I've done both calculations for my last two tax years. For me, the regular method was WAY better - I got almost $2,200 in deductions versus $500 with the simplified method. But I live in a high-cost area with expensive rent and utilities. The simplified method is obviously easier, but worth running both calculations before deciding.

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's a huge difference! I'll definitely calculate both ways. I'm in a higher cost area too so maybe the regular method will be better for me as well, even with the extra record keeping.

Also, if you're a W-2 employee who can't take the federal home office deduction, some states still allow it on state returns! I know Massachusetts and New York have provisions for this. Definitely worth researching your specific state rules.

That middle ground approach sounds reasonable. I really don't want to blow up my family relationships, but I also can't continue like this. Do you think it would be reasonable to ask my relative to start properly employing me going forward, but not worry about the past years? Or am I legally obligated to correct previous years too?

You technically have a legal obligation to file taxes for all years where your income exceeded the filing threshold. However, from a practical standpoint, many people focus on moving forward correctly while addressing past issues gradually. The IRS generally looks more favorably on taxpayers who voluntarily come into compliance before being caught. If you decide to start filing properly from this point forward, you reduce additional non-compliance issues. Then you might consider filing amended returns for the previous three years (that's typically how far back the IRS looks unless they suspect fraud).

This is so true. My cousin worked under the table for years at a construction job. He fell off a roof and broke his back. No workers' comp, no disability, nothing. His boss completely abandoned him and he ended up on Medicaid with no income. It's been 5 years and he's still fighting for any kind of compensation while being permanently disabled. Don't wait until something happens!

What exactly counts as MAGI for the ACA premium tax credit? Is it just the AGI from the tax return or are there adjustments? I had some student loan interest and moving expenses last year if that matters.

For ACA premium tax credit purposes, MAGI is your AGI plus certain additions: non-taxable Social Security benefits, tax-exempt interest, and foreign earned income. Student loan interest deductions don't affect your MAGI calculation since they're already accounted for in your AGI. Moving expenses generally don't factor into the MAGI calculation either, as long as they're legitimate deductions on your tax return. The key is focusing on which months you were legally considered a dependent - that's what determines whether your income counts toward your mom's household income for premium tax credit purposes.

I used TurboTax Premier and it handled my similar situation pretty well. It asks month-by-month questions about household composition and walks you through the premium tax credit calculations. Just make sure you have your 1095-A form handy and know which months your status changed.

Isn't doing quarterly payments a lot of extra work though? And how would someone even figure out how much to pay? I feel like making the employer fix their mistake is better than creating more work for the employee.

It's actually not too complicated. The IRS has worksheets on the 1040-ES form that help calculate the proper amount. Basically, you estimate your annual income, determine your expected tax, and divide by four. I agree the employer should fix the issue - that's definitely the right long-term solution. But quarterly payments are a good backup plan if the employer continues to drag their feet. It gives the employee protection from underpayment penalties while they fight the larger battle. Better to be proactive than end up with a huge tax bill and penalties next year.

This happened at my company too! Our entire department had the same issue because someone doing a mass upload checked "exempt" for an entire batch of employees. Took months before anyone noticed because people don't always check their paystubs carefully.

This is really important! I got hit with a surprise $400 tax bill my first year selling online because I didn't know about self-employment tax. Even small businesses have to pay it.