This is definitely a payroll system error that needs to be fixed immediately! As someone who's dealt with similar FICA tax issues, I can confirm that Social Security and Medicare taxes should never disappear when you adjust your W-4 withholding - they're completely separate calculations. The fact that these taxes showed up correctly on your first paycheck but vanished after your withholding change is a clear sign that someone made a data entry error when processing your request. This is actually more common than you'd think with payroll systems. When you meet with HR tomorrow, make sure to: - Bring both paystubs for comparison - Ask them to show you exactly what changed in their system - Calculate what your FICA should be beforehand (roughly 7.65% total of your gross pay) - Insist they correct the missing taxes from your affected paycheck, not just fix future ones - Get written confirmation of their correction plan Don't let them brush this off as "no big deal" - missing FICA contributions can affect your Social Security earnings record. You caught this early, which is great! Most people don't pay this close attention to their paystubs, so you're already developing good financial habits that will serve you well. This should be resolved within a few business days. If they seem uncertain or try to downplay the urgency, don't hesitate to escalate to their manager or finance department.

This is definitely a payroll system error that needs immediate attention! As others have mentioned, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) are mandatory deductions that should appear on every paycheck regardless of any W-4 changes you make. The timing is very suspicious - having these taxes show up correctly on your first check but disappear right after your withholding adjustment strongly suggests someone made a data entry error when processing your W-4 update. This is actually a fairly common glitch with payroll systems. For your meeting with HR tomorrow, I'd recommend: - Bringing both paystubs to show the clear before/after comparison - Asking them to walk through exactly what they changed in their system - Having your FICA calculations ready (on $47k salary, you should see about $112 for Social Security + $26 for Medicare per bi-weekly check) - Insisting they correct the missing taxes from your second paycheck, not just fix it going forward - Getting written documentation of both the error and their correction timeline Don't accept any dismissive responses about this being "no big deal" - missing FICA contributions can create gaps in your Social Security earnings record that could potentially affect your future benefits. This should be resolved within 2-3 business days maximum. You did exactly the right thing catching this early! Your attention to detail is going to save you from much bigger problems down the road. Most people don't scrutinize their paystubs this carefully, so you're already developing excellent financial awareness habits that will serve you well throughout your career.

I'm new to this community and currently experiencing RIVO status myself! I filed my return in mid-February and have been stuck in this status for about 5 weeks now. Like so many others have shared here, I was initially really worried that I had made some error on my return. This thread has been incredibly informative and reassuring. Learning that RIVO stands for Return Integrity Verification Operation and is essentially an automated system that cross-checks our returns against IRS databases really put my mind at ease. The statistic about RIVO cases increasing by 40% this year definitely explains why so many of us are encountering this for the first time! I took the advice mentioned here and set up my IRS online account to check my transcript - everyone is absolutely right that it shows much more detail than the basic "Where's My Refund" tool. I can see the 570 hold code on my account and now I'm watching for that 571 release code that indicates when the hold is lifted. Based on all the timelines shared in this thread, it sounds like most people see resolution within 6-8 weeks, so I'm cautiously optimistic I'll see some movement in the next week or two. The waiting is definitely challenging, especially when you're counting on that refund, but knowing this is just their standard verification process makes it much more bearable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and advice - it's such a comfort to know we're not alone in this process!

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with RIVO status for the first time myself! I filed my return in late February and have been in this status for about 4 weeks now. Like so many others have mentioned, I was initially panicked thinking I had made some major mistake on my return. This thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what's actually happening. Learning that RIVO stands for Return Integrity Verification Operation and is essentially an automated fraud prevention system really put my mind at ease. That 40% increase statistic someone mentioned earlier definitely explains why so many of us are experiencing this for the first time this year! I immediately set up my IRS online account after reading all the recommendations here, and everyone is spot on about the transcript being much more informative than the basic "Where's My Refund" tool. Seeing that 570 hold code at least gives me something concrete to track rather than just the vague "still processing" message. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like most people see resolution within 6-8 weeks, so I'm hoping to see movement in the next few weeks. The automated nature is both reassuring (no subjective human decisions) and frustrating (nothing I can do to speed it up), but at least I understand the process now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in this and that the vast majority of cases resolve successfully with full refunds intact!

