That's a really good point I hadn't considered. How would I check if my software is using the most current tax rules? Is there some version number or update date I should look for?

Most tax software will show the tax year version somewhere in the settings or about section. Look for something that says "Tax Year 2025" or "Updated for 2025 tax law changes." Some will even show the specific update date. If your software offers a way to view the actual IRS instructions they're using for calculations, that can help too. The most reliable way though is to check the preview of Schedule 8812 from both software programs - they should both reference the same tax year and use identical calculation methods for the Child Tax Credit.

The IRS calculator is decent but it doesn't handle some of the more complex situations. I'd also suggest running the numbers quickly through a third software like Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) which is completely free regardless of income. Having a third calculation might help show which of your current ones is more likely correct.

Interesting point about international competition. Do other major economies like the EU, Japan, etc. also use flat corporate rates? Or are there any examples of major economies successfully using graduated corporate rates?

Yes, almost all major economies use flat corporate rates. The UK, Germany, France, Japan, Canada - all flat rates with various deductions and credits. China has a flat 25% standard rate with reductions for certain industries or regions. There are very few examples of graduated corporate rates in major economies. South Korea has a modestly graduated system with three brackets (10%, 20%, 22%), and the US actually had a slightly graduated system before the 2017 tax reform with brackets of 15%, 25%, 34%, and 35%, though with income phaseouts that effectively flattened it for many corporations. The trend globally has been toward flatter systems with targeted incentives rather than graduated rates.

Your facts about Amazon aren't quite accurate. While they did pay little federal income tax in some years (2017-2018 notably), that was because they used legal deductions for R&D, stock-based compensation, and carried-forward losses from earlier years when they weren't profitable. They've since paid billions in taxes. The tax code incentivizes certain behaviors like R&D and investment. That's by design, not cheating. And corporate profits that go to executive compensation get taxed as personal income at graduated rates. Stock buybacks now have an excise tax specifically to address that issue.

YES! I had a similar experience with withdrawals! They limited me to $3k per day without warning when I needed to pay for emergency home repairs. When I called customer service, they said I should have read the "digital disclosures" that apparently I agreed to. Never again.

This is really concerning to hear. I've only had the account for about 6 months and haven't tried to make any large transactions until this tax payment. Now I'm definitely reconsidering keeping my money there. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Does Form 4868 help if you've already calculated your taxes and know the exact amount? I thought that was just for extending the filing deadline, not the payment deadline?

You're exactly right - Form 4868 only extends the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. You still need to pay your estimated tax by the original due date to avoid penalties and interest. However, filing the extension can still be useful in this situation because it gives you more time to sort out the payment issues and properly file your return without the additional pressure of the filing deadline. If there are any complications with the split payments or processing time, at least you won't have the added stress of rushing to complete your return at the same time.

This is good to know! We have a small investment account for our son that generates about $200 in dividends annually. Does that count toward the threshold?

Thanks! Is there any downside to just checking that box instead of doing the more complicated worksheet? I'm worried about overwithholding now and giving the government an interest-free loan.

The main downside is that it might withhold slightly more than necessary, which means you'd get a refund instead of owing. For most people, that's preferable to owing a large amount, but you're right that it's essentially giving the government an interest-free loan. If you want to get it more precise, the IRS Withholding Estimator is much easier than the worksheet and gives more accurate results. You just enter your and your spouse's income, current withholding, and expected deductions. It then gives you specific numbers to put on your W-4. I recommend redoing this calculation mid-year to make any needed adjustments.

This is actually not great advice. An extension doesn't help when you already know you owe money. The extension is just for filing paperwork, not for paying. If anything, filing ASAP and setting up a payment plan is better because then you have official arrangements with the IRS.