Im confused about all the credits cuz theres so many. Is american opportunity better than lifetime learning? And which form do you fill out to get these? My dad pays my community college but im not sure if i can get any money back on taxes.

Just want to add another perspective here - I'm a CPA and see this situation frequently. The key thing to remember is that education tax benefits follow the person who receives the 1098-T, not necessarily who paid the expenses. Since you're clearly not your mom's dependent (being in your 30s, earning income, paying your own living expenses), you have the right to claim the credits. One thing I'd recommend is documenting your financial independence clearly - keep records showing you pay more than half your own support costs excluding the tuition. This includes rent, food, transportation, medical expenses, etc. If the IRS ever questions your dependent status, you'll have the documentation ready. Also, make sure to check the income limits for the credits. The American Opportunity Credit phases out between $80,000-$90,000 for single filers, and Lifetime Learning phases out between $59,000-$69,000. At $45k income, you're well within both ranges, so you should be able to claim whichever credit applies to your situation.

You might want to look into getting insurance if your making this a regular thing. Better safe than sorry!

Great question! Just to add to what Lorenzo said - you'll also want to track your hours worked since the IRS may ask about your hourly rate if audited. Also consider if any of the families paid you over $600 total for the year - they technically should have issued you a 1099-NEC but many don't know this rule. Don't let that stop you from reporting the income though! The IRS gets copies of all 1099s so they'll know if you received any official forms.

Has anyone actually had this type of issue resolved quickly? I responded to my 2800C about 8 weeks ago with all requested documents and still haven't heard anything. My "Where's My Refund" status hasn't changed at all.

Don't panic! The 2800C notice is actually one of the more routine IRS letters you can receive. It's essentially their way of saying "we need to double-check something before we process your refund." A few key things to keep in mind: 1. **Respond promptly** - You have 30 days, but don't wait until the last minute 2. **Send copies, never originals** - Make copies of your W-2 and any other requested documents 3. **Include the notice** - Always send a copy of the 2800C letter with your response 4. **Use trackable mail** - Certified mail with return receipt is worth the extra cost 5. **Keep everything** - Make copies of what you send for your records The income verification request is likely because there's a slight discrepancy between what you reported and what your employer reported to the IRS, or it could just be a random audit check. Either way, as long as your W-2 information is accurate (which it sounds like it is), you should be fine. Your refund will be delayed until this is resolved, but you're not "in trouble" - this is just part of their verification process. Stay calm and follow the instructions in the letter!

Quick question - does anyone know if we should use Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) or Form 8275-R for this kind of 1099 discrepancy situation? I've seen conflicting advice online.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago with a consulting client who overstated my 1099 by about $6,000. Here's what I learned from the experience: First, definitely wait for the corrected 1099 if your employer has committed to sending one and you have time before the filing deadline. The corrected form will make everything much cleaner with the IRS systems. However, if you're running up against the deadline, don't panic. I had to file before getting my corrected form because my client was dragging their feet. I reported my actual income, attached a detailed explanation letter with my backup documentation (bank statements, invoices, payment records), and kept copies of all communications with the client acknowledging the error. The key is having a complete paper trail. I created a simple spreadsheet showing month-by-month what I actually earned versus what was on the incorrect 1099, and included copies of every deposit that matched my invoices. No issues with the IRS at all - my return was processed normally. The most important thing is being transparent and having solid documentation to back up your actual income. Don't let fear of the IRS make you pay taxes on money you never received!

Does anyone know if the recent tax law changes affected how reinvested dividends are reported? I swear I read something about this changing for 2025 filing but can't find the article now.

This is exactly the kind of question I had when I first started investing! One thing that helped me understand the timeline better is thinking of it this way: when your dividend is reinvested, imagine the company first "paid" you the cash dividend (taxable event), and then you immediately used that cash to buy more shares (establishes your cost basis for those new shares). So yes, you pay tax on the dividend in the year it's paid, regardless of reinvestment. But when you eventually sell those reinvested shares, you're only taxed on gains above what you already paid tax on. Your brokerage should provide a 1099-DIV showing all dividends received (reinvested or not), which makes tax filing pretty straightforward. The key is keeping good records of your cost basis, which thankfully most brokerages now track automatically. This prevents any actual double taxation since you get credit for what you already paid tax on when the dividend was originally received.