Has anyone used FreeTaxUSA for a part-year state return? I'm in a similar situation (moved from Illinois to Georgia) and TurboTax wants to charge me extra for the state return. Wondering if the cheaper option can handle this type of filing.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago when I moved from California to Florida in August. Here's what I learned that might help you: For California, you'll definitely need to file Form 540NR (part-year resident). The good news is you only owe California tax on income earned while you were a CA resident AND any California-source income after you moved (which sounds like none in your case). The tricky part is determining your exact residency change date. California considers you a resident until you permanently leave with no intent to return. Document everything - your lease start date in Texas, when you got your Texas driver's license, voter registration, etc. Use the earliest defensible date as your residency change. For the $38k you earned in California and the ~3 weeks of remote work for your CA employer after moving, that remote work income should NOT be taxable to California since you were physically in Texas when you earned it. California can be aggressive, but they generally can't tax income for work performed outside the state by non-residents. Keep detailed records of your move timeline - California loves to audit people who move to no-tax states. I got audited and having documentation of my permanent move saved me from owing additional taxes. The audit was resolved in my favor, but it was stressful. One last tip: if you're still confused after reading the forms, consider getting help from a tax pro who specializes in multi-state returns. It's worth the cost to avoid mistakes with California.

called the IRS about this exact thing. they said as long as you see both codes its usually a good sign that your refund is being processed correctly

I had the same confusion last year! Code 766 is your refundable credit (like child tax credit, earned income credit, etc.) and 768 is usually additional child tax credit. But your actual refund amount also factors in your withholdings (code 806), estimated tax payments, and your total tax liability. So those two codes alone won't equal your refund - you need to look at the whole picture on your transcript. As long as you see those codes with dates, you're probably good to go!

Got my email March 18. DDD was March 21. Money showed up March 21 at 3am. Bank of America. This has been consistent for the past three years. They don't release early. They don't hold it. Exactly on DDD. I've learned not to expect it sooner despite what friends with other banks experience. Your bank's policies matter more than the IRS email timing.

Based on my experience this tax season, I received the "funds on the way" email on March 28th with a DDD of April 1st. The deposit hit my Wells Fargo account at exactly 6:00 AM on April 1st - right on schedule. What I've learned from tracking this over several years is that the email typically comes 2-3 business days before your DDD, and most major banks will post the deposit either at midnight or in the early morning hours of your scheduled date. The key thing to remember as a contractor is that you can generally count on the DDD being accurate for budgeting purposes. I'd recommend setting your financial expectations for the actual DDD rather than hoping for early posting, since that seems to vary significantly by bank. If your DDD passes without the deposit appearing, that's when you should contact your bank with the IRS confirmation details.

One more thing - if you're a single mom working part-time, make sure you look into tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit. With your income level and having two kids, you could qualify for significant credits that might give you a nice refund. These credits are specifically designed to help families in your situation!

I'm a single parent too and went through this exact same confusion last year! Everyone's advice here is spot on - SNAP benefits are definitely not taxable income, and those family transfers through Venmo/Zelle are gifts, not income you need to report. One thing I learned the hard way is to keep your payment app transactions organized. Even though the family gifts aren't taxable, I started adding notes in Venmo like "birthday money from grandma" or "help with school supplies" just so I could easily explain them if anyone ever asked. It takes two seconds but gives you that extra peace of mind. Also, definitely take advantage of those tax credits everyone mentioned! With your income and two kids, you're likely looking at getting money back rather than owing anything. The EITC alone could be worth $3,000+ for your family situation. I use the IRS's online tool to estimate my credits before filing - it helps me plan ahead and know what to expect. Don't stress too much about this - sounds like you're being really responsible by asking these questions ahead of time. Most of us single parents are in similar boats with family help and government assistance, and the tax system actually has some good benefits built in for families like ours!

Thanks everyone for the detailed advice! This has been incredibly helpful. I was definitely overthinking the situation and was about to go down the rabbit hole of amending my entire return. It's reassuring to know that Form 8822 is all I need and that the W2 address discrepancy isn't an issue. Since I did select direct deposit, I feel much better knowing my refund should come through regardless. I'll file the 8822 with my current address and also set up mail forwarding with USPS as a backup like several people suggested. For anyone else in a similar situation - sounds like this is way more common than I thought and much easier to fix than it initially seems!

I'm glad this thread helped so many people! As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I wanted to add one more practical tip: if you're filing Form 8822 and are concerned about timing (especially if you're expecting your refund soon), consider also updating your address through the IRS online account system at irs.gov if you have one set up. While the Form 8822 is the official way to update your address, the online account can sometimes reflect changes faster for certain types of correspondence. It's not a replacement for filing the form, but it can provide some additional peace of mind while you're waiting for the paper form to be processed. Also, don't forget to update your address with your state's unclaimed property division if you've moved states - sometimes old refunds or credits end up there if they can't reach you at your old address. It's not immediately urgent like the tax stuff, but worth doing eventually to make sure you don't lose track of any money owed to you.