r/tax

Been married for 6 years. I went today to do my taxes and the tax lady said my w4 was wrong because I had it set to married filing jointly instead of single. We have no kids and my wife was in school all of last year. My w4 has remained the same since we got married. So I'm wondering if I've been doing wrong this whole time? So I have it set to single or married filing jointly?

No income in 2025, just starting expenses to form LLC and build the product MVP. Is the IRS expecting to report expenses starting 2025 or 2026?

Hi everyone, looking for some tax guidance for the 2025 tax year. My situation is a bit specific:

• Status: F-1 Student on OPT (Nonresident Alien for tax purposes).
• The Situation: I was granted RSUs while working for a U.S. company in my home country (India). I moved to the U.S. and sold those shares last year while physically present here on my F-1 visa.
• The Forms: I submitted a W-8BEN to my broker, so I did not receive a Form 1099-B. I do have a W-2 from my current U.S. employer.
• Tax Treaty: I know the US-India treaty exists, but it doesn't seem to cover Capital Gains for NRAs.
• Presence: I was physically in the U.S. for more than 183 days last year.

My Questions:

1. Reporting: Since I don't have a 1099-B, how do I manually report these sales on Form 1040-NR? Is it Schedule NEC?
2. Calculation: How do I determine the "cost basis" for RSUs granted abroad? Is it the Fair Market Value (FMV) on the date they vested?
3. Tax Rate: Am I stuck with the flat 30% NRA tax on these gains since I hit the 183-day mark?
4. Recommendations: Can anyone recommend a tax pro or software (like Sprintax) that specifically handles cross-border RSU issues for F-1 students?

Would highly appreciate the help. Thanks again

I am divorcing my husband, and long story short I don't feel safe with him knowing where I live. I was going to file as Married Filing Separately despite the lower deductible because of this and not wanting to be in contact with him. However, we live in TX which is a community property state, and so from what I have just learned and understand from him we each need to still include the other's tax information including W-2s. He says he needs mine, and I need his, but my W-2 has my address on it, and it kind of defeats the purpose of filing separately. Is there a way we can complete our taxes separately without him finding out where I live? Regardless I'll have to be in contact with him, should I just try and file jointly anyway?

I filed my taxes with 2 W2’s in January and got an estimated refund that California owes me. After a few weeks passed, I still hadn’t received my refund. So I checked MyFTB and it said I owed a few hundred dollars instead of them owing me. I spoke with support and they said it is because one of my W2s did not get processed and to send them all of my W2 copies. I submitted all my W2s under “Notice of Tax Rtn Change/Stmt of Tax Due”. It said when I submitted the W2s that I needed to wait up to 30 business days to receive a reply.

Now it’s been about two months since I took those steps and now when I log in it says my account information cannot be found and to call support. Whenever I try calling the line says they are extremely busy and to try again later. They don’t even give me an option to get in queue.

A bit lost on what to do now.

Hey guys, I still haven't filed taxes and have only 10 days left till the deadline. Today I want to sit and finish this, and I really need advice: should I use OLT or Sprintax?
It's just that I got told by my DSO/counselor from the international office that we should use Sprintax, however, I hear so many bad experiences from people using that software. Then I stumbled upon OLT, and most people say that it's so much better than Sprintax, that you can file for free or 10-20 bucks and get a return. So I would like to know if you guys have any experience with both of the software and which one I should use.

Has anyone tried mailing their state tax return from the Philippines to California?

A bit of a background, my Aunt (dual) and Uncle (PR) retired in the Philippines since 2019 but they have maintained a US address (Uncle’s daughter) and a US bank. They are also still registered in California and while they have California driver’s licenses, they’re expired. They have not been back to California since residing here in 2019. Sadly, my Uncle passed away last year.

I’ve been trying to help my Aunt in filing their federal and state tax returns. It’s her first time to file on her own since my Uncle used to file them. Just this week, we’ve successfully filed their 1040 via free file but have a bit of trouble filing their state tax return.

My Uncle used Cal File for the 2024 return and so we tried that route for 2025. Unfortunately, Cal File will not accept their return because of the mandatory health coverage. My Uncle was already 72 when he passed away and had full coverage but my Aunt had none. Upon further research, I found that they are exempt because their household income (SS and IRA monthly distributions) is below the threshold for “married filing jointly”. They don’t owe any ISR penalty. I read that we shouldn’t tick the health coverage section if their household didn’t actually have full coverage for the taxable year and that my Aunt has to attach FTB 3853. The problem is, not checking that section on Cal File will automatically disqualify my Aunt from using the platform. There is also no way to attach FTB 3853. We already sent a message to FTB but have yet to hear from them.

We’ve been trying to search for other online platforms that would allow her to file just the state tax returns (since federal has been filed and accepted by IRS) but it seems there is none. Also, I read that since she is overseas, she has 6 months automatic extension to file. They don’t owe any state tax so that’s a relief. I guess the last resort is to file it by mail, either by USPS or by FedEx. Just not sure how safe this will be and if she should just switch to using 540NR instead of 540.

Any helpful feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I am looking for some information on tax filing for an irrevocable trust (referred to as Trust 1) that:

1. received a distribution from another irrevocable trust's (referred to as Trust 2) corpus (i.e., principal),
2. received no form of funding or income from other sources (including bank interest), and
3. made a distribution to a beneficiary (referred to as Individual 1) using the funds received from Trust 2 corpus.

