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Does anyone know about JDA TSG's remote work policy? I'm considering applying but can't relocate right now.
My neighbor works there and said they went hybrid last year. 3 days in office, 2 remote for most positions. But I think it varies by department and manager.
I'm currently at a mid-sized tax firm and have been considering both JDA TSG and TurboTax myself, so this thread is really helpful! One thing I'd add is to really dig into the specifics of their busy season expectations. From what I've heard through the grapevine, JDA TSG tends to be more predictable with overtime (usually capped at 55-60 hours/week during peak), while TurboTax can swing wildly depending on system issues or last-minute product changes. Also, if you're thinking long-term career wise, consider which type of tax work you want to specialize in. JDA TSG does more traditional individual and business returns, while TurboTax experience gives you exposure to consumer tax software development and user experience design - which could open doors to fintech or other software companies later. Have you had a chance to speak with current employees at either place? LinkedIn can be great for finding people to chat with informally about company culture.
@Ella rollingthunder87 Hi! I worked for JDA up until this past tax season. It s'very unorganized, if they send you a computer that actually works it s'much easier. My manager wasn t'very helpful and said I couldn t'call IT, I had to reinstall the entire operating system. The prior year about 3 weeks before the season ended they decided to send me a working computer. That s'why I quit. Plus you have to battle for the hours that you want, it s'just too unorganized even after being there 3 tax seasons. They did say they were going hybrid, and we are expected to sign each return now so if any issues arise we could be fined over it. I forget exactly how many thousands per return was the cap, TurboTax is also doing this.
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This exact same thing happened to me this year! I was so confused because I've been using the same bank account for direct deposit for the past 3 years with no issues. What's really frustrating is that there's no clear way to find out WHY they flagged it - the IRS customer service line just gives you the runaround. I ended up getting my check about 6 days after the mail date on WMR, so at least that timing was accurate. For next year, I'm planning to double-check that my name on the return matches my bank account exactly (middle initial and all) since I suspect that might have been the issue. Has anyone had success getting this resolved for future returns?
This is really helpful information everyone! I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - my refund switched from DD to mail and I couldn't figure out why. Based on what everyone's sharing, it sounds like the IRS has definitely tightened their verification process this year. I'm particularly concerned about the address issue that @Ravi mentioned - I moved last year and while I filed a change of address with the post office, I'm not sure if the IRS has my current address. Does anyone know the best way to verify that the IRS has your correct mailing address before the check gets sent out? I'd hate to have my refund end up at my old apartment!
@QuantumQuasar You can verify your address with the IRS by checking your online account at irs.gov or by looking at your most recent tax transcript. If you need to update it before your check is mailed, you can file Form 8822 (Change of Address) - but honestly, since your refund is probably already in the mail pipeline, your best bet is to set up mail forwarding with USPS if you haven't already. The good news is that USPS forwarding usually catches IRS checks even if they go to your old address. I'd also recommend calling the IRS customer service line (though good luck getting through!) to confirm they have your current address on file. Better safe than sorry when it comes to a refund check!
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Does anyone know if you need the more expensive TurboTax versions to handle multiple states? I was using the Free Edition but now I'm worried it won't support my situation with two states.
Unfortunately the Free Edition only includes one state return. For multiple states, you'll need at least Deluxe. And heads up - you pay extra for each state filing regardless of which version you use. I think it was like $50 per additional state last year when I filed.
Great advice from everyone here! I just want to add one more tip that saved me a lot of headache with my multi-state filing - make sure to keep detailed records of which state you were physically working in for each pay period. I moved from Texas to Colorado mid-year and thought I had everything figured out, but it turned out some of my remote work days while technically employed by my Colorado company were done while I was still physically in Texas. This affected how the income was allocated between states. TurboTax will ask you specific questions about work location and dates, so having a calendar or log of where you actually performed the work (not just where your employer is located) can be really helpful. Also, don't forget about any state-specific deductions you might qualify for - each state I filed in had different rules about what could be deducted!
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What specific questions did they ask during the identity verification call? I just got my 5071c letter today and I'm nervous about the process.
