Does anyone know if this applies to rideshare/public transportation too? I don't have a car so I'm spending like $20-30 per day on Uber or train tickets to get to different event venues. Same situation as OP where I'm a W-2 employee but work at different locations all over the city.

I'm in a very similar situation working for multiple event companies! One thing that's helped me is keeping extremely detailed records of all my work locations and mileage. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, client/event, venue address, miles from home, and whether it's a one-time or recurring location. Even though we can't deduct these costs directly as W-2 employees right now, having this documentation has been invaluable when discussing reimbursement with employers. I've found that smaller event companies are often more willing to work with you on travel costs when you can show them the actual financial impact. Also, don't forget to factor in your time spent traveling when evaluating job offers. I started declining gigs that were more than 60 miles away unless they paid significantly more to offset the travel costs and time. It's helped me be more strategic about which events I accept. The tax landscape might change after 2025 when the current restrictions on employee deductions expire, so definitely keep those records for the future too.

In the future, you might want to check if your company has a corporate travel booking system or preferred vendors. My company uses Concur and if we book outside their system, even if it's cheaper, they make reimbursement a huge pain. Maybe ask your coworkers how they typically handle travel bookings to avoid this hassle next time?

This is a frustrating situation but definitely not uncommon! I've seen this exact issue come up multiple times with clients. The good news is that you have several options to pursue. First, I'd strongly recommend getting that official hotel receipt as others have suggested - call the hotel directly and explain you need a proper folio for business expense reimbursement. Most hotels are very accommodating about this. If your company still won't budge, document everything thoroughly. Keep your original Airbnb receipt, the hotel folio, correspondence with your company, and any proof that regular hotels were unavailable during your travel dates. This documentation will be crucial whether you end up getting reimbursed later or need to explore other options. One thing to consider: some companies have an appeals process for expense disputes. Check your employee handbook or ask HR if there's a formal way to escalate this beyond the accounting department. Sometimes getting a manager or HR involved can help resolve these policy interpretation issues. Also, make sure you understand whether this was truly a business necessity (sounds like it was) versus a personal preference for accommodation type. The IRS cares about the business purpose and reasonableness of the expense, not necessarily the booking platform used.

Anyone else feel like tax software is designed to make us think we're getting less so we'll upgrade to their paid versions? Every time I use the free version it shows a tiny refund, then magically finds more money when I upgrade. Seems suspicious.

Your situation is totally normal! I went through the exact same thing two years ago and panicked thinking I'd made a mistake. Turns out my withholding just got more accurate when I started a new job. Here's what probably happened: when you started your new jobs, HR likely had you fill out a W-4 form. The newer W-4 calculations are much more precise than the old system, so instead of over-withholding (which gives you a big refund), they're taking out closer to what you actually owe. Quick math check: if you made $6k more but only got $785 less in refund ($850 - $65), you probably had about $5,215 more in your actual paychecks throughout the year. That's money you got to use all year instead of lending it to the government interest-free! Before paying someone to look at your taxes, just double-check that you entered everything correctly in TurboTax - both W-2s, any 1099s, and that you claimed the standard deduction. If everything looks right, you're golden. Your withholding is just working the way it's supposed to now.

Don't forget to check if your state requires filing too! I had zero federal income in 2020 but my state still required a return because I had received unemployment earlier in the year. Each state has different rules.

@Danielle Mays - You're getting great advice here! Just to add a few practical tips: Since you mentioned health issues in 2021, make sure to check if you had any health insurance marketplace coverage or received any advance premium tax credits. Even with zero income, you might need to reconcile those on Form 8962 if applicable. Also, gather any 1099s you might have received (even for small amounts like bank interest) since those would need to be reported. The IRS already has copies of these forms, so it's better to include them even if the amounts are minimal. One more thing - if you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's return in 2021 (like a parent or spouse), that would affect your filing requirements and stimulus eligibility. Make sure to clarify your dependency status for that year before filing. The good news is that with zero employment income, your return should be relatively straightforward once you determine if you actually need to file or if you're just filing to claim credits/refunds!

Welcome to the 846 club! Time to plan that shopping spree 💅

Code 846 is definitely the light at the end of the tunnel! I went through the same thing last year - transcript showed 846 but WMR was still stuck on "processing" for days. The transcript is always more accurate and up-to-date than WMR. Usually takes 1-5 business days after seeing 846 to hit your account. The disconnect between the two systems is super common, so don't stress about WMR not updating yet. You're almost there! 🎉