I just went through this exact process for a different campus ambassador program and wanted to add a few quick tips that really helped me: 1. Double-check that your Social Security Number is correct - this is the most important part and any mistakes here will cause headaches later. 2. Make sure you're using your legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, not any nicknames or shortened versions you might go by. 3. For the address, use wherever you want to receive tax documents next year (probably January/February). If you're graduating soon or moving, consider using a more permanent address like your parents'. The whole process seems scarier than it actually is! Once you submit the W9, SHEIN will handle most of the tax reporting on their end. Just make sure to keep track of what they pay you throughout the year so you're prepared when tax season rolls around. Good luck with the ambassador program - it's actually pretty fun once you get the paperwork sorted out!

I was in your exact shoes last year when I started my first brand partnership! The tax stuff definitely seems overwhelming at first, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you break it down. For your W9 form: - Leave the "Business name/disregarded entity" field blank since you're just working as yourself - Check "Individual/sole proprietorship" for the federal tax classification - Make sure your name matches exactly what's on your Social Security card - Use an address where you'll reliably receive mail next January/February when tax forms are sent The W9 is basically just telling SHEIN your tax info so they can report what they pay you to the IRS. If you earn over $600 from them in a year, they'll send you a 1099-NEC form that you'll need when filing your taxes. My biggest piece of advice is to start a simple spreadsheet now to track all your earnings - date, amount, what it was for. This will save you so much stress at tax time! Even if the amounts seem small, it's good to have everything documented. Don't stress too much about "messing up" - the W9 is pretty forgiving and SHEIN's accounting team has probably seen every possible version of this form from college students. You've got this!

Form 3176C is basically the IRS saying "hold up, we need to double-check some stuff before we send your refund." It's not necessarily bad news - just means they want to verify income, dependents, or other info on your return. The waiting sucks but it's pretty routine. Just respond quickly with whatever docs they're asking for and you should be good to go!

I went through this exact same thing last year with Form 3176C! The worst part is definitely the waiting, but here's what helped me: respond ASAP with all the requested documents, send everything certified mail so you have proof they received it, and don't panic if you don't hear back right away. The IRS moves slow but they will eventually process it. My refund came through after about 10 weeks once I sent in the verification docs. Hang in there!

Great question! I went through a similar transition a few years back and can share some practical insights. The pay frequency change itself won't impact your taxes, but there are a few things worth noting: First, with semi-monthly pay, your withholding per check will be calculated based on 24 pay periods instead of 26. This means each check will be larger (beyond your salary increase), and the withholding algorithm will treat each paycheck as if that's your typical pay throughout the year. The good news is this typically results in slightly more accurate withholding since there's less variation between your actual annual income and what the system estimates. Second, timing-wise, semi-monthly can be trickier for cash flow. Unlike bi-weekly where you know exactly when your next paycheck comes (every 14 days), semi-monthly can vary between 13-18 days depending on weekends and month length. I found it helpful to set up a small buffer in my checking account to smooth out these timing differences. For your W-4, definitely use the IRS withholding calculator since you're getting a raise. The old "0 allowances" method was always a bit of a blunt instrument anyway. With your income increase, you might find the newer W-4 approach gives you more precise withholding and a smaller refund (which means more money in your pocket throughout the year). One last tip: ask your new employer about their payroll calendar upfront. Some companies adjust semi-monthly dates when they fall on weekends/holidays, which can occasionally result in two paychecks very close together or further apart than usual.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to check if your new employer has any year-end bonus or commission structure that might be affected by the pay schedule change. I switched from bi-weekly to semi-monthly mid-year and didn't realize my annual bonus was calculated based on pay periods worked rather than calendar months. Since I joined in December with only one semi-monthly pay period that year, it affected my bonus calculation slightly. Not a huge deal, but something to clarify with HR during your transition. Also, if you have any automatic savings transfers or bill payments timed to your current bi-weekly schedule, you'll want to adjust those. I forgot to update my 401k loan payment timing and ended up with a slightly late payment because I was expecting a paycheck on a Friday that didn't come with the new semi-monthly schedule. The tax implications are minimal as others have said, but the operational stuff around the timing change can trip you up if you're not prepared!

I also got hit with a huge Form 8962 Premium Tax Credit payback this year. I called the marketplace and asked which plan in my area was the "benchmark plan" they use for calculations. Turns out my plan was $190/month more expensive! No wonder I owed so much. For 2025, I switched to a plan that's actually $20 less than the benchmark. According to the marketplace rep, this means I'll pay LESS than the 8.5% income cap. My advice: call the marketplace and specifically ask how your chosen plan compares to the benchmark plan price.

Unfortunately, there's no appeal process for Premium Tax Credit calculations if you simply chose a more expensive plan than the benchmark. The IRS considers this a valid calculation based on the law - you're responsible for the difference between your chosen plan and the benchmark plan. However, there are a few situations where you might have options: 1. If there was an error in your marketplace enrollment (like incorrect income reporting that affected your advance credits) 2. If you experienced a qualifying life event that changed your circumstances during the year 3. If you can demonstrate the marketplace provided incorrect information about plan costs Your best bet is to contact the marketplace first to verify the benchmark plan calculation was correct. If everything checks out, focus on choosing a plan closer to the benchmark price for next year to avoid this situation. The $2000 you owe is likely the result of 12 months of paying for a plan significantly more expensive than the benchmark - that adds up quickly. You could also consult a tax professional to see if there are any other credits or deductions you might be missing that could offset some of this liability.

For those confused about the difference between expensing and Section 179: In 2025, you can "expense" (immediately deduct) items that cost less than $2,500 per item under the de minimis safe harbor election. You make this election on your tax return. Since your computer is $2,700, it's over this threshold, which is why Section 179 or depreciation come into play. The monitor at $2,000 could potentially qualify for immediate expensing under the safe harbor if purchased separately. Has anyone used TurboTax Business to handle Section 179 for an S corp? Wondering if it walks you through this properly.

One thing to keep in mind - if you're using the computer and monitor partially for personal use, you can only deduct the business percentage. The IRS is pretty strict about this, especially for home-based S-corps. I'd recommend keeping a log of business vs personal usage for at least the first few months to establish a pattern. If it's 80% business use, you can only claim 80% of the cost under Section 179. Also, since you mentioned it's just you and your wife, make sure the equipment is titled to the S-corp and not purchased personally. The business needs to own the assets to claim the deduction. If you bought them personally and are reimbursing yourselves, that's a different scenario that might need to be handled as a sale to the corporation.