That's a really good point I hadn't considered! Just checked my W2s and it looks like they did continue California SDI withholding even on my Texas W2. How would I go about fixing that? Would I need to get a corrected W2 issued?

You should first contact your payroll department and ask them to issue a corrected W2. They should stop the withholding going forward and may be able to refund you for the incorrect withholding after your move. If they won't issue a corrected W2 (some companies are reluctant to do this), you can still file correctly using the existing W2 and you may be able to claim a refund for the incorrectly withheld state taxes when you file your California return. The key is to clearly document your residency change date so California knows you weren't subject to their taxes during that period.

Yes, this is super important! California in particular is aggressive about this. If you spent more than 9 months there in the tax year, they might argue you're a full-year resident even if you "moved" to Texas. They look at factors like: - Where your main home is - Where your family lives - Where your cars are registered - Where you vote - Where your doctors are

@Aidan Hudson - This is definitely something you should look into given your situation! Since you were in California for 7 months Jan-July (,)you re'right at the edge where they might scrutinize your residency status. Make sure you can document that you truly established residency in Texas - things like updating your driver s'license, voter registration, bank accounts, etc. all help prove you made a genuine move rather than just a temporary work assignment. If California tries to claim you as a full-year resident, you could end up owing tax on your Texas income too, which would be a nightmare. The documentation of your move date and intent to permanently relocate will be crucial if they ever audit your part-year return.

Smart approach but be careful - the IRS scrutinizes these arrangements if the consulting payments seem excessive relative to actual services provided. Make sure there's documentation of actual consulting activities and that the payment amount is reasonable for the services.

its giving AOL dialup vibes fr

LMAOOO not the dialup 💀 but ur right tho

I've used USAFacts and it's decent for the big picture stuff, but it still feels so disconnected from MY specific tax contribution. And voting feels so ineffective when both parties end up spending on things I oppose. I wonder if there's any movement toward creating even a small pilot program where taxpayers could allocate some portion of their taxes?

Great questions! From what I've seen, participatory budgeting does tend to increase citizen engagement and satisfaction, but it's not a magic bullet. Studies from cities like Boston showed higher turnout in subsequent elections and increased trust in local government among participants. However, you're right that it can create new frustrations - especially when popular projects get voted down due to budget constraints or feasibility issues. For tracking transparency-supporting representatives, I'd recommend checking voting records on sites like GovTrack.us or Ballotpedia. Look specifically for votes on bills related to government accountability, budget transparency, or taxpayer rights. The Taxpayer Protection Alliance also publishes scorecards rating politicians on fiscal responsibility issues. Some representatives have actually introduced bills requiring more detailed tax receipts - Senator Rand Paul has proposed legislation requiring the IRS to provide taxpayers with a breakdown of how their specific tax dollars are allocated. It hasn't gained much traction yet, but it shows there is some political interest in these reforms.

Great questions! From what I've read, the participatory budgeting pilots have shown mixed but generally positive results for citizen engagement. Boston's program saw about 70% of participants report feeling more connected to local government, though turnout was often limited to more affluent neighborhoods which created equity concerns. For tracking transparency-focused representatives, I'd recommend checking out Vote Smart (votesmart.org) and GovTrack.us. They track voting records on budget transparency bills and government accountability measures. The Congressional Budget Office also publishes reports on which members of Congress request the most detailed spending breakdowns. You might also want to look into the DATA Act implementation - it was supposed to make federal spending more transparent and searchable. Some representatives have been pushing for stronger enforcement and expansion of those requirements. Following organizations like the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) can help you stay updated on which politicians are actually walking the walk on transparency rather than just talking about it during election season.

Last 2 digits tell u what day of the week. 05 means Thursday updates

@Marcus Patterson The cycle code 20240505 breaks down like this: 2024 is the tax year, and 05 means your return gets updated on Fridays. So you ll'see transcript updates every Friday until your refund is released. Your actual refund date depends on other factors though!

thanks for the tip! just used it and it actually explained why I had a 570 code that was freaking me out. Apparently its just a temporary hold 🙏