What's your go-to research source? I've been using the IRS website but sometimes it's hard to navigate.

My primary research source is the actual Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations when I need definitive answers. They're comprehensive but can be dense reading. For day-to-day questions, I use a combination of CCH IntelliConnect and Bloomberg Tax. They're subscription services but worth every penny for the time they save and the confidence they provide. They include practical explanations, examples, and citations to relevant code sections and cases. I also frequently check IRS publications for more straightforward explanations, though they don't cover every nuance.

Omg yes! Just had someone come to me with a MESS of a return from last year. Previous preparer had claimed random deductions with zero documentation and now they're being audited. Be confident in your research, not your memory!

That's a really good point! I hadn't thought about the opportunity cost of just letting that money sit with the IRS. Any specific recommendations for where to park those funds for ~6-8 months that would be relatively safe but still give decent returns?

Treasury bills are probably your best bet right now for short-term parking of funds. 6-month T-bills are yielding around 5.3% as of last week, which is better than most high-yield savings accounts. They're backed by the federal government so essentially risk-free. Alternatively, several online banks have special CD promos right now in the 5.0-5.5% range for 6-9 month terms. Just make sure there's no early withdrawal penalty or that it's minimal in case you need the funds before your tax filing.

Be careful with changing to zero withholding - you need to make sure you meet one of the safe harbor provisions first. Either 90% of current year tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if you're a higher earner). If you've already paid enough through Q1+Q2 estimated payments plus year-to-date withholding to cover that, then yes, you can go to zero for the rest of the year.

Question: if I paid state taxes when I filed last year (April 2024 for tax year 2023), which tax year does that count for on Schedule A - 2023 or 2024?

It counts for the year you actually paid it. So if you paid additional state taxes in April 2024 when you filed your 2023 return, that payment would be a deduction on your 2024 Schedule A (the return you'll file in 2025). This is a common misunderstanding! The rule is that you deduct state and local income taxes in the year you actually pay them, not the tax year they apply to. So keep those payment records handy for this year's taxes.

You usually have two options for foreign taxes - you can take a credit using Form 1116 OR deduct them on Schedule A. The credit is generally better because it reduces your tax directly rather than just reducing taxable income. But it depends on your specific situation.

That's a great idea! I think they used ADP actually. Do you know if there's a general customer service number for employees to contact them or would I need a specific account number?

For ADP, try calling their W2 services line at 800-247-3237. You'll need to verify your identity with your SSN and some other basic info. If you had an online account with them previously, you might still be able to log in at https://my.adp.com even if you no longer work there. If you don't know what service they used, try asking former coworkers if you're still in touch with any. Even if you don't have an account number, most payroll providers can look you up by SSN and previous employer.

Some lenders do look at gross income before certain deductions. Self-employed people especially get evaluated differently. My mortgage broker wanted to see my gross contractual income rather than just what showed up on my tax return after all the deductions.

That makes sense for self-employed people, but OP mentioned a W2 which typically means they're an employee. For W2 employees, lenders usually just want Line 1 of the 1040 or Box 1 of the W2. Pre-tax retirement contributions don't usually get added back in unless the loan is borderline and they need to squeeze out a bit more qualifying income. If they're trying to qualify for a specific loan amount, they might want to know the maximum income they can claim. But generally, mortgage underwriters follow pretty standardized guidelines for W2 employees.

H&R Block's support isn't great in my experience. I called them last year with a similar issue and waited 1.5 hours just to have them tell me to "try again tomorrow" which didn't solve anything. They just read from scripts and don't have access to the actual state rejection reasons.

That's surprising to hear. I've had decent experiences with their phone support, but I guess it depends on who you get and maybe the time of year. You're right that early April is probably their busiest time so support quality might drop. An alternative is to try their live chat support instead of phone. The wait times are usually much shorter and you can get a transcript of the conversation which is helpful when following their instructions.

I second FreeTaxUSA! Had the exact same issue with H&R Block last year. Their state returns have weird formatting issues sometimes. FreeTaxUSA is super cheap for state returns too (like $15 I think?).