Don't forget that for Form 8863, you need to check whether you qualify for the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit. They have different rules! AOTC is only for the first 4 years of college, but LLC can be used for any years. AOTC is generally better if you qualify ($2,500 max vs $2,000 for LLC).

Watch out if you're claiming education credits and your student is working! My son was working part-time and claimed himself on his taxes and we couldn't claim his education expenses even though we paid them! Had to amend both returns. Big hassle.

One thing nobody has mentioned - make sure you're not deducting anything the organization reimbursed you for! Our soccer club has a process where coaches can submit receipts for equipment purchases and get reimbursed up to $150 per season. You can only deduct unreimbursed expenses, so track what you paid for personally vs what the organization covered. Also, take photos of the equipment being used at practices as additional documentation that it was for team use. The IRS loves documentation if you ever get audited!

Great question! I've been coaching youth hockey for several years and have navigated these same deduction issues. A few additional points that might help: The equipment you bought (cones, practice jerseys, pucks) is definitely deductible as charitable contributions since it's for a 501c3. Just make sure you have receipts and get written acknowledgment from the league if your total contributions exceed $250. For mileage, you can deduct trips that are specifically for coaching duties beyond normal parent activities - like equipment runs, coach meetings, or early arrival for setup. Keep a separate log for these coaching-specific miles at 14 cents per mile for 2025. The $300 volunteer credit does reduce your deductible amount - it's considered a "quid pro quo" benefit. So if you spent $400 on equipment but saved $300 in fees, you can only deduct $100. Regarding personal equipment like skates and helmets - unless they're required specifically for coaching and you wouldn't need them as a regular parent spectator, they're generally not deductible. The "primary purpose" test is key here. One tip: consider formally donating the team equipment to the organization rather than just lending it. This makes the deduction cleaner and removes any question about personal vs. charitable use. Get a donation receipt that lists the items and their fair market value.

Don't mean to scare you, but check if you have a tax levy! If you owe back taxes, child support, or defaulted student loans, sometimes the government can impose a withholding order that takes a percentage of your pay. This happens without the employer making any "mistake" - they're required to withhold the extra amount.

I'd definitely start by double-checking your paystub to see exactly what changed between your old and new withholding amounts. Look for any line items that might indicate a wage garnishment or levy that others mentioned - these would show up as separate deductions from your federal tax withholding. If there's no levy, then it's almost certainly a payroll error. The most likely scenarios are: 1) They entered your Step 3 credits in the wrong field (like Step 4a for additional withholding), 2) They accidentally checked the "Multiple Jobs" box in Step 2, or 3) They're still using your old married filing jointly status instead of your new single status. When you talk to HR, ask them to pull up your W4 in their system and read back exactly what they have entered. Don't just ask if it's "correct" - have them tell you the specific numbers and checkboxes so you can verify against your submitted form. Most payroll mistakes happen during data entry, and having them read it back will catch those errors immediately.

your lucky to even have a date fr fr... been waiting since January 🤡

Congrats on finally getting a DDD! 🎉 For amended returns, it's usually a paper check regardless of your original filing method. The IRS typically doesn't do direct deposit for 1040X refunds. You should see it in your mailbox within 5-10 business days of 11/22. I'd recommend setting up informed delivery with USPS so you can track when it's coming!

Consider requesting an account transcript instead of amending immediately. Per Internal Revenue Manual 4.19.3, the Automated Underreporter (AUR) program may not flag your return if the tax impact is below certain thresholds. Depending on your tax bracket, $5,800 might not trigger automatic review. You can request your transcript online and check if the 1099-C has been posted to your account. The delay from amending could be worse than waiting for potential AUR contact.

I went through this exact scenario two years ago and learned some hard lessons. The IRS matching system is incredibly efficient - they'll catch the missing 1099-C within 6-12 months and send you a CP2000 notice. Here's my recommendation: file the amended return (1040-X) immediately. Yes, it adds 16+ weeks to your processing time, but it's better than waiting for the IRS to find the discrepancy. When they do, you'll owe the additional tax PLUS interest calculated from your original filing deadline. I ended up paying an extra $340 in interest because I waited. The 1099-C shows forgiven debt as taxable income, so with $5,800, you're probably looking at $1,000-2,000 in additional tax depending on your bracket. File the amendment now, include Form 982 if you qualify for insolvency exclusion, and save yourself the headache later.