I successfully navigated this last tax season. Here's what worked for me: • Filed my amended return in February 2023 • Checked the "Where's My Amended Return" tool weekly (not daily - it doesn't update that often) • Received my paper check in exactly 18 weeks • The envelope was very plain and could easily be mistaken for junk mail Despite what some people claim, there's no way to get direct deposit for amended returns. I even asked an IRS agent specifically about this when I had to call about something else.

I went through this exact situation in 2022 and can confirm what others have said - amended returns only come as paper checks. The IRS explained to me that their amended return processing system is completely separate from their regular refund system, which is why they can't do direct deposits for amendments. I waited about 15 weeks for my check, and it came in a very plain white envelope with just "U.S. Treasury" as the return address. Make sure to keep checking the WMAR tool every couple weeks, but don't expect it to be as detailed as the regular refund tracker. Also, definitely double-check that your current address is on the amended return - I've heard horror stories about checks going to old addresses because people forgot to update that section.

I ignored a CP24 notice once thinking it was no big deal. BIG mistake. The penalties and interest kept growing, and eventually they sent a CP504 threatening to levy my bank accounts. Had to set up a payment plan and ended up paying way more than the original amount. Whatever you do, don't just throw the letter in a drawer and forget about it!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with a CP24 notice for around $750. The anxiety was real! Here's what I learned that might help: First, take a deep breath - these notices are super common and usually straightforward to resolve. The key is acting quickly rather than letting it sit. What worked for me was gathering ALL my tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, bank statements, etc.) and doing a line-by-line comparison with what the IRS claimed I didn't report. In my case, they were right - I had completely forgotten about a small 1099-MISC from some freelance work I did early in the year. If you determine the IRS is correct (like I did), paying online through IRS Direct Pay is the fastest way to stop interest from accumulating. The process was actually pretty simple once I stopped panicking about it. But if you think there's an error, definitely dispute it. The notice should have instructions on how to respond. Just make sure you do it within the timeframe they specify (usually 30 days from the notice date). Either way, don't let this snowball like some people do. Address it now while it's still manageable. You've got this!

This is such a common confusion for remote workers! I went through the same thing when I started working from home for a company in a different state. Just to add to what others have said - make sure you also check if your employer's payroll system is set up to handle remote workers correctly. Some companies automatically withhold taxes for their headquarters state until you specifically tell them otherwise. I had to contact HR to make sure they switched my withholding to my home state. Also, keep good records of where you're physically working from each day, especially if you ever work while traveling or visiting family in other states - it can matter come tax time! The good news is that once you get it set up correctly the first time, it's pretty straightforward going forward. Welcome to remote work - it's awesome once you get past the initial paperwork hurdles!

Welcome to the remote work club! Just wanted to chime in with a quick tip that might save you some headaches - when you contact your HR department about setting up Michigan withholding, ask them to confirm in writing (email) exactly which state they're withholding taxes for. I learned this the hard way when my company's payroll system kept defaulting back to their headquarters state even after I thought I had it corrected. Having that email confirmation helped me catch the error quickly during my first pay stub review. Also, since Nevada has no state income tax, you're actually in a pretty good spot compared to remote workers who have to navigate between two states that both have income taxes. Michigan will be your only state tax concern, which simplifies things quite a bit!

Just be careful about the timing of all this. I closed my LLC last year but made a mistake in the sequence and it cost me. Make sure you: 1) File your final tax return first 2) THEN dissolve with the state 3) THEN cancel any local licenses/permits 4) THEN notify vendors, banks, etc. If you dissolve with the state first, you might have trouble filing your final tax return because technically the business no longer exists. I learned this the hard way and had to reinstate my LLC temporarily just to file properly.

Great advice in this thread! I went through a similar situation last year with both an LLC and sole proprietorship that had been mostly inactive. One thing I'd add is to make sure you handle any outstanding business debts or contracts before filing for dissolution. I almost forgot about a small monthly software subscription I had for the LLC and a couple of vendor accounts that were still open. Even though the amounts were tiny, having open obligations can complicate the dissolution process. Also, if you have any business bank accounts, don't close them until after you've filed all your final returns and received any potential refunds. I made the mistake of closing my business checking account too early and had to deal with getting an IRS refund sent to a closed account - took months to sort out. For the sole proprietorship side, since you mentioned selling on eBay/Amazon, make sure to update your tax settings on those platforms so they stop sending 1099s to that business name/SSN combo. Otherwise you might get confusing tax documents next year.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact situation three years ago. The most important thing I learned is that your children's dependency status and Child Tax Credit eligibility won't change just because you get married - what matters is that YOU continue to provide more than half their support, which it sounds like you clearly do. However, I'd strongly recommend getting professional advice before your wedding date. I used a CPA who specialized in blended families, and they helped me understand some nuances I never would have figured out on my own. For example, they showed me how timing certain deductions and the timing of our actual marriage date could impact our overall tax situation. One strategy that worked well for us was maintaining completely separate finances for the first year of marriage and filing separately, which allowed me to keep claiming my kids without any complications. We gradually transitioned to joint filing in later years once we understood our combined financial picture better. Also, since you mentioned putting the Child Tax Credit into college savings - consider opening the 529 accounts in your name only (not jointly with your new husband) to maintain control over those funds and potentially minimize financial aid impacts later. You can always add him as a successor owner if needed, but keeping them separate initially gives you more flexibility. The key is planning ahead rather than just hoping it works out. Your instinct to understand the implications before the wedding is absolutely the right approach!

As someone who navigated this exact situation five years ago, I want to emphasize something crucial that might ease your worries: your dedication to protecting your children financially is admirable and completely achievable even after marriage. Here's what I wish I'd known earlier - the Child Tax Credit follows the child, not your marital status. Since you're clearly providing more than half their support (paying 80% of household expenses plus all child-related costs), you'll maintain eligibility regardless of how you file. The real question is optimizing your filing strategy. I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet tracking all child-related expenses for a few months before your wedding - this documentation will be invaluable for tax purposes and gives you concrete numbers to work with when consulting a tax professional. One strategy that worked well for me was keeping our first year of marriage simple by filing separately, which maintained my established tax patterns while we figured out our long-term approach. This gave us time to understand our combined financial picture without disrupting the college savings routine I'd established. The fact that you're already putting the Child Tax Credit directly into college accounts shows you're thinking long-term. Consider meeting with both a CPA and a financial aid counselor before your wedding - the small upfront cost for professional guidance could save you thousands over the years and help you make informed decisions that protect your children's financial future. Your children are lucky to have someone so thoughtful about their financial security. Getting married doesn't have to disrupt that - it just requires some strategic planning.