Made under 10k with 2nd job, do I need to file taxes for this income?

Yes, you absolutely need to file taxes for your second job income! Both jobs contribute to your total taxable income for the year. The $7.5k from your weekend job gets added to your main income when determining your tax bracket and total tax liability. The reason you might be concerned is that sometimes second jobs don't withhold enough taxes because they don't "know" about your other income. Your weekend employer is probably withholding at a rate assuming that $7.5k is your only income, but in reality, that income is getting stacked on top of your $87k main job. Claiming your mother as a dependent could help your tax situation. If she qualifies as your dependent (meaning you provide more than half her support and she meets other IRS requirements), you may be able to claim head of household filing status, which has better tax rates than filing as single. As for finding a good tax person - look for an Enrolled Agent (EA) or CPA who specializes in individual taxes. Ask friends for recommendations, and when interviewing potential preparers, ask specifically about their approach to tax planning and minimization strategies. A good tax pro should ask you lots of questions about your situation and explain potential deductions or credits you might qualify for.

After reading about your situation, I wanted to share something that really helped me with a similar issue. I was working multiple jobs and getting confused with all the tax implications and documents. I started using https://taxr.ai to analyze all my tax documents and it made everything so much clearer. I uploaded my W-2s from both jobs, and it analyzed exactly how the withholding from each was affecting my total tax picture. It showed me where I was short on withholding and helped me understand how my extra income was being taxed. The system even suggested adjustments to my W-4 to prevent owing next year. The part about claiming dependents was super helpful too. It walked me through all the requirements for claiming my dad and showed me exactly how it would affect my filing status and potential tax benefits.

I was skeptical at first about taxr.ai but decided to try it after struggling with a similar multiple-job situation. What impressed me was how it specifically identified that my second job was withholding at the wrong rate because it didn't "know" about my primary income. The system showed me exactly how much more I should have withheld from each paycheck to avoid owing at tax time. I followed the recommendation to update my W-4 with both employers, and for the first time in years, I didn't get hit with a surprise tax bill! It also confirmed I was eligible to claim my father as a dependent and showed me how that changed my tax situation. The analysis was way more detailed than what I got from TurboTax, and I ended up saving about $1,800 more than I would have on my own. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a multi-job situation.

If you're owing taxes and having trouble reaching the IRS for help, I was in the same boat last year. After being on hold for HOURS trying to get someone at the IRS to explain my tax situation with multiple W-2s, I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. I was super skeptical at first, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Basically, they navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you back when they have an agent on the line. The IRS agent explained exactly how I needed to adjust my withholding across multiple jobs to avoid owing at tax time. She also walked me through the proper way to claim my dependent parent to maximize my tax benefits. Saved me from making some big mistakes!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I tried the Claimyr thing and it actually worked. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it because I was desperate to talk to someone about my multiple W-2 situation. The service called me back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent answered all my questions about handling income from multiple jobs and confirmed I was withholding too little from my second job. She even explained exactly how to fill out a new W-4 to adjust for multiple income sources. I also got clear guidance on claiming my mother as a dependent, which is apparently going to save me a decent amount on my taxes. Honestly, the peace of mind from talking to an actual IRS person instead of guessing was worth it. Definitely changed my view on this.

For your specific question about second job income - YES you need to file it! I made this mistake one year and got a nasty letter from the IRS about underreported income. Both employers send W-2s to the IRS, so they know about all your income. If you're concerned about owing more, you should adjust your W-4 withholding at your main job to account for the additional income. You can use the IRS withholding calculator online to figure out the right amount. In terms of finding a good tax preparer, look specifically for someone who does tax PLANNING, not just tax PREPARATION. The difference is huge! A good tax planner will meet with you during the year, not just at tax time, and help you make decisions that minimize your tax burden.

Don't waste money on a tax person! I was in your exact situation last year - main job around $90k and a side gig around $8k. I tried both doing it myself and going to a professional. The "professional" charged me $350 and got me the EXACT SAME result I got using FreeTaxUSA which cost me $0 for federal and $15 for state. The key with multiple jobs is understanding how to adjust your withholding. The second job income pushes some of your money into a higher tax bracket, which is probably why you owed last year. I fixed this by putting an additional $50 withholding on each paycheck from my main job (line 4c on the W-4 form). As for claiming your mom, if she lived with you all year and you provided more than half her support, you'll likely qualify for Head of Household filing status which gives better tax rates and a higher standard deduction!

Based on your situation, you definitely need to report that $7.5k from your second job - all income gets combined when calculating your taxes. The withholding issue others mentioned is spot on - each employer withholds as if they're your only job, so you're likely under-withheld overall. For your mom as a dependent, since you're providing full support and she's living with you, you should qualify for Head of Household status (assuming you're unmarried). This gives you better tax brackets and a higher standard deduction than filing single, which could significantly help your tax situation. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - consider making quarterly estimated tax payments if you plan to keep the second job. This can help you avoid the big tax bill at filing time. You can calculate what you need using Form 1040ES. As for tax preparers, I'd suggest looking for an Enrolled Agent who specializes in multi-income situations. They're federally licensed and can represent you before the IRS if needed. Ask potential preparers specifically about their experience with Head of Household filing and multiple job withholding strategies before you hire them.