Same thing happened to me last month! The IP lockout is so annoying especially when you live with roommates who also file taxes. What worked for me was using a different browser entirely (switched from Chrome to Firefox) and making sure I had the EXACT refund amount from my tax software - not rounded at all. Also try checking super early in the morning like 6am when their servers aren't as busy. It's honestly ridiculous that we need all these workarounds just to check our own money but here we are 🤷‍♀️

This is such a common problem right now! I ran into the exact same issue a few days ago. What finally worked for me was using my phone's hotspot instead of my regular WiFi, clearing all my browser data, and making sure I had the EXACT refund amount from line 35a of my return (down to the cent - no rounding!). The IP lockout thing is real and affects whole households, so if anyone else in your family has been checking refunds it could lock you out too. Also try checking between 6-8am when their servers are less busy. It's honestly insane that we need all these workarounds just to check our own refund status but that's the IRS for you 🤦‍♂️

As someone who works in HR, I can confirm that the "A/0" designation is definitely not standard federal withholding notation. Most payroll systems use M (Married), S (Single), or H (Head of Household) followed by the number of allowances or dependents. The extremely low federal withholding of $190 on what appears to be around $33,000 in annual income is a major red flag. For comparison, someone earning that amount should typically have $2,000-$4,000 in federal taxes withheld throughout the year, depending on their filing status and deductions. My guess is that during your company's payroll system transition, your federal withholding information got corrupted or miscoded. The fact that your state withholding shows the correct M/0 status suggests this is specifically a federal processing error. I'd recommend requesting a copy of your W-4 form from your HR department immediately. If they claim they can't provide it, remind them that employees have the legal right to review documents in their personnel files. Once you see what's actually on file, submit a brand new W-4 form to ensure clean data entry going forward. Also, start preparing for a potential tax bill. With that level of under-withholding, you'll likely owe significant taxes when you file. Consider consulting a tax professional about making estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My W2 also shows strange federal withholding codes that don't match what I expected. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea that payroll system transitions could cause these kinds of coding errors. The consensus seems clear that "A/0" isn't standard federal notation and your $190 withholding is way too low for full-time work at $16/hour. I'm in a similar boat where I suspect my employer made an error but they keep insisting everything is correct. Based on what the tax professionals and HR folks have shared here, it sounds like your best bet is to get that W-4 copy from HR and submit a fresh one immediately. The advice about estimated quarterly payments is something I need to look into for my own situation too - apparently the IRS doesn't care whose fault the under-withholding was. Thanks for posting this question! The detailed responses from people who've been through this exact issue have helped me understand my own withholding problems much better.

Just to add one more thing that others haven't mentioned - check if any taxes have already been withheld at the US person rate (usually no withholding) instead of the non-resident rate. If dividends have been paid while your W-9 was on file, you might need to address this specifically.

This is a really common mistake, especially when using family addresses for mail forwarding! The key thing is to act quickly before any more dividends get processed under the wrong tax status. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. Contact both Computershare and EQ Shareowner Services to request replacement of your W-9 with a W-8BEN. Explain that you're an Australian resident who used a US mailing address, which caused the confusion. 2. When you submit the W-8BEN, use your Australian address and include supporting documentation (passport copy, Australian utility bill, etc.) to clearly establish your foreign status. 3. Check if Australia has a tax treaty with the US that reduces withholding rates below the standard 30%. If so, make sure to claim this on your W-8BEN. 4. Review any dividend payments you've already received this year. If they withheld at US person rates instead of non-resident rates, you may need to file Form 1040NR to correct this. The good news is that honest mistakes like this are easily correctable if you address them promptly. The IRS won't penalize you for an innocent error, especially when it's clearly due to address confusion rather than trying to avoid taxes.

Nina, I can really relate to your situation! I organized a charity auction for local food banks last year and hit the exact same roadblock with tax receipts. The waiting period when you're ready to move forward is incredibly frustrating. Here's what worked for me: When you call the charity tomorrow, also ask if they participate in any charity auction platforms or have partnerships with fundraising software companies. Many established charities have relationships with services that can handle the entire tax documentation process automatically once you have their basic authorization. Also, don't underestimate the power of explaining your timeline urgency. When I called and mentioned that I had businesses ready to commit but was stuck on paperwork, they prioritized getting me the documentation I needed. Frame it as "I have donors ready to contribute to your cause, but I need these documents to move forward" rather than just asking for general information. One more tip: if you do end up collecting preliminary commitments while waiting for the official paperwork, send a simple email confirming their interest but explicitly state that official donation paperwork will follow once you have authorization from the charity. This protects everyone and shows you're handling things properly. Your wildfire recovery auction sounds like it's going to make a real difference - don't let the administrative stuff discourage you from this important work!

Nina, I went through almost the exact same situation when I organized a charity auction for our local homeless shelter two years ago. The tax receipt maze can definitely feel overwhelming when you're trying to move quickly! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple one-page document outlining my event plan, timeline, and expected fundraising goals to share with the charity when I called. Having something concrete to reference made the conversation much more productive and showed them I was serious and organized. Also, when you do get through to them, ask specifically about their "fiscal sponsorship" or "third-party fundraising" policies. Some charities are more comfortable with certain arrangements than others - for example, some prefer to handle all payments directly through their merchant accounts, while others are fine with you collecting funds and then writing one large check at the end. Don't forget to ask about their preferred method for donor recognition too. Some organizations have specific ways they like to acknowledge supporters, and incorporating that into your auction can strengthen your relationship with them. Your web app for managing the auction sounds really professional - that level of organization will definitely impress potential donors and the charity. Keep pushing forward with this important cause. Wildfire recovery efforts need all the support they can get, and your systematic approach is going to make a real difference!

One thing to consider - if youre close to making itemizing worth it, donating some stuff to charity before the end of the year could push u over the edge! I was in a similar spot last year and cleaned out my closet, got a receipt from Goodwill for like $350 in donated clothes and that was enough to make itemizing better than standard deduction for me.

Hey there! I went through almost the exact same situation last year - tons of medical bills eating up a huge chunk of my income and feeling totally lost about whether to itemize or not. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything. I made columns for: date, provider, amount paid, and whether it was qualified medical expense. Then I calculated exactly what 7.5% of my AGI was and could see how much of my medical expenses actually exceeded that threshold. The key insight I learned: even if your medical expenses seem huge, you need to subtract that 7.5% floor first, then see if what's left PLUS any other itemizable deductions (state taxes, charitable donations, etc.) beats the standard deduction. In my case, I had about $8,000 in medical bills on a $35,000 income, but after subtracting the 7.5% threshold ($2,625), I only had $5,375 in deductible medical expenses - which wasn't enough to beat the standard deduction when combined with my other deductions. Since you're living with parents and don't have mortgage interest, you'll mainly be looking at medical expenses + state/local taxes + any charitable donations. Run the math both ways before deciding!