Don't forget to check if your new employer offers any signing bonus or relocation that could help offset this repayment! When I had to repay about $11k in tuition to my old employer, I negotiated with my new company to include a "education reimbursement transition bonus" in my offer. I explained the situation frankly during negotiations, and they added $8k to my signing bonus specifically to help cover the repayment. Not all employers will do this, but many understand this common situation and want to remove barriers to hiring good candidates.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I have to repay $16,500 in tuition reimbursement but only received about $11,200 after taxes. One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - the original reimbursement amounts, tax withholdings from each paycheck, and all communications with your former employer about the repayment. I learned this the hard way when my accountant needed documentation I hadn't saved. Also, if you're considering using any of the tools or services mentioned here, I'd recommend trying the free consultations first. Many tax professionals offer initial consultations specifically for education-related tax issues, and they can help you determine if your situation is complex enough to warrant additional help or if you can handle it with standard tax software. The most important thing is not to panic about the repayment amount - there are legitimate ways to recover the taxes you paid, you just need to approach it systematically and document everything properly.

Im still kinda confused about all this tax stuff. So if standard deduction went from $12k to $24k thats +$12k but then losing $4k exemption per person in a family of 4 thats -$16k... so thats -$4k total benefit?? But then the tax brackets are lower too?? And something about child credits?? Can someone just tell me whether most regular families are paying more or less taxes now?? Is there like a simple calculator somewhere?

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share my experience as someone who was initially panicked about losing the personal exemptions. I'm a single parent with one child under 17, and I was convinced I'd be paying thousands more in taxes. After doing the math (and using some of the tools mentioned here), I discovered I'm actually saving about $800 per year. Here's why: even though I lost my $4,150 personal exemption for myself and my child ($8,300 total), my standard deduction increased by $11,300 ($12,700 to $24,000). That's a net gain of $3,000 in deductions. Plus, my Child Tax Credit doubled from $1,000 to $2,000. The lower tax rates also helped - what used to be taxed at 15% is now taxed at 12%, and what used to be 25% is now 22%. I think the key takeaway from this whole thread is that these changes are really complicated and the impact varies dramatically based on your family situation. The general pattern seems to be: families with young kids usually benefit, families without kids or with older dependents often pay more. But there are tons of exceptions based on income level, deductions, and other factors.

Just a word of caution - don't ignore the CP23 even though you know you paid! My brother was in this exact situation, thought it would sort itself out, and ended up with a tax lien because he didn't formally respond to the notice. The IRS systems are so disconnected that one department can be taking collection actions while another is slowly processing your payment.

This is such a frustrating situation, but you're definitely not alone! I went through something very similar last year with a CP14 notice (slightly different but same payment processing issue). One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of EVERYTHING - payment confirmations, call dates, representative names or ID numbers, case numbers, etc. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, times, who I spoke with, and what they told me. This became invaluable when I had to escalate the issue later. Also, don't just rely on phone calls. Send a written response to the CP23 notice explaining your situation and include copies of your payment proof. Mail it certified so you have delivery confirmation. The IRS may be slow, but they do respond better to written documentation in my experience. If this drags on much longer, consider requesting to speak with a manager or filing a complaint with the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes cut through the bureaucratic nonsense when you're stuck in processing limbo through no fault of your own. Hang in there - it will get resolved, it's just unfortunately going to take longer than it should!

With 2 kids under 16 you should qualify for Child Tax Credit ($2000 per kid) plus Additional Child Tax Credit if its not all used up. The EITC could be substantial too at your income level. But yeah the SE tax gonna take a bite 🤡

Based on your income and situation, you're likely looking at a decent refund! With $20,800 income, HOH status, and 2 kids under 16, you should qualify for: - Child Tax Credit: $4,000 ($2k per kid) - Earned Income Credit: Around $5,500-6,000 for your income level with 2 kids - Self-employment tax: ~$2,940 (ouch, but expected) So even after SE tax, you could be looking at a refund in the $6,000-8,000 range. Definitely recommend using tax software or seeing a pro to make sure you're getting every credit you qualify for. Good luck!

use a free filing service like cash app taxes if ur income under 73k

Just a heads up - with no federal withholding, you'll still get the full EIC and CTC as refundable credits! The IRS will cut you a check for the difference. Make sure you have all your docs ready (W2, SSNs for kids, etc) and double check those qualifying child requirements. Good luck! 💰