My daughter is only 16 and definitely hasn't filed her own taxes. She had a small summer job last year but didn't make enough to file. Could that summer job have triggered something with the IRS system?

The summer job itself wouldn't automatically trigger an IP PIN, but if her employer filed a W-2 for her, there's information about her in the IRS systems. If there was any suspicious activity or a data breach involving businesses that had her SSN, the IRS might have proactively assigned her an IP PIN for protection. Another possibility - sometimes schools, healthcare providers, or other organizations that have your child's SSN experience data breaches that you might not even know about, and the IRS assigns IP PINs as a protective measure. Your best bet is definitely to contact the IRS directly about the specific PIN for your dependent.

That online tool only works for YOUR OWN IP PIN. It won't show dependent PINs - trust me, I tried this route and wasted days thinking I could get my kid's PIN online. You absolutely MUST call the IRS for dependent IP PINs.

Thank you for this advice! Did you find it difficult to verify if a CPA truly had expertise with multi-state returns? I'm worried about just taking someone's word for it and then finding out they weren't as experienced as they claimed.

That's a valid concern! I'd recommend asking potential CPAs specific questions about your situation before hiring them. Ask how many multi-state returns they handle annually and specifically about rental property scenarios similar to yours. An experienced CPA should be able to immediately discuss specific forms (Schedule E, part-year resident forms) and potential pitfalls without hesitation. Also, don't just go with someone who says "yes, I can do that" - ask them to explain HOW they would approach your specific situation. A truly experienced multi-state CPA will mention things like sourcing rules, reciprocity between states, and credit for taxes paid to another state. If they can't speak to these specifics, that's a red flag.

Did your CPA handle everything remotely or did you have to go into their office? I'm in a similar situation but travel a lot for work so in-person meetings are tough.

For Lifetime Learning Credit, the educational institution needs to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Many coding bootcamps don't qualify because they aren't accredited in the right way. Check if your bootcamp has a Federal School Code and if they're on the Federal Student Aid Code List. If they gave you a legitimate 1098-T that's a good sign, but double-check their eligibility on the IRS website just to be sure!

Thanks for that info. I just checked and my bootcamp does have a Federal School Code. I was confused because it's not a traditional 4-year college, but apparently they do qualify for federal aid programs. Guess I'll go ahead and claim it!

This Box 1 vs Box 2 thing tripped me up too! My school put stuff in both boxes and I had no idea which one to use. Does anyone know the difference?

Box 1 shows amounts the school actually received during the calendar year, while Box 2 shows amounts that were billed for qualified expenses during the year. The difference matters because of timing - sometimes you might pay in December for classes starting in January, or pay in January for classes that started the previous December. You generally want to claim the credit in the year you actually paid the expenses, which would align with Box 1. However, you should look at both boxes and understand what educational expenses they represent. If there's a big difference between them, you might need to figure out exactly when you made payments and what academic periods they were for.

Thank you so much for this confirmation. I'm definitely going to find a new tax preparer. Quick follow-up - if I claim the standard mileage deduction, can I still deduct the cost of the new tires separately or is that considered included in the mileage rate?

If you use the standard mileage rate (which is typically the better option with high mileage like yours), that rate is designed to cover all costs of operating your vehicle including depreciation, maintenance, repairs, tires, gas, oil, and insurance. So no, you cannot separately deduct the cost of tires in addition to taking the standard mileage rate. However, you can still deduct other legitimate business expenses that aren't related to your vehicle operation, such as business supplies, a portion of your cell phone bill if used for business, business insurance, or any other ordinary and necessary business expenses.

I used TurboTax Self-Employed for a similar situation last year. When you get to the 1099-MISC section, just enter the information exactly as it appears on your form. Then when it asks about your business, create a Schedule C for your personal assistant business, and TurboTax will guide you through entering all your expenses including mileage. It worked perfectly - just make sure you choose the Self-Employed version not the cheaper ones.

Thanks for this advice! I never thought about filing an identity theft form, but that makes sense if my info is being used on an account that isn't mine. Have you dealt with incorrect income reporting yourself? How long did it take to get resolved?

Yes, I had a similar issue when a company I briefly consulted for reported all their platform income under my SSN by mistake. It took about 5 months to fully resolve, which was frustrating but eventually worked out. The Identity Theft Affidavit is helpful because it flags your account in the IRS system and can help prevent collection activities while you're resolving the dispute. Just be clear in your explanation that this is a case of incorrect income reporting by a business, not someone stealing your identity for credit fraud.

This is exactly what happened to me in 2023! Request those transcripts ASAP because they'll show the exact source of the reporting. In my case, it was a former business partner who kept using my SSN for company accounts after I left. Such a nightmare to fix.