One additional consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet is the impact on your FSA or HSA contributions if you have them. When switching from bi-weekly (26 pay periods) to semi-monthly (24 pay periods), your pre-tax deductions will be spread across fewer paychecks, which means a slightly larger deduction per paycheck. For example, if you contribute $2,600 annually to an FSA, that's $100 per bi-weekly paycheck but about $108 per semi-monthly paycheck. This doesn't change your total contribution or tax savings, but it does affect your per-paycheck take-home amount. Also, with your salary increase to $72k, you might want to consider increasing your retirement contributions if you weren't already maxing out your 401(k). The higher income gives you more room to save pre-tax dollars, which can help offset some of the additional tax burden from being in a higher bracket for part of your income. The timing of when you start the new job in January is actually perfect for tax planning - you'll have the full year to let the new withholding work properly, rather than trying to catch up mid-year.

The pay frequency change itself won't impact your taxes at all - you'll owe the same amount whether you're paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly. The main difference is that with semi-monthly pay, you'll get 24 larger paychecks instead of 26 smaller ones, so your withholding per paycheck will be proportionally higher. However, your salary increase from $58k to $72k is definitely something to address on your W-4. That's a significant jump that will likely push some of your income into the 22% tax bracket. Since the W-4 was redesigned in 2020, the old "claiming 0" system doesn't apply anymore - the new form is actually much more straightforward. I'd strongly recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool on irs.gov when you start your new job. It will walk you through exactly how to fill out your W-4 based on your new salary and help ensure you're not under-withheld. Starting a new job in January is actually perfect timing since you'll have the full year for proper withholding rather than trying to catch up mid-year. One bonus tip: with your higher salary, consider whether you want to increase your 401k contribution rate to take advantage of the additional income while reducing your taxable income at the same time!

Friendly reminder to everyone: dont count on refund dates until you see code 846. The IRS be playing games fr

Your transcript looks pretty standard for early 2025 processing! The cycle code 20250605 with the Feb 24 processing date is actually a good sign - you're in regular processing without any review holds. The missing dollar amounts are normal at this stage - they'll populate once your return moves further through the system. The April 15 dates you're seeing are just tax year placeholders, not your actual refund date. Based on your cycle and processing timeline, you should see movement on your transcript by early March, possibly with a refund date around March 3-7 if everything continues smoothly. Keep checking your transcript weekly - once you see code 846 with a date, that's your official refund deposit date!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been super helpful! My daycare provider moved out of state suddenly and left no forwarding info - I have her name and the daycare address but that's it. I paid over $6,000 last year through a mix of check and Venmo. Reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more confident about filing with the "provider refuses to provide information" option. I've been documenting everything - screenshots of my attempts to reach her through old contact info, copies of all my payment records, even saved the Venmo transaction history. One thing I wanted to add for anyone in this boat - make sure you're claiming the right amounts. I initially thought I could claim everything I paid, but then realized some payments were for late pickup fees and field trips that don't count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Only the actual childcare costs qualify, so double-check what you're including in your total. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences with this - it's way more helpful than the vague IRS guidance online!

I just went through this exact situation last month and wanted to share what worked for me. My childcare provider also went completely silent when tax time came around - no response to calls, texts, or even showing up at her house. Here's what I did: I filed with the "provider refuses to provide information" box checked and included a brief written statement with my return explaining my attempts to contact her. I attached screenshots of unanswered texts and a timeline of my contact attempts. The IRS processed my return normally - got my refund in 21 days with the full childcare credit included ($1,100 in my case). No delays, no issues. I think the key is showing you made a good faith effort to get the information. I also want to emphasize what others have said about keeping detailed payment records. I had everything - Venmo transactions, photos of cash payments with dates written on sticky notes, bank statements showing check withdrawals. When you're missing the provider's SSN/EIN, your payment documentation becomes even more critical. Don't let an uncooperative provider cost you money you're legally entitled to claim. File with what you have and let the IRS sort it out if they have questions later!

Double check ur filing status too. HOH vs single makes a huge difference with kids

The tax system is such a joke fr fr 🤡

I'm going through something very similar right now with my ex-husband. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you should also keep records of any expenses you paid for your daughter throughout the year - things like clothing, school supplies, extracurricular activities, medical copays, etc. The IRS looks at who provided more than half of the child's support, not just where she lived. Since you mentioned you're the one handling all her paperwork and she lives with you 280+ days, you're clearly the custodial parent. But having those expense records helps prove the support test too, especially if your ex tries to argue that his child support payments mean he provided more support. I'd also suggest taking screenshots of any text messages where he acknowledges that she lives with you most of the time, or where he's inconsistent about paying support. That kind of documentation can be really helpful if the IRS needs to investigate. Good luck with your filing!

Based on all the great advice here, I wanted to share a few additional points that might help you and others in similar situations: First, make sure you understand the "tiebreaker rules" - when both parents could potentially claim a child, the IRS generally awards the exemption to whoever had the child live with them for more nights during the year. With 280+ days, you clearly win this test. Second, keep a simple calendar or log showing which nights your daughter stayed with you versus with her father. This doesn't have to be fancy - even a basic notation on a regular calendar works. This can be invaluable documentation if questioned. Third, since you mentioned he's inconsistent with child support payments, consider keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking what he was supposed to pay versus what he actually paid. This helps demonstrate that you're providing the majority of her financial support. Finally, don't let his threats intimidate you. As the custodial parent providing the majority of support, you have the legal right to claim your daughter. File early, keep good records, and don't second-guess yourself. The tax system is designed to support the parent who is actually doing the day-to-day work of raising the child - which is clearly you. You've got this! File with confidence and get those car repairs taken care of.