Is there a way to check if someone is a legitimate tax preparer before hiring them? Like a database or something?

Yes, you can verify if someone has a valid PTIN through the IRS. While the IRS doesn't have a public database you can search, you can ask to see their PTIN certificate or card before working with them. Legitimate preparers will have this readily available. You can also check if they're a CPA (through your state's board of accountancy), an Enrolled Agent (through the IRS), or a member of professional organizations like the National Association of Tax Professionals or the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

OMG that's terrifying! Did you ever get it resolved? Did you have to pay penalties?

We don't have any side businesses, but we do have some investments that probably didn't have withholding. And we're not homeowners yet so no mortgage interest. Do retirement contributions through our employers' 401k plans automatically reduce our taxable income or do we need to do something special to claim that?

401k contributions through your employers should automatically reduce your taxable income - they're taken out pre-tax so they already lowered the W-2 income reported to the IRS. You don't need to do anything special to claim those. If you have investment income without withholding, that's likely contributing to your tax bill. For the future, you might want to make quarterly estimated tax payments on that income, or increase your W-4 withholding to cover it. The key is making sure you're paying enough tax throughout the year one way or another.

I use TurboTax Premium and it does have a W-4 calculator that can help with this. After you complete your return, it offers to help you update your W-4 for next year based on your results. It's pretty helpful but honestly I still found it confusing when dealing with two incomes.

Do you need specific forms from your school to claim the Lifetime Learning Credit? My university gave me a 1098-T but it doesn't show all the details I think I need.

Yes, you should receive Form 1098-T from your US university which shows your qualified education expenses. Sometimes it doesn't include everything that's actually eligible though! For example, my form didn't include my required course materials, but those are qualified expenses I could add. If you're missing information on your 1098-T, contact your university's bursar or financial office - they can usually provide an itemized statement of your expenses. Keep receipts for things like textbooks and required supplies too, since those count but might not appear on your 1098-T.

I used TaxAct last year and it asked clear questions about my education history that helped determine I was only eligible for Lifetime Learning Credit. It specifically asked if I had completed 4 years of post-secondary education before, not just if I had claimed AOTC before.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll check out TaxAct. The software I was using just kept asking if I'd claimed AOTC for 4 years already, not whether I'd completed 4 years of college, which was confusing since I never claimed it before (wasn't in US during undergrad).

Do you know if you can still access those systems if you no longer work for the company? I left my job last August but never set up the payroll portal while I worked there.

You can usually still access them even if you no longer work there. The accounts stay active for tax purposes. If you never set up the portal, you might need to register for the first time - you'll typically need your SSN, DOB, and sometimes a company code (you can call the payroll company's support line to get this). If it's ADP specifically, go to their website and look for "First Time User" registration. Similar process with other payroll services. They'll verify your identity and then you should be able to access all your tax documents!

I tried that with H&R Block's software but it only worked for my current employer. Couldn't pull any data from my previous jobs. Might depend on which payroll system the company uses.

Does this work if my employer has me working from home 3 days a week? Or is it only for self-employed people?

Unfortunately, it's currently only available if you're self-employed or run your own business. W-2 employees working from home (even full-time) can't take the home office deduction anymore after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Before 2018, W-2 employees could deduct unreimbursed business expenses (including home office costs) as miscellaneous itemized deductions, but that provision was suspended until 2025. If you're working remotely as a W-2 employee, your best option is to ask your employer about expense reimbursement programs instead of looking for tax deductions.

I actually think it depends on where you live. In high-tax, high-cost areas (California, New York, etc.), the mortgage interest and property taxes can be substantial enough to make itemizing worthwhile. In my case (Bay Area), my property taxes alone are over $18k, so combined with mortgage interest and charitable giving, itemizing saves me several thousand dollars compared to the standard deduction.