My understanding is that Trust 1 will not receive a Schedule K-1 from Trust 2, will not provide Individual 1 with a Schedule K-1, and will not be required to file a Form 1041 with the IRS. Is this understanding correct? Should Trust 1 file a Form 1041 and generate a Schedule K-1 (with $0 in every field) even without taxable income due to the distributions it received and made?

For reference, every entity is registered or lives in the state of Missouri.

It’s my first time filing my own taxes so I’m Super confused on how this credit works. When I put my info in tax slayer it tells me I don’t qualify for the credit bc my Pell grant exceeds tuition. However I’ve read that if you put it as income you can qualify. I tried it and it’s still 0, it actually brings my tax return down so would my situation not be worth adding my grants and tuition?

I am filing as head of household with 1 dependent almost 30k in my W2, tuition was $1584 and total Pell grant was 4984 from which I was refunded 3400.

I filed 24’ & 25’ together ended up owing for 24 but I received my full amount for 25. Had this happened to anybody ?

I went to do my taxes and this is my first time doing them. When the tax people finished my taxes they told me I owe money and they showed me the amount. But recently I got a notification from my IRS account and it says I'm getting a refund? I don't see anything about paying on the IRS website.

Do I have to pay what I was told then get the refund? I'm not sure since I've never done taxes before this is my first time doing them so I don't know if this is normal. Or do I not pay and get the refund?

I’m a preparer at a small firm and I’m starting to think our billing is very generous.
My boss handles all the invoicing, for the returns I prepare.

I just finished a return with the following:

• Income: 2 W-2s, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV
• Investments: Stock sales (Sch D) AND Crypto trades
• Side Hustle: Schedule C
• Misc: Gambling winnings/losses
• Deductions: Property taxes, Mortgage etc.
• State: Michigan return + Homestead Property Tax Credit (MI-1040CR)

Total time spent about 90 min
Total bill was $175

I feel like the Crypto and Schedule C alone should be worth more than that.

For those of you in public accounting or running your own shops, what would your firm minimum be for a return like this? Is $150-$200 even sustainable in 2026? I asked and was told that long time client get too upset if he raises the prices too fast. How would you handle these types of clients? (if they are long term clients)

I’m pretty sure my ex employer made mistakes with my FICA withholding. From what I’ve read online, most advice says the employer should correct it, otherwise I have to file a bunch of complicated forms with the IRS myself.

So I contacted the company, and they refused to fix it, saying they only provide corrections for current employees. The situation is especially frustrating because this is a foreign company that doesn’t seem to have proper U.S. support. Even when I was still working there, I had asked them to check some tax related issues, and they refused at the time as well. Instead, they had an overseas accountant reply who didn’t really understand U.S. regulations.

Honestly, I’m pretty upset about how unprofessional this feels, and I regret ignoring some red flags before accepting their offer.

At this point, it looks like I may have to file the paperwork myself to correct the issue with the IRS. If I end up doing that, could the employer face any penalties for refusing to correct their mistake?

So I am a w2 employee and I havent filed for at least 5 years. I have never claimed a dependent. what happens if I file for this year?

I bought a new home last year in March at interest rate of 6.25 on initial balance of $879000. I sold my old home in June, that had a balance of around $300000. In addition, I made additional principal payments to new home (from income derived from selling first home).

How do I figure out mortage interest and average mortage balance? I am confused about IRS language about this.

If I use average monthly balance for each mortage, do I use 0 for months I did not have a balance? Meaning 0 for July- Dec for first home and 0 for Jan-Feb for second home? If I do this, the balance falls below ~750k.

I sold some crypto in 2025 and lost $37 overall. I entered this on my federal forms (which have not been filed yet). 100% of this was done in another state (which does not have state taxes, and doesn't require filing).

While doing my state taxes, they show the "Federal Adjusted Amount" as -$37. They ask for the California amount, and I enter $0.

Then it says:

>You have a California Net Operating Loss (NOL) for 2025.

>We've calculated that you have a resident California capital loss carryover of $37. You'll need this amount when you file your California 2026 tax return.

Except... no I don't. I incurred no gains or losses in California in 2025. None.

And because of this, it's giving me this error:

>Income Situation Not Supported - You entered a net operating loss scenario that our software currently doesn't support on California returns, so you won't be able to use FreeTaxUSA to file your 2025 California tax return. We apologize for the inconvenience.

What?? This is not correct, and now I can't file. What am I supposed to do? I already sent a message to support. Am I doing something wrong here? This is the first time I've ever encountered this.

hi.

I am an independent contractor who goes to location A from home, does my job, then goes home. From my understanding those miles to and from work aren't deductible. I've never written these miles off. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I, recently, got another contract. So I now go from home to location A, then to location B, then home. Are the miles from location A to B deductible?

Thanks for your help in understanding.

I haven’t done them only because I’ve been caught up in health problems. I have 4 W2s, unemployment, and a 1099 for side gig.

I’m sure it’s going to be a bunch I’ll owe but what can I do to pay as much as possible? I’m not running from this and just need advice

Hello, I hope someone will be able to help me. I came up with a negative total (Lost Money) This year and when it comes to line 30 on form 1120, I have gotten mixed answers. Even when asking AI like Gemini or ChatGPT I still can't find a clear answer. Do I just fill in "0" or type the "-10,000" (Number is just for example) Thanks!