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Mason Kaczka
I had a similar experience and learned the hard way that the multiple job situation is trickier than it seems! What you did by checking the multiple jobs box was definitely the right move, but here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: The key is to make sure only ONE of your jobs is accounting for the multiple job situation. If you check the box at both employers, you'll likely end up over-withholding (learned this the expensive way when I got a huge refund that should have been in my paychecks all year). Since you updated your main job's W-4, that should be sufficient. Your full-time employer will now withhold as if they know about your total income from both jobs. Leave your part-time job's W-4 as-is. To double-check you're on track, compare your recent paystubs to see if federal withholding increased at your main job. If you want to be extra sure, run your numbers through the IRS withholding calculator mid-year to see if you're on target. That $1,300 surprise was painful, but you're definitely taking the right steps to avoid it happening again!
Ravi Gupta
ā¢This is super helpful advice! I'm new to dealing with multiple jobs and taxes, and I've been stressing about whether I'm doing this right. Just to clarify - when you say leave the part-time job's W-4 "as-is", do you mean keep it at the default single/married filing status without any adjustments? I started my weekend job after updating my main job's W-4, so I haven't touched the part-time W-4 at all yet. Want to make sure I don't accidentally mess this up!
Exactly right! Keep your part-time W-4 at the basic single/married filing status without the multiple jobs box checked. Since your main job is already accounting for your total income from both positions, your part-time job should just withhold as if it's your only income source. You're actually in a perfect position since you updated your main job's W-4 first before starting the weekend job. This way there's no confusion about which employer is handling the multiple job calculation. Just make sure when you fill out the part-time job's W-4 that you don't check any boxes in Step 2 about multiple jobs - keep it simple and standard. The whole system works because your main employer is now withholding at a higher rate to cover the tax liability from both incomes, while your part-time employer withholds at the normal rate for their portion. It's like your main job is doing the heavy lifting tax-wise!
I've been dealing with multiple jobs for the past three years and wanted to share what I learned from making some expensive mistakes early on! The approach you took is absolutely correct - updating your main job's W-4 to indicate multiple jobs is the standard method. However, I'd recommend taking it one step further and using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (it's free on their website) about halfway through the year to make sure you're on track. What I do now is run the calculator in July using my year-to-date earnings from both jobs. It tells me exactly if I need to adjust my withholding up or down. This has saved me from both owing money AND from over-withholding (which is basically giving the government a free loan). One thing that caught me off guard initially - if your part-time income varies significantly throughout the year, you might want to be slightly more conservative with your withholding to account for those fluctuations. Better to get a small refund than another surprise bill! The peace of mind is definitely worth the extra few minutes to double-check your withholding mid-year. You're already ahead of most people by being proactive about this!
Chloe Harris
ā¢This is really solid advice! I'm pretty new to the multiple job situation myself and hadn't thought about checking mid-year with the IRS calculator. That makes so much sense though - especially since my part-time hours can be pretty inconsistent depending on the season. Quick question - when you run the calculator in July, do you just use your actual year-to-date numbers from both jobs, or do you try to project what you'll earn for the full year? My weekend gig tends to pick up during holidays so I'm never sure how to estimate the back half of the year. Also really appreciate the point about not over-withholding. I definitely don't want to give the government an interest-free loan, but I also never want to go through that $1,300 surprise again!
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Something else to consider - many orthodontists offer a discount if you pay the full amount upfront rather than using a payment plan. When I got braces for my kid, the discount was almost 8%. You might want to run the numbers to see if it's worth paying more upfront (possibly using your credit card) to get the discount, especially if you think you'll qualify for the tax deduction this year. Just be careful about credit card interest rates - sometimes the discount isn't worth it if you'll be paying high interest on the card balance for months. I ended up doing a 0% intro APR card specifically for this expense.
This is good advice. My orthodontist offered 10% off for paying in full, and I combined that with a 0% credit card offer. Worked out great financially. Also - does anyone know if Invisalign counts the same as traditional braces for tax purposes? My dependent needs orthodontic work but wants the clear aligners instead of metal braces.
Yes, Invisalign absolutely counts the same as traditional braces for tax purposes! The IRS doesn't distinguish between different types of orthodontic treatment - as long as it's medically necessary orthodontic care prescribed by a dental professional, it qualifies as a deductible medical expense. I actually went through this exact situation with my daughter's Invisalign treatment last year. The key is that it needs to be for correcting a dental condition, not just cosmetic improvement (though most orthodontic work falls into the medical necessity category anyway). One tip - make sure your orthodontist's treatment plan clearly documents the medical necessity. While audits for medical expenses aren't super common, having good documentation that shows the treatment was recommended for bite correction, jaw alignment, or other health-related issues (not just aesthetics) is important if you ever need to justify the deduction. The payment timing rules everyone mentioned above apply the same way too - whether you pay upfront, use a payment plan, or charge it all on a credit card.
