One thing nobody's mentioned - make sure you're also tracking all the utilities, repairs, insurance, etc. that you've paid since separation. If you itemize deductions, those costs help establish that you paid "more than half the cost of keeping up the home" which matters for HOH status. My accountant had me create a simple spreadsheet with every home-related expense after my ex moved out. This documentation really helped support my tax position and prevented any disputes. Just a quick tip from someone who's been there!

I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago. One crucial thing to keep in mind is that even though his name is on the mortgage, the IRS looks at who actually made the payments when determining who can claim the deductions. Since you have a court order giving you exclusive possession and you've been making all payments from your individual account since April, you have a strong case for claiming those deductions for the period after separation. For the joint payments made January-March, you'd typically divide based on your contribution percentage to that joint account (your 35%). Also, definitely explore the Head of Household filing status that others mentioned - it can save you significant money compared to married filing separately. The combination of HOH status plus claiming the mortgage interest and property tax deductions you actually paid could result in substantial tax savings. Keep detailed records of every payment you've made since the separation. Bank statements, online payment confirmations, everything. This documentation will be invaluable if there are any disputes or if the IRS has questions later.

I'm not tech savvy at all, but found that TaxAct has a free calculator that doesn't require registration for basic calculations. My son showed me how to use it and I didn't have to give them any personal info at all - just put in my w2 numbers and it showed what my refund would be.

I've been in the exact same boat - so frustrating when you just want to double-check some numbers without handing over your life story! One option I found that actually works is the Tax Foundation's tax calculator. It's completely anonymous, no signup required, and handles most common tax situations including standard/itemized deductions. Another route that worked for me was using the IRS's own Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) tool. It's buried on their website but it walks you through tax calculations without requiring any personal info - just search "ITA" on irs.gov. It's not the prettiest interface but it's accurate since it comes straight from the source. For what it's worth, I also keep a simple Excel template with the current year's tax brackets and standard deduction amounts. Takes a bit of setup but once you have it, you can run quick calculations anytime without dealing with websites at all.

For anyone using H&R Block software instead of TurboTax, the RSU adjustment is under "Investment Income" → "Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Other" → then when entering the 1099-B, there's an option that says "I need to adjust my cost basis." Select that and enter your W-2 amount. Made this mistake my first year with RSUs and had to pay an extra $1,200. Never again!

This is exactly why RSU taxation confuses so many people! You're absolutely right that it feels like double taxation, but you're not actually being taxed twice - it's just a reporting mismatch. Here's the key point everyone's touched on: your cost basis for tax purposes is the $5,200 that was already included on your W-2 as income, not the $0 shown on the 1099-B. When you adjust this in your tax software, you should see your refund go back to the expected amount. One thing I'd add - make sure you're looking at the right tax year. Since you mention 2023 RSUs, ensure the W-2 income and 1099-B sale are both from the same tax year. Sometimes there can be timing differences if shares vest near year-end but sell in January. Also, keep your vesting documentation! Your employer should have provided details showing the exact vesting date and fair market value. This becomes your cost basis and proves the adjustment is legitimate if the IRS ever questions it. The adjustment is standard practice and the IRS expects it for RSU sales. Don't stress about it looking suspicious - this is one of the most common stock compensation tax adjustments.

As a mom who's been down this exact rabbit hole of thinking, I totally get the appeal! I was doing the same mental math - all those hours driving, all that gas money, surely there's a way to make it work for taxes, right? But after reading through all these responses (especially from the tax professionals), I realize I was basically trying to create a fake business around something I'd be doing anyway as a parent. The IRS isn't stupid - they can spot the difference between a real transportation service and a mom trying to deduct her regular parenting duties. What really opened my eyes was learning about the self-employment tax. Even if this scheme somehow worked, I'd be paying an extra 15.3% on any "business income," which completely defeats the purpose of trying to save on taxes in the first place! I think I'm going to focus on the legitimate options mentioned here - tracking volunteer mileage for my kids' school activities and maybe looking into those real kid rideshare services if I want to earn some actual income from driving. At least then I'd have genuine business activities instead of trying to turn my mom taxi duties into a questionable tax write-off. Thanks everyone for the reality check - sometimes you need to hear from people who actually know tax law to realize when an idea is too good to be true!

I appreciate everyone sharing their expertise on this topic! As someone who's always looking for ways to maximize legitimate tax benefits, this discussion has been incredibly educational. What strikes me most is how this illustrates a common trap many of us fall into - seeing all the time and money we spend on necessary activities (like driving kids around) and thinking there must be a way to make it tax-deductible. But the IRS draws a clear line between personal activities and legitimate business expenses for good reason. The alternatives mentioned here are much smarter approaches: tracking volunteer mileage for school and sports activities, or actually starting a legitimate transportation service through established platforms. These options work within the tax system instead of trying to game it. I'm curious though - for those who have used services like HopSkipDrive, what are the real earnings like after accounting for gas, wear and tear, and that self-employment tax? Is it actually worthwhile financially, or is it more about convenience for other parents than generating significant income? Understanding the true economics would help anyone considering this path make an informed decision rather than just chasing theoretical tax benefits that might not materialize in practice.

I'd definitely recommend starting this process soon! I work at a local tax prep office and we see this situation all the time. Your friend should gather their Social Security card, photo ID, and any income documents from 2021 (even if minimal). One thing people often overlook - if they received any unemployment benefits in 2021, there were special tax breaks for that too, so they might be eligible for additional refunds beyond just the stimulus payments. The IRS tends to be more thorough with first-time filers, so having complete documentation upfront will save headaches later. Also, make sure they keep copies of everything they mail since paper returns can sometimes get lost in processing. Good luck helping them navigate this - it's really great that you're stepping up to help someone get the money they're entitled to!

I helped my brother through this exact situation last year! He was a first-time filer trying to claim missed stimulus payments from 2021. A few key things that made the process smoother: First, have your friend check if they were claimed as a dependent on anyone else's return in 2021 - this affects their eligibility. Second, the Recovery Rebate Credit goes on line 30 of the 2021 Form 1040, and they'll need to use the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet to calculate the exact amount. Third, even though they never filed before, they should still try to get a copy of their 2021 Social Security Statement from ssa.gov to verify their earnings - the IRS will cross-reference this. My brother ended up getting $2,800 in missed payments, but it took about 20 weeks to process since it was a paper return. The wait was worth it though! Make sure they send it certified mail so there's a tracking record.