Has anyone here tried using TurboTax or H&R Block software to handle resubmitting a rejected return with dependent issues? I'm wondering if the commercial software makes this easier or if I should just prepare the forms manually.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My return was rejected due to dependent conflicts, and I also let it slide for way too long while dealing with other life stuff. The key thing is figuring out whether your return was actually processed or just rejected. If it was rejected and you never resubmitted, you're filing an original return, not an amendment. You can check this by looking at your IRS transcript online - if there's no record of a 2022 return being processed, then you definitely need to file a new original return. I ended up mailing in a complete 2022 Form 1040 with all schedules, and I included a brief cover letter explaining that this was my original return submission after an earlier e-file rejection due to dependent issues that have since been resolved. The IRS processed it without any problems, though it took about 12 weeks to get my refund since paper returns take longer. One tip: make sure to use the 2022 tax forms and instructions, not the current year ones. The IRS website has archives of all prior year forms if you need them.

Did anyone else notice that the IRS has gotten WAY better at sending notices for unfiled returns? My brother ignored filing for 2 years (2022-2023) thinking his income was too low to matter, and he just got a letter last month asking about those missing returns. Not trying to scare you OP, but just giving you a heads up that they are more on top of this stuff now with their upgraded computer systems. Better to file voluntarily before they contact you!

Hey Haley! I totally get the anxiety you're feeling - I was in almost the exact same situation a few years ago when I was around your age. The good news is that you're definitely not going to get arrested over this, especially with the income levels you're describing. The other commenters are right that you likely weren't even required to file for those years if you made under the standard deduction threshold. But here's the thing - even if you weren't required to file, you might actually be owed money back! If your employers were withholding federal taxes from your paychecks (which they often do automatically), you could have refunds waiting for you. I'd recommend gathering any W-2s you still have from those years, or requesting wage transcripts from the IRS if you don't have them. The IRS is actually pretty understanding about situations like this, especially for young adults who genuinely didn't know the requirements. The fact that you're taking action now to figure this out shows you're being responsible. Don't let the anxiety eat at you - this is much more common and fixable than you might think. You've got this!

Has anyone mentioned looking at tax transcript? I get confused with all the different kinds (account, return, record of account) but one of them shows if you have balance due. I think its the account transcript.

@Anna Stewart - Looking at your specific situation, since you filed on time but are receiving letters, it's likely there was either an underpayment or the IRS processed something differently than you expected. Beyond checking lines 24 vs 33 as others mentioned, also look at line 25a-25d on your 1040 - these show estimated tax penalties that might not have been included in your original calculation. When you get those CP14 notices, they usually include a detailed breakdown of the original tax, any penalties, interest charges, and payments received. The key is to match up what the IRS shows as payments received with what you actually paid. Sometimes electronic payments can take a few days to process, or there might have been an error in how your payment was applied to your account. If there's still confusion after reviewing your forms, you might want to call the number on the notice itself - it goes directly to the department handling your specific case rather than the general IRS helpline.

Check if the letter is really from the IRS! There's a huge scam going around right now where they send fake IRS letters about Form 2848 to trick people into giving away personal info. Real IRS letters have a notice number and usually come from specific processing centers.

I work as a tax preparer and see this issue occasionally. The Form 2848 request for married filing jointly is definitely unusual and often indicates a system glitch or identity verification issue rather than an actual requirement. A few things to check: Look for the notice number (CP### format) on the letter - this will help identify exactly what the IRS system thinks is wrong. Also check if the letter mentions any specific tax years beyond 2023, as sometimes these notices get triggered by old unresolved issues. Before doing anything else, I'd strongly recommend calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Service line if you can get through, or the regular taxpayer line. Have your Social Security numbers, the notice, and your 2023 return handy. Often they can clear these flags immediately over the phone once they verify you're legitimately married and filing jointly. Don't submit Form 2848 unless an IRS agent specifically confirms you need it after reviewing your account. Most of the time these letters are generated automatically by their system and don't reflect the actual situation.

Anyone know if using your parents' address affects your state tax filing? I live in California for college but my parents' address is in Texas (no state income tax). Can I just use their address and avoid state taxes completely?

For your specific situation, it sounds like you did support yourself in 2021. The key test is whether you paid more than 50% of your total living expenses with your own earned income - which you did by covering rent, utilities, food, car payment, etc. The mailing address on your tax return is completely separate from the support determination. However, I'd recommend double-checking your calculation by listing out ALL your expenses for the year, including any amounts your parents might have contributed (health insurance, phone bill, etc.). Sometimes people overlook expenses that parents cover. Regarding your AMC stock - yes, you must report that $60 gain even without a 1099-B form. You can usually find your transaction history in whatever app/platform you used. Report the purchase price ($30) and sale price ($90) on Schedule D and Form 8949. The IRS requires all capital gains to be reported regardless of the amount. One thing to be careful about - make sure your parents aren't planning to claim you as a dependent on their return. If you're claiming yourself as independent, they can't also claim you. It's worth having that conversation with them before you both file to avoid any issues with the IRS.