When I did my verification last week, they asked about: - Prior year's adjusted gross income - Current employer name and address - Current address and previous address - Information from specific forms I filed (Schedule C in my case) - Loan account numbers if you have any reported on your return - The specific deductions and credits I claimed Have your most recent tax returns handy (current and previous year). They'll also ask standard identity verification questions like date of birth, SSN, filing status, etc.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I just got my 5071c letter yesterday and was completely panicking after reading so many horror stories online about people waiting months for their refunds. I filed on January 20th and was expecting my refund by February 10th, so when it didn't show up I was worried something was wrong. The letter arrived yesterday (February 17th) and I'm planning to call the verification line tomorrow morning. Your timeline gives me so much hope - only 8 days after verification is amazing! I was already mentally preparing myself for the 9-week wait and rearranging my budget accordingly. Quick question for you - did you have to provide any specific documentation during the verification call beyond what was listed in the letter? I want to make sure I have everything ready so I don't have to call back. Thanks for sharing your positive experience! It's refreshing to see a success story in this stressful situation. 🙏
The Boss
The confusion here is totally understandable! What you're experiencing is the difference between withholding and actual tax liability. Your employer is likely using the "aggregate method" where they temporarily combine your bonus with your regular pay and calculate withholding as if that inflated amount was your normal salary - which pushes the withholding calculation into higher tax brackets. But here's the key: when you file your actual tax return, your bonus is just added to your regular income and taxed at your normal progressive rates (so likely that 24% marginal rate you mentioned). The "extra" withholding becomes a refund. Think of it this way: if your regular salary puts you in the 24% bracket, your bonus will mostly be taxed at 24% too (unless it's large enough to push some of it into the next bracket). The 40% withholding is just the government being overly cautious and taking too much upfront. You can ask your payroll department if they'll switch to the flat 22% percentage method for future bonuses, or temporarily adjust your W-4 to reduce withholding on regular paychecks to offset the over-withholding. Either way, you'll get the excess back when you file your return!
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Felicity Bud
I completely understand your frustration! This is one of the most confusing aspects of payroll taxes. What you're seeing is actually pretty normal, unfortunately. The key thing to remember is that your bonus isn't actually being "taxed" at 40% - that's just the withholding rate. When you file your taxes, the bonus gets added to your regular income and taxed at your normal marginal rates (so likely closer to that 24% you mentioned). The reason you're seeing such high withholding is probably because your employer is using the "aggregate method" - they temporarily add your bonus to your regular paycheck and calculate withholding as if that huge amount was your normal salary. This pushes the withholding calculation into higher tax brackets temporarily. On top of the federal withholding, you've also got: - Social Security tax (6.2%) - Medicare tax (1.45%, plus potentially 0.9% additional if you're a high earner) - State income tax (varies by state) - Possibly local/city taxes - Any pre-tax deductions like 401k contributions All of this can easily add up to that 35-40% total withholding you're seeing. The good news is you'll likely get a nice chunk of that back as a refund when you file your taxes. You can also ask your payroll department if they'd consider using the flat 22% percentage method for future bonuses, or temporarily adjust your W-4 to reduce regular paycheck withholding to offset the over-withholding from your bonus.
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Jamal Edwards
•This is such a clear explanation! I've been stressing about this for weeks thinking my company was making some kind of mistake with my withholding. It's actually kind of relieving to know that 35-40% total withholding is normal when you add up all the different taxes and deductions. I think I'm going to try adjusting my W-4 like you suggested rather than waiting until tax season for a refund. Do you happen to know if there's a safe rule of thumb for how much to adjust withholding without risking owing money at tax time? I'm worried about getting the calculation wrong and ending up with a surprise tax bill.
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Zainab Omar
•A good rule of thumb is to only adjust your withholding by the amount you're confident was over-withheld from your bonus. You can estimate this by calculating what your bonus SHOULD have been taxed at (your marginal rate) versus what was actually withheld. For example, if you got a $10,000 bonus and $4,000 was withheld (40%), but your marginal tax rate is only 24%, then your actual tax liability on that bonus is probably around $2,400. Add in FICA taxes (7.65%) for another $765, so roughly $3,165 total. That means about $835 was over-withheld ($4,000 - $3,165). You could safely reduce your withholding by that $835 spread across your remaining paychecks. The IRS also has a "safe harbor" rule - as long as you pay at least 90% of this year's tax liability OR 100% of last year's tax liability (whichever is smaller), you won't owe penalties even if you end up owing a bit at tax time. I'd recommend using the IRS withholding calculator on their website - it takes into account your YTD earnings and can give you more precise W-4 adjustments. Just remember to change it back in January!
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