Is your wife getting any special tax credits throughout the year? There's a way to adjust withholding for things like child tax credits, student loan interest, etc. Also, did she fill out the newest W4 form? The 2020 and newer forms don't use allowances anymore (no more 0, 1, 2, etc).

I work in payroll and can confirm that the "A" code on your wife's W2 definitely indicates Single filing status for withholding purposes, which explains the extremely low federal tax withholding. This is a common error when employees don't update their W-4 after getting married or when payroll systems aren't properly updated. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Have your wife submit a new W-4 form to HR/payroll ASAP to correct her filing status to Married for 2025 2. For your 2024 taxes, you'll likely owe additional tax when you file jointly - start calculating this now 3. Consider requesting additional withholding from your paychecks for the remainder of 2025 to avoid owing again next year The $190 withheld on roughly $36k income is dangerously low - you should expect to owe several thousand dollars when you file. I'd strongly recommend using tax software or consulting a professional to make sure you handle this correctly and avoid any penalties.

Another tip - make sure you're using good tax software this year that specifically prompts you about Form 8606. I used FreeTaxUSA last year and it actually stopped me during the process and specifically asked about backdoor Roth conversions, making it impossible to miss the form.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Like others have mentioned, the standalone Form 8606 submission under Rev. Proc. 2013-34 is definitely the way to go since your 1040 amounts were already correct. One thing I'd add is to make sure you send the forms via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The IRS can be slow to process these standalone forms, and having that tracking information gives you peace of mind that they received it. Also, when you calculate this year's Form 8606, you'll want to carry forward the basis from last year's contributions. Since you contributed $6,500 each to traditional IRAs and then converted to Roth, your beginning basis for this year's Form 8606 should reflect those non-deductible contributions (assuming you had no other traditional IRA balances that would complicate the pro-rata calculation). The good news is that once you get caught up with last year's forms, the process becomes much more routine. I set a calendar reminder now to double-check for Form 8606 before I submit each year's return!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! What worked for me was using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator mid-year to check if I was on track. Since you both have steady jobs and know your approximate incomes, I'd recommend: 1. Fill out new W-4s for both of you using the current 2020+ version (not the old allowances system) 2. Both check box 2(c) for the "spouse also works" option 3. Only claim the $4,000 child tax credit on ONE form (probably yours since you make less) 4. Run the IRS calculator quarterly to fine-tune One thing that really helped us was looking at our previous year's "total tax" line on our 1040 and dividing by total paychecks to see what we should be withholding per paycheck. Then we adjusted line 4(c) to get as close as possible to that target. With your combined $170k income, you'll definitely want to be careful about underwithholding since you're in a higher bracket. Better to owe a small amount than get hit with underpayment penalties!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing when you submit your updated W-4s. If you're making changes mid-year, try to do it early in a pay period so you get the full benefit of the adjustment. Also, keep in mind that with your husband's potential promotion and salary increase next year, you'll want to update your W-4s again once that goes into effect. A jump from $98k to potentially $110k+ could push you into different withholding territory. I'd also suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet throughout the year tracking your federal withholding from each paycheck. This makes it super easy to see if you're on track when you run those quarterly checks with the IRS calculator. Takes 2 minutes per pay period but gives you peace of mind that you won't have any surprises come April. The good news is that once you get this dialed in for your situation, it becomes much easier to maintain going forward!

ngl these transcripts might as well be written in ancient egyptian hieroglyphics lmaooo

Code 570 with EIC is super common - they basically have to verify your income and dependents before releasing that $3,733 earned income credit. Since your return processed March 20th, you're probably looking at getting your refund around mid-April, maybe a week or two after the 15th. The good news is your transcript shows no red flags - just the standard review process. Hang tight! 💪

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I've learned so much about medical expense deductions that I never knew before! As someone who also faced unexpected dental costs recently, I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your situation. If you're still job hunting, don't overlook COBRA continuation coverage if it's still available from your previous employer. I know COBRA premiums are expensive, but if you're facing ongoing dental needs or potential complications from your recent work, having coverage for the remainder of the year might actually save money overall - especially if you need additional treatments. Also, some people don't realize that COBRA premiums themselves are deductible as medical expenses when you itemize. So even though COBRA is costly upfront, the premiums can add to your total medical expenses for tax deduction purposes. Given all the great advice about timing expenses strategically, if COBRA is still an option and you decide to elect it, the premiums you pay could help push your total medical expenses higher and make itemizing more worthwhile. Just another angle to consider as you're planning both your immediate dental care needs and your tax strategy. The interplay between insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and tax deductions can get complex, but it sounds like you're really thinking through all the options carefully.

This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing advice! I wanted to add one more resource that might help with your documentation and maximize your deductions. Since you mentioned struggling with the complexity of tracking everything, you might want to check out IRS Publication 502 - it's the official guide to medical and dental expense deductions. It lists specific examples of what qualifies, including some surprising items people often miss like special dietary foods prescribed by a doctor, certain home modifications, and even travel costs for medical care. One thing I noticed from your situation - since you had multiple procedures (root canals, crown, etc.), make sure you're not just tracking the procedure costs but also any related expenses. For example, if your dentist prescribed antibiotics or special mouth rinses, those prescription costs are deductible too. Even if you bought over-the-counter pain medication that your dentist specifically recommended in writing, that can qualify. Also, given that you lost your job and benefits, you might want to look into whether your state has a "hardship" provision for medical expenses. Some states offer additional tax relief for medical expenses when taxpayers face unemployment or significant financial hardship, though this varies widely by state. The fact that you're being so proactive about understanding all these rules puts you way ahead of most people facing similar situations. Medical emergencies are tough enough without having to become a tax expert overnight!