Been dealing with the same thing! What worked for me was switching to incognito/private browsing mode. Sometimes the regular browser gets stuck with cached data that conflicts with their system updates. Also try different times throughout the day - seems like mid-afternoon is the worst for traffic.

Had the exact same issue yesterday! The IRS website has been super glitchy lately. What finally worked for me was using a VPN and switching my location to a different state - somehow that bypassed whatever server issues they're having. Also make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox, heard Safari has been having compatibility problems with their site updates.

I just went through this same confusion a few weeks ago! I have a 10-year-old son and was seeing that $2,000 "Override dependent amount" and had no clue what it meant or if I should change it. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I now understand it's just the tax software showing me the Child Tax Credit amount it calculated automatically. Since my son is under 17 and qualifies as my dependent, that $2,000 is exactly right. What really struck me was the advice from the tax professionals about NOT trying to increase this number to get a bigger refund - I'll admit that thought crossed my mind! But now I understand that the amount has to match actual eligibility based on tax law, and changing it arbitrarily could cause serious issues with the IRS. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding that the software is designed to get these calculations right automatically for straightforward situations. Sometimes the most stressful part of doing taxes is just not knowing if you're missing something important, but all the shared experiences here really put that worry to rest. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain their situations - this community is amazing for helping newcomers navigate all the confusing tax terminology!

This whole discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm a single parent with a 13-year-old daughter, and I was completely baffled when I saw "Override dependent amount: $2,000" in my tax software. Like so many others here, I had no idea if this was something I needed to adjust or verify somehow. After reading through all these experiences and professional insights, I now understand that this is just the software displaying the Child Tax Credit amount it automatically calculated based on my daughter's information. Since she's under 17 and qualifies as my dependent, that $2,000 is exactly what it should be. What really helped me was seeing how many people had the exact same confusion - it made me realize this isn't intuitive terminology at all! The word "override" definitely makes it sound like you're supposed to actively do something with it, when really it's just showing you the calculated value. The advice from the tax professionals about trusting the software's automatic calculation (and NOT trying to artificially increase the amount) has given me so much confidence. I was definitely overthinking this and worried I might be missing out on something, but now I understand the software is designed to handle these calculations correctly for straightforward situations like mine. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this community discussion has turned what felt like a stressful tax mystery into a clear understanding of how dependent credits actually work!

Diego, I totally understand your frustration with that CPA consultation! I went through the same thing when I started my graphic design business - paid for "expert" advice and walked away more confused than before. Here's the reality check you need: Yes, sales tax is complicated, but you don't need to master it all on day one. Focus on the basics first: 1. Register for a Florida sales tax permit immediately (it's free and takes about 20 minutes online) 2. For Florida customers buying physical art: collect 6% state sales tax plus any local tax 3. For Florida customers buying digital downloads: no sales tax needed (Florida doesn't tax digital goods) 4. For out-of-state customers: don't worry about collecting tax until you hit $100k in sales to that specific state The nexus thing your CPA mentioned just means "significant presence" - which for you right now is only Florida. As your business grows and you start hitting economic thresholds in other states, THEN you worry about registering there. Start selling! You're overthinking this. Set up your Florida permit, use a simple platform like Square or Shopify that calculates tax automatically, and keep good records. You can always get more sophisticated later when your revenue justifies it. Don't let tax confusion stop you from pursuing your art business dreams!

Hey Diego! I totally get the frustration with that CPA consultation - sounds like you got the classic "it's complicated, pay me more" response without any real help. Here's the thing about sales tax for artists: everyone makes it sound way scarier than it needs to be when you're starting out. You're in Florida, so let's keep this super practical: **Step 1**: Register for your Florida sales tax permit online at the Department of Revenue website. It literally takes 15-20 minutes and costs nothing. **Step 2**: For sales to Florida customers - collect 6% state sales tax on physical artwork. Digital downloads are tax-free in Florida (lucky you!). **Step 3**: For out-of-state customers - don't collect anything until you hit $100,000 in sales to that specific state in a year. **Step 4**: File quarterly returns in Florida (even if you owe $0). That's it to start! Use a platform like Etsy, Shopify, or even Square that automatically calculates the right tax rates including local taxes. They handle all the math so you don't have to figure out Orlando's specific local rates. The "nexus" stuff your CPA mentioned only becomes relevant once you're doing serious volume in other states. Right now, focus on getting Florida right and actually making those sales happen. You can always layer on complexity later when your income justifies hiring better help. Don't let tax anxiety kill your artistic momentum - you've got this! 🎨

Based on the timing, this could be the quarterly GST/HST credit payment. They go out in January, April, July, and October. The amount is based on your income from the previous tax year and your family situation. Having a second job wouldn't affect this year's payments since they're calculated from last year's return.

If you bank with TD, BMO or RBC, you can actually see more details about government deposits in your online banking. Look for something like "transaction details" when you click on the deposit. Sometimes it shows an additional reference number or description that can help identify which benefit it is.

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who was completely panicking about my 2021 amendment deadline, finding out I actually have until April 2025 feels like a massive weight has been lifted. I was literally planning to stay up all night this weekend trying to rush through the paperwork! What's amazing is how this discussion has evolved from a simple deadline question into a comprehensive guide for doing amendments properly. The systematic approach everyone has developed - thorough document gathering, using taxr.ai for review, then Claimyr for IRS contact if needed - is brilliant. I never would have thought to be so methodical about it. Reading about everyone's success stories is really motivating too. Alice finding $650, Myles discovering $1,200 including that Recovery Rebate Credit issue - it makes me wonder what I might have missed on my own 2021 return. I also went remote that year and completely forgot about potential home office deductions. Gabriel's audit warning is definitely something to keep in mind, but seeing how thorough and careful everyone has been gives me confidence that doing this right shouldn't cause problems. I'd rather take a few extra weeks to be systematic than rush and miss something or create issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and resources. This community has turned what felt like an overwhelming crisis into a manageable project with a clear roadmap. Starting my document hunt this weekend!

This thread has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who was completely stressed about my 2021 amendment situation, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice. Learning that I have until April 2025 instead of this month's deadline has completely changed my approach to this whole process. What really stands out to me is how this discussion has created such a comprehensive roadmap for handling amendments properly. The systematic approach everyone has developed - starting with thorough document gathering, then using taxr.ai for a complete return review, followed by Claimyr if you need actual IRS contact - is exactly what someone like me needed to hear. I had no idea these resources even existed! Reading through all the success stories has been incredibly motivating. Alice finding $650, Myles discovering $1,200 including that Recovery Rebate Credit, and so many others uncovering home office deductions they'd forgotten about. It's made me realize this could be much more valuable than just the one missed deduction I originally noticed. I particularly appreciate Gabriel's honest warning about audit risks balanced against everyone else's methodical approaches. It's clear that being thorough and making sure everything else on the return is accurate is key to doing this safely. This community has turned what felt like a panic situation into an organized project I can actually handle properly. Time to start gathering those 2021 documents and following the roadmap you've all laid out. Thank you everyone for such incredible guidance!