I feel your frustration! Just went through this exact same thing a few weeks ago when I switched phones and forgot to transfer my authenticator. The video call verification is definitely your quickest path back in - usually takes 15-30 minutes total including wait time. Make sure you have your physical driver's license ready (they can be picky about digital versions) and find a spot with really good lighting. Sometimes they'll ask for address verification too, so having a recent utility bill or bank statement handy doesn't hurt. Once you're back in, immediately download those backup codes and save them somewhere safe - maybe even print them out! Also consider setting up the authenticator app on multiple devices if possible. The whole ID.me system is honestly terrible but unfortunately it's what we're stuck with for IRS access. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 🤞

Been in your shoes! Lost my phone with authenticator last year and it was such a nightmare. The video verification is definitely your best bet - I waited about 25 minutes but the actual call was super quick and the agent was really helpful. Make sure you have your physical ID ready and good lighting (can't stress this enough!). They might ask for something to verify your address too, so grab a utility bill or bank statement just in case. Once you get back in, first thing you should do is download those backup codes and store them somewhere safe - I keep mine in a password manager now. Also highly recommend setting up the authenticator on at least two devices if you can. The whole ID.me system is frustrating but you'll get through it! Good luck! 🍀

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! I have a full-time government job and occasionally pick up shifts at a restaurant where I used to work - maybe once every 6-8 weeks, just to help out during busy periods and stay connected with former coworkers. When I filled out my W-4, I checked that multiple jobs box thinking I was being completely honest, but my paychecks have been significantly smaller than my colleagues who are in similar tax situations. After reading everyone's experiences here, it's really clear that box is designed for people with two substantial income sources, not those of us with a primary job plus minimal side work. My restaurant shifts probably only add up to around $600-800 for the entire year, so the aggressive withholding from that checkbox is way overkill. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here - uncheck the box and add maybe $5-7 extra per paycheck on line 4c to cover the small tax liability. That should give me back most of that overwithholding while still ensuring I'm covered at tax time. Thanks for posting this question - it's so helpful to see that so many people have successfully navigated this situation!

I've been in a very similar situation and can definitely relate to the frustration! I have a full-time marketing job and work maybe 2-3 shifts per month at a local coffee shop where I used to work full-time, mainly just to keep my barista skills sharp and maintain friendships with the team there. Like you, I initially checked that multiple jobs box thinking I was being completely transparent about my situation. But after comparing paystubs with coworkers, I realized I was having about $160-180 more withheld per month than I should have been. The key insight from my experience (and what everyone else here is confirming) is that the multiple jobs checkbox on Step 2c is really designed for people who have two jobs with somewhat comparable income levels. The IRS withholding tables basically assume both jobs are significant when you check that box, which creates massive overwithholding for situations like ours. I ended up unchecking the box and adding $6 extra per paycheck on line 4c to cover my coffee shop income (which runs about $700-900 annually). My take-home pay increased by about $140 per month, and I still got a small refund at tax time rather than owing anything. Given that your Target shifts are even more infrequent than my coffee shop work, you'd probably be fine with just $3-5 extra withholding per paycheck. The tax liability on those occasional 8-hour shifts every 10 weeks is going to be minimal compared to the overwithholding you're experiencing now.

I'm currently dealing with something very similar! I'm 20, have a 2-year-old daughter, and my partner makes significantly more than me. What really helped me figure this out was understanding that the FAFSA dependency rules are completely separate from tax dependency rules. Since you have a child, you're automatically considered independent for FAFSA no matter what happens on taxes. This was huge for me because it meant I could keep my Pell Grant and other aid even if my partner claimed me. For the tax side, we ended up having my partner claim both me and our daughter because the combined benefits (Head of Household, Child Tax Credit, etc.) were way more than what I could get filing alone with my part-time income. Even though I couldn't claim the EITC anymore, our household came out ahead by about $1,800. The key thing is to make sure you understand exactly what credits and deductions each scenario would give you. My partner got a much bigger refund claiming us both, and since my financial aid was protected anyway, it was a no-brainer. Definitely talk to your school's financial aid office just to confirm, but in most cases having your own child is the golden ticket to keeping your aid regardless of tax situations!

