I think you might be onto something about the worksheets. I went back through my TurboTax account and noticed that there's an "Explain This" button next to the final refund calculation that I hadn't clicked before. When I did, it showed some worksheet calculations for retirement savings contributions that might be affecting things. How do I know if these calculations are correct though?

The "Explain This" feature in TurboTax is definitely helpful for understanding the calculations. To verify if the retirement contribution calculations are correct, compare the numbers with your actual contribution statements from your retirement account provider. For retirement savings contributions specifically, check if TurboTax correctly applied the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit (Saver's Credit) if you're eligible. This credit can be up to $1,000 ($2,000 if married filing jointly) depending on your income level and contribution amount. Also verify that any deductible IRA contributions were properly accounted for on Schedule 1. Sometimes TurboTax might miscalculate if you have both traditional and Roth contributions.

Yes! This happened to me this year! TurboTax didn't automatically apply the full Child Tax Credit amount for my qualifying children because I had answered a question about custody arrangements incorrectly. Had to go back and fix it manually and my refund jumped by $1,400.

That's a great point - I didn't even think about the SSN paperwork. Do you know roughly how long it takes to arrive after you apply at the hospital? I want to make sure we have it in time for filing our 2025 taxes.

Generally it takes about 2-3 weeks for the Social Security card to arrive in the mail after you submit the application at the hospital. However, I've seen it take up to 6 weeks during busy periods. Don't worry too much about the timing for your taxes though. Even if you don't have the physical card by the time you're ready to file your 2025 taxes (in 2026), as long as you've applied for it, you can still file. If you're e-filing and don't have the SSN yet, you'll need to wait until you receive it. If you're really in a rush, you can file a paper return and write "Applied For" in the space for the child's SSN, but this will delay your refund while the IRS verifies.

Totally agree on the HSA! We saved about $1,800 in taxes last year using our HSA for baby expenses. Pro tip: you can also use HSA funds for breast pumps and supplies, which most people don't realize.

Thanks so much for the professional perspective! Would you recommend keeping a separate subscription just for business use to make it cleaner for deductions? Or is documenting usage percentage of a single account sufficient?

Having a separate subscription solely for business use would definitely be cleaner and easier to defend, but it's not strictly necessary. If you maintain good documentation of your business usage percentage on a single account, that's acceptable too. If you go with a single account, I recommend keeping a simple log or spreadsheet tracking which songs/playlists were used for specific business projects. Screenshots of business playlists, notes about inspiration sources for specific artworks, and any evidence of your business-related playlist sharing would all strengthen your position. The key is being able to demonstrate the business purpose and distinguish it from personal entertainment.

What percentage did you deduct? Did you use it exclusively for business or split it somehow?

Do you have to file separate identity theft reports with both the IRS and your state's tax agency? Or does reporting to the IRS automatically notify the state?

You definitely need to file separate reports. The IRS doesn't automatically notify your state tax agency. Each state has their own process for handling tax identity theft, and you need to contact them directly. Most states have a form similar to the IRS Form 14039, but it'll be specific to your state. Check your state's department of revenue website for their identity theft reporting procedures. In my case, I had to submit additional documentation to my state that wasn't required for the federal process.

Can anyone get an IP PIN or do you have to be a victim of identity theft first? I've never had an issue but want to prevent one!

Anyone can get an IP PIN now! The IRS used to only offer them to identity theft victims, but they've expanded the program. You can sign up through the IRS website using their "Get an IP PIN" tool. You'll need to verify your identity through their secure access process. The PIN is a six-digit number that changes every year. The IRS sends you a new one each December/January for the upcoming tax season. It provides an extra layer of security because even if someone has your SSN, they still can't file electronically without that PIN. Definitely worth doing as a preventative measure!

Isn't that technically incorrect though? What if none of the foreign tax was actually paid to the UK? I'm worried about getting in trouble for reporting something inaccurate on my tax return.

You're right to be concerned about accuracy, but in this specific situation with investment funds reporting "Various," the IRS understands the limitations. The foreign tax credit form (Form 1116) is designed to track taxes by country, but the reality is that investment companies often can't provide that level of detail. If you're really concerned, you could choose "Other Countries" or "Various" if your software has that option. Some people also choose to file by mail with a paper return and write "Various" directly on Form 1116, though I personally think that's overkill for most situations.

Yes, I did this last year! If you call Vanguard investor services and specifically ask for the "foreign tax country allocation breakdown," they can sometimes provide percentages by country for their major international funds. Not all reps know about this though - I had to ask for a supervisor.