Dealt with this exact situation when I worked for a company based in New York but I worked remotely from Florida. My W-2 had the NY address but I never set foot in NY for work. The important thing is where you physically worked, not the address on the W-2. If your paystubs show state withholding for MD and VA, then those are the states you file in. Ignore the DE address completely. When you input your W-2 in TurboTax, there should be an option somewhere to indicate that you worked in a different state than what's listed on your W-2.

As someone who works in payroll administration, I can confirm what others have said - this is unfortunately very common. Many companies use their headquarters address on all W-2s regardless of where employees actually work, which creates confusion. The key thing to remember is that state tax obligations follow the "source rule" - you owe taxes where you earned the income, not where your employer is located. Since you physically worked in VA for part of the year and MD for part of the year, those are your filing states. A few practical tips for your situation: - When TurboTax asks about your work location, override what it assumes from the W-2 address - Make sure your state withholding amounts (Box 17) match what was actually taken from your paychecks - Keep copies of your paystubs as backup documentation in case either state questions your filing You're absolutely right to be careful about this - getting it wrong can result in penalties or having to file amendments later. But don't stress too much - the states deal with these employer address mismatches all the time and your situation is straightforward once you know the rules.

If you filed with a major tax service like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct, you might also be able to log into your account on their websites and access your filing history. I discovered I could download my last 7 years of returns from TurboTax even though I thought those records were gone!

One more tip that saved me a ton of time - if you're still missing some years after checking the tax prep sites, consider reaching out to former employers from those years. HR departments often keep records of W-2s they issued, and some will provide copies if you explain it's for a mortgage application. I was able to get W-2s from 2017-2018 this way when I couldn't find my copies anywhere. Even if you can't get the actual tax returns, having the W-2s can help you reconstruct your income history and verify what you should be seeing on the IRS transcripts.

Has anyone tried going to a tax professional instead of using TurboTax for this duplicate SSN problem? I'm wondering if they have better ways of resolving it or if they just tell you to paper file too.

I went through this exact nightmare last year! Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration: First, call the Social Security Administration (not the IRS) at 1-800-772-1213 to verify your nephew's SSN is correct and there are no issues with his Social Security record. Sometimes there are name/SSN mismatches in their system that cause the duplicate error. Second, if that checks out clean, you'll likely need to file Form 8948 (Preparer Explanation for Not Filing Electronically) along with your paper return. This form specifically addresses situations where e-filing is rejected due to duplicate SSN issues. The frustrating truth is that when someone else has already filed using that SSN (whether legitimately or fraudulently), the IRS computer system has no way to determine which filer is correct - it just blocks all subsequent attempts. Paper filing forces a manual review where they can sort it out. One silver lining: if it turns out to be fraud, you might qualify for expedited processing of your paper return. Make sure to include a cover letter explaining the situation and any documentation you have proving your right to claim your nephew (custody papers, school records, etc.). Good luck - I know how maddening this process is!

Just to add another perspective - if you can't get the ITIN situation figured out, there are still ways to minimize the tax hit from filing MFS. Make sure you're maximizing all available deductions and credits that you're eligible for under MFS status. Look into whether you qualify for the Saver's Credit, education credits if applicable, or if you have any business expenses that could be deducted. Sometimes the difference between MFJ and MFS can be reduced significantly through careful planning.

I'm really sorry you're going through this difficult situation. Based on what I've read in this thread, it sounds like your best bet might be to dig through those old immigration papers as Sofia suggested. Even if your spouse took most documents when they left, the USCIS copies from your green card application process should have certified copies of their passport, birth certificate, and other identifying documents that could work for the ITIN application. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to document the abandonment for your records. Keep any evidence you have of attempts to contact your spouse, the divorce filing paperwork, and any proof that they left the country. While this won't help with your immediate tax situation, it could be useful if the IRS ever questions your filing status or the circumstances around your ITIN application. Also, if you do find the documentation you need for the ITIN, remember that you can file Form W-7 together with your 1040 and don't need to wait for the ITIN to be processed first. The IRS will process both together, though it does take longer than a typical return. Have you considered reaching out to a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program? They often have experience with complex situations involving non-resident alien spouses and might be able to help you navigate this at no cost.

Don't overthink this! Just split the difference by claiming "single, 0 dependents" on both jobs and adding extra withholding on the higher paying job. I did this for years and it worked fine. The tax brackets jump pretty significantly around 100k so having both jobs pushes you into higher rates that neither job accounts for alone.

I went through this exact same situation last year with two jobs totaling around $140k, and I can definitely relate to the stress! Here's what worked for me: The key thing to understand is that each employer calculates withholding as if their job is your only income. So with $73k + $64k, you're actually in a much higher tax bracket than either employer realizes. I ended up using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (it's free on irs.gov) and it was actually pretty accurate despite seeming complicated at first. For your income level, you'll likely need to have additional withholding from one job - probably around $400-500 per month based on my experience. In ADP and Workday, look for these sections: - Step 2(c): Check the "Multiple Jobs" box on BOTH forms - Step 4(c): Add the extra withholding amount on your HIGHER paying job only Don't add extra withholding to both jobs or you'll way overwithhold. I made that mistake initially and got a huge refund, which isn't ideal either. If the online tools are still confusing, honestly your HR departments should be able to help you navigate their specific systems. Most have dealt with this before since multiple jobs are pretty common now. You've got this! Better to figure it out now than get surprised at tax time.