Good point about the dependent status. I'm 25 and completely support myself, so my parents definitely aren't claiming me as a dependent. And I'm filing as single. With my $29k AGI, do you know which percentage tier I'd fall into exactly?

For a single filer with a $29,000 AGI in tax year 2024 (filing in 2025), you'd qualify for the 10% Saver's Credit tier. The 50% tier cutoff for single filers is $21,750, the 20% tier goes up to $23,500, and the 10% tier extends to $36,500. So with your contribution to your Roth IRA, you'd get a tax credit worth 10% of your contribution amount, up to a maximum credit of $200 (which would be based on a $2,000 contribution). Every bit helps when it comes to tax savings!

I used H&R Block last year and it handled the Saver's Credit correctly. The software asked if I was a full-time student for at least 5 months during the year (yes/no question) rather than asking for all the specific months. Make sure you're answering based on the 5-month rule, not just whether you were in school.

That's really helpful advice! My Australian client doesn't provide any official tax documentation either. What specific information did you include in that letter to satisfy the IRS? Did you need to get it notarized or officially certified in any way?

The letter included my full name, the tax year, total gross payments made to me, total tax withheld, confirmation that the tax was paid to the Australian Tax Office, and it was on the company's official letterhead with a signature from their finance director. No notarization was required - the IRS just wanted official company documentation. I also included a spreadsheet showing each payment date, the gross amount in AUD, the tax withheld in AUD, and the USD conversion using the IRS annual average exchange rate. This detailed accounting really helped demonstrate that everything was properly calculated and reported. The audit went smoothly once I provided these documents.

You do need separate Forms 1116 for each category of income, but not necessarily for each country. Since you're dealing with freelance work from multiple countries, you would generally combine all similar income on one Form 1116 under "General Category Income" - assuming it's all the same type of personal services income. If you have significantly different types of income (like royalties vs consulting), then you would need separate forms for each category. Most premium tax software can handle multiple 1116 forms, but you might need to upgrade from basic versions. TaxAct and H&R Block Premium handled this well for me last year.

Would this browser trick work with Edge too? I don't have Firefox installed and don't want to download another browser just for this if I don't have to.

I haven't personally tested Edge, but other users have reported success with it. The key seems to be avoiding Chrome, which has some weird compatibility issues with the Free File system's PDF handling. Edge should work better than Chrome since it uses a different rendering engine. The main thing is that some browsers handle the form submissions differently, especially with checkboxes and special characters. If you're getting the same rejection repeatedly in one browser, it's definitely worth trying a different one before giving up.

I actually tried that method last year with a different form (not 8863) and it failed because the Free File system requires certain forms to be filled electronically so their system can read the data. You can't just attach a scanned form as a PDF - the system needs the actual data in the fields.

Thanks for this advice! Would it help if I started paying a portion of the rent directly to the landlord instead of giving the money to my boyfriend? I'm worried that the Cash App transfers labeled "rent" might not be enough proof since the actual rent receipts are in his name.

That would definitely strengthen your case! If you can arrange to pay even a portion directly to the landlord, that creates a clearer paper trail. Ask the landlord if they can note your payment specifically in their records, even if the lease remains in your boyfriend's name. The Cash App transfers labeled "rent" are still useful evidence, especially if they show a consistent pattern that aligns with rent due dates. But direct payments to the landlord would be more compelling. Also, consider getting a simple written statement from your boyfriend acknowledging that your Cash App transfers are contributions toward household expenses - this adds another layer of documentation.

I used TurboTax last year with a similar HOH situation. It asks you the basic qualifying questions but doesn't really get into documentation issues. It'll let you file HOH if you say you meet the requirements, but doesn't help you prove it or explain the gray areas. You might want to consult with a tax pro if you're uncertain.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did you have any issues after filing with TurboTax? Like did the IRS question your HOH status afterward or did everything go through okay?

17 Is there a minimum amount you have to make before reporting? I thought there was some threshold where you don't need to bother reporting small side income?

3 Technically, all income is supposed to be reported regardless of amount. However, if you make $400 or more in self-employment income, you're required to file taxes on it because that's the threshold for paying self-employment taxes. Some people talk about a $600 threshold, but that's actually just the limit where payment platforms or clients are required to send you a 1099 form. Even if you don't receive a 1099, you're still supposed to report the income. The IRS has been cracking down on unreported income from online platforms, so better safe than sorry!

13 Do you know if this applies if you're selling through platforms like Etsy or eBay? I thought they handled the sales tax stuff automatically?