Not to make things more stressful, but you should also consider how this affects your financial aid for college! If your parents have been claiming you as a dependent, that probably affected your FAFSA and financial aid packages. Getting married changes your dependency status for financial aid purposes too, not just taxes. You'll be considered an independent student regardless of your age once you're married, which could significantly change your aid eligibility. Might want to check with your school's financial aid office about how this could impact any current or future aid.

The advice here is spot-on about the tax implications, but I wanted to add something from personal experience. When I got married during college, I was terrified about having "the conversation" with my parents too. What helped me was framing it around the practical tax issues first rather than the emotional aspects of not telling them about the marriage initially. I started by saying something like "I need to talk to you about our tax situation this year because there are some changes that affect whether you can claim me as a dependent." Then I explained the marriage and how it impacts taxes. It gave us a concrete problem to solve together rather than just focusing on why I hadn't told them sooner. Also, definitely talk to your school's financial aid office ASAP like Justin mentioned. Being married made me independent for FAFSA purposes, and I actually got more aid because they only looked at my and my spouse's low incomes instead of my parents' higher income. But you need to update your status properly to avoid any aid complications down the road.

This is a frustrating situation that highlights how inconsistent retail tax systems can be. From what I've seen, the issue often comes down to how different prepaid products are classified in the merchant systems. One thing that might help is documenting exactly when this started happening with your Bluebird card. If Walmart recently changed how they categorize Bluebird reloads in their system, that could explain the sudden appearance of sales tax. Keep your receipts and note the dates - this pattern could be useful evidence if you need to pursue a refund. You might also want to check if the tax is being applied based on your location versus the card type. Some states have different rules for different types of financial services, and it's possible that Bluebird falls under a different classification than other prepaid cards in Texas tax code. The suggestions others made about contacting your state tax authority are solid. Texas Comptroller's office should be able to give you a definitive answer about whether reload fees should be taxed, and having that official confirmation will make any conversation with Walmart much more productive.

I work for a tax consulting firm and deal with sales tax issues regularly. What you're experiencing is actually quite common with prepaid financial products, and it usually comes down to how the merchant's POS system categorizes different cards. The key thing to understand is that most states, including Texas, generally exempt financial service fees from sales tax under their revenue codes. However, the challenge is that different prepaid cards can be classified differently in retail systems - some as "financial services," others as "telecommunications products," and some as "general merchandise." For Bluebird specifically, since it's an American Express product that functions more like a checking account than a traditional prepaid card, it might be hitting a different tax category in Walmart's system than other prepaid cards. My recommendation is to contact the Texas Comptroller's Customer Service Division at 800-252-1381 and ask specifically about sales tax on "prepaid debit card reload fees." Get their response in writing if possible. Texas Tax Code Section 151.0101 generally covers what's exempt from sales tax, and financial services typically fall under those exemptions. If you confirm these fees shouldn't be taxed, you can request a refund from Walmart for up to 4 years of incorrectly charged tax under Texas law. Just make sure you have your receipts and the official tax guidance when you speak with store management.

I used TurboTax's refund advance two years in a row and can share some insights that might help with your decision. With your situation - three kids and historically getting around $8500 back - you're in a strong position for approval. What worked in my favor was being upfront about my expected refund amount and making sure all my documentation was accurate. Since you've been with TurboTax for years, they have your filing pattern on record which definitely helps. I had a credit score around 580 and still got approved for $3200 out of the $4000 maximum. The timing aspect is crucial since you mentioned needing money ASAP. In my experience, TurboTax's approval was faster than expected - I applied on a Tuesday evening and had the funds via direct deposit by Thursday morning. H&R Block might be $500 less, but if you need every dollar for your family emergency, that difference matters. One thing I learned: they do verify your income information pretty thoroughly, so double-check that your W-2 amounts match exactly what you enter. Any discrepancies can trigger manual review which adds 24-48 hours to the process. Given your consistent filing history with TurboTax and the urgency of your situation, I'd stick with them for the higher advance amount. The extra $500 could make a real difference for your family right now. Best of luck getting through this tough time!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's used both services. Given your situation with three kids and needing the maximum advance possible, TurboTax is definitely your best option for the $4000 vs H&R Block's $3500. Your multi-year history with TurboTax is actually a huge advantage that people don't always realize. Their system flags returning customers favorably, and since your information is already in their database, there's less chance of data entry errors that could delay approval. I've seen people get denied or delayed simply because of typos when switching to a new service. With your expected refund of around $8500 (assuming similar circumstances to last year), you should easily qualify for their maximum advance. The key approval factors aren't really about credit scores - they're looking at your expected refund amount, filing consistency, and whether you've had any issues with offsets or identity verification in the past. One practical tip: when you apply, make sure you do it during business hours on a weekday if possible. While they say 24-hour approval, I've noticed faster processing during their peak hours. Also, having your direct deposit info ready speeds up the funding process significantly compared to waiting for their prepaid card. The $500 difference between TurboTax and H&R Block could be meaningful for your family emergency, and combined with your established relationship with TurboTax, it seems like the clear choice. Hope you get through this tough situation quickly!

Has anyone here successfully claimed the child tax credit using just an ITIN for their kid? I heard some tax credits are restricted if your dependent doesn't have an SSN.

I went through this exact situation last year with my spouse and child during their green card process. You can absolutely claim your child as a dependent using an ITIN - don't wait for the SSN! A few things that helped me: First, apply for the ITIN as early as possible since it takes 7-11 weeks. You can file Form W-7 with your tax return. Second, keep detailed records of all support you're providing (housing, food, medical, etc.) since you'll need to prove you provide over half their support. For your hypothetical overseas scenario - yes, you could still claim them as dependents even if they were living abroad, as long as they meet the dependency tests and have ITINs. The key is that as a US service member, your family members can qualify as residents for tax purposes even when physically overseas. One gotcha I learned the hard way: with just an ITIN, your child qualifies for the Credit for Other Dependents ($500) rather than the full Child Tax Credit. Once they get their SSN, you can claim the full amount. But definitely don't miss out on claiming them altogether while waiting for the immigration process!

If all else fails and you can't figure out the exact amount, make a good faith estimate based on how many hours you worked and what your hourly rate was. The IRS mainly cares that you're making an honest effort to report your income. Just document how you came up with your estimate (like "worked approx 20 hours per week for 25 weeks at $15/hr = $7,500") and keep that with your tax records.

I'd definitely recommend taking action sooner rather than later on this. From what you've described, it sounds like you were technically an employee (you asked to be put in the payroll system) rather than a contractor, so Form 8919 is probably your best bet like others mentioned. One thing to keep in mind - even if the business closed down, you might still be able to get some documentation. Try checking with your state's Secretary of State office or Department of Labor to see if they have any records of the business. Sometimes when businesses close, there are still ways to track down contact information for the former owner through business registration records. Also, start gathering any evidence you have now - old bank deposits, text messages about work schedules, anything that shows you worked there and roughly how much you earned. The IRS appreciates when taxpayers make a good faith effort to comply, especially when the situation wasn't their fault. Better to file with an estimate and be upfront about the situation than to not file at all.