Just wanted to add my experience with the ADP mobile app navigation since I struggled with this too. The menu structure can be confusing, but here's the exact path I used: 1. Open ADP mobile app 2. Tap "Myself" at the bottom 3. Scroll down to "Pay & Taxes" section 4. Tap "Tax Withholdings" 5. Look for "Federal" or "Update W-4" 6. Tap "Update" or "Edit" The key thing I learned (the hard way) is that maximizing your take-home pay doesn't necessarily mean claiming full exemption. You can increase your allowances or use the "Additional amount to withhold" field in reverse by putting a negative number if your payroll system allows it. Also, keep detailed records of whatever you do. If you're going through financial hardship, consider speaking with a tax professional about estimated tax payments so you don't get hit with a huge bill next April. Sometimes paying a small amount quarterly is better than owing thousands later with penalties and interest.

I've been through this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. First, be really careful about claiming full exemption - the IRS has strict rules about this and you could face penalties if you don't qualify. You can only claim exempt if you had zero tax liability last year AND expect zero this year. For the ADP mobile app, here's the path that worked for me: Go to "Myself" → "Pay & Taxes" → "Tax Withholdings" → "Federal" → "Update." The interface isn't super intuitive but it's there. Instead of full exemption, consider maximizing your allowances or claiming "Married" filing status even if you're single (this reduces withholding). You can also look into adjusting the values in Step 4 of the W4 form within ADP. One thing that really helped me was understanding that I could significantly reduce my withholding without going fully exempt. I went from having $400+ taken out per paycheck to only about $50 by adjusting my filing status and allowances properly. Still kept me compliant but gave me the cash flow I needed during my tough financial period. Just remember - whatever you reduce now, you might owe later, so try to set aside something if you can for next tax season. Good luck getting through this rough patch!

Just a heads up - the Child and Dependent Care Credit form (Form 2441) actually requires you to show that you made a "reasonable effort" to get the provider's TIN. If the provider won't give it to you, you need to be able to show that you actually tried to get it. I'd recommend sending a formal request via certified mail (keep a copy) that specifically asks for their tax ID for Form 2441 purposes. This creates a paper trail showing you made a good faith effort. When I went through this, I included a blank W-10 form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number) with my letter, which is the official IRS form for requesting this information. You can download it from the IRS website.

This is a really frustrating situation, but you have several good options here. The most important thing to understand is that you're absolutely entitled to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit regardless of how you paid - cash payments don't disqualify you. I'd recommend taking a two-step approach: 1) Send her a formal written request (email or certified letter) asking for her EIN or SSN, explaining that you need it to claim the childcare tax credit. Include a specific deadline (maybe 10 business days). This creates documentation that you made a reasonable effort to obtain the information. 2) If she refuses, you can still claim the credit by entering "REFUSED" in the provider identification section of Form 2441. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your payments and any communications about this request. Since you're planning to leave anyway, I wouldn't stress too much about the relationship. Licensed daycare providers are legally required to provide this information to parents who request it for tax purposes. Her refusal suggests she may not be reporting this income, but that's her problem, not yours. The $4,100 you've paid could result in significant tax savings, so it's definitely worth pursuing. Don't let her tax avoidance cost you money you're legally entitled to save.

PSA for everyone: Save your last paystub of the year ALWAYS!!! I learned this the hard way. If you have your last December paystub, you'll have almost all the info you need if your W-2 gets lost or is super late. Also, check if your company has an online payroll portal like ADP, Workday, UKG, etc. Sometimes W-2s are available electronically there before they arrive in the mail. My company never even mailed mine last year, they just expected everyone to download it from the portal.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact situation! I started a job in late November a few years back and was super worried about the same thing. Your employer is absolutely required to send you a W-2 regardless of when you started - even if you only worked one day in 2024, you'd still get one. Since you made $8,500, that's definitely reportable income and your employer will face penalties if they don't provide your W-2 by January 31st. I'd suggest checking if your company has an online payroll system first (like the others mentioned) - that's often the fastest way to get it. Don't stress too much yet since we're still in January, but definitely keep that last pay stub from December handy just in case. The IRS takes missing W-2s seriously, so if your employer is being unresponsive after the deadline, you'll have recourse. Good luck with your first "real job" tax season!

Hey there! Good luck with your PCS move next month - that's always stressful financially! Based on what others have shared here, that "This return has been paid" message is definitely a good sign. It sounds like TaxAct has processed their fee deduction from your refund, which means the IRS has likely already approved and sent your refund to TaxAct. Since you mentioned you can't check your transcripts, you might want to try the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool if you haven't already - it only needs your SSN, filing status, and refund amount. Most people here seem to get their money within 2-5 days of seeing that message, so fingers crossed yours comes through soon for your move!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with TaxAct! I had the exact same "This return has been paid" message show up last week and was so confused by the wording. Like others mentioned, it really does mean TaxAct has collected their fees from your refund, which happens after the IRS processes everything. My direct deposit hit my account exactly 3 days after I first saw that message. Since you're PCSing soon and need the funds, you might also want to set up account alerts with your bank so you get notified the moment the deposit comes through - sometimes it arrives earlier in the morning than you'd expect to check. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're planning a big move, but based on everyone's experiences here, your money should be coming very soon!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of getting the appraisal documentation right. Since your lender is requiring the sale price to be listed at $650,000, make sure you get an independent appraisal that actually supports that value. The IRS could potentially challenge the gift of equity amount if the stated fair market value seems inflated. If the property truly appraises for $650,000, you're golden. But if it only appraises for, say, $500,000, then the actual gift would be $110,000 ($500k - $390k), not $260,000. This affects both the gift tax reporting for your in-laws and ensures the IRS doesn't question the transaction later. I'd recommend getting the appraisal done early in the process so you can adjust the numbers if needed before closing.

As someone who's worked in real estate tax planning, I'd strongly recommend getting both appraisals - one for the lender and an independent one for tax documentation. Many lenders will accept a slightly lower appraisal as long as the loan-to-value ratio still works with their requirements. The key is having solid documentation for the IRS that the fair market value supports your gift of equity calculation. If there's a significant discrepancy between appraisals, you'll want to understand why before closing. Sometimes it's just different methodologies, but occasionally it reveals that the initial value estimate was off. Also consider timing - if you can close this transaction in late December vs early January, it might give your in-laws more flexibility in managing the tax impact across different tax years. They could potentially make estimated payments or adjust withholdings to cover the additional tax liability.