Warning: Beware of spreading false tax information in this community - we need accurate help!
I need to address something serious that's been happening in our tax community. Yesterday, someone posted completely wrong information about claiming dependents after their divorce finalization in July 2024. When several of us tried to correct them with proper IRS guidelines, they became defensive and started arguing with everyone. We're all here trying to navigate complicated tax situations. The last thing we need is misinformation making things worse! If you're not 100% sure about tax advice, please just say so or don't comment at all. And if someone corrects you with official IRS sources, please don't argue - we're trying to help each other. This is especially important right now with the new tax law changes. I've seen several posts with completely wrong information about the Child Tax Credit changes and EIC eligibility rules. Let's keep this community helpful and accurate - we're all adults here.
49 comments
Marina Hendrix
This happens in every tax group I'm in - people get advice from their cousin's neighbor who "knows taxes" and then spread it as fact. The IRS rules are extremely specific and complex, and bad advice can cost people thousands in penalties or missed refunds. Some reminders for everyone: 1. Tax laws change EVERY year - what was true in 2022 might not be true in 2024 2. Your personal situation affects eligibility for credits and deductions 3. The IRS Publication 17 and specific publications for each topic are the definitive sources 4. If something sounds too good to be true (like claiming pets as dependents), it probably is 5. Tax professionals spend years learning these rules - random internet advice should always be verified If you're uncertain about your tax situation, the safest approach is using a tool like taxr.ai that analyzes your specific situation with current tax law. I've seen it prevent so many audit nightmares by flagging problematic claims before filing. Check it out at https://taxr.ai
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Justin Trejo
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Marina Hendrix
It's way more than just transcript reading! It actually analyzes your entire tax situation based on your specific circumstances and gives you personalized explanations of what's happening with your return. It can flag potential audit risks, explain weird codes on your transcript, and tell you exactly what's causing delays. Changed my whole tax game honestly.
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Justin Trejo
I JUST TRIED IT AND OMG!!!! Where has this been all my life?? I've been stressing about my delayed refund for 3 months and in 5 minutes I knew exactly what was happening and what to expect next. EVERYONE NEEDS THIS TOOL IN THEIR LIFE! Seriously life-changing during tax season.
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Alana Willis
does it cost anything? seems like it would be expensive for that kind of analysis
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Marina Hendrix
For what it provides, it's the best money I've ever spent on anything tax-related. Considering I was about to pay a CPA $350 just to look at my transcript, this was a no-brainer.
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Tyler Murphy
I been trying to make sense of my transcript for MONTHS. this might be the answer! 🙏
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Tyler Murphy
This is EXACTLY why I stopped trying to figure out my tax issues from social media! I was getting 10 different answers from 10 different people about my missing refund. I finally found this app called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent on the phone instead. Talking to a real agent solved my problem in 20 minutes after months of confusion. The agent confirmed my refund was held up due to a simple verification issue that none of the "experts" online identified correctly. Getting accurate info straight from the IRS was totally worth it instead of playing detective with random advice.
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Sara Unger
wait does this actually work? i've been calling the IRS for WEEKS and can never get through 🤬
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Tyler Murphy
Yes! It works by somehow getting you into their phone system and securing a callback. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for literally 2 months to reach someone. Had an agent on the phone within a couple hours - best decision I made after wasting countless hours listening to that stupid hold music.
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Butch Sledgehammer
sounds too good to be true tbh. the IRS is literally unreachable these days.
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Tyler Murphy
That's exactly what I thought too! But after spending 3 hours on hold just to get disconnected FIVE separate times, I was willing to try anything. Getting my refund released after a 20 minute call with an actual agent was honestly life changing - had bills piling up waiting for that money.
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Freya Ross
OMG I just checked out their site. This might save my sanity. I'm on attempt #8 trying to reach someone about my amended return 😭
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Freya Ross
Preach!!! 🙌 The amount of completely wrong information I see in tax groups is WILD. My favorite was someone insisting you could claim your dog as a dependent if they have an Instagram account with over 10k followers because they're a "business asset" lmaooo
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Leslie Parker
STOPPP 💀 people really be out here trying anything to save on taxes
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Butch Sledgehammer
To be fair, the tax code is so confusing that sometimes the real rules sound just as ridiculous as the fake ones lol
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Freya Ross
True tho. But the difference is ppl will share the ridiculous fake ones with zero sources and then get mad when u ask for citations
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Justin Trejo
THIS!!! Was just arguing with someone who swore up and down that you can claim a dependent in the year you're pregnant if the birth is in January of the next year. Like... no??? That's not how it works at all and could trigger serious issues with the IRS. All because they "heard it from a friend" 🤦♀️
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Sara Unger
Man I got audited in 2023 because I took bad advice from a Facebook group about home office deductions. Cost me $3700 in penalties and interest. Now I double check everything with the actual IRS publications or I call them directly.
