I haven't seen my actual pay stub, just the direct deposit amount. How do I get a copy of the detailed stub?

Most companies either provide a paper pay stub with your check (if you get a physical check), or they have an online portal where you can view and download your pay information. Ask your manager or HR person how to access your pay stubs - they're required by law to provide this information to you. Some companies use payroll services like ADP, Paycom, or Gusto where you'd need to create an account to see your info. If they haven't told you about this, definitely ask! The stub will break down exactly where every dollar is going.

The W-4 doesn't use allowances anymore. They completely changed the form in 2020. Now it's way more complicated with multiple steps and worksheets. 😫

I hadn't even thought about state taxes! Do I need to file something specific with California to establish that I'm not a resident there? I literally haven't lived there since I was 11 months old.

Since you left as an infant, you should be fine without formally breaking residency - you never established it as an adult. California typically looks at factors like where you have a driver's license, voter registration, bank accounts, etc. Since you have none of these connections to California, you have a very strong case for non-residency. However, to be absolutely safe, you could include a brief statement with your federal returns explaining that you left California as an infant and have no connections to the state. In rare cases, people file Form 540NR (California Nonresident Return) with zero income to formally establish non-residency, but this is usually unnecessary for someone in your situation who never established California ties as an adult.

Renouncing is definitely an option but costs $2,350 in government fees alone, plus you need to be tax compliant for 5 years before renouncing! And if your net worth is over $2 million or your average annual tax liability exceeds $168,000 over the last 5 years, you could face an exit tax. Definitely not a quick or cheap solution.

What's the difference between asking for a "correction" vs an "amendment"? I always thought they were the same thing when it comes to tax returns.

There's actually a big difference! A "correction" is for when the IRS made an error in processing your return (like in this case where they entered data incorrectly). An "amendment" is when you need to change something that was incorrect on your original submission. Corrections are processed through their error resolution department and typically take weeks rather than months. Amendments require filing a new form (1040-X for individuals or 1120-X for corporations) and can take 6+ months to process. Since this is clearly an IRS data entry error, you want the faster correction process.

Does the IRS accept screenshots as evidence though? I thought they only accepted actual signed documents or transcripts from their system.

But that's exactly the concern, right? Without extremely tight definitions, people find ways to game the system. I mean, tipping has expanded to so many industries now - you get tip prompts everywhere from coffee shops to retail stores. Where would they draw the line?

That's a fair point. The expansion of tipping culture does complicate things. I suspect any actual legislation would need to establish criteria like: the worker receives a reduced minimum wage under tip credit rules, the industry has a historical practice of tipping, and the tips are contemporaneous with service rather than contractually required. The IRS and Treasury would likely issue regulations clarifying these boundaries. Similar to how they've handled other tax provisions, they'd establish factors to determine legitimate tips versus disguised regular compensation. The challenge would be enforcement - they're already understaffed for existing tax issues.

I work in payroll software development, and yes, it would be a significant change. We'd need to create new income classifications, update tax withholding algorithms, and modify all the reporting. The IRS would also need new forms. It's not impossible, but would require substantial systems updates.

Does this actually work? Seems like it might flag an audit if your deductions fluctuate wildly from year to year. Has anyone actually tried this strategy successfully?

Yes, this absolutely works and is a completely legitimate tax strategy. The IRS doesn't flag you for audit simply because your deduction method changes year to year - millions of taxpayers switch between standard and itemized deductions regularly based on their financial circumstances. Bunching deductions is a recognized tax planning strategy discussed by CPAs and financial advisors. It works particularly well for charitable contributions because you have control over the timing. Many charities are even familiar with this strategy and can help you set up your donations appropriately. Just make sure you keep proper documentation for the years you itemize.

This is an excellent point that gets overlooked! I live in California and we can itemize on our state return even if we take the standard deduction on federal. Saved me about $400 last year by doing standard federally and itemized on state. OP should definitely check their state's rules. It's not always an either/or situation between the two returns.