Just want to clarify something important - while your kids need to file their own tax returns, their income does NOT disqualify them from being your dependents! I got audited last year because of confusion about this. The test is whether YOU provide more than half their support, not how much money they make. So even if your 18-year-old made $12,500, as long as that money wasn't paying for more than half of their total living expenses (think about the value of housing, food, medical, etc. that you provide), you can still claim them. This is especially important for the 18-year-old because they might try to claim their own personal exemption if they file independently, which would prevent you from claiming them.

This is such a common confusion for parents! Just to add to the great advice already given - make sure you coordinate with your teens about who claims what on their returns. Since you'll be claiming them as dependents on your return, they need to check the box that says "Someone else can claim me as a dependent" on their own tax returns. If they accidentally claim themselves as dependents on their own returns while you also claim them on yours, it creates a mismatch that can delay both returns and potentially trigger correspondence from the IRS. I learned this the hard way with my oldest! Also, keep good records of what you spend on their support (housing, food, medical, school expenses, etc.) in case you ever need to prove the "more than half support" test. It's usually pretty clear-cut when they're living at home, but documentation never hurts.

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I got an EIN about 5 months ago when I was planning to start a freelance graphic design business, but then I got offered a promotion at my current job and decided to focus on that instead. I've been quietly stressing about whether I needed to file some kind of return for my non-existent business. Reading through everyone's experiences is such a huge relief - it's clear that getting an EIN during that initial burst of entrepreneurial energy and then having life take a different direction is incredibly common. The explanations about EINs being just administrative identifiers rather than triggers for tax obligations really puts everything in perspective. What I found most reassuring is learning from the tax professional that the IRS systems are actually designed to handle inactive EINs automatically. It makes perfect sense that they'd have processes in place for this since so many people must get EINs for businesses that never materialize. I'm definitely saving this entire discussion as documentation of my research process. It's smart to have a clear record showing that I investigated my obligations thoroughly rather than just assuming everything was fine. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's amazing how much peace of mind comes from knowing you're not alone in these situations!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for so many of us! I got my EIN about 4 months ago for a potential meal prep delivery service I was going to start, but then some personal health issues came up and I had to put everything on hold. I've been quietly worrying that I was supposed to file something by now. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how this situation is SO much more common than I realized. It seems like there's this natural entrepreneurial cycle where you get excited about a business idea, take those first administrative steps like getting an EIN, and then reality hits and priorities shift. The key insight that's giving me the most peace of mind is understanding that the EIN is truly just an identifier - like getting assigned a student ID number before you actually start taking classes. The tax obligations only begin when you start conducting actual business activities, not when you get the paperwork in order. I'm also really appreciating the practical advice about documentation. I'm saving this entire thread as evidence that I researched my obligations thoroughly. It feels so much more responsible than just crossing my fingers and hoping I wasn't missing anything important. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's amazing how much anxiety can be resolved just by knowing you're not the only one navigating these confusing situations!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my 1040 about 12 days ago through H&R Block online, got the acceptance confirmation immediately, but have been stuck on "still being processed" ever since. My return is super straightforward too - just one W-2, standard deduction, no dependents or credits. Reading all these responses is honestly such a relief. I was starting to think something was wrong with my return, but it sounds like this is just the reality of tax season 2024. The 21-day timeline from acceptance seems to be the real benchmark to watch, not the "7-10 days" I was hoping for in my head. What's really helpful is learning that the "Where's My Refund" tool is basically useless this year. I've been checking it obsessively every morning, but based on everyone's experiences here, I should probably just be monitoring my bank account instead since refunds seem to show up randomly without any warning or status updates. @3889e6ce151f I hope your refund comes through soon, especially with the car repair situation adding pressure. At least we're all in this waiting game together and it's clearly a widespread issue rather than something specific to our individual returns!

I can definitely relate to this anxiety! I filed my 1040 about 16 days ago and have been in the exact same "still being processed" status with no updates. Like many others here, I have a straightforward return - just W-2 income from my job and standard deduction, nothing complicated that should trigger extra scrutiny. What's really helping me stay calm is reading everyone's experiences in this thread. It's clear that the 21-day processing window is much more realistic than what we might hope for, and the fact that so many people with simple returns are experiencing identical delays shows this is just how the system is working this season. The most valuable insight I'm taking away is to stop obsessively checking the "Where's My Refund" tool and instead monitor my bank account directly. Based on multiple stories here, it sounds like refunds are appearing randomly in people's accounts days before the IRS website even updates to reflect the status change. I know the waiting is especially stressful when you have specific plans for that money, but it seems like patience is really the only option right now. The IRS is clearly dealing with processing backlogs and system issues that are affecting pretty much everyone who filed in the past few weeks. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we're all in this together and the money will eventually show up, even if the timing is unpredictable!

Something no one mentioned - if this is your first year as a sole proprietor, you technically qualify for a safe harbor based on last year's taxes. If you had zero tax liability last year, you may not need to make estimated payments your first year.

As a fellow sole proprietor who went through this same confusion, here's what I wish someone had told me clearly: You need to make quarterly PAYMENTS (not file returns) if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes. The deadlines are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Your 20% savings rate might not be enough - I learned the hard way that you need to account for both regular income tax AND self-employment tax (15.3%). I typically set aside 25-30% to be safe. The easiest way to start is to use Form 1040-ES to calculate your first quarter payment, then you can just make payments online through IRS Direct Pay without mailing forms each time. Keep detailed records of all business income and expenses - you'll need them for your annual Schedule C filing. Don't stress too much about getting it perfect the first year. The IRS understands learning curves, and as long as you're making good faith efforts to pay what you owe, any small penalties are manageable. The key is to start now rather than wait!

I'm glad to see so many people helping out with this question! Just wanted to add that when I was in a similar situation, my credit union's customer service was actually really helpful too. If you're still feeling uncertain after reading all these great explanations, don't hesitate to call or visit your credit union and ask them to walk through the form with you. They deal with first-time account holders all the time and are usually very patient about explaining these questions. Most credit unions have a community-focused approach and genuinely want to help their members succeed financially. Sometimes it's nice to have that face-to-face reassurance, especially when you're taking this big step toward financial independence!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually a tax preparer and see this confusion all the time during tax season. Just wanted to reinforce what everyone has said - for 99% of people opening their first bank account, the answer to backup withholding is "No." The only time I've seen clients subject to backup withholding is when they've had serious ongoing issues with the IRS - like repeatedly providing wrong SSNs to banks or consistently failing to report investment income. The IRS doesn't just randomly put people on backup withholding. One thing I'll add that might be helpful: even if your account does earn interest (which is pretty minimal on most checking accounts these days), as long as it's under $10, the bank doesn't even have to send you a 1099-INT form. So for a new checking account holder, the backup withholding question is really just a formality. You're being smart by asking questions and taking your time with the application. That careful approach will serve you well as you navigate more financial decisions in the future!