PSA for everyone: Save your last paystub of the year ALWAYS!!! I learned this the hard way. If you have your last December paystub, you'll have almost all the info you need if your W-2 gets lost or is super late. Also, check if your company has an online payroll portal like ADP, Workday, UKG, etc. Sometimes W-2s are available electronically there before they arrive in the mail. My company never even mailed mine last year, they just expected everyone to download it from the portal.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact situation! I started a job in late November a few years back and was super worried about the same thing. Your employer is absolutely required to send you a W-2 regardless of when you started - even if you only worked one day in 2024, you'd still get one. Since you made $8,500, that's definitely reportable income and your employer will face penalties if they don't provide your W-2 by January 31st. I'd suggest checking if your company has an online payroll system first (like the others mentioned) - that's often the fastest way to get it. Don't stress too much yet since we're still in January, but definitely keep that last pay stub from December handy just in case. The IRS takes missing W-2s seriously, so if your employer is being unresponsive after the deadline, you'll have recourse. Good luck with your first "real job" tax season!

I tried FreeTaxUSA this year after using turbotax forever and the interface is definitely different but i saved like $75 and got the same refund amount. the only thing i miss is being able to import my W2 automatically but honestly it took me like 5 extra minutes to just type it in manually so no big deal. their customer service was actually pretty good too when i had a question about reporting my crypto.

I made the switch from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA last year and haven't looked back. For your situation with W-2 income, mortgage interest, and basic deductions, FreeTaxUSA will handle everything perfectly fine. The interface is clean and asks all the right questions to make sure you don't miss anything. The main trade-offs are: 1) You'll need to manually enter your W-2 info instead of importing it automatically, but this literally takes 2-3 minutes, 2) The interface isn't as flashy as TurboTax but it's actually more straightforward in my opinion, and 3) Customer service isn't available 24/7 like some bigger services, but when I needed help they were knowledgeable and responsive. I saved about $80 compared to what I was paying TurboTax and got the exact same refund. For simple to moderately complex returns, there's really no reason to pay the premium prices anymore. The federal filing is completely free and state is only $15. Just make the jump - you won't regret it!

Just wanted to add another perspective on this - if you're still unsure about the standard deduction eligibility, you might want to look into getting a Private Letter Ruling (PLR) from the IRS for your specific situation. I know it sounds like overkill, but given the potential tax savings you mentioned (thousands of dollars), it might be worth the cost and time investment. A PLR would give you definitive IRS guidance on whether you can take the standard deduction while your NRA spouse files separately. The process typically takes 6-9 months and costs around $10,000, but if you're looking at significant tax savings year after year (especially if your wife remains an NRA for several more years), it could provide valuable certainty. Plus, you'd have official IRS documentation to support your position if you're ever audited. Just another option to consider alongside the excellent advice already given in this thread!

I've been following this discussion and want to emphasize how crucial it is to get this right. I made a similar mistake a few years ago when my husband was on an H1B visa - I incorrectly itemized because I thought we both had to use the same deduction method. The key distinction that several people have mentioned is absolutely correct: the "matching deduction" rule only applies when BOTH spouses are filing U.S. tax returns. Since your wife is filing as an NRA, you're not bound by her deduction limitations. One thing I'd add is to keep excellent documentation of your decision-making process. Save screenshots of the relevant sections from Publication 519, and if you do speak with an IRS agent (whether through the services mentioned or on your own), document that conversation with dates and reference numbers. This will be invaluable if you're ever questioned about your filing decisions. Also, double-check that your wife's $8k in U.S. income doesn't push her into any unexpected filing requirements or make her subject to different rules than you're anticipating. Sometimes small details can have big implications in international tax situations.

Something similar happened to me last year, but it wasn't just mixing up W-2s - I completely forgot to include one from a short contract job! Didn't even realize until I got a scary letter from the IRS. Does anyone know if tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block flags potential missing W-2s? I'm paranoid about making this mistake again.

I've been through this exact situation before! When I had multiple W-2s and mixed up the employer information, I was panicking about the $1,800 difference too. Here's what I learned: the IRS matching process happens automatically, but it can take several months after you file. If there's a discrepancy between what you reported and what your employers submitted, you'll get a CP2000 notice. However, don't wait for that if you know you made an error. File Form 1040-X as soon as possible. The key thing to remember is that even if you switched which employer was which in your tax software, as long as the TOTAL wages and withholdings are correct, the impact might be smaller than you think. The big issues usually come from missing income entirely or major errors in withholding amounts. I'd recommend pulling your wage and income transcript from IRS.gov to see exactly what your employers reported, then compare that to what you filed. This will show you the exact discrepancy and help you decide if an amendment is really necessary.

16 Does anyone know if there's a government database where you can look up a business's EIN number? The daycare might have filed taxes in previous years that you could reference.

3 Don't forget that if you have an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) for dependent care through your employer, you'll need to coordinate this with your Form 2441. You can't double-dip on the same expenses!