That TurboTax error code is so annoying!! I had it last year. Try starting a new return from scratch and see if that helps - sometimes data gets corrupted. Also check if any of your names have special characters or if your address format might be wrong. One other thing to try is clearing your browser cache if you're using the online version.

Don't forget that you can also make estimated tax payments throughout the year if adjusting W-4 withholding isn't enough. My husband and I both have variable income and we make quarterly payments to avoid a big bill in April. The IRS has a form 1040-ES for this. It gives us peace of mind knowing we're not falling behind!

Have you been checking your mail carefully? My neighbor's tax refund check came in one of those super plain envelopes that looked like junk mail. She almost threw it away! The envelope just says "Department of Treasury" in the corner without any obvious markings that scream "THIS IS YOUR TAX REFUND!" Also, depending on the amount, they sometimes send those debit cards instead of actual checks now. Those definitely look like spam/junk mail.

Don't panic yet! The IRS is running behind schedule this year. My brother filed on April 10th (paper return) and just got his check yesterday. Paper processing is super slow compared to e-filing. Did you verify your mailing address was correct on your return? A lot of people forget to update their address when they move during the year.

Another option nobody's mentioned - most tax software has an "audit defense" or review service you can add on. I used TurboTax too and added their MAX service which includes a review by a tax pro. It was like $60 extra when I filed, but they'll also help if you get audited. If you didn't add it when filing, check if they offer it as a standalone service now.

Just wanna throw out there - be careful about amending returns just to claim small additional deductions. If the difference is only gonna save you like $100 in taxes, it might not be worth the hassle or potential audit risk. I amended my 2021 return for about $850 in missed business deductions and my refund took FOREVER to process. Plus I've heard amended returns get extra scrutiny. Just make sure whatever you find is worth the extra paperwork.

Something to note - the insurance payout itself ($72k in your case) is generally not taxable since it's considered a reimbursement for damage, not income. You only need to worry about the tax credits for the additional energy efficient upgrades you paid for out of pocket. One exception: if the insurance payout exceeds the adjusted basis of your property, that excess could potentially be taxable. But that's rare for roof replacements.

Has anyone tried claiming this credit without proper documentation from the contractor? I replaced my roof last year with energy efficient materials but my contractor went out of business and I can't get the manufacturer certification now.

A tip from someone who's been in this situation for years: if you don't want to mess with complicated W4 calculations, you can also just put an additional flat dollar amount to withhold on line 4(c) of your main job's W4. A rough estimate: take your expected annual income from the second job, find your marginal tax bracket percentage, and divide that amount by the number of pay periods left at your main job. For example, if your side gig pays $6,000/year and you're in the 22% bracket, that's $1,320 in potential additional tax. If you get paid bi-weekly at your main job and have 10 pay periods left in the year, add $132 to line 4(c). This isn't perfect but it's a simple approach that has kept me from owing big amounts at tax time.

don't forget about social security and medicare taxes!! those are flat percentages (6.2% for social security up to the wage base and 1.45% for medicare on all earned income). so even if your income tax withholding is correct, having two jobs might mess with these calculations if you're near the social security wage base limit also some states have their own withholding forms separate from the federal W4. i learned this the hard way and ended up owing $800 to my state even though my federal was fine!!!