Everyone in Colorado getting blessed this year fr fr 😈

I'm also in Colorado and can confirm - my refund was about 40% higher than expected! The TABOR refund is definitely real this year. If you're still unsure, you can always run your numbers through a second tax software or consult with a tax professional for peace of mind. Better to double-check than assume it's an error and miss out on money that's rightfully yours.

For anyone still confused about Box 19 vs disability insurance, here's a simple way to remember the difference: **Box 19 = Money withheld for STATE INCOME TAX** (this reduces what you owe the state, or increases your state refund) **Box 14 = Everything else** (including state disability insurance, union dues, parking fees, etc.) The key thing that helped me as a first-time filer was realizing these serve completely different purposes on your tax return. Box 19 goes in the "payments/withholding" section of your state return (basically telling the state "hey, you already got some of my money throughout the year"). State disability insurance is more like reporting a deduction or contribution - it might affect your taxable income or qualify you for certain credits, depending on your state. If you're using tax software and it's asking about both, just treat them as separate questions. Don't try to use the Box 19 amount to answer disability insurance questions, even if the dollar amounts seem close!

As someone who went through this exact same confusion last year, I can relate to how overwhelming W-2 boxes can be for first-time filers! The distinction between Box 19 and disability insurance really is one of those things that seems obvious once you understand it, but is completely mystifying at first. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist after I figured it all out: 1. **Box 19 amount** → Goes to state tax withholding section (you're getting credit for taxes already paid) 2. **Check final paystub** → Look for any SDI/disability deductions that might not be on W-2 3. **Keep documentation** → Save those paystubs in case you need to prove the SDI amount later 4. **When in doubt** → These are separate questions in your tax software, so treat them separately The California SDI situation you mentioned is super common - many employers just don't break it out clearly on the W-2 even though they're required to withhold it. Using your paystub data is not only acceptable but actually the correct way to handle this. Don't feel bad about being confused by this - the tax system really isn't designed with first-time filers in mind, and W-2 box labeling could definitely be clearer!

Has anyone tried disputing a 1099-C? I got one for a debt that I thought was outside the statute of limitations. Seems weird they can come after you for taxes on something they legally couldn't collect anyway.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year - got a 1099-C for an old credit card debt from 2011 that I'd completely forgotten about. The amount was around $3,200 and I was terrified it would destroy my small refund. Here's what I learned: First, don't panic about the timing. The IRS knows these 1099-Cs often come from very old debts, so the fact that yours is from 14 years ago isn't unusual or suspicious. Second, definitely look into that insolvency exclusion others mentioned - I qualified for it and it reduced my taxable cancelled debt by about 80%. The key is documenting your financial situation at the time the debt was actually cancelled (the date on your 1099-C), not when you originally owed the money. I had to estimate things like my car's value and what I had in bank accounts at that time, but reasonable estimates are acceptable. Most online tax software can handle 1099-C forms - just look for the section on "other income" or "cancelled debt." Don't let this stress you out too much until you see the actual numbers after entering everything into your tax prep software.

The babysitter is 100% trying to avoid paying taxes. I used to babysit and nanny through college and definitely didn't report anything because it was all cash. BUT if someone had asked for my SSN for their taxes, I would've given it because that's fair - they're entitled to their credit. Just make sure you have her LEGAL first and last name and correct address. The IRS will almost certainly follow up with her, not you. When I filed with a missing provider tax ID, I got my full credit and never heard anything about it. My guess is they went after the provider instead.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my daycare provider. Here's what worked for me: 1. Send one final formal request via text AND email (if you have it) specifically stating: "I need your SSN or EIN to complete Form 2441 for the Child and Dependent Care Credit on my tax return. This is required by the IRS for the $3,100 I paid you for childcare services in 2024." 2. When she doesn't respond, file your return anyway. Complete Form 2441 with her full legal name and address, leave the SSN field blank, and attach a statement explaining your reasonable efforts to obtain the information. 3. Your statement should include: dates you requested the SSN, method of contact (texts/calls), copies of your payment records (Zelle transactions), and mention that she provides childcare services to multiple families. The IRS accepted my claim without any issues. They likely flagged her for not reporting the income rather than penalizing me for missing information I genuinely tried to obtain. You've done nothing wrong by claiming a legitimate tax credit you're entitled to. Don't let her tax evasion cost you $650!

I went through this exact same situation last month! Filed through TurboTax and it sat pending for 6 days - I was checking the status obsessively every few hours. Turns out it was just the IRS being backed up. What really helped ease my anxiety was calling TurboTax support (not the IRS) - they were able to confirm that my return had been transmitted successfully and there were no errors on their end. The rep explained that once it shows "pending" in their system, it means the return made it to the IRS and is just waiting in their processing queue. Mine finally got accepted on day 7 and I got my refund right on schedule. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely the worst part!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Filed my return through TurboTax 3 days ago and it's still showing pending. This is my first time using TurboTax (switched from FreeTaxUSA this year) so I wasn't sure if this was normal for their platform or if something was wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - sounds like it's just the IRS being overwhelmed right now rather than an issue with our returns specifically. I'll try to be patient and stop checking the status every few hours! Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines, it really helps to know others are experiencing the same delays.