Do you know if this works if you used the free version? I always use different free services each year depending on which one will let me file for free, so I'm not sure if they save returns for the free users.

Yes, it generally works even with the free versions! I've used the free version of TurboTax for years, and they still save all my returns. The only difference is how long they store them - some free versions might only keep them for 3 years while paid versions might store them for 7+ years. Even if you used different services, it's worth checking all of them. Just make sure you're logging in with the same email you used when you filed in 2020. Sometimes people forget which email they used for tax services.

This worked for me! My return kept getting rejected and I was panicking. Tried the $0 AGI trick and it went through immediately. Thanks for the tip!

What if one person gets bonuses that vary year to year? That's what always throws off our withholding calculations.

For variable bonuses, I recommend using the IRS Withholding Estimator tool and updating your W-4 after any significant bonus payment. Most companies withhold bonuses at a flat 22%, which might not be enough depending on your tax bracket. Another approach is to estimate your total bonus amount for the year (maybe based on last year plus a little extra) and add additional withholding in Step 4(c) to cover the difference. Then if you get more than expected, you can submit a new W-4 to adjust. It's a bit of work, but it's better than getting hit with a big tax bill and possibly underpayment penalties.

This is the clearest explanation I've seen! One question - if my spouse doesn't work currently but might start later this year, should I still check that box in Step 2c now? Or wait until they actually get a job?

That's a really good point I hadn't considered fully. My daughter did have an internship last summer and works part-time during school, probably earning around $14,000 for the year. Would that be enough to utilize most of the credit?

With $14,000 in earnings, your daughter should have enough tax liability to utilize a good portion of the non-refundable part of the AOTC. After the standard deduction (around $13,850 for 2023), she'll have a small taxable income. Even with minimal tax liability, she'll still get the $1,000 refundable portion, plus whatever portion of the $1,500 non-refundable part her tax liability allows. So while she might not get the full $2,500, she'll likely get significantly more than $1,000. Definitely worth calculating both scenarios to see which benefits your family more overall.

Yes, scholarships definitely impact the AOTC calculation! Tax-free scholarships that are used for qualified education expenses (tuition and required fees) reduce the amount of expenses eligible for the credit. However, if the scholarship is used for room and board (by including it as taxable income), then it doesn't reduce qualified expenses.

That's a great suggestion! Is there anything specific I would need to bring to the appointment besides my last paystub? Would I need to bring a partially completed 4852 form too?

Definitely bring your ID, Social Security card, last paystub, and any communication you've had with your employer about the missing W-2. It's helpful to bring a partially completed Form 4852 too, but not required - they can help you fill it out from scratch if needed. Also bring your previous year's tax return if you have it, as this helps them verify your identity. And if you've already started working on this year's return, bring that draft too. The more documentation you have, the smoother the appointment will go!

I used Form 4852 last year and had zero issues. Got my refund in about 3 weeks. Just make sure your numbers are as accurate as possible from your last paystub. The main thing IRS looks for is if your reported income matches what your employer eventually reports to them.

You can request a tax transcript though right? Even if they haven't fully processed it?

Unfortunately, the transcript isn't available until they've processed your return, which is exactly the problem. You can get transcripts from previous years, but not for a return that's still sitting in their paper backlog. My mortgage lender ended up needing additional documentation and it delayed my closing by almost a month. Just wanted to mention it in case you might need proof of filing for anything important this year.