I've been dealing with this exact same issue! What I ended up doing was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my major purchases throughout the year while waiting for the IRS calculator to be updated. I set up columns for date, store, purchase amount, and sales tax paid. The key insight I learned is that you don't need to track EVERY single purchase - focus on the big ones. Things like appliances, electronics, furniture, car repairs, etc. For day-to-day purchases like groceries and gas, the IRS table estimates are usually pretty close. I also discovered that some credit card companies and banks categorize your spending in their year-end summaries, which can help you identify categories where you might have paid significant sales tax. It's not perfect, but it gave me a good starting point for estimating until the official tools are available.

For anyone still struggling with this, I found a workaround that's been working well for me. Since the IRS calculator isn't updated yet, I've been using the IRS Publication 600 which has the sales tax tables in PDF format. You can download last year's version and manually look up your income bracket and state to get a baseline estimate. The tables are organized by income level and filing status, and then broken down by state and local tax areas. It's a bit more tedious than using the online calculator, but it gives you the same underlying data. You can find it by searching "IRS Publication 600" on the IRS website. Also, if you made any major purchases like a car, boat, or expensive home improvement materials, you can add those actual sales tax amounts on top of the table amount. The instructions in the publication explain exactly how to do this calculation. This method has helped me get a much more accurate estimate for my tax planning while we wait for the 2025 tools to be released.

I'm in a similar situation with Chime and a NJ state refund. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the consensus is that NJ state refunds are much less predictable than federal ones when it comes to early deposits. The key takeaway seems to be that while you *might* see it 1-2 days early, it's not something you can count on like you can with federal refunds. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this gives me realistic expectations for my own refund timing. Guess I'll keep checking starting around the 9th but won't stress if it doesn't show up until the actual DDD on the 11th.

I've been banking with Chime for about 2 years and can confirm what others are saying about NJ state refunds. They're definitely not as predictable as federal ones. Last year my NJ refund DDD was 4/8 and it hit my account on 4/7 around 3pm, so just one day early. But the year before, it came exactly on the DDD with no early deposit at all. The frustrating part is you can't really predict which way it'll go. My advice is to set your expectations for the actual DDD (3/11 in your case) and treat any early deposit as a pleasant surprise. That way you won't be disappointed if it doesn't come early, and you'll be happy if it does!

Has anyone tried using the Free File Fillable Forms' built-in calculator for the depreciation tables? I'm finding the interface really clunky compared to the spreadsheets my accountant used to provide.

I've been doing my own taxes for about 3 years now after switching from an accountant, and I completely understand your situation! Here are a few practical tips that helped me: For Form 4562, you're right that it's not technically required if you have no new assets, but I'd recommend including it anyway to maintain consistency with your previous filings. It shows the IRS you're continuing to track your depreciation properly and can prevent questions later. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all my existing assets and their remaining depreciation. I pulled this info from my last accountant-prepared return and then just update it each year. This makes filling out Form 4562 much easier. For statements in Free Fillable Forms, I create them as simple text documents that clearly state: "Statement for Form [X], Line [Y]" at the top, followed by my explanation. Keep them concise but detailed enough to justify your position. The IRS just wants to understand your reasoning. You're definitely not overthinking it - being careful on your first DIY return is smart! The transition from accountant to self-filing can be nerve-wracking, but you'll get the hang of it. Take your time and don't hesitate to call the IRS if you have specific questions about your unique situation.

This thread has been absolutely incredible - I've learned more about lottery taxation in the past few minutes than I ever expected to know! As someone who occasionally buys tickets when the Powerball gets huge, I had no idea how many factors could affect your tax burden. The key insight that really stands out is how much your specific state combination matters. The difference between winning in a no-tax state like Florida versus a high-tax state could be thousands of dollars, and I never would have thought to consider that when buying tickets. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical resources people have shared - the tax calculation services and government contact tools look like they could save hours of frustration if I ever need them. The real-world examples from people who've actually dealt with multi-state winnings are so much more helpful than trying to parse through official tax documents. One thing I'm wondering about - do these same general principles apply to other multi-state gambling like casino winnings when you're traveling? Or are there different rules for casinos versus lotteries? I travel for work sometimes and occasionally try my luck at casinos in different states, so I'm curious if I should be thinking about similar tax implications there. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of community knowledge that makes complex topics understandable!

The same general principles do apply to casino winnings when traveling! You'll typically owe taxes to both the state where the casino is located AND your home state, with credits available to prevent double taxation - just like with lottery winnings. However, there are some key differences to be aware of. Casinos will issue you a W-2G form for winnings over certain thresholds (usually $1,200 for slots, $1,500 for keno, $5,000 for poker tournaments), and they're required to withhold federal taxes immediately on larger wins. The state withholding rules vary just like with lotteries - some states take their cut right away, others don't. One thing that's different from lotteries is that casino winnings are often smaller but more frequent, so you might hit reporting thresholds more regularly if you're a frequent traveler/player. Also, some states have reciprocity agreements for casino winnings that they don't have for lottery winnings, so it's worth checking if your home state has any special deals with states you visit frequently. The resources mentioned in this thread like taxr.ai would definitely work for casino winnings too - they handle all types of gambling income, not just lottery winnings. Given how much you travel for work, it might be worth bookmarking those services just in case you hit it big somewhere!

Just to reinforce what others have said - definitely go with married filing jointly! I work in tax prep and see this scenario all the time. When there's such a big income disparity between spouses ($104k vs $660), filing jointly almost always comes out ahead. Your combined income of ~$105k puts you in a great spot for the child tax credit - you'll get the full $2,000 with no phase-out. Plus you'll benefit from the larger standard deduction ($27,700 for MFJ vs $13,850 each for MFS), better tax brackets, and eligibility for credits that get restricted or eliminated when filing separately. The only time I typically see married filing separately make sense is in very specific situations like when one spouse has significant student loan debt on income-driven repayment plans, or major medical expenses that need to be itemized. Those don't apply to your situation. Your husband's low income actually helps lower your overall effective tax rate when you combine it with yours. File jointly, claim your daughter, and you should be in good shape!

Great question! I was in almost exactly the same situation two years ago - I made around $100k and my spouse had very minimal income from part-time work. We were also unsure about the best filing approach. The key thing I learned is that when you're married filing jointly, the child tax credit is based on your combined household income, not which individual parent claims the child. With your combined income around $105k, you're well below the phase-out threshold and will qualify for the full $2,000 credit. Filing separately would actually hurt you in multiple ways - you'd lose access to various credits and deductions, have smaller standard deductions, and potentially end up in less favorable tax brackets. The tax code is really designed to benefit married couples who file jointly. I'd definitely recommend going with married filing jointly and not overthinking it. Your husband's lower income will actually help bring down your overall effective tax rate when combined with yours. You should get the full child tax credit plus all the other benefits of joint filing. Sometimes the most straightforward approach really is the best one!