Everyone keeps talking about whether you need to file, but nobody's mentioned that you might WANT to file even if you're not required to. If you had any federal tax withheld on those dividends (check box 4 on your 1099-DIV), you'd need to file to get that money back as a refund. Filing is free at your income level, so I'd just do it to be safe.

Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you definitely need to file since your $1,800 in dividends exceeds the $1,250 threshold for unearned income that others mentioned. I'd also suggest checking your 1099-DIV form for any federal tax withholding in box 4 - if there's money there, filing would get you that back as a refund. The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant that Malik mentioned seems like a great starting point to confirm your filing requirement, and it's free and official. Even though you won't owe any taxes due to the standard deduction, filing keeps you compliant and might even put money back in your pocket if anything was withheld.

The different copies thing confused me so much my first time filing! Here's a quick breakdown of what they're all for: - Copy A: Goes to Social Security Administration (employer sends this) - Copy B: For Federal tax return - Copy C: For your records - Copy D: For employer's records - Copy 1: For State/City/Local tax authorities - Copy 2: For your State/City/Local tax return When using tax software though, just enter the info once and you're good. The software doesn't care which physical copy you're looking at since all the data is identical!

The multiple copies confused me so much last year! I actually mailed in Copy C with my paper return and the IRS sent me a notice saying I didn't attach my W-2. Turns out I was supposed to use Copy B. But since you're using tax software, you don't mail anything. Just type in the info from any copy (they're identical) and keep all the paper copies for your records. The software will transmit everything electronically.

Don't forget about the QBI deduction (Qualified Business Income)! As a self-employed person, you can deduct up to 20% of your net business income. So if you made $14,800 and had $2,800 in expenses, your net would be $12,000, and you could potentially deduct another $2,400 (20% of $12,000) on top of that. This is separate from your standard or itemized deductions. It's basically free money that a lot of people miss!

The QBI deduction does have income limits, but they're pretty generous for most people. For 2025, the phase-out starts at $191,950 for single filers and $383,900 for married filing jointly. Below those thresholds, you can generally take the full 20% deduction on your qualified business income. Above those limits, the deduction gets more complicated and depends on factors like W-2 wages paid by the business and the type of business you're in. Some service businesses (like consulting, law, accounting) face additional restrictions at higher income levels. But with your current income levels, you're well below the phase-out thresholds, so you should be able to take the full 20% QBI deduction on your net self-employment income from your graphic design work. It's definitely worth claiming - it's one of the biggest tax benefits for small business owners that was added in recent years!

Hey there! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got my CP2000 notice about three weeks ago for my 2022 return. What I've learned from calling the IRS (after waiting forever on hold) is that the key timing factor is whether you respond before the deadline. In my case, they told me that as long as I respond by the date on the notice with proper documentation, my 2023 refund should process normally. The agent explained that CP2000 notices are handled by a different department than current year refunds, so they don't automatically freeze everything. However, she did warn me that if I miss the deadline or if there are any complications with my response, that's when they might put a hold on future refunds. So definitely don't wait until the last minute like I almost did! One thing that helped me was organizing all my 2022 tax documents first before calling, so I could reference specific forms and amounts while talking to them. Made the conversation much more productive than my first call where I was just panicking. Good luck with your response - sounds like you're being proactive about it which is exactly what you should be doing!

Hey @GalaxyGlider! I totally understand the stress - getting any notice from the IRS is never fun, especially when you're just starting out with "adulting" and taxes. From what I've learned through my own experiences and from reading various forums, the good news is that CP2000 notices are proposals, not final assessments. Since your online account doesn't show a balance due yet, there's a good chance your 2023 refund will process normally while you're sorting this out. The most important thing is to respond before that April 10th deadline with solid documentation. Don't wait until the last minute - give yourself at least a week buffer in case you need to gather additional paperwork or if there are any mailing delays. A few practical tips: - Make copies of everything before you send it in - Consider using certified mail like others mentioned - it's worth the extra cost for peace of mind - Keep detailed notes of any phone calls you make to the IRS, including agent names and reference numbers You mentioned you're pretty confident they're wrong - trust your gut but be thorough with your documentation. The IRS makes mistakes too, and many CP2000 notices get resolved in the taxpayer's favor when proper records are provided. Since you just graduated, you might also want to check if your school's accounting department or career services has any resources for recent grads dealing with tax issues. Some schools offer alumni support for exactly these kinds of situations. You've got this! Stay organized and respond promptly, and you should be fine.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my disabled brother. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your siblings receive any government benefits like SSI or SSDI, make sure to check if those count toward their "gross income" for the qualifying relative test. From what I understand, SSI payments generally don't count as taxable income, but SSDI might depending on the total amount and other factors. This could affect whether your working sibling exceeds that $4,700 income threshold. Also, Diego, since you mentioned your father only receives Social Security and doesn't file taxes, you might want to confirm he's not eligible to claim them first before you do. Even if he doesn't file, he might still have the right to claim them as dependents if he wanted to file. Keep detailed records of everything - I use a spreadsheet tracking every expense I cover for my brother throughout the year. Makes tax time so much easier!

One thing that might help you figure out the support calculation is to create a monthly budget for each sibling. I did this when I was trying to determine if I could claim my disabled aunt. Break it down into categories: housing (fair rental value), food, utilities, clothing, medical expenses, transportation, personal care items, etc. Then track what you contribute vs. what your father provides through housing and other support. For the housing piece specifically, you can look up fair market rental values in your area for similar accommodations. The IRS expects you to use reasonable estimates - you don't need to hire an appraiser or anything. Also, since your father is on Social Security only, his income is probably pretty limited. If you're covering things like medical expenses, medications, clothing, and transportation throughout the year, you might be surprised how quickly that adds up to over 50% of their total support. Just make sure to document everything and maybe have your father sign a statement acknowledging that he's not claiming them as dependents and confirming the level of support you provide. This creates a clear paper trail if the IRS ever has questions.