As someone who's moved cross-country twice in the past three years, I totally get the anxiety about this! The good news is that having multiple addresses on your W-2s is actually super common and won't trigger any red flags with the IRS. They see this all the time with people in military families, traveling jobs, and situations like yours. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet with my move dates and which paychecks came from which addresses. It made filling out the state part-year resident forms way easier since you need to know exactly when you lived where for income allocation purposes. Also, don't stress about "explaining" your moves to the IRS - there's no form for that and they don't need an explanation. Just use your current address when you file and make sure you handle the multi-state requirements correctly. You've got this!

Don't overthink this - you're in a super common situation! I work in tax prep and see this all the time, especially with people in retail, consulting, military, and other jobs that require frequent relocations. The IRS processes millions of returns from people who've moved during the tax year. Your federal return is straightforward - just use your current address when you file. The different addresses on your W-2s won't cause any issues or trigger audits. The IRS computer systems are designed to handle this. For state taxes, you'll likely need to file as a part-year resident in each state where you lived and earned income. Keep your lease agreements, moving receipts, or any documentation showing your move dates - not for the IRS, but because state part-year forms will ask for specific periods of residency. One heads up: some states are more aggressive about claiming you owe taxes there, so double-check each state's residency rules. But overall, this is way more routine than you think!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been helping creators navigate international tax compliance, I wanted to address your excellent questions about the documentation and timeline aspects. Regarding the initial communication with TikTok, I'd recommend keeping it simple at first - mentioning that they're working with tax professionals shows seriousness, but don't overwhelm them with documentation upfront. TikTok will likely have specific requirements for what they need to see, so it's better to let them guide that process. For the timeline, 90 days is actually on the conservative side for ITIN applications. Current processing times are typically 7-11 weeks, but I've seen international applications take up to 16 weeks during peak periods. A 90-day request gives some buffer while still showing they're taking it seriously. One thing I'd add to the earlier advice - when her parents do contact TikTok, they should ask specifically about their "pending compliance review" process. Many platforms have internal procedures for creators who are actively working toward compliance, which can provide additional protections during the waiting period. The approach everyone's outlined here really is the gold standard for handling these situations. Your cousin is fortunate to have family support in navigating this properly - I've seen too many young creators try to handle complex international tax issues on their own and run into serious problems. Taking the time to do it right from the beginning will set her up for long-term success!

This has been such an incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by the depth of legitimate guidance being shared here. I wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant for your cousin's situation - since she's built up a following while using a VPN, she should be prepared for potential questions from TikTok about her content creation patterns and audience demographics during the verification process. Platform analytics might show inconsistencies between her stated location and her actual audience engagement patterns. When her parents communicate with TikTok about the compliance process, it might be worth mentioning that they're happy to provide additional verification of her actual residence (like utility bills, school enrollment records, etc.) to help resolve any location-related questions that might come up during their review. The systematic approach everyone has outlined - ITIN application with parental involvement, transparent communication with TikTok, professional tax guidance covering both jurisdictions - really is the gold standard for handling these situations. Your cousin is so fortunate to have family support in navigating this properly rather than trying to find shortcuts. One final thought: this waiting period could actually be a blessing in disguise. She can use this time to really focus on content quality and audience building, so when the monetization does get approved, she'll be in an even stronger position to succeed. Sometimes being forced to slow down and do things the right way leads to much better long-term outcomes!

Has anyone used the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool? It's supposed to help figure this stuff out but I found it super confusing.

For what it's worth, I was in a very similar situation - single, no dependents, making about the same amount as you. I was getting almost no federal withholding and ended up owing taxes last year, which was a shock. What worked for me was using the IRS withholding estimator that someone mentioned, but I also cross-referenced it with one of those AI tools (taxr.ai) to make sure I understood what I was doing. Both pointed me toward putting about $30-40 in section 4c for additional withholding. The key thing I learned is that if you're currently having almost nothing withheld, there's definitely something wrong with your current W4. Even without extra withholding in 4c, you should see some federal taxes coming out of each paycheck. I'd suggest filling out a completely new W4 form rather than trying to modify your existing one - sometimes it's easier to start fresh. Also, don't forget that you can always adjust it later if the withholding amount doesn't feel right after a few paychecks. The W4 isn't set in stone!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just bought my first home three months ago and honestly had no clue about homestead exemptions or any of these other potential savings. My realtor never mentioned it, my lender didn't bring it up, and it wasn't covered in any of the closing paperwork I received. I'm definitely going to check my county's website today to see what exemptions I might qualify for and get everything filed before any deadlines. It's frustrating that this isn't automatically explained to new homebuyers - seems like something that should be part of the standard process given how much money is involved. For those who used the various tools and services mentioned (taxr.ai, claimyr.com), were there any costs involved or are they free to use? As a new homeowner, I'm trying to be mindful of expenses but also don't want to miss out on legitimate savings because I was too cheap to get proper help navigating the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's impossible to find anywhere else!

As someone who works in municipal finance, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully covered here - the timing of when you apply for homestead exemption can significantly impact your savings, especially in states with assessment cycles. Many jurisdictions assess properties on 3-5 year cycles, and if you apply for homestead exemption right before a reassessment year, you could see much larger savings than in other years. For example, if your property is due for reassessment next year and values have increased significantly in your area, having homestead protection in place beforehand could save you thousands compared to applying after the new assessment. Also, don't overlook portability provisions if your state has them. In places like Florida and Texas, if you already have homestead exemption on one property and buy a new primary residence, you may be able to transfer some of the tax benefits to your new home. This is especially valuable if you're moving from a property you've owned for many years where the assessed value has been capped. I'd recommend calling your county to ask specifically about assessment cycles and portability rules - these details can make a huge difference in your long-term property tax burden but are rarely explained clearly on county websites.

I went through something very similar with my elderly father last year. One additional consideration that helped me was getting detailed invoices from the caregiving company that clearly separated medical vs. non-medical services from the start. This made tax preparation much easier. For your specific scenarios, I'd recommend going with option 1 (paying the caregiving company directly) if possible. It's cleaner from a tax perspective and creates a clear paper trail showing you're paying for services rather than making gifts. Also, keep meticulous records of everything - invoices, receipts, and a log of what specific services were provided each month. If the IRS ever questions these payments, having detailed documentation will be crucial. One thing that caught me off guard was that some insurance plans (including Medicare Advantage) may cover portions of certain caregiving services if they're deemed medically necessary. It's worth checking with your dad's insurance to see if any of these costs could be reimbursed, which would reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. The monthly costs definitely add up quickly, but you're doing the right thing by getting clarity on the tax implications upfront. Better to handle it correctly from the beginning than deal with complications later.

This is such an important question that many families face, and I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. I wanted to add a few practical points from my own experience handling similar situations for my mother-in-law. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all caregiving expenses throughout the year, categorizing them as medical vs. non-medical from day one. This made it much easier to stay on top of gift tax thresholds and prepare documentation for our tax preparer. Also, if your dad has any long-term care insurance, don't forget to check if any of these services might be covered. We discovered that my mother-in-law's policy covered a portion of the non-medical services (like meal prep and transportation) that we hadn't initially thought to claim. For scenario planning, you might also want to consider what happens if the costs increase significantly over time. Elder care expenses tend to escalate, so having a clear understanding of the tax implications now will help you make better decisions about payment structures as needs change. One last thought - if you haven't already, it might be worth having a conversation with your dad about his overall financial situation and whether there are ways to structure things so he can contribute more to his own care costs. Sometimes there are assets or income sources that could help reduce the gift tax burden on your side.