Make sure you keep detailed records of all your attempts to resolve this with your employer! Save emails, take notes of phone conversations with dates and times, and document everything. My cousin went through something similar and the detailed documentation of his attempts to get his employer to fix the issue was super important when he had to deal with the IRS. Also, check your paystubs from those years - do they show FICA withholding that just wasn't remitted, or was it completely missing from your paychecks?

I'm sorry you're dealing with this situation - it's incredibly stressful when employers don't handle tax obligations properly. As others have mentioned, you absolutely have recourse even though the tax years are closed. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also check with Social Security Administration directly about your earnings record. You can create a my Social Security account online and review your earnings history for those years. If the FICA taxes weren't paid, those earnings likely aren't being credited to your Social Security record, which will affect your future benefits. The SSA can also help coordinate with the IRS to ensure your earnings are properly credited once this gets resolved. Since you're on a work visa, having accurate Social Security records will be important if you eventually become eligible for benefits or need to demonstrate work history for immigration purposes. Document everything as others suggested, and don't let your employer dismiss this. They have a legal obligation to correct payroll tax errors regardless of when they're discovered.

Anyone else notice TurboTax charges different prices depending on what device you use? I started on my phone and it was showing $89 for the premier version, then switched to my laptop and it was $69 for the exact same version. Kinda shady imo...

Pro tip for TurboTax users: Don't pay for state filing through them. You can file directly through your state's tax website for free in most cases. I use TurboTax for federal then just manually enter the numbers on my state's site. Saved me $39 this year!

Don't forget that the IRS has been cracking down on crypto reporting. They even added that question at the top of Form 1040 asking if you've dealt with virtual currency. Make sure whatever service you use, you answer that honestly and report everything. Not worth the risk of an audit just to save a few bucks on tax prep.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for the past two years and can confirm it handles crypto reporting in their free federal filing. You'll need to manually enter your transactions on Form 8949 and Schedule D, but it walks you through the process step by step. The interface isn't as slick as TurboTax, but it gets the job done without charging extra fees for investment income. One tip - make sure you download all your transaction history from your exchanges before you start. Having your purchase dates, amounts, and sale prices organized will make the whole process much smoother. I keep a simple spreadsheet with all my crypto transactions throughout the year, which makes tax time way less stressful.

Don't forget you can deduct other golf-related expenses too if they're for content creation! I deduct portion of: - Camera equipment - Editing software - Golf attire worn specifically in videos - Props/training aids featured in videos - Travel to courses for filming (mileage) The key is keeping everything separated and documented!

The profit motive question is crucial here. Even without current monetization, you can still potentially deduct expenses if you can demonstrate legitimate business intent. The key factors the IRS considers are: 1. **Business-like operation** - Keep detailed records, have a business plan for your content 2. **Time and effort** - Document the substantial time you spend creating content 3. **Expertise** - Your golf knowledge and content creation skills matter 4. **Expectation of profit** - Those brand inquiries are gold for showing intent I'd suggest opening a separate business bank account and credit card for all content-related expenses. This creates a clear paper trail. Also consider getting an EIN and treating this as a legitimate business from day one. For the golf expenses specifically, I'd only deduct rounds where you can prove the primary purpose was content creation. Maybe create a simple spreadsheet tracking: date, course, content planned, actual content posted, and business purpose. This documentation will be your lifeline if questioned. One more tip: Consider the "hobby loss rule" - if you don't show profit in 3 of 5 consecutive years, the IRS may reclassify your activity as a hobby, which severely limits deductions. Start planning for profitability now, even if it's small amounts.

Don't feel embarrassed about not knowing this stuff - the tax system is deliberately confusing and nobody teaches it in school! I wish someone had explained this to me when I was starting out. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is that you should definitely prioritize filing your 2022 return ASAP since you only have until April 2025 to claim any refund from that year. After that deadline passes, you lose that money forever. Also, keep in mind that even if you think you didn't make "enough" to file taxes, you should still file if you had any taxes withheld from your paychecks. I know people who skipped filing because they thought their income was too low, but they were leaving hundreds of dollars on the table in refunds. Start with the most recent year (2024) to get familiar with the process, then work backwards. You've got this!

Omar, you're definitely not in trouble for not filing! The IRS actually doesn't penalize you for filing late if you're owed a refund - they just hold onto your money until you claim it. Here's what I'd recommend as your action plan: 1. Start by gathering all your W-2s from the past few years (check old mail, contact previous employers if needed) 2. File your 2024 return first using free software like IRS Free File - this will help you understand the process 3. Then work backwards and file 2023, 2022 (remember, you only have until April 2025 for 2022!) 4. For any missing W-2s, you can get wage transcripts directly from the IRS website The process really is much simpler than it seems, especially with just W-2 income. The software asks you questions in plain English and does all the calculations. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised by how much you get back - many people in retail/food service jobs get substantial refunds because of how withholding works with variable hours and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Don't let another year go by! You've probably got hundreds or even thousands of dollars waiting for you.