Is it better to have more or less withheld though? I always heard you should get your withholding as close as possible to what you'll actually owe. But my dad says I should withhold more so I get a big refund. Who's right?

From a purely financial perspective, it's better to have your withholding match your actual tax liability as closely as possible. When you overwithhold, you're essentially giving the government an interest-free loan of your money throughout the year. However, some people prefer getting a refund because it feels like a "bonus" and helps them avoid the risk of owing money at tax time. It really comes down to your financial discipline and preferences. If having more withheld helps you save money you might otherwise spend, there's some psychological benefit to that approach.

This is a really good point! I made this exact mistake my first year working during college. My withholding was way off because I didn't indicate I was a dependent. OP, definitely check with your parents about whether they claim you on their taxes!

Thanks for the heads up about documentation! I've been pretty good about keeping receipts but definitely need a better organization system. Do you use any specific apps for tracking business expenses? And do you separate your business and personal bank accounts?

I use QuickBooks Self-Employed now and it's been a lifesaver. You can connect your accounts and it automatically categorizes most transactions, plus you can snap photos of receipts and attach them to expenses. Absolutely separate your business and personal accounts! This was actually one of the red flags that triggered my audit - I was mixing personal and business expenses in one account. Open a separate checking account for your business transactions, even if it's just a free one. Makes tax time so much easier and looks more legitimate to the IRS.

You're lucky! Texas doesn't have state income tax so you don't have to file state income taxes. But you might need to look into sales tax collection depending on what you're selling on Etsy. Some states require you to collect sales tax from buyers in your state.

That's a great suggestion I hadn't even thought of. I've been so focused on analyzing the retirement options that I forgot I could just try negotiating! Do you have any specific tips on how to approach that conversation? I don't want to come across as just trying to get more money.

Frame the conversation as wanting to join their team but needing to make a financially responsible decision. Be specific about what you like about their practice and the 401k plan, then mention you have another offer with a higher base but that you'd prefer to join them if the compensation gap wasn't so wide. If they can't budge on salary, see if there are other benefits they might be flexible on - maybe productivity bonuses, continuing education allowance, or more vacation time. Sometimes practices have more flexibility with these benefits than with base salary.

This is a good point about early retirement accessibility. But remember that Roth contribution portions (not earnings) can be withdrawn penalty-free anytime, which helps with the early retirement ladder strategy. And 401k funds can be accessed penalty-free before 59½ using Rule 72t SEPP distributions. The tax-advantaged growth over decades usually outweighs the flexibility of taxable accounts, especially at OP's high savings rate.

Would I need to include a corrected Form 8995 if my QBI deduction changed because of the lower AGI from the unemployment exclusion?

Yes, absolutely include the corrected Form 8995. If your QBI deduction amount changed due to the lower AGI from the unemployment exclusion, that's exactly the type of form you need to include with your 1040X. The key principle is to include any form where the numbers are different from what you originally filed. Since the QBI calculation is affected by AGI thresholds, the UCE could definitely impact those calculations.

I filed in April and got my refund last week. I did include a note explaining it was for the 2020 UCE and highlighted the unemployment line on Schedule 1. Maybe that helped speed things up?

1 Does the 5-year compliance thing mean I can't have ANY issues with taxes for 5 years? What if I file on time but can't pay everything that year? Would they bring back all my old debt too??

5 The compliance requirement means you need to file all required returns on time and pay any new tax obligations when they're due. If you can't pay a new tax bill in full, you need to work with the IRS immediately on a payment arrangement. If you violate the terms, then yes, the IRS can potentially revoke your OIC and reinstate the original tax debt, minus whatever payments you've made. They don't do this for minor issues, but it's a serious consideration - you're essentially promising to be a model taxpayer for those 5 years.

19 I used one of those companies and it was a complete waste of money. Paid them $4,000 up front and all they did was put me on an installment plan I could have set up myself for free on the IRS website. They promised they'd get me an OIC but after taking my money they said I "didn't qualify" - something they should have known from the beginning.

12 Wow thanks for the warning! Sounds like these companies are just preying on desperate people. I'll steer clear and either try to handle it myself or find a reputable local tax professional instead.