Nobody mentioned keeping a mileage log, which is SUPER important if you're claiming any vehicle expenses (either through reimbursement or deduction if you qualify). The IRS is really strict about this. I use MileIQ app to track all my drives automatically, then just swipe left for personal trips and right for business. It creates IRS-compliant logs with timestamps, routes, and purpose of trips. Saved my butt during a review last year when they questioned my vehicle deductions for my side business. Even if you can't deduct expenses as a W-2 employee, a detailed mileage log will help if you're requesting reimbursement from your employer or if tax laws change in the future.

I'm a tax professional and want to clarify a few important points that came up in this discussion: First, @Dallas Villalobos is correct that the TCJA eliminated most unreimbursed employee expense deductions for regular W-2 employees. However, there are still some strategies worth exploring: 1. **Above-the-line deductions still exist** - If you're required to travel overnight for work and your employer doesn't reimburse you, those expenses may still be deductible in limited circumstances. 2. **State variations matter** - Several states (California, Pennsylvania, New York, etc.) still allow these deductions on state returns even though they're eliminated federally. 3. **Accountable plan vs non-accountable plan** - If your employer has an "accountable plan" for reimbursements (requires receipts, business purpose documentation), those reimbursements aren't taxable to you. Push for this if they don't have one. For your specific situation with 13,500 miles of driving, I'd strongly recommend negotiating a proper mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rate (67 cents per mile for 2024). That would be worth about $9,045 tax-free to you. Keep detailed records regardless - tax laws can change, and good documentation helps with employer reimbursement requests. The tablet purchase might be reimbursable if it's required for your job duties. Consider consulting with a local tax professional who can review your specific employment agreement and state tax situation.

This thread has been so helpful - I'm dealing with the exact same situation as a new teacher! My husband and I are both first-year educators in Texas and we're already worried about next tax season after hearing horror stories from other teachers about owing money. We both currently have "Married" selected on our W-4s because that's what HR recommended during orientation. Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like we should change this immediately before we get too far into the school year? Also, does anyone know if the withholding issues are the same in Texas since we don't have state income tax? I'm wondering if that actually makes it easier or if the federal withholding problems are just as bad regardless of the state. We're both making around $45,000 each, so very similar salaries. Should we be proactive and start having extra withheld now, or wait to see how our first tax season goes? I really don't want to be surprised with a big bill next April!

This is such great advice for new teachers! I'm a tax preparer who specializes in educator tax situations, and I see this dual-teacher withholding problem constantly during tax season. A few additional tips for Dylan and other new teacher couples: 1. Make sure to track ANY teaching-related expenses beyond the $250 educator deduction - while you can't deduct more than $250 federally, some states allow larger deductions, and keeping good records helps if you ever need to itemize. 2. If either of you coaches, tutors, or does any supplemental work, ask your payroll department about the withholding rate on those payments. Often they withhold at a flat rate that may not be sufficient for your actual tax bracket. 3. Consider opening a tax-advantaged retirement account (like a Roth IRA) if your district's pension plan allows it. This won't help with current year withholding but can reduce future tax issues and help you save more effectively on a teacher's salary. 4. Don't forget about the American Opportunity Tax Credit if either of you are still working on education-related degrees. It's more generous than the Lifetime Learning Credit for undergraduate work and can provide up to $2,500 per student per year. The withholding calculator approach mentioned throughout this thread really is your best bet for getting the numbers right. Good luck!

This thread has been incredibly comprehensive and helpful! As someone who also had to switch to paper filing this year due to identity verification issues, I wanted to share one additional consideration that might be useful. If you're in a state that requires state income tax filing, make absolutely sure you're using the correct state forms for the current tax year. I almost made the mistake of using last year's state forms because I had them saved on my computer. State tax agencies can be even less forgiving than the IRS when it comes to using outdated forms. Also, since you mentioned having a family member help with mailing - if possible, ask them to request a receipt showing the exact time and date of mailing along with the certified mail documentation. This can be important for meeting any filing deadlines, especially if you're cutting it close. One thing that really helped reduce my stress was creating a simple checklist of every step mentioned in this thread. Having it all written down in order made the process feel much more manageable and ensured I didn't forget any of the crucial details everyone shared. The identity theft situation is tough enough without having to worry about paper filing mechanics, but this community has provided such thorough guidance. You're clearly being very methodical about this, which will definitely pay off during processing!

As someone who recently went through paper filing for the first time in over 15 years, I can definitely relate to the anxiety you're feeling! This thread has covered almost everything comprehensively, but I wanted to add one more practical tip that saved me a lot of stress. Before sealing your envelope, take a moment to verify that your name and address are clearly written on both the envelope AND somewhere inside the package (like on your cover letter). I learned this from a postal worker who mentioned that if the outer envelope gets damaged during transit, having your contact information inside helps ensure proper delivery. Also, regarding the certified mail process - when you get to the post office, don't be afraid to ask the clerk to double-check that they've applied the certified mail label correctly and that your return address is still visible. They deal with this all the time and are usually happy to help make sure everything looks right before you send it off. The identity theft situation adds an extra layer of complexity, but you're asking all the right questions and being incredibly thorough. That level of attention to detail will definitely work in your favor. Paper filing might feel old-fashioned, but in situations like yours, it actually provides better documentation and control over the process. Best of luck with everything - you've got this!

Has anyone calculated approximately how much tax might be owed on a forgotten W2? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth amending my return for about $2400 in forgotten wages or just waiting to see if I get a letter.

I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago - forgot a W2 from a part-time job I had early in the year for about $1,600. I was terrified when I realized my mistake after already getting my refund. Here's what I learned: the IRS WILL find it eventually. Their matching system is really good at catching these things, even for smaller amounts. I initially thought about waiting it out, but I'm so glad I didn't. I filed the 1040-X about 6 weeks after I realized my mistake. The process was actually much less painful than I expected. I ended up owing about $320 in additional taxes, plus a small penalty (around $40) and minimal interest since I caught it early. The whole amendment was processed in about 12 weeks and I just sent them a check for the difference. My advice: bite the bullet and file the amendment now. The peace of mind alone is worth it, and you'll save money compared to waiting for them to find it. Plus, being proactive shows good faith which can sometimes help with penalty reduction.

22 I went through this exact situation last year with my survivor benefits. Just make sure you get your SSA-1099 form which shows all the benefits you received for the year. Social Security should mail it to you by January, but you can also get it online by creating an account on ssa.gov if you haven't received it.

I'm sorry for your loss. Losing a parent at such a young age is incredibly difficult, and it's admirable that you're taking responsibility for handling your taxes properly. To directly answer your question: Social Security survivor benefits may or may not be taxable depending on your total income, but they don't count toward the filing requirement threshold itself. However, since you earned $13,500 from your job and you're likely claimed as a dependent, you definitely need to file a return. Here's the key point many people miss: the filing requirement for dependents is based on *earned income* (like wages from your job), not total income including Social Security benefits. Since your earned income of $13,500 exceeds the dependent filing threshold of $1,350, you must file regardless of your Social Security benefits. As for the benefits themselves, with your income level, it's very likely that none of your $7,800 in survivor benefits will be taxable. But you still need to report them on your return - they go on lines 6a and 6b of Form 1040, with the help of the Social Security Benefits Worksheet in the instructions. Don't stress too much about this - you're actually in a pretty straightforward situation, and you'll likely get a refund of taxes withheld from your paychecks!