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FWIW it sounds like your husband's work might be using those new 2025 W-4P withholding tables incorrectly. I'm going through exact same thing with my payroll. New updated tables came out but our payroll company applied them in a way that's drastically reducing withholding for everyone. We literally had a company-wide meeting about it last week when everyone started noticing their withholding dropped to almost nothing overnight. Payroll is supposedly fixing it but said any underwithholding from earlier checks is basically our problem to deal with.
This is incredibly frustrating but unfortunately not uncommon right now. I work in HR for a mid-sized company and we've been getting similar complaints since the beginning of the year. What's likely happening is that your husband's employer's payroll system has a configuration error with the 2025 withholding tables. We discovered our system was incorrectly applying married filing status calculations that assumed significantly higher standard deductions than appropriate, resulting in dramatically reduced withholding amounts. A few immediate steps you can take: 1. Request that your husband's HR department provide documentation showing exactly how they calculated his withholding amount. They should be able to show the math. 2. File a new W-4 immediately with "Single" selected for withholding purposes (this won't affect how you file your actual return) and add extra withholding in step 4(c). 3. Document everything - keep copies of paystubs showing the incorrect withholding amounts, your communications with HR, etc. If HR continues to be unresponsive and multiple employees are affected, this may warrant a complaint to your state's Department of Labor. Employers have legal obligations to implement withholding correctly, and systematic errors affecting multiple employees can result in penalties for the company. Don't let them brush this off as "just how the system works" - withholding of pennies on thousands in wages is mathematically impossible under normal circumstances.
Thank you for this detailed response! As someone who's been dealing with this exact situation, it's really helpful to hear from someone in HR who understands the technical side of payroll systems. I'm definitely going to ask for documentation showing their withholding calculations - that's a great suggestion that I hadn't thought of. If they can't explain how they arrived at $0.05 federal withholding on a $2500+ paycheck, that should be pretty telling. Quick question: when you say "systematic errors affecting multiple employees can result in penalties for the company" - are those penalties from the IRS or the Department of Labor? And would those penalties potentially help employees who got stuck with unexpected tax bills due to the underwithholding? I'm hoping we can get this resolved through HR, but it's good to know there are other avenues if they continue to be unresponsive.
Omg I got so stressed about this last year! My as-of date changed SIX TIMES in two weeks and I was freaking out thinking something was wrong with my return. Called the IRS and waited 2 hours just to be told it was normal. Then my refund was delayed an additional 60 days for "verification" anyway. The changing dates meant nothing in the end. š Don't let it stress you out like it did me!
I've been dealing with IRS transcripts for years as a tax preparer, and those as-of date changes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of the system. What you're seeing is completely normal - the IRS updates these dates based on internal processing milestones, not necessarily your return's actual progress. Here's what I tell my clients: treat the as-of date like a "last touched" timestamp rather than a progress indicator. Your return might sit untouched for weeks with the same as-of date, then suddenly jump forward when it hits an automated checkpoint, then revert when that process completes. For cash flow planning, I'd recommend focusing on the 21-day standard processing timeline from your filing date instead. The transcript dates will drive you crazy if you try to read too much into them. Keep an eye on actual transaction codes (especially 846 for refund issued) rather than the as-of dates.
This is really helpful context from a professional perspective! As someone new to tracking transcripts, I appreciate the "last touched" timestamp analogy - that makes way more sense than trying to decode some hidden meaning in the date changes. Quick question: when you mention transaction code 846, does that typically appear on the same weekly update cycle, or can it show up any day of the week once a refund is actually processed?
Does anyone know if the delay also applies to crypto transactions? I thought there was a similar reporting requirement going into effect for crypto exchanges to report transactions over $600.
The delay specifically applies to third-party payment networks (like PayPal, Venmo, etc.) that issue Forms 1099-K. Crypto exchanges typically issue Forms 1099-B for cryptocurrency transactions, which is a different reporting requirement altogether. The reporting requirements for crypto exchanges haven't changed - they generally report transactions on Form 1099-B when applicable. But as with all crypto tax questions, it's somewhat complicated and depends on the specific exchange and types of transactions.
This is really helpful information, thanks everyone! I've been using multiple payment apps for both personal and business transactions and was definitely confused about what I needed to track. One thing I'm still unclear on - if I'm doing freelance graphic design work and get paid through Venmo or PayPal, but I'm under the old $20K/200 transaction threshold, do I still need to report that income even without a 1099-K? I've been keeping my own records but wasn't sure if it was actually required to report without the form. Also, has anyone dealt with situations where clients pay you through multiple different apps? Like some pay through PayPal, others through Venmo, others through Zelle - does each platform track separately for the threshold, or is it somehow combined?
Quick question - what tax software did your professional use? I'm wondering if certain programs handle this situation better than others.
This is a really important issue that more people need to be aware of! I work for a large corporation with offices in multiple states, and my W2 always shows our main headquarters address even though I've never set foot in that building. For anyone reading this thread - definitely don't assume your tax preparer will automatically know to ask about your actual work location. I learned this the hard way when I moved from one branch office to another mid-year and had to file taxes in two different cities. The W2 looked exactly the same for both locations! My advice: always bring documentation of where you physically worked to your tax appointment, even if it seems obvious to you. Save emails, parking passes, building access logs, anything that shows your actual work location. It's much easier to provide this upfront than to deal with penalties and audits later.
Hugo Kass
In case anyone else is reading this thread with a similar issue - make sure you check if your state has different rules for claiming refunds! Some states have longer statutes of limitations than the federal 3-year rule. For example, in Montana you have 5 years to claim a refund, and in South Carolina it's 3 years from the date you actually file (with no expiration if you never filed). I almost missed out on a state refund because I assumed the deadlines were the same as federal.
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Nasira Ibanez
ā¢That's a great point! Pennsylvania also has different rules - they follow a 3-year rule but it's calculated differently than the federal timeline. I managed to get a state refund even after my federal deadline had passed. Always worth checking your specific state's department of revenue website.
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CosmicCowboy
I'm really sorry to hear about your situation, Charity. Unfortunately, based on the information you've provided, it does appear that you've missed the deadline for claiming your 2019 refund. The three-year statute of limitations would have expired on July 15, 2023, since that was the COVID-extended due date for 2019 returns. However, I'd strongly encourage you to explore a couple of options before giving up completely: 1. **File the return anyway** - Even without getting the refund, filing will create an official record of your income and any withholding or estimated payments you made. This could be important for future financial needs. 2. **Check for any special circumstances** - While rare, there are some exceptions to the three-year rule for things like military service in combat zones, living in federally declared disaster areas, or certain other documented hardships. 3. **Consider state refunds** - As Hugo mentioned, some states have different deadlines than federal. Check your state's rules - you might still be eligible for a state refund even if the federal deadline has passed. 4. **Apply withholding to other years** - If you had tax withholding in 2019 and owe money for other tax years, you might be able to work with the IRS to apply those payments to years where you have a balance due. Don't beat yourself up too much - 2020 was an incredibly challenging year for everyone, and it's understandable that things slipped through the cracks.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
ā¢This is really helpful advice! I'm new to dealing with tax issues like this, but I'm wondering - when you mention applying withholding to other years, does that only work if you actually owe money on those other years? Or could you potentially get a refund for a different year even if you originally broke even on that year's taxes? Also, how far back or forward can you typically apply those payments?
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