Does anyone know if the adoption tax credit is still non-refundable for 2024 filings? I'm planning to adopt next year and trying to figure out how this will impact our taxes.

Thanks for starting this thread, Liam! The adoption tax credit carryforward rules can definitely be confusing. Just to add some clarity to what's already been shared: You're correct that the 5-year carryforward period includes the original year you qualified (2020). So your deadline to use any remaining credit is indeed 2024 - this is your final year to claim it. One important thing to keep in mind: make sure you have enough tax liability to absorb the credit. Since it's non-refundable, you can only use it to offset taxes you actually owe. If you don't have sufficient tax liability in 2024, any unused portion will unfortunately expire. I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of how much you've used each year. The IRS doesn't automatically track this for you, so you'll need to calculate your remaining balance yourself when filing. Form 8839 is required each year you claim any portion of the credit, including carryforward amounts. Good luck with your 2024 filing!

Had this last year. Called IRS like 50 times before getting thru. They said it was just random review. cleared up after 6 weeks

Code 570 is basically the IRS saying "hold up, we need to take a closer look at something." Since you have both 570 and 971 codes, you'll definitely get a notice in the mail explaining what they need from you. Common reasons for HOH filers include verifying dependents, income matching, or identity verification. The good news is your refund amount is still showing correctly at -$6,042, so they're not disputing the amount. Just hang tight for that notice - it should arrive within 2-3 weeks and will tell you exactly what to do next.

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.

Something nobody's mentioned - look into whether your plan allows in-service rollovers and how often. My plan only allows them once per quarter, which really limited how much I could put in through the mega backdoor. Also, watch out for pro-rata issues if you have any pre-tax money in traditional IRAs. That can mess up your conversion tax calculations.

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm in a similar situation where I'm considering the mega backdoor Roth but was really concerned about the 5-year holding periods. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like the key is understanding exactly what your specific 401(k) plan allows. The distinction between rolling to a Roth IRA (with multiple 5-year clocks) versus doing an in-plan conversion to Roth 401(k) (single 5-year clock but limited access) is crucial for planning. One thing I'm still unclear on - if you do the in-plan conversion route, can you later roll that Roth 401(k) balance to a Roth IRA when you leave your employer? And would that trigger another 5-year waiting period, or would it maintain the timeline from the original conversion? Also wondering if anyone has experience with plans that allow both options - seems like you could potentially use the in-plan conversion for amounts you won't need access to, and direct Roth IRA rollovers for amounts you might need sooner (even with the 5-year wait).

Has anyone else noticed their employer HSA contributions sometimes show up with different dates on different forms? My December 2023 contribution appeared on my 2024 5498-SA even though it was deducted from my last 2023 paycheck.

This is exactly the kind of HSA timing confusion that trips up so many people! You're absolutely right to trust your W-2 over the 5498-SA for tax filing purposes. The $173 showing up on your 2024 Form 5498-SA is just documenting when the money physically moved into your account, not which tax year it applies to. Since you mentioned this was from your final paycheck in January 2024 but designated for 2023, you should have already reported that contribution on your 2023 tax return. For your 2024 filing, you'll report $0 in HSA contributions, which matches what your W-2 shows. One tip for the future: when you make contributions in January for the previous tax year, make sure to clearly specify the tax year designation with your HSA provider. Some people get caught off guard when they see contributions on forms that don't match their expectations. Your situation is totally normal and you're handling it correctly!