I'm a payroll administrator, and I see this confusion all the time with employees. The way Box 12c works is that it shows the TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS to qualified plans, not just what the employer contributed. Your contributions were already taken out pre-tax, meaning they've already reduced your taxable wages in Box 1. If you were to enter your contributions separately when filing taxes, you'd essentially be double-dipping on the tax benefit. That's why your tax due dropped dramatically when you did that - but it would be incorrect and could potentially trigger an audit.

Has anyone noticed that the way this is reported seems designed to confuse people? I almost made this same mistake last year. I think the form should clearly indicate "employee contributions" and "employer contributions" separately instead of lumping them together. Would save so many people headaches!

I'm a tax preparer (not a CPA) and see this all the time with gig workers. Here's a simplified explanation: The Earned Income Credit has a "bell curve" - as your income increases, the credit increases until it hits a peak, then starts decreasing. If your income is around $15,000-$20,000 (depends on filing status), adding business deductions could push you DOWN the curve, meaning less credit. Example: Say you made $18,000 in delivery income, and have $10,000 in mileage deductions. Your actual business income becomes $8,000. If the peak EIC is at $15,000 for your situation, you're now getting less credit than if you had $15,000 of income. It's completely legitimate to claim all your business miles - you SHOULD claim them. But this is why your refund might go down when you add them.

Is anyone else having issues with the mileage tracker on the FreeTaxUSA self-employment section? It keeps resetting my numbers.

Honestly with all those different forms and income sources, you should definitely hire someone this first time. I tried doing mine myself last year with multiple 1099s and crypto and ended up missing a bunch of deductions. Paid an accountant this year who found like $2,800 more in refunds than I would have gotten doing it myself. Ask friends for recommendations for accountants who work with younger people/first time filers. Many offer student discounts. And the money you spend will likely be saved in either reduced tax liability or avoiding penalties for mistakes.

If your income isn't crazy high, check if there's a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program near you. They do free tax prep for people making under $60k. I used them when I was in college and they handled my W-2s, 1098-T, and even some basic investment stuff. Not sure about crypto though.

Another option nobody's mentioned yet - if you used an IP PIN last year, check your old tax return! Your previous year's tax software might have saved a copy of the form with your IP PIN on it. I lost mine last year and nearly panicked until I realized I had a saved PDF of my entire return from the previous year which included the IP PIN letter. Might be worth checking your email for tax receipt confirmations too - sometimes they include that info. If that doesn't work, definitely try the specialized unit number (800-908-4490) that someone mentioned above - they're usually more accessible than the main IRS lines.

Has anyone had success getting their refund without the IP PIN? I'm wondering if I can just file without it and explain the situation on the return somehow? I'm worried my stimulus money will go to someone else if I don't file soon.

Based on my experience settling my cousin's estate, you absolutely need a tax professional who specializes in estates with tax problems. I'd recommend looking for an Enrolled Agent rather than a CPA - they often charge less but have specific expertise in dealing with the IRS. You should find someone in the deceased's state since they'll be familiar with both the state tax laws and potentially have relationships with the local IRS office. Most work can be done remotely, but having someone who understands the local requirements is invaluable. One thing nobody mentioned - if the estate doesn't have enough liquid assets to pay the tax debt, you might qualify for an Offer in Compromise specifically for estates. An EA can help determine if that's feasible given your situation.

One warning from my own experience - do NOT file any tax returns yet until you get the transcripts and understand what the IRS already has on record! I made this mistake with my father's estate and created a huge mess. Get Form 56 filed first to establish your authority, then get the account transcripts which will show assessments and balances. Also request the wage and income transcripts which show all income reported to the IRS on forms like W-2, 1099, etc. If the IRS has already made assessments (called Substitute for Returns), filing returns without understanding what they've already processed can create duplicate assessments or conflicting information that takes forever to resolve. You mentioned liens - check the exact type of lien. If it's a "Notice of Federal Tax Lien," that's public and affects property sales. If it's just a "Notice of Intent to Lien," you might still have time to request a Collection Due Process hearing.