This is a tricky situation that many people in the film industry face! The key issue here is that when your employer includes per diem in your taxable wages, it becomes much harder to deduct those meal expenses under current tax law. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most unreimbursed employee business expenses (including meals) are suspended for W-2 employees through 2025. Even though you're being taxed on money meant for work expenses, the IRS generally doesn't allow these deductions unless you fall into very specific categories. A few things to consider: 1) Check if you qualify as a "qualified performing artist" under tax code - this is one of the few exceptions that still allows above-the-line deductions 2) Ask your employer about switching to an accountable plan for per diem, which would make it non-taxable in the first place 3) If you have any 1099 income from film work, you might be able to deduct meal expenses against that self-employment income I'd recommend keeping detailed records of all your meal expenses (dates, locations, business purpose) just in case, and consider consulting with a tax professional who understands the entertainment industry since there are some nuanced rules that might apply to your specific situation.

I work as a location sound mixer and have dealt with this exact situation for years! One thing I've learned is that it's worth tracking ALL your work-related expenses throughout the year, not just meals. Even if the per diem meal deductions don't work out due to the current tax law limitations, you might have other unreimbursed expenses that could push you over the 2% AGI threshold if you itemize. Things like professional equipment maintenance, union dues, specialized clothing/gear, continuing education courses, and travel expenses between job sites can add up quickly in our industry. I keep a detailed spreadsheet with dates, amounts, and business purposes for everything. Also, don't forget that some states have different rules than federal - California, for example, still allows some employee business expense deductions that the feds suspended. Worth checking what your state allows if you're not in a no-income-tax state. The accountable plan suggestion from others is spot on though. I've had a few production companies switch to this after crew members brought it up, and it makes life so much easier for everyone.

Has anyone suggested getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS? When my mom had a similar "deceased" issue, we found that getting an IP PIN helped override some of the automatic system flags. The IRS won't issue an IP PIN to a deceased person, so it creates a conflict in their system that sometimes forces a manual review and fix.

I'm going through something very similar right now! My husband was marked as deceased in 2022 and we thought we had it resolved, but it came back again this filing season. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing there might be multiple databases that need to be updated separately. The IP PIN suggestion from @Luca Romano is brilliant - I never thought about using that as a way to force the system to recognize someone as alive. For anyone dealing with this, I'd recommend documenting EVERYTHING. Keep records of every call, every reference number, and every person you speak with. I started a spreadsheet tracking all my interactions with the SSA and IRS, and it's been incredibly helpful when I have to explain the situation to new agents. One thing I learned is to specifically ask the SSA to check the "Death Master File" and any auxiliary databases when you visit in person. Don't just accept "everything looks fine" - make them verify that ALL their systems show the correct status. Get it in writing if possible. This whole situation is absolutely maddening, but it sounds like there are solutions if you're persistent enough. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I just went through this same frustrating experience! The good news is that TurboTax does have an amendment option, but it's buried in a really non-intuitive place. Here's the step-by-step: 1. Log into your TurboTax account 2. Go to "Tax Tools" (not under your main return) 3. Look for "Amend a Return" or "Amend Your Return" 4. TurboTax will pull up your original return and walk you through the changes The bad news? Even though TurboTax helps you fill out Form 1040-X, you'll still have to print it out and mail it. I know, it feels like we're living in the stone age! For your gig income situation, make sure to: • Include a copy of any missing 1099s or income documentation • Send it certified mail with tracking (trust me on this one) • Keep copies of everything for your records I'm currently at week 14 waiting for my amendment to process, so prepare yourself for a long wait. The silver lining is that TurboTax does pre-fill most of your original return data, so you're not starting completely from scratch. The penalty situation should be manageable since you're proactively fixing it - the IRS is generally more lenient when you self-report missed income rather than them finding it first. Hang in there! The process is tedious but definitely doable.

