Everyone's giving good advice about claiming a domestic partner, but don't forget to consider the future! When your partner finishes law school and starts working, your tax situation will change dramatically. My wife and I were in the same boat (I supported her through med school), and we actually ended up paying MORE in taxes after marriage because of the marriage penalty when both people have good incomes.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in tax preparation - you're on the right track! Based on your description, your domestic partner would likely qualify as a "qualifying relative" dependent. The key things to document are: 1. Keep receipts for all the expenses you're paying (rent, utilities, groceries, phone, insurance) 2. Get a statement of his total student loan disbursements for the year 3. Track any income he earns from tutoring or other sources Since you mentioned he only makes about $2,500 from tutoring and the loans only cover tuition/books while you handle all living expenses, you should easily meet both the income test (under $5,000) and the support test (you're providing more than 50% of total support). One thing I always tell clients - calculate the actual dollar amounts to be sure. Add up everything: tuition, books, rent, food, utilities, transportation, clothing, medical expenses, etc. Then make sure your contributions are more than half of that total. It sounds like they definitely are, but having the numbers documented will give you confidence and protection if questions ever arise. The dependent exemption can be a significant tax benefit, so it's worth claiming if you qualify!

I've heard that the EITC is different for each tax year because of inflation adjustments. Does anyone know what the threshold was for 2021? I'm trying to figure out if I should amend my return.

Just wanted to add some context about why you might be behind on your taxes - the IRS has been dealing with massive processing delays, especially for amended returns. Your February 2022 amended return not getting processed until December 2022 is unfortunately pretty typical of what many people experienced during that period. For your current situation, as others have mentioned, you're just over the 2022 EITC threshold. But definitely keep those expanded 2021 rules in mind that @Freya Pedersen mentioned - if you were between 19-24 in 2021, you might have qualified under the special COVID provisions even if you didn't think you were eligible at the time. The income limits were much higher that year, so it's worth double-checking your 2021 situation. Also, make sure you're calculating your AGI correctly. Your AGI should generally be close to your earned income if you're just filing a basic return with W-2 income. If there's a big difference between your W-2 wages ($13,100) and your calculated AGI ($16,800), you might want to double-check that calculation or see if there are other income sources you forgot about.

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're using the correct tax forms for each year! The 2020 forms are different from current ones because of the special Covid provisions. I made this mistake and had to refile because I downloaded the wrong year's forms.

Hey there! I totally understand that anxiety about getting behind on taxes - life happens and sometimes important stuff falls through the cracks, especially after major life changes like divorce. The good news is you're not in as bad a spot as you might think! Since you're making around $38k annually, you're likely eligible for several credits that could actually result in refunds rather than owing money. The Earned Income Credit alone could be worth $1,500+ depending on your filing status and any dependents. A few quick points to ease your mind: - You have until May 2024 to file 2020 and still claim any refund (including those Covid credits) - If you're due refunds, there are no late filing penalties - you just don't get your money until you file - The IRS has been pretty understanding about Covid-related delays Don't let the fear keep you from filing - in many cases, people in your income range end up getting money back even when filing late. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll know exactly where you stand and can move forward with peace of mind.

Has anyone tried just filling out BOTH? I mean, complete their substitute W9 AND send a standard form? That's what I've been doing with clients who are stubborn about their systems. Seems like overkill but it keeps everyone happy.

I've been dealing with this exact issue for the past few months! What finally worked for me was a combination approach - I explained to the stubborn clients that I have security concerns due to previous data breaches, and I offered to do a phone verification instead of using their portal. I prepared a simple script explaining that while I understand their need for W9 information, I maintain a policy of not entering sensitive tax information into third-party systems I haven't vetted. Then I offered alternatives: "I can provide you with a completed standard W9 via secure email, or we can schedule a brief call where I can verbally confirm all the required information while you complete your internal form." About 80% of clients accepted the secure email option. For the remaining 20%, the phone verification worked perfectly - they got their information entered into their system, and I didn't have to trust another potentially insecure portal with my SSN and other sensitive data. It only took about 5-10 minutes per client and gave me much better peace of mind.

Get a real accountant!!! Seriously, ask them these questions. Random internet advice could get you in trouble with the IRS. These detailed business expense questions depend on so many factors specific to YOUR situation.

As a tax professional, I can confirm that your Spotify subscription can likely be deducted as a business expense based on what you've described. The IRS allows deductions for expenses that are "ordinary and necessary" for your trade or business. Your case is particularly strong because: - You use Spotify directly in your creative process for client work - You can demonstrate a clear connection between the music and your income-generating activities - You maintain business playlists that support client relationships However, you'll need to be prepared to: 1. Document the business use percentage (if you also use it personally) 2. Keep records showing how specific music influenced paid projects 3. Track which playlists/music directly contributed to client work The key is proving business purpose rather than personal entertainment. Since you're using it as a creative tool that directly impacts your design process and client relationships, you have a solid foundation for the deduction. Just make sure to maintain detailed records in case of an audit, and consider the advice others mentioned about separating business and personal use if that applies to your situation.