As someone who went through a similar situation with work requiring me to split time between locations, I can't stress enough how important it is to get the primary residence determination right from the start. The IRS really does look at the totality of your circumstances, not just work schedules. In my case, I was spending about 60% of my time at a work location in another city, but my family, voter registration, and banking all remained at our original home. When I consulted with a tax professional before making any property purchases, they made it crystal clear that my original home would be considered my primary residence regardless of my work schedule. The key insight that saved me from making an expensive mistake was understanding that the IRS focuses heavily on where your "household" is established - meaning where your spouse and children reside, where they attend school, and where your family's social and economic ties are centered. Since your family isn't moving with you to the work location, you'd have a very difficult time convincing the IRS that the work property is your primary residence. I ended up sticking with temporary housing for my work situation rather than buying a second property, and honestly, it's been much simpler from both a financial and administrative standpoint. No dual property taxes, insurance, maintenance headaches, or complex tax filings to worry about. The mortgage brokers aren't wrong about loan qualification, but they're definitely not considering the full tax picture. Get that professional tax consultation before making any major moves - it'll be the best money you spend!

This has been such an incredibly thorough discussion of a really complex topic! As someone who's been lurking and reading through all these responses, I wanted to add my perspective as a newcomer to understanding these tax rules. What really strikes me is how the original question seemed so straightforward - "Can you have two primary residences?" - but the reality is so much more nuanced. The disconnect between mortgage qualification rules and IRS tax rules is honestly pretty shocking. It seems like there should be better coordination or at least clearer disclosure in the mortgage industry about these tax implications. The documentation requirements everyone has discussed are particularly eye-opening. I had no idea the IRS looks at such a comprehensive picture - voting registration, banking relationships, where your kids go to school, medical care providers, etc. It's clearly not just about where you sleep most nights. For someone in my position who's trying to understand these rules for the first time, the key lessons seem to be: 1) Never assume what works for mortgage purposes will work for taxes, 2) The IRS really does look at your entire life circumstances, not just time spent, 3) Professional advice upfront is much cheaper than fixing mistakes later, and 4) Sometimes the simplest solution is actually the smartest when you factor in all the hidden complexities. The real-world examples of audit battles and unexpected tax bills shared throughout this thread really drive home why getting this right from the beginning is so important. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise - this discussion has been incredibly educational!

Wait I'm confused about something. If I'm a substitute teacher working directly for a school district, wouldn't I be a W-2 employee not a 1099 contractor? I subbed last year and got a W-2.

Great question! As others have mentioned, you should receive a 1099-NEC from the learning center if they paid you $600 or more. But here's something important to keep in mind - the classification itself matters a lot. If the learning center was controlling your schedule, providing lesson plans, telling you exactly how to teach, or treating you like other employees, you might have been misclassified. True independent contractors have more control over how they do their work. This is especially common in education where companies try to avoid paying employment taxes and benefits. If you believe you were misclassified, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to get an official determination, or Form 8919 when you file your taxes to pay only the employee portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes instead of the full self-employment tax. This could save you money since self-employment tax is about 15.3% versus 7.65% for employees (the employer pays the other half). Just something to consider as you're navigating this for the first time!

This is a great question that I think a lot of NPR supporters are wondering about! I've been in a similar situation and ended up doing some research on this. The key distinction is that NPR typically offers two different types of support options: memberships and subscriptions. Their traditional "membership" programs often do include a portion that's tax-deductible because they explicitly state that part of your payment exceeds the fair market value of any benefits received (like a tote bag or coffee mug). However, their newer podcast subscription services are structured differently - you're paying specifically for a service (ad-free content), so it's considered a purchase rather than a donation. One thing I'd suggest is checking NPR's website or contacting them directly to see if they offer any documentation about what portion (if any) of their subscription fees might be considered charitable contributions. Some organizations do structure their premium services to include a deductible portion, but they have to explicitly state this. If you really want to maintain your tax deduction, you might consider keeping your annual donation separate and treating the subscription as an additional expense for the convenience of ad-free listening. That way you get the best of both worlds!

I've been dealing with this same situation and wanted to add my experience. After reading through all these responses, I decided to contact NPR directly about their different programs. What I learned is that they actually have three distinct categories: straight donations (fully deductible), traditional memberships with premiums like tote bags (partially deductible - they provide documentation showing the fair market value of premiums), and their newer digital subscriptions like the ad-free podcasts (not deductible as charitable contributions). The customer service rep was really helpful and sent me a breakdown showing exactly which of their offerings include tax-deductible portions. She mentioned that this is a common question they're getting as more people discover their subscription services. One thing that might help others - NPR does offer a "Sustainer" program that's separate from their subscriptions and is structured as a pure donation with no goods or services in return. So if you want to keep supporting them with a tax-deductible contribution, that might be worth looking into alongside whatever subscription services you choose to purchase.