I might be able to offer some insight based on my experience. After having a somewhat similar issue last tax season, I found that H&R Block was, in my opinion, the most accommodating alternative. They seem to have a fairly straightforward process for refund advances, and they partner with Pathward (formerly MetaBank), which is completely separate from the Credit Karma/TurboTax ecosystem. I was initially concerned about approval odds after having issues with another service, but their requirements appeared to be primarily based on your expected refund amount rather than other factors. Within approximately 48 hours of filing, I received my advance, which was about 25% of my expected refund. This timing worked out particularly well for my inventory purchasing schedule.

I completely understand your frustration - having your Credit Karma account deactivated right in the middle of tax season feels like getting a flat tire on the way to an important meeting! From what I've researched, you definitely have several solid alternatives beyond just TurboTax. FreeTaxUSA offers refund advances through their partnership with Axos Bank, and their fees are typically lower than the big-name competitors. TaxSlayer also has a decent advance program, and I've heard good things about their customer service when issues arise. One thing to keep in mind is that each service uses different banking partners, so Credit Karma's issues shouldn't affect your eligibility elsewhere. Given that you mentioned needing funds for inventory restocking, you might also want to consider filing as early as possible with whichever service you choose - even without an advance, the IRS has been processing refunds faster this year (usually within 21 days if you e-file). Best of luck getting your business back on track!

Has anyone used the Multi-Job Worksheet on the W-4? I'm trying to fill it out but it's confusing the heck out of me. My wife and I are both at about the same income level (~$160k each) and I can't tell if I'm doing it right.

This exact thing happened to us last year! We're also a dual-income household with no kids, both claimed 0, and still ended up owing about $6k despite thinking we were being super conservative with our withholding. What I learned is that the "married filing jointly" tax brackets are weird - they're not exactly double the single brackets, so there's this "marriage penalty" effect when both spouses have high incomes. Plus, like others mentioned, each employer is calculating withholding as if your job is the only income source. The 1099-INT interest with no withholding definitely doesn't help either. We started making quarterly estimated payments for our investment income, which has helped a lot. For next year, we ended up using the IRS withholding estimator and adding about $200 extra per paycheck split between both our jobs. It's annoying to have less take-home pay, but way better than getting hit with a surprise tax bill every April!

I had this exact issue last year! My company's payroll system should have stopped my contributions automatically when I hit the limit but didn't. Here's what worked for me: I called the 401k provider (Fidelity in my case) directly rather than going through HR. They were actually super helpful and processed the return of excess for me. The 1099-R I received had the excess contribution amount plus some earnings. Yes, I had to pay taxes on that amount but it was way better than the alternative penalties. Don't stress too much - this is pretty common and fixable!

I went through this same situation two years ago when I switched jobs mid-year. One important detail that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you get the corrective distribution processed before December 31st of the year following your over-contribution if possible. While you technically have until April 15th to request the return of excess, getting it done in the same calendar year can simplify your tax situation. The earnings on the excess contribution will be taxable in the year the distribution actually occurs, not necessarily when you originally made the over-contribution. Also, keep detailed records of all your communications with your plan administrator. I had to follow up multiple times before mine actually processed my request. Don't let them brush you off - you have the right to correct this error and they're required to help you do it properly. The good news is this won't trigger an audit as long as you handle it correctly. The IRS sees these corrective distributions all the time, especially during job change seasons.

I'm confused why everyone is making this so complicated. If the money goes into your brother's account, isn't it his income? Even if he uses it to pay for something specific?

Based on my experience with similar situations, your brother's reimbursements should NOT be reported as "other income" on his tax return. Workers' compensation settlements are specifically excluded from taxable income under IRC Section 104(a)(1), and this exclusion extends to designated medical expenses like caregiver services. The key factors working in your favor: - The settlement specifically designates funds for caregiver services - You're using a dedicated account solely for these reimbursements - Every dollar is being used for its intended purpose (caregiver wages and related expenses) - You're maintaining proper documentation of the money flow I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion from a CPA who specializes in disability settlements. Many general tax preparers aren't familiar with the nuances of workers' comp settlement taxation. The fact that you switched from agency to direct-hire caregivers doesn't change the tax treatment of the underlying settlement funds. For SSDI protection, continue documenting that these are pass-through funds designated for medical care, not general support. This distinction is crucial for maintaining his benefits eligibility.

According to several threads on r/tax and the official IRS.gov updates (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions), the disappearing ID.me prompt is typically a GOOD sign. The IRS has enhanced their backend verification systems for 2024 filing season. Many people are reporting normal processing resuming within 7-14 days after the prompt disappears. Keep checking your transcript daily for updates!

This happened to me just last week! I was panicking when I first saw the ID.me verification message because I'd never dealt with it before. It stayed there for about 4 days, then completely vanished. I was worried I had somehow missed a deadline or that my return got rejected. But after reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is actually pretty normal for 2024. My transcript still shows "processing" but no error codes, so I'm hoping it means they cleared whatever triggered the initial flag. Thanks for posting this question - it's reassuring to know others have gone through the same thing and gotten their refunds processed normally afterward!