Ella Harper
ā¢Thanks for clarifying about Invisalign! That's really helpful to know the documentation part is important. I'm actually in a similar situation as the original poster - looking at orthodontic treatment for my teen and trying to understand all the tax implications before committing to such a big expense. One question I have - if the orthodontist requires a down payment this year but the majority of treatment happens next year, how does that affect the deduction timing? Like if I pay $3000 down payment in December 2024 but the remaining $6000 in 2025, I assume I can only deduct the $3000 on my 2024 return? Also wondering if anyone knows whether orthodontic consultations and X-rays that happen before treatment starts also count as deductible medical expenses?
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Simon White
Just FYI - I'm an accountant who works with many university professors. The standard practice we recommend is: 1. Recurring consultant/reviewer work = Schedule C (yes, with SE tax) 2. One-time honorarium type payments = Schedule 1 as Other Income The $175 your preparer charged to do a Schedule C for a $250 payment seems excessive, especially since it likely increased your tax liability through SE tax. Might be worth shopping around for a preparer who understands academic income better next year!
Thank you! This is really helpful and matches what I was thinking might be the case. I'm definitely going to look for a different tax preparer next year who has experience with academic income situations. The $175 fee did seem high for what was literally just entering one number on Schedule C. Do you think it would be worth amending this year's return to move that income to Schedule 1 instead? Or is the potential savings not worth the hassle?
Simon White
ā¢Honestly, for a $250 payment, the self-employment tax would be around $35-40. An amended return would cost you more in preparation fees than you'd save in taxes, plus it slightly increases audit risk. I'd just file correctly next year and consider it a learning experience. If you had multiple similar payments or a much larger amount, it might be worth amending. But for this amount, I'd suggest just moving forward with better tax planning for next year instead.
As someone who's been in academia for years and dealt with this exact situation multiple times, I can add some perspective. The key distinction the IRS makes isn't just about the dollar amount - it's about whether you're engaged in a "trade or business." For grant reviewing, if you're actively seeking out these opportunities, have expertise that organizations regularly pay for, and do this type of work more than occasionally, it's likely considered self-employment income requiring Schedule C. However, if NSF approached you for a one-time review based on your academic expertise and this isn't something you regularly do or advertise, there's a reasonable argument for Schedule 1. The $175 fee your preparer charged does seem steep for such a small amount. Many preparers who work with academics would have at least discussed both options with you. For future reference, you might want to find someone who specializes in academic tax situations - we have unique income streams that general preparers don't always handle optimally. One thing to keep in mind: even without a 1099, you're still required to report this income. The IRS can potentially match payments from federal agencies like NSF even without formal reporting documents.
This is really helpful context! I'm new to academia (just finished my PhD and started as an assistant professor) and had no idea there were tax preparers who specialize in academic situations. Your point about the IRS potentially matching payments from federal agencies is something I hadn't considered - that's actually pretty concerning since I've done a couple small consulting gigs for government labs that I wasn't sure how to report. Do you have any recommendations for finding tax preparers who understand academic income? I'm realizing my current preparer probably isn't the best fit since they seemed confused about my mix of W-2 income, small consulting payments, and conference reimbursements.
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I made a similar amount last year ($14k) and was disappointed to learn I couldn't get my Social Security and Medicare taxes back. But I did qualify for the Earned Income Credit which gave me back almost the same amount! Make sure you check if you qualify based on your age and income.
Omar Hassan
ā¢Does age matter for the EITC? I'm 19 and in college but I work part-time.
Thais Soares
ā¢Yes, age does matter for the EITC! If you're single with no qualifying children, you need to be at least 25 years old (or at least 24 if married filing jointly). Since you're 19, you unfortunately wouldn't qualify for the EITC unless you have a qualifying child. The age requirement is one of the key eligibility criteria they use to determine who can claim this credit.
Just to add some clarity to what others have said - you're correct that Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) aren't refundable in most cases, but don't give up hope on getting money back! At your income level of $13,500, you should definitely look into the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if you meet the age requirements (25+ if single with no kids). Also, make sure you're claiming the standard deduction ($13,850 for 2023 if single) which should zero out any federal income tax owed. And double-check that you're not missing any other credits you might qualify for - things like education credits if you're a student, or the Child and Dependent Care Credit if applicable. The key is understanding that while FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare (which you'll benefit from later), income taxes can often be fully refunded through deductions and credits when your income is low. Focus on maximizing those refundable credits!
