I'm an accounting student and just wanted to add - make sure whatever educational expenses you're claiming actually qualify for tax benefits! Not all educational purchases are deductible or eligible for credits. For example, if these are for a degree in a field you're already working in, they might be deductible. But if it's for a degree to switch careers, the rules are different. The laptop might be partially deductible depending on how much you use it for education vs. personal use.

Don't panic! You're actually in a much better position than you think. The IRS has specific provisions for situations exactly like yours - it's called "reasonable reconstruction" of records when original documentation is lost through no fault of your own. Your detailed Excel spreadsheet is actually considered "contemporaneous documentation" since you maintained it at the time of purchase, which is exactly what the IRS looks for. Combined with your credit card statements showing the transactions, you have solid supporting evidence. Here's what I'd recommend doing: 1. Print out your credit card/bank statements showing all the educational purchases 2. Make sure your Excel spreadsheet includes dates, vendors, amounts, and educational purpose for each item 3. Search your email for any digital receipts or order confirmations 4. For the laptop and monitors, note down serial numbers if you still have the items The key is being able to show a consistent pattern that ties together your spreadsheet records with your payment records. As long as the expenses are legitimate educational costs and you can demonstrate reasonable documentation, you should be fine claiming them. The IRS understands that receipts sometimes get lost - that's why these alternative documentation rules exist. Just make sure all your claimed expenses actually qualify for educational tax benefits before filing!

If you're getting the Tax Topic 152 message, it generally means your return is in the normal processing queue and you're going to get a refund eventually. It's annoying but not actually indicating a problem.

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed 3/12 and have been seeing that same "processing delayed" message with Tax Topic 152 for about 8 weeks now. It's so frustrating not knowing what's actually happening. From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like this is unfortunately the new normal and we just have to wait it out. Some people are getting their refunds after 10-13 weeks, so hopefully we're getting close. The lack of transparency from the IRS is really the worst part - just give us some idea of what stage we're actually in! I'm going to try accessing my transcript like others suggested, and if I hit the 3 month mark with no movement I'll probably try one of those calling services people mentioned. Hang in there!

The IRS phone system has different options depending on your specific issue. What exactly are you trying to resolve? That will determine which number and which menu options are best for your situation.

For what it's worth, I've had success using the callback feature when available. Instead of staying on hold, the system will call you back when an agent is available. It's not always offered, but when it is, it's a lifesaver! Also, if you're dealing with a notice or letter from the IRS, have the notice number ready - it can help the agent pull up your case faster. I learned this the hard way after getting transferred three times because I didn't have all my paperwork organized beforehand.

Has anyone mentioned head of household status yet? That's what you'd probably be filing as now with kids and an unmarried partner. When comparing tax benefits of marriage, make sure you're comparing married filing jointly against head of household (not single), which already gives you some benefits. The marriage benefit might be smaller than if you were filing as single.

Great question! As someone who went through a similar situation, I can confirm there are definitely tax benefits to getting married when one spouse has no income. One thing I'd add to the excellent points already made - make sure you also consider the timing of when you get married. If you get married by December 31st, you're considered married for the entire tax year for IRS purposes. So if you're planning to tie the knot anyway, doing it before year-end could maximize your 2025 tax savings. Also, with three kids, you'll want to look into how the Child and Dependent Care Credit might change. If your girlfriend ever decides to work part-time or go back to work full-time, being married could affect how much you can claim for childcare expenses. The spousal IRA benefit mentioned earlier is huge too - that's potentially $7,000 more you can save for retirement while getting tax benefits. With 15 years together and three kids, it sounds like you're already a family in every way that matters. The tax benefits could just be the cherry on top of making it official!

Has anyone tried the "two jobs" checkbox in Step 2 of the W4? My husband and I both work and I was thinking that might be easier than trying to calculate everything precisely. Would that work for a situation with commission income too?

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of considering state taxes in your W4 calculations, especially if you live in a high-tax state. The federal W4 estimator is great for federal withholding, but don't forget that commission income can also bump you into higher state tax brackets. In our case (similar situation - dual income with variable bonuses), we found that we needed to increase our state withholding too. Some states have their own withholding calculators, but if yours doesn't, a good rule of thumb is to add your state's top marginal rate as additional withholding on commission income. Also, since you mentioned your commission varies "quite a bit," consider doing a mid-year check-up around July or August. Run the numbers again with your actual year-to-date income and commission, then adjust if needed. This prevents end-of-year surprises and is especially important in years when your commission pattern changes significantly from what you initially estimated.