amount has to be "seriously delinquent" (their exact words) before they notify the State Department. The delay in your payments showing up online is totally normal - mine took almost a month to appear in the system. Keep your payment confirmations just in case, but you should be good to go for your May trip. Once you get back, definitely try to get that formal payment plan set up when their systems are working again. It'll give you peace of mind and protect you from any future issues. Have a great vacation!

Don't forget to document EVERYTHING if you're claiming a partial exemption. We sold our house 4 months short of the 2-year mark due to a family health emergency, and the IRS initially questioned our exemption. What saved us was having thorough documentation: doctor's letters explaining the necessity of the move, correspondence showing when we made the decision, and a clear timeline of events. We also kept all receipts for home improvements to increase our cost basis. Also, TurboTax has a specific section for calculating partial exemptions that was actually pretty helpful for us. We ended up paying some capital gains tax but much less than we would have without the partial exemption.

Another option to explore is the "safe harbor" test for unforeseen circumstances. The IRS specifically lists certain situations that automatically qualify, including: - Death of a family member - Divorce or legal separation - Multiple births from the same pregnancy - Becoming eligible for unemployment compensation - Change in employment that leaves you unable to pay housing costs The "multiple births" provision might be relevant if you're having twins! Also, if the cost of living increase has genuinely made your current housing unaffordable (especially with childcare costs), you might qualify under the unemployment/inability to pay provision. I'd strongly recommend getting a consultation with a tax professional who specializes in real estate transactions before making your final decision. The potential tax savings from finding the right exemption could easily pay for professional advice, and they can help you document your case properly if you do qualify for a partial exemption. Given your timeline and the amounts involved, this is definitely worth professional guidance rather than trying to navigate it alone.