This is really helpful advice! I'm new to all this tax stuff and it's confusing to understand which taxes can come back and which ones can't. So just to make sure I understand - the Social Security and Medicare taxes I paid are basically gone for good, but I might be able to get other money back through credits? And the standard deduction you mentioned would automatically be applied when I file, or do I need to specifically choose that over itemizing? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I don't mess anything up on my return.
Tami Morgan
Based on your situation, it sounds like you're in a really good spot! The 766 code with the 4/15 date is essentially the IRS saying "we owe you this money and plan to send it on this date." Since your education credit hasn't been added yet, that's likely what's causing the amount discrepancy you're seeing. The process usually goes: 766 codes show up first (like yours), then once all the credits and adjustments are finalized, you'll see the 846 code with your actual deposit date. The 846 is the "money's on its way" code. I've seen tons of people in your exact situation - the amount changes multiple times before that final 846 appears, especially with education credits since those take extra verification. Don't stress about the current amount showing, it's definitely going to adjust once they add your education credit. You should see that 846 code pop up within the next week or so, and then your deposit usually follows 1-3 business days after that. The fact that you already have a 766 with a date means they're actively working on your return, which is great news!
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Ava Martinez
ā¢This is such a thorough and reassuring explanation! I'm currently going through this exact situation - my shows a 766 code but the amount is completely different from what I filed, and my education credit is nowhere to be found. I've been checking my daily and getting more anxious each time I see those numbers change. Your explanation about how normal it is for the refund amount to fluctuate multiple times before the 846 code appears is exactly what I needed to hear. I had no idea that education credits required additional verification time - that totally explains why my return has been stuck in processing for so long! The way you differentiated between 766 and 846 codes is really enlightening too. I've been obsessively waiting for that 846 code without understanding that the 766 is basically the IRS confirming they owe me money while they work through all the backend processing. Thanks for taking the time to break down this confusing process in such an understandable way - it's really helped calm my nerves!
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Matthew Sanchez
ā¢This is exactly what I needed to read today! I'm in the same boat with a 766 code showing but my refund amount is way different than what I expected when I filed. I've been checking my obsessively and getting more worried each time the numbers don't add up. Your explanation about how completely normal it is for the amount to change multiple times really helps ease my anxiety. I also claimed education credits and had no clue they needed extra verification - that makes total sense why everything has been taking so much longer than expected. The breakdown of 766 vs 846 codes is super clear too. I've been waiting for that 846 to show up without really understanding what the 766 was actually telling me. Now I know it's basically the IRS saying "we've calculated what we owe you, just working through the final details." Really appreciate you sharing this knowledge and helping everyone understand this stressful process better!
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StarStrider
This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm also dealing with a 766 code situation where my education credit hasn't been processed yet, and seeing everyone's experiences really helps normalize what I'm going through. One thing I'd add for anyone in this situation - I found it helpful to screenshot my each time it updates so I can track the progression. It's actually pretty interesting to see how the IRS processes different parts of your return in stages. My amounts have changed three times already, but now I understand it's just them working through each credit and adjustment systematically. For those waiting on education credits specifically - I called and was told they're running about 2-3 weeks behind on those verifications right now due to volume. So if you filed recently and claimed education credits, that extra wait time is totally normal. The 766 to 846 progression really is the key thing to watch for. Once you see that 846 with a date, you're golden! Until then, try not to stress too much about the amount fluctuations - they're just doing their job making sure everything adds up correctly.
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QuantumQuasar
ā¢This is such great advice about screenshotting the updates! I wish I had thought of that earlier - it would definitely help me see the pattern instead of just panicking every time something changes. The info about education credits being 2-3 weeks behind is really helpful too. I filed about a month ago and have been wondering why mine is taking so long compared to friends who already got their refunds. Now I know it's just the education credit verification process. Thanks for sharing that timeline - it gives me a much better idea of what to expect. Really appreciate everyone in this thread breaking down these codes and timelines. Makes this whole waiting game so much less stressful when you actually understand what's happening behind the scenes!
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Savanna Franklin
ā¢The screenshot tip is brilliant! I've been driving myself crazy trying to remember what my showed last week versus this week. Definitely going to start doing that going forward. And wow, 2-3 weeks behind on education credit verifications explains so much - I filed in early March with education credits and have been wondering why it's taking forever while my coworker who didn't claim any got hers weeks ago. It's actually kind of reassuring to know there's a logical reason for the delay rather than thinking something went wrong with my return. Thanks for calling and getting that insider info about the processing times! This whole thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding what's actually happening with our returns instead of just anxiously refreshing transcripts every day.
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