This! My spouse and I actually calculated both ways - the tax savings from filing jointly versus the student loan payment increase from combining our incomes. We saved about $1,400 in taxes by filing jointly, but her income-based repayment would have gone up by $230/month, so filing separately made more sense for us.

I hadn't even thought about student loans! My husband is on an income-based repayment plan for his federal loans. I'll definitely need to calculate if the tax benefits of filing jointly would be offset by higher student loan payments. Thank you for bringing this up!

That's fascinating! I had no idea the prohibition had such a political origin. Has there ever been any serious attempt to repeal the Johnson Amendment? I've heard some politicians talk about it, but nothing seems to happen.

There have been several attempts to repeal or modify the Johnson Amendment, most notably during the Trump administration. In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that he claimed would reduce enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against religious organizations, but legal experts generally agreed it didn't actually change anything substantive in how the law is applied. There were also provisions in early drafts of the 2017 tax bill that would have repealed the Johnson Amendment for churches, but these were ultimately removed from the final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act due to procedural rules in the Senate. The debate continues, with strong advocates on both sides - those who see it as a free speech issue and those who believe tax-exempt status shouldn't subsidize political speech.

Not all churches are mega-churches with huge incomes. Most religious organizations are small community churches, synagogues, mosques and temples that barely keep the lights on. Taxing them would literally shut many of them down and harm the community services they provide like food banks, homeless shelters, and counseling services.

This is really good advice, thanks! The letter does mention a 90-day period to respond. Do you know if we need to use any specific forms when sending the documentation? Or just include a letter explaining everything with copies of the supporting documents?

For a notice of deficiency, he should definitely include a written letter that references the notice number (should be in the top right corner of what they sent). No specific form is needed, but make sure he includes his social, the tax year in question, and contact info. I'd organize everything super clearly - like "Regarding item 1 on the notice, here are documents A, B, C that prove..." Makes it easier for whoever reviews it. And yeah, certified mail with return receipt is absolutely essential. My cousin learned that lesson the hard way.

They actually do have increased enforcement funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, so they've been ramping up enforcement activities. They're supposed to be targeting high-income taxpayers, but seems like everyone's getting caught in the net.

Did you negotiate with the insurance company or just accept their first offer? I've heard you can push back if their valuation seems low.

I absolutely negotiated! Their first offer was almost $3,200 below what comparable vehicles were selling for in my area. I collected screenshots of similar listings, documentation of recent maintenance and upgrades I'd done, and sent it all to the adjuster. After about a week of back-and-forth, they increased their offer by about $2,700. Still not perfect, but much closer to reality. Definitely don't just accept the first number they throw at you - most insurance companies expect some negotiation.

This is so important! My friend didn't have gap insurance when her car was stolen, and she ended up still owing like $4k on a car she no longer had. Complete nightmare situation.

Thanks for the info about the 30-day deadline! I think I'm still within that window. How exactly do I get the tax account transcript you mentioned? Does it show specifically which documents they accepted vs. rejected?

You can get your tax account transcript by going to IRS.gov and searching for "Get Transcript Online." You'll need to create an account if you don't already have one. The verification process is pretty strict - you'll need a credit card, mortgage, or loan account number plus a mobile phone in your name. The transcript won't explicitly state which documents were accepted or rejected, but it will show the specific adjustments they made to your return. Look for codes like "420" (examination/audit), "300" (additional tax assessed), or "290" (additional tax assessed after examination). The amounts next to these codes show exactly what changed. The transcript is super helpful because it gives you the exact dollar amounts they adjusted, which helps you understand which credits or deductions were disallowed. That way, you know exactly what documentation to focus on for your reconsideration.

This is important advice! I learned this lesson the hard way too. Also make copies of EVERYTHING you send them, including your cover letter requesting reconsideration. They lose stuff all the time and you need proof of what you submitted and when.