Thank you for the warning. I'm definitely concerned about what else might be lurking that I don't know about. Do you think we should postpone house hunting until this is completely resolved? How long did it take your ex to get everything cleared up?

Absolutely postpone house hunting until this is 100% resolved. You don't want your dream home connected to his tax issues in any way. It took my ex almost 18 months to get everything sorted out and set up on a payment plan, and that was with hiring a tax resolution firm. Besides the immediate tax issues, consider this a pretty big red flag about financial responsibility and communication. Not filing taxes for multiple years doesn't happen by accident - it's a series of deliberate choices. Before joining finances in any way (including a mortgage), make sure you're comfortable with his approach to money and obligations.

This is good advice but some of those deductions might not be allowed. Like the IRS doesn't consider regular commuting as deductible mileage, only travel between job sites. And clothes have to be specialized for the job, not just stuff you could wear elsewhere.

But wouldn't waiting to submit the 433-A just delay the whole process more? My revenue officer keeps pressuring me to submit mine ASAP and I'm in a similar situation with wanting to consolidate vehicles.

If your revenue officer is already involved and pressuring you for the 433-A, communication becomes key. I'd recommend being upfront with them about your vehicle plans before making any changes. Explain that you're planning to consolidate vehicles to reduce overall expenses and improve reliability, not to hide assets. In my experience, most ROs appreciate transparency and would rather you be honest about upcoming changes than submit information that will be immediately outdated. You could even ask if they prefer you to submit the 433-A with current information and an addendum explaining the planned vehicle changes, or if they'd prefer you complete the transactions first. This proactive approach usually works better than trying to time things without their knowledge.

Yes, I actually did this successfully. The key was showing that the monthly expenses for the 2 newer vehicles were actually LOWER than maintaining the 4 older ones (repair costs, insurance, etc). I provided 2 years of maintenance receipts for the old cars to prove they were money pits.

Does anyone know if you can deduct mileage when you're carrying passengers (like other band members) to gigs? We usually carpool in my van since I'm the one with all the gear space, but I wasn't sure if having others with me affects the deduction.

Yes, you can absolutely deduct business mileage even when carpooling with band members! The key is that the primary purpose of the trip must be business-related, which going to a paid gig certainly is. Having passengers doesn't reduce or eliminate your deduction. In fact, if you're the designated driver for your band and regularly transport equipment and band members, make sure you're also tracking any parking fees and tolls, as these are deductible in addition to your mileage. Just keep good records of dates, locations, and the business purpose of each trip.

I've done this with my $9000 cello. My accountant recommended depreciation rather than Section 179 since I use it for both W-2 and 1099 work. We calculated that I use it about 65% for self-employed gigs and teaching, so I'm depreciating that portion over 7 years. Makes my tax situation more stable than taking one huge deduction in a single year.

Thanks for the advice! Is the IRS calculator easy to use? We're definitely going to look into increasing our 401k contributions too.

The IRS calculator is pretty straightforward. Just have your most recent paystubs and tax return handy. It walks you step by step and gives you exact numbers to put on your W-4. Took me about 15 minutes to complete. For the 401k strategy, it made a big difference for us. If you both max out at $23,000 each (for 2025), that's $46,000 of income that moves from your highest tax bracket down to zero tax now. Plus it helps with retirement, obviously. The HSA is another great option if you have a high-deductible health plan - that's another $8,300 you can shield from taxes if you're on a family plan.

Usually MFS is worse than MFJ for most people. You lose a bunch of credits and deductions when filing separately. I'm a tax preparer and only recommend it in very specific situations like income-based student loan repayment or when one spouse has sketchy tax issues.

We did file our returns, just haven't been able to pay what we owe. But that's good advice for anyone reading who might be afraid to file! Does anyone know if we should adjust our W-4 withholding for this year to prevent owing more next year?

Yes, absolutely adjust your W-4 forms with both of your employers immediately! If you've been underwithholding for 2 years, you're likely still underwithholding now, which means you're digging a deeper hole. You can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on their website to figure out exactly how to fill out your W-4. Also, when you get on a payment plan for your back taxes, make sure you don't miss any payments and that you stay current on this year's taxes. The IRS will cancel your payment arrangement if you fall behind on current taxes or miss payments on your plan.

DON'T DO IT!! Those companies charge thousands of dollars for services you can do yourself for free or at low cost. I paid $3,000 to one of those places and all they did was put me on an installment plan I could have set up myself online. Total ripoff!