Pro tip from someone who went through this exact situation last year - make copies of EVERYTHING before you mail those returns! I mean every single page, including all your W-2s, 1099s, and any supporting documents. The IRS processing centers can be slow with prior year returns (mine took about 16 weeks to process), and if they have questions or need additional documentation, you'll want to have copies ready to send. Also, keep detailed records of when you mailed each return with your certified mail receipts. One more thing - if you discover you made errors on any of those prior year returns after you've already mailed them, you can file amended returns (Form 1040X) to correct them. Just make sure to wait until the original returns are fully processed first before filing any amendments.

Just wanted to add a quick note about something that caught me off guard when I filed my late returns - make sure you're using the correct standard deduction amounts for each tax year! The standard deduction changes annually, so don't accidentally use the 2023 amounts on your 2021 or 2022 forms. For 2021: Single filers had a $12,550 standard deduction, married filing jointly was $25,100 For 2022: Single was $12,950, married filing jointly was $25,900 I almost made this mistake and would have either overpaid or underpaid my taxes. The IRS forms for each year should have the correct amounts printed on them, but it's worth double-checking since you're working with multiple years of forms at once. Also, if you moved between states during any of those years, make sure you're filing part-year resident returns for the correct states. I had to file returns in both Maryland and Virginia for 2022 since I moved mid-year, and figuring out the income allocation was trickier than I expected.

Sean, it sounds like you have a really strong case for Head of Household filing status! Based on what you've described - separated since June (meeting the 6-month rule), kids living with you 85% of the time, and you paying most expenses including the mortgage - you definitely meet the IRS requirements. One practical tip: keep detailed records of all the household expenses you've paid (mortgage, utilities, groceries, childcare, etc.) and document the kids' living arrangements. Even though the IRS doesn't require upfront documentation, having this organized will give you peace of mind and be helpful if any questions come up later. Your ex is technically wrong about needing to file jointly - being legally married doesn't prevent you from filing HOH if you meet the other requirements. The tax benefits of HOH (higher standard deduction, better tax brackets, and more favorable credit phase-outs) will likely save you significantly compared to either filing jointly or married filing separately. Just make sure you communicate with your ex about who's claiming which kids to avoid any duplicate claims that could trigger IRS attention.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the detailed advice everyone's sharing! Sean, it definitely sounds like you qualify for Head of Household status based on your situation. One thing I'd add that I learned from my own divorce process - make sure to keep a calendar or journal documenting which days the kids were with you versus your ex. The IRS uses the "more than half the year" test (183 days), and having clear records can be crucial if there's ever a dispute. Also, since you mentioned your ex wants to file jointly "one last time," remember that you both have to agree to file jointly - you can't be forced into it just because you're still legally married. The tax savings from HOH status are usually substantial, especially with two kids. Don't let the complexity intimidate you - it sounds like you have a straightforward case that meets all the requirements!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation last year with my daughter. I paid her $425 for social media help with my consulting business. I ended up putting it on line 48 (Other expenses) with the description "Contract services - family member" after consulting with a CPA. The reasoning was that it provides clearer documentation for the IRS about the nature of the payment, especially since no 1099 was issued. One thing I learned that might help others - make sure you and your daughter are consistent about how you both report this. I reported it as a contractor payment on my Schedule C, so she needed to report it as self-employment income on her Schedule C (even though it was under $600). The IRS can cross-reference these if they want to, so consistency is key. Also, even without a formal contract, I created a simple written record of what work she did and when, along with copies of her deliverables (social media posts, graphics she made, etc.). This gave me solid backup documentation in case of questions later. The amount doesn't matter for deduction purposes - you get the same $387 deduction whether it goes on line 11 or line 48. It's really just about clear documentation and making sure both parties report consistently.