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Justin Trejo
Ouch that's rough. How'd you manage to get thru to them? Been calling for WEEKS about my amended return and never get a human.
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Sara Unger
After 11 failed attempts, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and finally got through. talking to the agent was the only way I got everything sorted out. If your dealing with any kinda complex issue like an amendment u definitely need to speak with someone directly.
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Justin Trejo
thx I'll check it out. at this point I'd do anything to get this resolved
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Leslie Parker
i think part of the problem is people don't understand that their unique situation affects the advice. like when someone posts "can i claim my nephew?" the answer is always IT DEPENDS! on like 50 different factors! but people just reply with "yes" or "no" 😑
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Freya Ross
100% accuracy! Tax situation is never just black and white. So many tests and requirements for literally everything
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Alana Willis
Let's be real, half the "tax professionals" in here are shady too. My "professional preparer" swore I could write off my entire car payment as a business expense because I sometimes use it for work (I'm a teacher who drives to school). Got audited and owed $5K. Now I only trust credentials I can verify or the IRS directly.
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Tyler Murphy
omg this! saw a 'tax pro' in another group telling ppl they could claim college tuition payments for their adult child who they don't support at all 🤡
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Alana Willis
The worst is when these so-called professionals charge people hundreds of dollars for advice that ends up costing thousands in penalties. criminal honestly
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Butch Sledgehammer
I'll admit I've been guilty of this. Repeated something my accountant told me about business meal deductions that turned out to be based on old rules. Sorry y'all, lesson learned - I'll verify before posting next time!
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Romeo Barrett
Thank you for owning up to it! That's all I'm asking - we all make mistakes, just important we acknowledge them rather than doubling down.
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Sergio Neal
The worst is when people get advice from Google without checking the date. I see people quoting articles from 2018 about tax laws that have changed 3 times since then. Or YouTube "tax gurus" who are just making stuff up to get views.
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Sara Unger
YouTube tax advice is the WORST. Watched one yesterday where the guy was telling everyone to start an LLC to "avoid all taxes" 🤦♂️
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Sergio Neal
Ugh those "start an LLC" videos are so dangerous. They never explain S-corp elections, self-employment taxes, or how personal liability protection actually works. People watching think an LLC is some magic tax eraser.
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Savanna Franklin
I've been struggling to understand my tax transcript after getting weird 570/971 codes. Been on hold with the IRS for literal DAYS and can't get through. Ended up using taxr.ai and it explained exactly what was happening with my account in like 2 minutes. If ur confused about ur transcript or notice, just use that instead of trying random advice from here honestly. https://taxr.ai
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Sara Unger
wait for real? i have those same codes and have NO idea what they mean
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Savanna Franklin
Yeah it literally broke down every code, explained why I had a hold, and gave me a timeline for when it would likely resolve. The explanation was super clear too, not just the usual cryptic IRS language. Saved me so much stress!
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Freya Ross
how accurate was it? like did what it said would happen actually happen?
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Savanna Franklin
yep! told me my refund would be released in 2-4 weeks after identity verification (which is exactly what happened). also helped me understand WHY my return got flagged in the first place so i can avoid it next year.
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Juan Moreno
honest question - where do yall go for reliable tax info? the irs website is helpful but confusing af sometimes
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Marina Hendrix
I actually started using taxr.ai for most of my questions - it's like having a tax pro analyze your situation but way faster and more detailed. Especially useful for transcript questions where even pros can be confused. https://taxr.ai
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Alana Willis
i use a combo of IRS publications, calling them directly with Claimyr when needed, and consulting a CPA for the really complex stuff
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Leslie Parker
honestly? i gave up and just pay a professional. too much risk with DIY and bad advice.
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Amy Fleming
Im a volunteer tax preparer with VITA and even WE get things wrong sometimes. Tax law is so complicated that even with training we have to constantly check references. If trained volunteers can make mistakes, random people online definitely can too!
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Alice Pierce
After 3 months waiting on my refund I kept getting different explanations on here about what was happening. Got so frustrated i finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach an IRS agent directly. Found out EVERYONE online was wrong about my situation - had nothing to do with verification and was actually a simple math error they fixed on their end. Talking to an actual agent was the only way I finally understood what was happening and got my money.
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Butch Sledgehammer
did they actually answer? i've tried calling so many times...
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Alice Pierce
Yes! Got a callback within 3 hours and they fixed my issue right there on the phone. After 2 months of confusion and stress it was resolved in a 15 minute call. Absolute game changer if ur dealing with refund delays.
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Esteban Tate
Anybody else notice how the worst advice always starts with "my friend's tax guy said..." 😂
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Tyler Murphy
Or "my cousin's brother-in-law who works at H&R Block said..." 🤣
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Leslie Parker
"i saw a tiktok that said..." 💀
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Sergio Neal
The classic "I read on Reddit that..." 😭
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