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! You're definitely not missing anything obvious - TurboTax's amendment process is genuinely confusing and poorly designed. Here's what worked for me: The amendment feature is hidden under "Tax Tools" → "Amend a Return" (not in the main filing section where you'd expect it). TurboTax will help you create the 1040-X form and pre-fill your original return data, which is super helpful. But here's the kicker - even though we're in 2024, you'll still need to print and mail the form. I was shocked too! For your gig income situation: • Make sure to include a copy of any missing 1099s with your amendment • Use certified mail with tracking ($8-10 but totally worth the peace of mind) • The IRS typically takes 16-20 weeks to process amendments (much longer than regular returns) • Since you're self-reporting the missed income, penalties should be minimal The whole "electronic everything except amendments" situation is incredibly frustrating, but you're definitely on the right track by fixing this proactively. The IRS appreciates taxpayers who catch and correct their own mistakes rather than waiting for them to find it during an audit. Keep digital copies of everything before you mail it, and that tracking number will be your best friend during the long wait! Good luck! 🤞

Thanks for all the detailed responses everyone! This is exactly what I needed to know. I was worried I'd have to paper file and wait months for my refund, but it sounds like I can definitely eFile with the scanned 8332 form attached. Just to confirm my understanding: I get my ex to sign the physical Form 8332, scan it as a PDF, upload it through TurboTax when prompted, and keep the original for my records. The IRS will accept the electronic return with the scanned attachment. Does that sound right? Also, since my ex and I agreed she'll do the multi-year release (Part II), I assume she should check the box for all future odd years I'll be claiming our daughter, not just this current tax year?

I just went through this exact situation last month! You absolutely can eFile with Form 8332 attached - don't let anyone tell you that you have to paper file the whole return. Here's what worked for me: I had my ex sign the physical Form 8332 (she did Part II for multiple years like you're planning), then I scanned it as a high-quality PDF. In TurboTax, when I got to the dependent section and indicated I was claiming my son based on Form 8332, it automatically prompted me to upload the attachment. The whole process was pretty seamless. My return was accepted by the IRS within 48 hours, and I got my refund on the normal electronic timeline (about 2 weeks). I kept the original signed form in my tax files just in case of an audit. One thing to note - even though your ex is doing the multi-year release, you'll still need to attach that same scanned form every year you claim your daughter. The IRS wants to see the documentation with each return, but at least you won't need to bug your ex for a new signature each time!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more potential scenario that might apply: if either of you had any short gaps in employer coverage where you received unemployment benefits, some states automatically enroll people in Marketplace plans during those periods. This happened to my sister - she was unemployed for about 6 weeks between jobs and her state's unemployment office automatically signed her up for a temporary Marketplace plan that she didn't even know about. She only found out when she got the same rejection you're dealing with. Also, has anyone mentioned checking with your previous employers' HR departments? Sometimes there are coverage gaps between when you think your old insurance ended and when your new insurance actually started. Those gaps might have triggered automatic Marketplace enrollment. The step-by-step advice from the tax professionals above is spot-on though. I'm planning to follow the same process - call Healthcare.gov first thing Monday morning and ask for the complete coverage history. Really hoping this gets resolved quickly for both of us! Keep us updated on what you find out - I'll do the same. It's so reassuring to know this is a common issue that gets resolved regularly.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same rejection right now and was starting to panic about compliance issues. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like this is much more common than I realized, especially for people who got married recently. The timeline audit approach that Lucas mentioned really resonates with me. My husband and I both had some job transitions in 2023, and now I'm wondering if there might have been coverage gaps we didn't think about at the time. I definitely remember creating a Healthcare.gov account years ago but never thought it could still be relevant to our current situation. One question for those who've been through this: did anyone have issues with getting through to Healthcare.gov on the phone? I've heard their wait times can be pretty brutal. Also, for the people who found phantom enrollments or incomplete applications - did you have to pay any back premiums or fees to resolve those, or was it just a matter of getting the paperwork sorted? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and solutions. This community is amazing for navigating these bureaucratic puzzles! I'm planning to start with the month-by-month coverage timeline tonight and call Healthcare.gov tomorrow morning.