Don't forget to check what your 401k money is actually invested in! I was contributing to get my employer match for years before I realized my money was sitting in a default money market fund making almost nothing. When you increase your contribution, make sure you're invested in something appropriate for your age. At 29, you probably want to be mostly in stock funds for long-term growth. Most 401k plans have target date funds that automatically adjust your investments as you get closer to retirement age.

Great question! You're already doing the smart thing by getting that full 5% match - that's literally free money. At 29, you have time on your side which is huge for compound growth. Given your situation, I'd suggest gradually increasing your 401k contribution to around 10-12% of your salary if you can swing it. With a $62k income, that extra 5-7% would be about $3,100-$4,340 more per year, but remember it reduces your taxable income so your take-home won't drop by the full amount. The key is finding balance - your 4.2% student loan rate isn't terrible, so it's not an emergency to pay it off early. I'd prioritize the 401k increase first since you're in the 22% tax bracket and getting that deduction now makes sense. Plus, starting a Roth IRA for your house fund (as others mentioned) gives you flexibility since you can access contributions penalty-free. Don't try to do everything at once though. Maybe bump your 401k to 8% first, see how it feels budget-wise, then consider adding a small Roth IRA contribution later. The most important thing is consistency - even small increases in your contributions now will make a massive difference over the next 35+ years until retirement.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend tax software that handles these complicated custody arrangements better? I've been using TurboTax but it gets confused with Form 8332 situations.

As someone who went through a messy custody tax situation, I want to emphasize what others have touched on - you are NOT required to sign retroactive Form 8332s for years where you filed correctly. Your ex is being unreasonable demanding 7 years of retroactive forms. The IRS only cares about correcting actual errors, which in your case appears to be just 2021. For that specific year, you could consider signing a Form 8332 just for 2021 to help expedite resolution, but absolutely do not sign anything for the other 6 years where you followed your agreement correctly. Document everything - keep copies of your divorce decree, your tax returns for all years in question, and any correspondence with your ex about this issue. If he continues to be unreasonable or threatens legal action, this documentation will show you've been compliant with both your agreement and IRS rules. Your amended return for 2021 should eventually be processed (though yes, the delays are frustrating). Stay firm on your position - you're doing the right thing by only correcting the actual error year.

I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for about 5 years now and wanted to share my perspective. They're definitely not as user-friendly as paid software, but once you get the hang of them, they work fine for straightforward returns. A few tips that have helped me: - Always use the PDF versions first to map out your return before entering data online - Keep a separate document with all your numbers organized by form/schedule - File during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to avoid slowdowns - Double-check every calculation manually - the math checks aren't perfect The biggest downside is really the lack of guidance on tax strategy. I've missed out on some credits over the years that paid software would have caught. But for basic W-2 situations like yours, they should work well and you'll definitely get your refund faster than paper filing. One thing to consider - if your income is under the threshold, the IRS Free File partner programs offer full-featured software for free, which might be worth checking out before committing to the fillable forms.

I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for the past two years and wanted to share my experience since you're considering making the switch from paper filing. The good news is that for a straightforward tax situation like yours (W-2 and basic deductions), they work pretty well. The e-filing is definitely faster - I got my refund in about 18 days last year versus the 8+ weeks it took when I mailed my return. However, there are some things to be aware of: - The interface can be clunky and you need to manually transfer numbers between forms - Save your work frequently because the system does time out - You're basically on your own for tax guidance - it won't suggest deductions or credits you might qualify for - The site gets really slow during peak filing season If you're comfortable reading and understanding tax forms and don't mind the DIY approach, they're a solid free option. But if you want any hand-holding or optimization suggestions, you might want to consider the IRS Free File partner programs (if you qualify by income) or paid software. For your first year trying e-filing, maybe prepare your return on paper first as a backup, then enter the same information into the fillable forms. That way you have a reference and can catch any transfer errors.

Has anyone considered that maybe there's no tax at all? My understanding is that gifts under the annual exclusion amount don't trigger tax consequences for the recipient. When your grandfather gave it to your dad and when your dad gave it to you, if the value was under the gift tax exclusion limit each time, wouldn't that mean your basis is just the fair market value at the time you received it?

This is exactly the kind of situation where getting professional help upfront can save you major headaches later. I dealt with something similar when my aunt gave me her vintage watch collection - no receipts, no appraisals, just family pieces passed down over generations. Here's what I learned: the IRS expects you to make a "good faith effort" to establish basis, but they're reasonable when original documentation doesn't exist. I ended up working with a tax professional who helped me create a defensible basis calculation using historical gold prices, comparable sales data, and a professional appraisal. One key point - make sure you understand the holding period rules. Since these were gifts, your holding period includes the time your grandfather and father owned them, so you'll likely qualify for long-term capital gains treatment. But as others mentioned, gold jewelry is taxed as a collectible at up to 28% for long-term gains, not the lower rates for stocks. Document everything you do to establish the basis - your research, appraisals, conversations with family members, anything that shows you made a reasonable effort. This paper trail will be invaluable if you're ever questioned about your calculations.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Changed jobs in August and I'm definitely going to exceed the OASDI limit before year-end. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful. One thing I wanted to add - I actually spoke with my payroll department about this and they mentioned that while they can't stop Social Security withholding, they could potentially adjust my federal income tax withholding to essentially "advance" part of my expected refund throughout the year. It's not a perfect solution, but it does help with the cash flow issue. For anyone else in this situation, I'd recommend calculating your expected overpayment early and then adjusting your W-4 to reduce federal income tax withholding by a similar amount. That way you're not giving the government quite as much of an interest-free loan while you wait for tax season. Also, make sure you're keeping detailed records of all your paystubs from both employers - you'll need them to prove the overpayment when you file your return.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and it's incredibly frustrating! I switched jobs in October and my new employer is withholding Social Security tax like I haven't contributed anything all year, even though I already maxed out at my previous job. After reading through all these responses, I think the key takeaway is that there's no perfect solution, but there are definitely ways to manage the cash flow impact. The W-4 adjustment strategy that @c8dc05ecbfa7 and @7619510fa120 mentioned seems like the most practical approach - essentially offsetting the OASDI overwithholding by reducing federal income tax withholding. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone actually tried the "gross up" approach that @7668d7ca1e1a suggested? I'm wondering if it's worth having that conversation with my HR department, especially since they'd technically be overpaying their portion of FICA taxes too. Also, for anyone dealing with this issue, I'd recommend starting a spreadsheet now to track everything. Calculate your expected overpayment, document all your paystubs, and maybe even set aside the overwithholding amount in a separate savings account so you're not tempted to spend money you'll eventually get back. At least that way you can earn a little interest while waiting for tax season! The whole system really needs an overhaul to handle mid-year job changes better, but until then, these workarounds seem like our best options.