I'm also a student & dependent. My tax professor explained that there are actually TWO different filing requirements happening: 1. Self-employment tax filing threshold: $400 2. Income tax filing threshold: $12,950 (standard deduction for dependents in 2025) Even though you have to FILE because of the self-employment, the actual TAXABLE portion follows normal rules. You'll fill out Schedule SE for the self-employment tax on your DoorDash earnings, but your W-2 income still gets the standard deduction.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what others have said - you won't lose money doing DoorDash! Here's my real-world example: My DoorDash earnings: $1,200 My campus bookstore job: $7,500 Total income: $8,700 I had to file because of the $400 self-employment threshold, but here's what I actually paid: - Self-employment tax on DoorDash: ~$170 (15.3% on net earnings after deductions) - Federal income tax: $0 (total income was under $12,950 standard deduction) The key thing I learned is that filing a return doesn't automatically make all your income taxable - the standard deduction still protects your regular W-2 income. I actually saved money by tracking my mileage and other DoorDash expenses, which reduced the self-employment tax even more. Don't let tax fears stop you from earning extra money - you'll definitely come out ahead even after paying the self-employment taxes!

Something no one's mentioned yet - as a full-time student with self-employment income, you might qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit. These education credits can significantly reduce your tax bill!

As someone who's been tutoring for a few years now, I can confirm everything others have said about this being self-employment income. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - keep a simple spreadsheet tracking each tutoring session with date, student name (or initials for privacy), hours worked, and amount paid. This makes tax filing SO much easier. Also, since you're making good money from tutoring, consider setting aside about 25-30% of each payment in a separate savings account for taxes. Between federal income tax and self-employment tax, you'll owe a decent chunk. Having it already saved prevents the shock at tax time! The Roth IRA opportunity is huge - definitely take advantage of that. Starting retirement savings in college puts you way ahead of most people. You can contribute for 2023 until the tax filing deadline (usually April 15th), so you still have time to make that contribution if you want.

TurboTax won't always let you e-file a 1040-X even if it's just Schedule D changes. It depends on the specific situation and tax year. I tried to e-file an amendment for my 2019 taxes (in 2022) and the system forced me to paper file because of some limitation with Schedule D amendments for that specific tax year. But when I did a 2020 amendment with Schedule D changes, it let me e-file with no problem.

I just went through this exact situation last month! Had to amend my 2023 return for some incorrect cost basis reporting on Schedule D. TurboTax handled it perfectly through their amendment workflow. The key thing is to make sure you use TurboTax's "Amend a Return" feature rather than trying to create a new return. It will pull up your original return, let you make the Schedule D corrections, and then generate a proper 1040-X that only includes the changed information. When I e-filed mine, the IRS only received the 1040-X form and the corrected Schedule D - no other unnecessary forms. The whole process took about 10 weeks to get processed, which seems pretty standard based on what others have mentioned here. One heads up though - TurboTax will charge you an additional fee for the amendment (I think it was around $40-50), but honestly it was worth it for the peace of mind knowing everything was filed correctly electronically.

Has anyone considered that this might actually be intentional by the IRS? By sending refunds instead of applying them as requested, they create situations where people either have to scramble to make estimated payments or potentially face penalties later. Just saying...

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was incredibly frustrating! The IRS processed my return incorrectly despite me clearly marking the box to apply my overpayment to estimated taxes. Here's what I learned: Don't cash the check yet. Call the IRS directly (yes, the wait times are awful, but it's worth it) and explain that they sent you a refund check when you specifically requested the overpayment be applied to your 2024 estimated taxes. Have your Social Security number and the exact amount ready. When I called, the representative was able to see my original election on the return and confirmed it was their processing error. They had me write "VOID" across the check and mail it back with a letter explaining the situation. About 6 weeks later, I received confirmation that the amount had been properly applied to my estimated tax account. The key thing is that they noted in my file that this was their error, so there were no penalties for the "late" estimated payment. Keep detailed records of everything - your original return, the refund check, any correspondence with the IRS, and notes from phone calls including dates and representative names if possible. It's definitely their mistake, not yours, so don't let them try to penalize you for it later!

Called CK earlier today. They said theyre experiencing 'technical difficulties' with the advance system. Could take up to 5 business days now smh

Ugh this is so frustrating! I filed on 1/20 too and got accepted the same day but still no advance. The whole "minutes after acceptance" thing feels like false advertising at this point. Really considering switching to a different service next year if they can't get their act together 😤