My tax guy told me that if you're using the simplified home office deduction ($5 per square foot, up to 300 sq ft), you can't also separately deduct utilities like internet. But if you use the regular method where you calculate actual expenses, then you can deduct the business percentage of your internet. Worth considering which method gives you the better deduction.

As a videographer myself, I've found that tracking data usage is actually pretty easy. Most routers have tools to see which devices use how much data. My business computer uses about 85% of our total household data with those big video file uploads, so that's what I deduct. I also keep a spreadsheet showing file sizes of work uploads vs estimated personal usage to back up my claim if needed.

One more suggestion - use the IRS Withholding Calculator (Google it) and run your numbers there. It's a bit clunky but will give you a decent starting point. In my experience though, you might want to withhold a bit MORE than it suggests if you really want to avoid owing.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for years! One thing that finally worked for us was using the "Tax Withholding Estimator" on the IRS website, but with a twist - I always add an extra $50-75 per paycheck beyond what it recommends. The problem with most W-4 calculators (including the IRS one) is they assume everything stays constant throughout the year. But if either of you gets bonuses, overtime, or any irregular income, you'll end up short. Since you owed $3,200 last year, here's what I'd suggest: 1. Use the IRS estimator as a baseline 2. Add at least $130 extra per paycheck (that's $3,200 ÷ 24 paychecks if paid bi-weekly) 3. Consider checking "Married filing separately" on the W-4 like you mentioned - it really does increase withholding Also, don't stress too much about over-withholding. Getting a refund is way better than scrambling to find $3,200 at tax time! You can always adjust mid-year if the withholding seems too high.

Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. The IRS loves to say they never got stuff 🙄

I was in a similar situation a few years back - missed 2 years and was stressed about it. The good news is you can absolutely file your 2024 return first if you need to, but definitely prioritize getting those back years filed ASAP. One thing that helped me was setting up a payment plan with the IRS for any penalties/interest owed on the missed years. They're surprisingly reasonable to work with if you're proactive about it. Don't let the anxiety keep you from taking action - you've got this!

I remember when amended returns took like 12 weeks max. Now we're all out here waiting half a year+ like clowns 🤡

Same here - filed amended return in October and still waiting. The "adjustments pending" status is actually progress though! I've been tracking mine on the IRS website and once it moved to that stage, I got my refund about 6 weeks later. Hang in there, sounds like you're getting close! 🤞

I went through this exact process with my wife from the Philippines about 6 months ago. Using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent was definitely the right choice for us. The agent we found through the IRS website was professional and made the whole process much less stressful. A few tips from my experience: First, verify the agent's credentials directly on the IRS website before committing. Second, ask about their experience with your spouse's specific country - some agents are more familiar with certain documentation requirements. Third, get a clear breakdown of all fees upfront (ours was $150 total). The biggest advantage was that my wife didn't have to mail her original passport anywhere. The agent verified everything locally and sent certified copies to the IRS. We got her ITIN in about 7 weeks, which was faster than some people I know who did it themselves. For something this important, having that professional guidance was worth every penny.

I went through this same process with my spouse from Germany about a year ago and can definitely recommend using an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent. The peace of mind was worth it, especially since we didn't have to worry about original documents getting lost in international mail. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much here - make sure to ask the Acceptance Agent about their turnaround time for reviewing and submitting your documents. Some agents batch their submissions weekly, while others submit more frequently. This can affect your overall timeline. Also, double-check that they're familiar with Brazilian documentation requirements specifically. Each country has slightly different document formatting and translation requirements, and you want someone who's handled Brazilian cases before. The agent we used had worked with German documents many times, which made the process much smoother. Overall, using an Acceptance Agent saved us probably 2-3 weeks compared to doing it ourselves, and we avoided the stress of mailing irreplaceable documents internationally. Just make sure you're comfortable with their fees and process before committing.