One thing to keep in mind - if you're making decent money from the YouTuber and not having taxes withheld, you might get hit with an "underpayment penalty" if you wait until tax time to pay it all. Happened to me last year and it was an extra $175 I wasn't expecting.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation a couple years ago! You're right to be thinking about this early - it shows you're being responsible about your taxes. A few practical tips that helped me when I had multiple income sources: 1. Open a separate savings account just for tax money from your YouTube editing work. Every time you get paid, immediately transfer 25-30% into that account and pretend it doesn't exist until tax time. 2. Keep a simple spreadsheet tracking all your YouTube payments - date, amount, client name. This makes tax filing so much easier later. 3. Since you mentioned moving expenses, don't forget that some of those might be deductible if the move was work-related (though the rules changed in recent years, so double-check). 4. Consider asking your coffee shop employer to withhold a bit extra from your paychecks to help cover the taxes on your freelance income. You can do this by filling out a new W-4 and requesting additional withholding. The good news is that since you're in a no-income-tax state, you only need to worry about federal taxes. And yes, all your income does stack together, but having taxes already withheld from your coffee shop job will help reduce what you owe at the end of the year. You're definitely on the right track by thinking about this now rather than getting surprised in April!

Has anyone successfully used a remote verification option for rural taxpayers? I remember reading something about video verification options for people who live extremely far from a TAC, but can't find any official info about it now.

I went through this exact same situation last year - the 4-hour drive requirement feels impossible when you're already dealing with financial stress from delayed refunds. One thing that helped me was calling the main IRS customer service line (not the identity verification hotline) and asking to speak with a manager about hardship accommodations. I explained that the travel distance created a genuine financial hardship, and they were able to flag my case for review by a specialist who had more flexibility with verification options. The key was being persistent but polite, and documenting everything. I also sent a written request via certified mail to the IRS office that was handling my case, explaining the hardship and requesting alternative verification methods. While I still ended up having to make the trip eventually, they did provide me with a very specific list of documents that ensured my verification was completed in one visit. Another suggestion - if you do have to make the trip, try to schedule it for a day when you can combine it with other errands in that area to make the travel more worthwhile. Some people also coordinate with others in similar situations to share gas costs, though I know that's not always practical.

Don't forget to check that the 1099 or W-2 they received has the correct amounts. Our Au Pair's agency initially issued a 1099 with an incorrect amount that included room and board value. Many agencies make this mistake. The correct taxable amount should only include their stipend (usually around $195-250 per week), not the estimated value of housing, meals, etc. Also, make sure you have their foreign address for the tax forms. You'll need the complete international format address for the 1040NR.

Thank you all so much for these incredibly helpful responses! I had no idea there were so many nuances to Au Pair tax filing. After reading through everything, I think I'm going to start by checking her 1099 to make sure it doesn't incorrectly include room and board value like Ethan mentioned - that could make a huge difference. She's from Sweden, so I'll need to look into the US-Sweden tax treaty provisions. It sounds like using one of the specialized tools like Sprintax or taxr.ai might be the way to go rather than trying to muddle through it manually. The Claimyr option for getting direct IRS guidance also sounds promising if I run into any roadblocks. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences. This community is amazing! I'll update once we get everything sorted out in case it helps other families in similar situations.

I've been tracking IRS deposit patterns for exactly 3 years now, and I've noticed that the 846 date is accurate for 97.2% of direct deposits. The only exceptions I've seen were during holidays or weekends. Since March 14th is a Thursday, you should receive your deposit either on that exact date or potentially 1 day earlier if your bank processes government deposits early (like Chime or Capital One sometimes do). The WMR tool updates exactly 24-72 hours after transcript changes in most cases.

Congratulations on getting your 846 code! That's definitely the confirmation you've been waiting for. I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago - transcript showed 846 with my DDD, but WMR was stuck on "still processing" for almost 4 days after. It's frustrating because you want that final confirmation, but everyone here is right that the transcript is your most reliable source. My refund hit my account exactly on the DDD as promised. Since you're working remotely and planning finances, you can pretty confidently count on that 3/14 date. Just maybe don't schedule any major payments for that exact day in case your bank takes an extra business day to post it.

Based on community tracking of hundreds of PATH returns this season: • Processing date = when IRS plans to finish review (not when you get paid) • Test batch filers typically see longer waits (2-3 extra days) • Missing 846 code means refund not yet scheduled • Weekly updates happen Wednesday night/Thursday morning • Daily updates can happen any day • Most PATH filers with early March processing dates are getting paid next week Check your Account transcript, not just Return transcript. Sometimes 846 appears there first.

I'm dealing with the same processing date of 03/16! Filed on 1/29, accepted same day, and transcript updated last Wednesday with everything except the 846 code. The waiting is brutal when you're counting on this refund. From what I've been reading here and other forums, it sounds like we're in a normal timeline for PATH Act returns. Really hoping to see that DDD this week - fingers crossed for both of us! Have you been checking daily or just waiting for the weekly updates?