Just a warning about the "keep it under $600 per platform" strategy - the rules are changing! The 1099-K reporting threshold was supposed to drop to $600 across all platforms last year, then got delayed, but it's likely coming soon. Also, the IRS can look at patterns. If they see you're conveniently just under reporting thresholds on multiple platforms, that could trigger questions. Better to just report everything properly and take advantage of all legitimate deductions. Honestly with your situation of low income this year and higher next year, you might even WANT to recognize more income this year while you're in a lower tax bracket!

Great thread everyone! As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I wanted to add a few thoughts that might help. The advice about recognizing income this year while you're in a lower bracket is spot on - that's exactly what I wish I had done. I ended up deferring a lot of sales and got hit harder tax-wise the following year when my regular income kicked in. One thing I learned the hard way: even if you're selling personal items at a loss (which is common with clothes), you still need to be able to reasonably document your original cost basis. I started taking photos of similar items online to show typical retail prices for the brands/styles I was selling. It's not perfect, but it helps establish that you're not just making up numbers. Also, don't forget about state taxes! Some states have different thresholds and requirements than federal, so make sure you're considering both levels. The suggestion about using a dedicated credit card for selling expenses is golden - makes tracking so much easier at tax time. I use a simple spreadsheet too, but having that card statement as backup is really helpful. Good luck with your sales! Sounds like you're being smart about planning ahead.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you owe more than $54,000, the IRS can now revoke your passport or prevent you from getting one! They're required to notify you before doing this, but it's definitely beyond a "financial penalty" and could seriously impact your life if you travel internationally for work or family. Also, if you owe more than $25,000, you can't use the online payment plans and things get more complicated. The bigger your balance gets (with all those penalties and interest compounding), the fewer options you have.

The passport revocation process is actually pretty straightforward from the IRS side. Once you have a "seriously delinquent tax debt" (over $54,000 including penalties and interest), the IRS sends your information to the State Department through an automated system. The State Department then either denies your passport application or revokes your existing passport. You get advance notice - the IRS has to send you a Notice CP508C before certifying your debt to State. But once that happens, you basically can't travel internationally until you either pay in full, set up an approved payment plan, or get the debt declared currently not collectible due to hardship. The scary part is how fast you can hit that $54k threshold when penalties and interest are compounding. If you originally owed $20k and let it sit for a few years, you could easily cross into passport revocation territory without realizing it.

Has anyone successfully gotten the IRS to expedite an amended return? I'm in a similar situation (2019 amended return, 11 weeks with nothing showing up online) but I have a time-sensitive reason I need this processed - I'm trying to close on a house and the lender needs the amended return to be processed.

I'm going through something very similar right now - my 2020 amended return was mailed certified on February 28th and it's been 12 weeks with absolutely nothing showing up in the "Where's My Amended Return" tool. I have the delivery confirmation that they received it on March 1st. What's really frustrating is that I called the main IRS number (1-800-829-1040) three times over the past month and each time I was told something different. First rep said "give it another few weeks," second one couldn't find any record of it at all, and the third one said paper returns are taking 4-6 months just to be entered into their system right now. The inconsistent information is almost worse than the delay itself. At least if they gave everyone the same realistic timeline, we'd know what to expect. But when their own website says 3 weeks and their phone reps are saying 4-6 months, it's impossible to know what's actually happening. I'm considering trying some of the services mentioned in this thread to get better information, because the uncertainty is really getting to me. Has anyone had luck getting consistent information from the IRS recently?

Forgot to mention an important point - make sure both you and your wife update your W-4s at the same time! My spouse and I tried doing this split dependent thing last year, but I updated mine claiming fewer dependents while she forgot to update hers claiming more. We ended up with way too much tax withheld overall.

Have you considered just adjusting the "extra withholding" line on your W-4s instead? My husband and I file jointly with 4 kids, and we found it easier to each claim 2 kids but then have an extra $50 per paycheck withheld on my form. Way simpler than trying to calculate the perfect split.

Anyone know if the 1242L tax code takes into account student loan repayments? I'm also on this code but noticed my take-home pay seems lower than some colleagues on similar salaries.

Just wanted to add that if you're ever unsure about your tax code, you can check it online through your HMRC personal tax account. You'll be able to see exactly how they calculated your code and what factors they've taken into account (like benefits, previous underpayments, etc.). Also, don't worry too much if your code changes between jobs - it's actually quite common. When you start a new job, your new employer uses the tax code from your P45 (if you have one) or puts you on an emergency code temporarily. HMRC then sends them your correct code once they've processed your employment details. The 1242L code is indeed the standard one for most people in the 2024-25 tax year, so you're likely on the right track. Just keep an eye on your payslips to make sure the deductions look reasonable for your salary level.