23 Pro tip: Ask for Schedule B of the 1040 specifically. That's where interest and dividends are reported AND there's a section that asks about foreign accounts. If your ex checked "yes" but you never knew about foreign accounts, that's a red flag to investigate further. I discovered my ex had an offshore account this way.

25 This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my ex provided minimal financial documentation. One thing I learned from my attorney is that you can also request Schedule K-1 forms if your ex was involved in any partnerships, S-corporations, or LLCs. These show income from business partnerships that wouldn't appear on a W2. Also, don't forget about Schedule D for capital gains/losses from stock sales or property transactions. My ex "forgot" to mention he sold some rental property during our separation year, and this is where it showed up. The 1040 really is the complete picture - the W2 is just one piece of the puzzle. For anyone going through this, document everything and be persistent about requesting complete tax returns through your attorney. The difference between what's on a W2 versus the full 1040 can be substantial.

Anyone know which EVs still qualify for the full $7500? I heard some only get partial credits now because of battery component requirements?

This is exactly the kind of strategic tax planning that more people should be doing! I went through this same situation last year when I bought my Model Y. One thing I'd add - make sure you time your EV purchase correctly. The credit only applies in the tax year you take delivery of the vehicle, not when you order it. So if you're planning to buy early in 2025, you might want to wait until you've had a few months of adjusted withholding to make sure your strategy is working. Also, keep detailed records of your withholding adjustments. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my monthly withholding changes and projected tax liability. This helped me fine-tune the W-4 adjustments mid-year when I realized I was on track to owe slightly more than the credit would cover. The peace of mind from maximizing that $7500 credit is totally worth the extra planning effort!

Has anyone tried just showing up in person at their offices? I looked them up and Rebate Gateway has physical offices. I wonder if demanding answers face-to-face would work better than calls and emails that they can ignore.

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately more common than it should be. I went through something very similar last year with a different rebate company that somehow got hold of my details. The key thing to remember is that even if they have some form of authorization, you still have rights. Under consumer protection laws, any agreement made without your knowledge or through misleading practices can be challenged. Here's what worked for me: 1. Immediately contact Rebate Gateway in writing (email AND post) demanding they provide evidence of your explicit consent 2. Request a full breakdown of their fees and when the authorization was supposedly given 3. If they can't provide clear evidence, file a complaint with your local Trading Standards office - they handle unfair commercial practices 4. Also contact the Information Commissioner's Office if you believe your personal data was obtained improperly Don't let them keep YOUR money. These companies rely on people giving up, but you have more power than they want you to know. Keep pushing and document everything. The fact that you have zero recollection of ever dealing with them is actually in your favor.

Has anyone successfully gotten the IRA portion of the underpayment penalty waived? I'm in a similar situation where I took an IRA distribution without withholding and got hit with the 2210 penalty.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The IRA distribution without withholding is definitely what triggered your Form 2210. What caught me off guard was that even though I had been doing gig work for years without issues, the IRA distribution pushed me over the threshold where my withholding wasn't sufficient anymore. One thing that helped me was calculating whether I qualified for any of the safe harbor exceptions mentioned by others here. Also, for next year, I started making quarterly estimated payments specifically to cover my gig income - it's actually much easier than I thought it would be. You can do it online through EFTPS or even by phone. The good news is that once you understand how it works, it's pretty straightforward to avoid in the future. Just make sure to either have taxes withheld from any retirement distributions or increase your W-2 withholding to compensate.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills reading these responses. You guys realize the IRS is just fishing for information, right? These LTR 324C letters are often automated and sent out as part of their collection efforts. I got one for "filing status" but my CPA said unless they're specifying an actual problem, it could just be a fishing expedition.

I dealt with a similar LTR 324C situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing is to respond promptly and provide clear documentation that supports your filing status claim. Since you filed as Head of Household with your daughter, you'll want to gather documents that prove two things: 1) your daughter lived with you for more than half the year, and 2) you paid more than half the costs of maintaining your home. Good documents include: school enrollment records showing your address, medical records with your address, any childcare receipts, grocery receipts, utility bills in your name, rent/mortgage statements, and bank statements showing you paid household expenses. Also keep in mind that if your daughter's other parent claimed her as a dependent on their return, that could trigger this letter even if you're entitled to Head of Household status. The IRS computer systems flag these potential conflicts automatically. Don't stress too much - this really is just a verification process, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Just respond by their deadline with organized documentation and a brief cover letter explaining your situation.