I've been dealing with similar questions about family member payments for my home-based business. One thing that helped me was understanding that the IRS doesn't really care which line you use (11 vs 48) as long as the expense is legitimate and properly documented. What I found most important was creating a clear paper trail. Even for small amounts like your $387, I recommend: 1. Write up a simple agreement or work order describing what your daughter did 2. Keep records of when the work was performed 3. Document how you paid her (check, Venmo, etc.) 4. Have her create basic invoices for the work The "Other expenses" approach on line 48 with a description like "Contract services - family member" or "Freelance work - under $600" seems to be the preferred method among tax professionals I've spoken with. It's more transparent and less likely to raise questions since you're clearly indicating this was a small contractor payment that didn't require a 1099. Just make sure your daughter reports it correctly on her return. If this was her only freelance income and she's not running a regular business, she might be able to report it as "Other income" instead of setting up a whole Schedule C, which could save her from self-employment taxes.

Hey Isabella! I was in the exact same boat last year with my Uber Eats and DoorDash income. The good news is you don't need to stress about separating tips from base pay - they're all treated as self-employment income on your taxes. Here's what I learned: Your entire 1099-K amount ($24,680) goes on Schedule C as gross receipts. The IRS doesn't care how much was tips versus base pay because you're an independent contractor, not an employee. What REALLY matters is tracking your business expenses to offset that income. I saved over $3,000 in taxes by properly deducting: - Mileage (this is huge - 67 cents per business mile for 2024) - Phone bill percentage used for work - Hot bags, car phone mounts, etc. - Car maintenance and repairs - Even a portion of car insurance For mileage, if you didn't track everything, try using your delivery history to estimate. Count your total deliveries and multiply by average miles per delivery (usually 3-5 miles depending on your area). TurboTax will walk you through Schedule C step by step when you select "self-employment income." Don't overthink the tip separation - focus on maximizing your legitimate business deductions instead!

Isabella, I totally get the panic about that 1099-K amount! I went through the same thing my first year doing gig work. Everyone here is right - you don't need to separate tips from base pay for tax purposes since you're an independent contractor. One thing that might help ease your mind: that $24,680 is your GROSS income, not what you'll actually pay taxes on. After you deduct business expenses on Schedule C, your taxable income will be much lower. Since you mentioned using TurboTax, here's a tip that saved me tons of time: When you get to the self-employment section, TurboTax will ask about your business expenses in plain English. It'll specifically ask about vehicle expenses, and you can choose between actual expenses or the standard mileage deduction (usually better for gig workers). Don't forget about smaller expenses that add up: insulated bags, phone chargers, even hand sanitizer you bought for deliveries. Keep receipts going forward, but for this year, try to estimate what you spent on delivery-related items. The key is being reasonable and honest about your deductions. The IRS expects gig workers to have these types of expenses, so don't be afraid to claim legitimate business costs that helped you earn that income!

The "As of date" essentially tells you when the IRS last updated your account in their system. It's not your filing date - that stays the same regardless. Think of it as a timestamp showing when they last processed any activity on your account. Since you filed an amended return in March, that definitely triggered updates to your account, which is why you're seeing the "As of date" change. During the amendment process, this date will update periodically as your return moves through different stages of review and processing. One thing that helped me understand my transcript better was looking at the transaction codes alongside the "As of date." Different codes tell you what type of processing is happening. For amended returns, you'll typically see codes like 976 (amended return received) and eventually 846 (refund issued) if you're getting money back. The 16-20 week timeframe is accurate for most amended returns, but your "As of date" will give you clues about progress. If it starts jumping forward more frequently or by larger increments, that usually means your amendment is moving through the final review stages.

The "As of date" can be really confusing at first! I went through the same thing with my amended return last year. Basically, it's just the IRS's way of saying "this is how current your account information is as of this date." What threw me off initially was thinking it had something to do with my actual filing date, but it doesn't. Your January 27th filing date is still recorded separately in their system. The "As of date" is more like a processing timestamp that updates whenever the IRS does anything with your account. Since you filed an amendment in March, that created new activity on your account, which is why you're seeing updates. The date will probably continue to change periodically as your amended return works its way through their system. Sometimes it jumps forward by just a week or two (normal processing cycles), and sometimes it can jump ahead by months when they're actively working on your case. One tip: if you see the date suddenly jump way forward or start updating more frequently, that's usually a good sign that your amendment is progressing through their review process. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but at least you know it's in their system and moving along!