I'm a tax preparer and see this exact situation frequently during tax season. Let me clarify a few key points that might help you make the best decision: First, you're absolutely right to be concerned about the FAFSA implications, but the good news is that having your own child makes you an independent student regardless of who claims you on taxes. Your boyfriend's income won't affect your aid eligibility. Regarding whether he "has to" claim you - dependency is optional even when you meet the requirements. The IRS allows eligible dependents to be claimed, but doesn't require it. This gives you flexibility to choose the scenario that benefits your household most. For the tax calculations, here's what to consider: - If your boyfriend claims both you and your child, he gets Head of Household status, Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000), and potentially other credits - If you file independently and claim your child, you might qualify for EITC and the Child Tax Credit yourself, but your boyfriend would file as Single Given your low income ($2,700), you likely won't owe any federal taxes either way. The question becomes which scenario generates the largest combined refund for your household. I'd strongly recommend using tax software to model both scenarios before deciding. Most preparers can run these calculations for you if you bring both sets of documents. The difference could be substantial - often $2,000-3,000 in similar situations I've seen. Your financial aid should be safe either way, so focus on maximizing your tax benefits!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone new to RSUs who was completely overwhelmed by the tax complexity, reading through everyone's real experiences has been incredibly educational. I wanted to share one additional consideration that I discovered - if you have RSUs vesting near year-end, pay attention to the timing of when your company actually processes the vesting. Some companies process December vestings in early January, which can shift the tax year and affect your overall tax planning. This is especially important if you're close to income thresholds for things like the Additional Medicare Tax or if you're trying to manage your tax bracket. Also, for anyone dealing with multiple types of equity compensation (RSUs, stock options, ESPP, etc.), make sure you understand how they all interact from a FICA perspective. I learned that each type might have different rules, and the combined impact on your Social Security wage base calculation can get complex. The tool recommendations throughout this thread have been fantastic - definitely planning to try taxr.ai for my situation. It's so helpful to find resources that can handle the nuances of equity compensation rather than generic tax calculators. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and insights. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world knowledge that makes navigating RSU taxation so much less intimidating!

This has been such an educational thread! As someone who just started at a company that grants RSUs, I was completely confused about how the tax burden would be split. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - especially confirming that employers must pay their 7.65% FICA portion and can't pass that cost to employees. One question I haven't seen addressed: what happens if you leave the company before all your RSUs vest? Do any unvested shares that get forfeited affect your FICA tax situation for that year, or is it purely based on what actually vests? Also really appreciate all the tool recommendations - taxr.ai and Claimyr both sound like they could save me a lot of confusion. It's refreshing to see actual solutions rather than just generic advice to "consult a tax professional." Sometimes you need specific answers to specific equity compensation questions that general tax advice doesn't cover. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences. This kind of practical knowledge from people who've actually been through multiple RSU vesting cycles is incredibly valuable for newcomers like me trying to understand what to expect!

This is a really comprehensive discussion, but I wanted to add something from a practical standpoint. Your friend should also consider documenting everything they can about their employment relationship RIGHT NOW, before taking any action. This means saving any text messages, emails, or written communications with the employer about work schedules, job duties, or payment arrangements. If they have any paystubs (even handwritten ones), bank deposit records, or photos of personal checks, keep copies of everything. The reason this is so important is that if the IRS does get involved later, having contemporaneous documentation will be crucial for establishing the true nature of the working relationship. It's much harder to prove you were an employee (rather than a contractor) after the fact if you don't have evidence of things like set schedules, supervision, or use of employer equipment. Also, your friend might want to quietly start looking for other employment opportunities. Not because they should quit immediately, but because having options reduces the leverage the employer has over them if things get uncomfortable after they start properly reporting income. Sometimes the fear of retaliation keeps people trapped in these situations longer than they should be.

I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your friend's situation in North Carolina specifically. The state has a voluntary disclosure program that can work alongside federal tax corrections. If your friend owes state income taxes on the unreported income, they can potentially reduce penalties by voluntarily coming forward before being audited. Also, since this has been going on for 4 years, your friend should be aware that the IRS has various programs like the "First Time Penalty Abatement" that can help reduce penalties for taxpayers who have previously been compliant but made mistakes. Given that this appears to be more about employer misclassification than intentional tax evasion on your friend's part, they might qualify for more lenient treatment. One practical tip: when your friend does start the process of correcting their taxes, they should consider working with a tax professional who has experience with worker misclassification cases. The rules around Form 4852, Section 3509 relief, and amended returns can be complex, and having professional guidance can help ensure they take advantage of all available options to minimize their liability. The most important thing is that your friend takes action sooner rather than later. Every year they wait makes the situation more complicated and potentially more expensive to resolve.