Whatever you do, don't ignore the unfiled returns!! My mom did that and her $4000 tax debt ballooned to over $15k with penalties and interest. The IRS has a "Fresh Start" program that might help your mom, but you can't qualify until all returns are filed. Check if your mom qualifies for free tax prep services too - VITA and TCE programs help seniors and low-income folks file for free. They might have extended hours with the deadline coming up.

I'm so sorry your mom is going through this - losing a spouse and then dealing with tax issues alone is incredibly overwhelming. The good news is there are definitely solutions, but you're right to act urgently. Since you only have 5 days, here's what I'd prioritize: First, file Form 4868 (extension) for both 2022 and 2023 returns RIGHT NOW. This buys you until October to file the actual returns and stops the failure-to-file penalties from getting worse. You can file extensions online for free through the IRS website. For the wage garnishment, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 first thing Monday morning and ask about setting up an installment agreement. Mention your mom's widowed status and financial hardship - they often have more flexibility for people in her situation. Also look into filing Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service) if you can't get through to the IRS or if they're not helpful. The Taxpayer Advocate is specifically for situations like this where normal IRS processes aren't working. Don't let her feel embarrassed about this - you're being an amazing daughter by stepping in to help. Many people struggle with taxes after losing a spouse, and the IRS has programs specifically designed to help people in financial hardship.

Anyone try those receipt scanner apps? Are they worth paying for?

Nina, I totally feel your pain! I was in the exact same boat with my freelance consulting business. What finally worked for me was creating a hybrid system that doesn't require me to be perfect. Here's my "good enough" approach: I use my phone to snap photos of ALL receipts the moment I get them - even if I'm still standing at the register. I have a dedicated album called "Tax Receipts" that syncs to my computer. Then once a week (Sunday mornings with coffee), I spend 15-20 minutes uploading them to a simple Google Drive folder organized by month. For digital expenses, I set up automatic email alerts from my bank and credit cards so I get notified of every transaction. I forward business-related ones to a dedicated email folder as they come in. The game-changer was accepting that my system doesn't have to be perfect - it just has to capture enough information to justify the expense. Date, amount, vendor, and a quick note about the business purpose. That's it. One tip that saved me: I keep a small notebook in my car where I jot down the business purpose of purchases right after I make them, before I forget. "Client meeting lunch with Sarah" or "office supplies for Q4 project." Takes 10 seconds but saves hours of trying to remember later what that random $47 charge was for. Don't let the perfect system stop you from having a working system!

Remember you only have 3 years from the original filing date to amend a return, so don't wait too long! For a 2024 return, that means April 2028 is your deadline assuming you filed on time originally.

I went through something similar a few years ago - accidentally used the wrong year's 1099 forms. The key thing is to check the status of your original return first using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool online. If it shows as "accepted" or "approved," then you can proceed with filing Form 1040-X. Don't file the amendment until you see that status change though - it can create processing delays if you submit it too early. Once you do file the 1040-X, make sure to include a clear explanation in Part III of the form about using the wrong year's W2s. The IRS generally treats honest mistakes more favorably when you proactively correct them. Given that you owe more taxes with the correct 2024 W2s, time is somewhat of the essence to minimize interest charges, but waiting for the original return to be accepted first is still the right approach. You've got this!

Don't forget about the 529 plan payments for tuition! Those definitely count as support provided by you, not your daughter. Publication 501 specifically addresses this - educational expenses paid from a 529 plan are considered provided by the account owner (you). Also, make sure your daughter doesn't file her taxes claiming herself as her own dependent. You should coordinate with her on this to avoid any potential issues with the IRS flagging conflicting returns.

I'm an accounting student, and we just covered this in my tax class. The key distinction the IRS makes is between actual gifts versus disguised support payments. A true gift has no strings attached - you give money with no expectation of how it will be used. If you give your adult child $2,000 as a birthday present and they happen to use it for rent, that could potentially be considered their own support. But if you give money with the understanding or expectation it will be used for specific support items (like saying "here's money for your rent"), the IRS considers that as support from you, not them. The economic reality matters more than the mechanics of how the payment happens. So whether you pay the landlord directly or give your daughter money specifically for rent, both count as support from you for the support test.

Something nobody mentioned yet - for college students, there's the special rule that scholarship money doesn't count toward support calculations at all! So if your daughter gets any scholarships or grants, those amounts are completely excluded when figuring out total support and percentages. This often makes it easier for parents to meet the 50% threshold.

The key distinction you're asking about is absolutely correct - direct payments to the landlord are unambiguously considered YOUR support contribution, not a gift to your daughter. This is one of the clearest scenarios for the support test. Based on your numbers, you're in great shape to claim her as a dependent. You mentioned $1,350/month rent ($16,200 annually), plus tuition from the 529 plan, plus groceries and living expenses for the first 4 months. That's likely well over $30,000 in support you're providing. For your daughter to provide more than half of her own support, she'd need to spend more than the total amount you're contributing. With her campus job income of $800-900/month early in the year, and even if she gets a decent job after graduation, it would be very difficult for her to exceed your contribution level. Keep detailed records of all direct payments (rent, tuition, groceries) and any transfers you make that are designated for specific support purposes. The IRS Publication 501 has the complete rules, but your situation with direct landlord payments is exactly the type that clearly counts as parental support. One tip: calculate the total support for the entire year (including what she spends on herself) and make sure your portion exceeds 50% of that total amount.