I kinda want to point out what nobody else has mentioned - the 55/45 split seems super high for the company portion! Most places I've worked take 10-15% max for "house fees" on tips. Might be worth checking if this arrangement is even legal in your state. Some states have strict rules about how much of tips can go to non-tipped staff/management.

This is a really concerning situation from a tax perspective. The fact that you're handling business tips through personal payment accounts creates a lot of potential IRS issues. First, you're absolutely right to be worried about the 1099-K reporting. Payment apps will likely report all those transactions as your personal income, even though you're just acting as a pass-through. This could trigger an audit or at minimum require you to file complex paperwork to show the money wasn't actually yours. Second, your employer is essentially making you their unpaid financial agent without proper documentation or protection. They should either: 1. Set up business accounts for digital tips 2. Provide you with written authorization stating you're collecting tips on their behalf 3. Take responsibility for any tax complications that arise The 55% company cut also seems unusually high - most legitimate tip pools take much less. I'd strongly recommend documenting everything you can (screenshots, spreadsheets, dates/amounts) and consider consulting with a tax professional who can help you understand your liability. Don't let your employer put their tax compliance responsibilities on you. This arrangement benefits them while putting you at financial risk.

Filed March 1st, got my refund last week. No rhyme or reason to how they process these things honestly

I'm in the same boat - filed mine in late January and still showing "processing" on the NYS website. It's really frustrating not knowing what's going on or having any realistic timeline. At least with federal returns you usually get some kind of update, but NYS just leaves you hanging. Has anyone tried calling their taxpayer services line? Wondering if it's worth the inevitable hold time.

Does FreeTaxUSA allow you to file with an ITIN instead of a Social Security Number? My spouse is waiting on their SSN but we need to file soon.

I made the switch to FreeTaxUSA last year after using TurboTax for almost a decade, and I completely agree with your assessment! The lack of constant upselling was such a breath of fresh air. What really sold me was when I realized I was paying $120+ with TurboTax for features I didn't even need, while FreeTaxUSA handled my situation (W-2, some dividend income, and standard deductions) perfectly for just the small state filing fee. One thing I appreciated was their interview process - it asks the right questions without being condescending or overly simplified. They also have a really useful side-by-side comparison feature where you can see how your current year compares to previous years, which helped me catch a couple of things I might have missed otherwise. The only minor downside I found was that their mobile interface isn't quite as polished as some competitors, but honestly, for the savings and straightforward experience, it's a non-issue. Already planning to use them again this year!

Can anyone explain what the rules are for inactive accounts? My mom has an old 401k that she hasn't touched in like 15 years, and now I'm worried they could just send her a check someday and mess up her retirement plans.

This is exactly why it's so important to keep your contact information updated with all financial institutions, even on "set it and forget it" accounts. I'm sorry this happened to you - it's incredibly frustrating when a brokerage takes such drastic action without proper notice. One thing to add to the great advice already given: when you do close your remaining accounts with Bridgeway, make absolutely sure to request direct trustee-to-trustee transfers to your new institution rather than receiving checks. This avoids any possibility of triggering taxable events or missing rollover deadlines. Also, for future reference, it's worth setting calendar reminders to log into retirement accounts at least once a year, even if you're not making changes. This simple action usually resets any "inactivity" timers and ensures you receive important communications. Some people also set up small automatic contributions (even $25/month) to keep accounts clearly active. The silver lining is that you found a way to use the education expense exception - that's going to save you significant money on penalties. Make sure to keep detailed records of your daughter's qualified education expenses to support that exception if the IRS ever asks.

FYI the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website is basically useless. It has the same generic status messages for weeks. I called them after waiting 35 days this year and found out there was a simple issue they needed to verify. I wish they'd just tell us what's happening instead of those vague messages.

Dylan, I totally understand your anxiety! I went through something similar last year. The 21 days is calendar days, and you're only at day 16, so you're still well within the normal timeframe. That status message change is actually super common - it doesn't mean there's a problem, just that your return needs a bit more review time. Could be something as simple as verifying information with your employer or bank. Since you have bills due, you might want to have a backup plan just in case, but honestly most people with that message still get their refunds within the 21-day window. Try not to stress too much - easier said than done, I know! If you hit day 21 without an update, that's when I'd start making calls to get more info.