One thing I'm not seeing mentioned is the timing. Getting married in December 2025 vs January 2026 makes a HUGE difference for taxes. The IRS considers you married for the ENTIRE tax year even if you get married on December 31st. So if they just got married, they'll be "married filing jointly" for the entire 2025 tax year when they file in 2026.

As a tax professional, I want to address a few key points here. First, the $10k difference you calculated seems unusually high for those income levels - typically the marriage bonus for a $145k/$32k couple would be in the $3-5k range as others have mentioned. You might want to double-check those TurboTax calculations. That said, your friend will likely see some legitimate tax benefits. With such disparate incomes, married filing jointly usually results in savings because the higher earner's income gets "averaged" with the lower earner's income, potentially moving more income into lower tax brackets. However, I echo what others have said - marriage is a huge legal and financial commitment that goes far beyond taxes. It affects debt liability, property rights, inheritance, healthcare decisions, and more. If they were already planning to marry eventually, then this might have just accelerated their timeline. But if taxes were the primary driver, that's concerning. My advice: sit down with your friend, acknowledge that you may have been overzealous about the tax benefits, and suggest they speak with a tax professional to get accurate numbers. Most importantly, be supportive of their marriage regardless of how it started - they're the ones who ultimately made the decision.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and it's so frustrating how unclear the social casino companies are about tax reporting! I've been playing on Slotomania and Global Poker and won around $1,200 total this year. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should report it as "Other Income" on my tax return regardless of whether I get a 1099 or not. The inconsistency between platforms is maddening though - some follow the $600 rule, others use $5,000, and some apparently don't report at all. @Keith Davidson - thanks for the clarification about the virtual currency vs. real money distinction. That makes a lot more sense now. I was confused about why playing with "fake" coins could be taxable, but you're right that it's the cash-out that creates the taxable event. Has anyone had issues with the IRS questioning these types of winnings during an audit? I want to be compliant but I'm also worried about drawing unnecessary attention by reporting income that maybe other people aren't reporting.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in a similar situation with about $2,100 in social casino winnings this year. After reading everyone's experiences, I decided to be proactive and contacted my tax preparer directly. She confirmed what @Keith Davidson mentioned - all gambling income needs to be reported regardless of whether you receive tax forms. She also said that social casino winnings should go on line 8z of Form 1040 as "Other Income" with a description like "social casino winnings." One thing she emphasized that I haven't seen mentioned much here is keeping detailed records. She recommended creating a spreadsheet with dates, platform names, amounts deposited, amounts withdrawn, and any fees. Even if the platforms don't give you official statements, having your own organized records will be crucial if the IRS ever asks questions. For anyone worried about reporting income that others might not be reporting - my preparer said it's always better to err on the side of compliance. The penalties for unreported income are much worse than just paying the tax upfront. Plus, these platforms are becoming more regulated, so it's likely they'll start issuing proper tax forms in the future anyway.

I feel your pain. Been paying support for 10 years and it's ridiculous that there's no tax benefit. if it makes u feel any better, your ex should be using that money for the kids, so indirectly ur still supporting them like u would if u were married. small consolation i know. my advice is to check ur withholding on ur W4. if your switching from getting refunds to owing taxes, you probably need to adjust how much is being withheld from each paycheck. doesnt solve the fundamental unfairness but at least u wont get hit with a surprise tax bill.

I'm in a similar situation and it's incredibly frustrating. What really gets me is that the system seems to assume all divorced parents are trying to dodge their responsibilities, when many of us are doing everything we can to support our kids. One thing I discovered is that you might be able to deduct certain direct expenses you pay for your children outside of the formal support order - things like unreimbursed medical expenses, educational costs, or extracurricular activities if they exceed a certain threshold. These aren't technically "child support deductions" but they're child-related expenses that can sometimes be claimed. Also, make sure you're maximizing any credits available in the years you do claim your children as dependents. The Child Tax Credit has increased significantly in recent years, and there are education credits if your kids are older. It's not a perfect solution, but every bit helps when you're already stretched thin financially while trying to do right by your kids.

This is such a comprehensive thread with so much helpful information! I'm currently in the exact same situation - my transcript updated yesterday with code 846 but WMR is still stuck on processing. Reading through everyone's experiences has really helped ease my anxiety about whether I'll get direct deposit or a check. The consensus seems to be that if you only see code 846 with no 841 (check indicator) or offset codes, and your banking info was correct when filed, direct deposit is most likely. I just called my bank to verify everything is in good standing on their end, which was a great tip from several people here. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I noticed that my transcript actually shows the exact time it was last updated (mine was 3:47 AM). For those tracking when WMR might catch up, it seems like that 24-48 hour window everyone mentions starts from whenever your transcript timestamp shows, not just "sometime during the day." The waiting really is the hardest part, especially when you're counting on that refund for bills! But this community has been incredibly helpful in explaining what all the codes mean and sharing real experiences. I'll definitely update once my refund hits to add another success story hopefully. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge - it makes such a difference when you're stressed about finances!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer here but going through the exact same situation right now. My transcript updated two days ago with code 846 and a refund date of next Wednesday, but WMR is still showing "processing" which has been making me anxious. Reading through all these detailed responses has really put my mind at ease though. Like many others here, I only see the 846 code with no 841 or offset codes, I double-checked that my banking info was correct when I filed, and I just called my bank this morning to confirm my account is in good standing with no restrictions. The explanation about the IRS honoring direct deposit unless there's a specific issue makes a lot of sense, and it's reassuring to see so many success stories from people who had the same pattern of codes. The tip about the automated refund hotline (1-800-829-1954) is something I'm definitely going to try today too. As someone new to tracking refunds this closely, I had no idea about things like the 3-deposit annual limit or how banking verification failures could trigger automatic paper checks. This community is amazing for sharing all this technical knowledge that you just can't find easily elsewhere! I'll make sure to update once my refund comes through to add to the collection of experiences here. Fingers crossed it's a smooth direct deposit as expected! Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - it makes this stressful waiting period so much more manageable.

Quick question about state filing requirements - does anyone know if a single member LLC holding company needs to file a separate state return? My LLC is registered in Wyoming but I live in California and I'm getting conflicting advice.

Just wanted to add some clarity on the Schedule C question from the original post. Even though your single-member LLC is a disregarded entity, you should NOT file Schedule C for passive investment activities. Schedule C is specifically for active business income and expenses. The key distinction is that holding investments - even through an LLC - is generally considered investment activity, not business activity. Your dividends go on Schedule B, capital gains/losses on Schedule D, and any rental income on Schedule E, just as others have mentioned. However, be careful if you start actively trading frequently or providing services related to your investments - that could potentially cross into business activity territory and change your filing requirements. The IRS looks at factors like frequency of transactions, time spent, and intent to make a profit from trading activities rather than long-term appreciation. Keep good records showing your LLC's investment nature versus any business activities, as this distinction can be crucial if the IRS ever questions your classification.