I almost signed up with Optima last year but decided to check reviews first. Thank god I did! Instead, I went directly to the IRS and set up a payment plan myself. It took one phone call (admittedly after being on hold for 2 hours) and I was approved for a monthly payment I could afford. These companies make it sound like you need some special expertise or insider connections to deal with the IRS, but for most basic tax problems, you absolutely don't. They're just inserting themselves as expensive middlemen.

This is exactly why I always tell people to be extremely cautious with these tax relief companies. The pattern you described - big promises upfront, poor communication after payment, and then trying to silence customers with NDAs - is unfortunately very common in this industry. The fact that they're demanding you sign an agreement to remove negative reviews in exchange for a partial refund is a huge red flag. Legitimate businesses don't operate this way. They're essentially admitting their service was inadequate while trying to manipulate their online reputation. For anyone reading this who's dealing with tax problems: before paying anyone thousands of dollars, try these free or low-cost options first: 1. Call the IRS directly to discuss payment plan options 2. Use the IRS Online Payment Agreement tool 3. Contact your local Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) if you qualify 4. Consult with a local CPA or Enrolled Agent for a transparent fee quote Don't let these companies prey on your stress about tax issues. Most tax problems can be resolved without paying these inflated fees to middlemen who often provide little actual value.

Adjust your W-4 withholdings at work NOW to prepare for this change! My wife and I got hit with a huge shock when we couldn't claim our son anymore. Our refund dropped by almost $3800 and we weren't ready for it. Instead of getting a smaller refund, you could adjust your withholding to have less taken out of each paycheck throughout the year. This gives you more money with each check instead of waiting for a big refund. Just fill out a new W-4 with your employer.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my oldest! You're right that 2024 will be the last year for the Child Tax Credit since she'll be 17 at the end of the year. But don't panic - there are still significant tax benefits available. If your daughter goes to college and meets the dependency requirements (full-time student under 24, lives with you more than half the year, you provide more than half her support), you can still claim her as a dependent. The American Opportunity Credit alone can be worth up to $2,500 per year for the first four years of college - that's actually MORE than the Child Tax Credit! Also, with your income level around $76k combined, you should definitely look into the Earned Income Credit with your younger child. And once you have college expenses, those education credits can really add up. The key is planning ahead - start researching what documentation you'll need for education credits and consider adjusting your withholding so you're not counting on that big refund. The financial impact might not be as bad as you think once you factor in all the education benefits available.

The IRS withholding estimator tool mentioned by several people here is definitely your best bet for getting the exact numbers. For a married couple with $87k combined income, you're typically looking at an effective tax rate of around 10-12%, so roughly $8,700-$10,400 in total federal taxes. The key issue with dual-income households is that each employer withholds as if that's your only income, which puts you in a lower tax bracket for withholding purposes. When you file jointly, your combined income pushes you into a higher bracket than what was being withheld. Quick rule of thumb while you're getting the W4s sorted: take last year's total tax owed, divide by the number of pay periods in a year, and have that amount withheld extra from one or both paychecks. This ensures you won't be short again while you work out the permanent solution.

I've been through this exact situation with my spouse! For an $87k combined income married filing jointly, you're looking at roughly 10-12% effective tax rate, so around $8,700-$10,400 in total federal taxes annually. The biggest issue with dual-income couples is that each employer calculates withholding assuming that's your only job. So if you each make $43,500, each employer withholds as if you're in the 12% bracket, but your combined income actually puts you higher up in that bracket or potentially into the 22% bracket for the top portion. Here's what worked for us: Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (it's free on irs.gov) and input both incomes. It will tell you exactly how much extra to withhold. For our situation with similar income, we needed about $280 extra per month split between our paychecks. Also, make sure to complete Step 2 on the new W-4 forms properly - either check the box for "two jobs" or use the more precise worksheet. This automatically adjusts for the dual-income situation. Don't just leave it blank thinking "married filing jointly" will handle everything - it won't account for both spouses working.

Just wanted to add another option for getting your old W2s - you can also call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 and request a "wage and income transcript" over the phone. This saved me when I couldn't get the online account verification to work. When you call, have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address ready. The agent will verify your identity and can immediately send you the wage and income transcripts for the years you need. They'll mail them to your address on file, which usually takes about 5-10 business days. The transcripts show all the W2 information that was reported to the IRS - your wages, federal tax withheld, Social Security wages, etc. It's basically everything you need to file your taxes except for state withholding (as others mentioned). I had to do this for 2016-2018 myself, and while the phone wait was long (about 2 hours), the actual process once I got through was really straightforward. The IRS agent was helpful and not judgmental at all about me being behind on my filings.

I went through this exact same situation last year - hadn't filed from 2016-2019 and was completely overwhelmed by where to start. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely get those wage and income transcripts from the IRS as others mentioned. I used the online method through IRS.gov which was instant once I got my account set up. The identity verification can be tricky - you need to answer questions about your credit history, but it's worth persisting through it. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: don't panic about the penalties and interest. Yes, they add up, but the IRS has payment plan options and sometimes even penalty relief programs if you can show reasonable cause for not filing. I was so stressed about owing thousands in penalties, but once I actually filed everything and talked to them, we worked out a manageable payment plan. Also, file your returns in order (2016 first, then 2017, etc.) because sometimes the refunds from earlier years can offset what you owe in later years. I actually got refunds for two of the years that helped cover the penalties on the others. The whole process took me about 3 months from start to finish, but honestly the relief of finally being caught up was incredible. You've got this - taking the first step by asking for help here shows you're ready to tackle it!

mine always updated on fridays around 3am est but idk if thats the same for everyone

I feel you on the anxiety! I've been there checking every hour like it's going to magically change 😅 From what I've experienced, transcripts usually update overnight Thursday into Friday, but it's not set in stone. Sometimes they update mid-week or skip weeks entirely. The IRS systems are pretty unpredictable. My advice? Check once in the morning and try to resist the urge to refresh all day - easier said than done I know! The updates happen when you're sleeping anyway so you're not missing anything by checking constantly.