22 Does anyone know if the forms auto-save on Free Fillable Forms? I'm having the same login issues, but I'm wondering if my information will still be there if I eventually get back in, or if I should just give up and use TurboTax or something?

I went through this exact same issue last month! The login loop is incredibly frustrating. What finally worked for me was completely clearing all browser data (not just cookies - everything including cache and stored passwords), then restarting my browser and trying again. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions like password managers or autofill tools when logging in - these can interfere with the site's authentication. If that doesn't work, try using an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes the site has conflicts with stored session data. The Free Fillable Forms site is notoriously finicky, especially during peak season. I also found that waiting until very early morning (like 5-6 AM) when server traffic is lowest helped me get through. Don't panic about the deadline - if worst comes to worst, you can always file for an extension to give yourself more time to sort this out!

I've been through this exact situation with World Finance. Filed on February 1st with CTC and EIC, got my advance within hours, but my actual refund still took the full PATH Act timeline - 21 days from acceptance. The key thing to understand is that World Finance's advance is completely separate from IRS processing. They're essentially giving you a loan against your expected refund, but the IRS doesn't process your return any faster because of it. For your Head of Household status change, that shouldn't cause delays unless there's a dependent claiming conflict. I'd recommend checking Where's My Refund every few days for actual status updates - that's the only reliable source for IRS processing timelines. The advance helps with immediate cash flow, but you'll still be waiting the standard timeframe for returns with refundable credits. Make sure you account for World Finance's fees when calculating your final refund amount.

I went through World Finance this season and can share some specifics that might help with your analysis. Filed on January 31st with Head of Household status, CTC for two dependents, and EIC. Got a $900 advance within 24 hours, but my actual refund processing followed the standard PATH Act timeline - exactly 21 days from IRS acceptance to deposit. The key insight is that World Finance's advance operates completely independently from IRS processing speeds. They're essentially providing you a short-term loan based on their calculation of your expected refund, but this doesn't influence how quickly the IRS reviews and processes your return. Your filing status change to Head of Household shouldn't add processing delays unless there are dependent verification issues. For tracking purposes, I'd recommend documenting both your World Finance timeline (advance received) and your IRS timeline (check Where's My Refund for acceptance date and processing status). The variance you're trying to quantify likely relates more to IRS workload and verification requirements than to the advance service itself. My final refund was deposited directly with World Finance's advance and fees automatically deducted - came out to about $85 in total fees for the $900 advance.

11 Has anyone here actually been audited because of stock stuff? I'm paranoid I'm going to mess up reporting my vested RSUs and get in trouble.

The key thing to understand is that the IRS treats stock compensation as income when you receive something of economic value, not when you convert it to cash. With RSUs, the moment they vest, you legally own shares worth their current market value - that's considered compensation just like your salary. Think of it this way: if your employer gave you a $1000 bonus but paid it in gold bars instead of cash, you'd still owe taxes on that $1000 even if you kept the gold. The IRS sees vested stock the same way. The system actually makes sense from a policy perspective - otherwise people could defer taxes indefinitely by never selling their shares. But I totally get why it feels unfair when you're suddenly owing taxes on "paper gains" that you can't easily access! Pro tip: Most companies will automatically sell some of your shares at vesting to cover the tax withholding, so you won't be completely stuck paying out of pocket.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this exact situation. I transitioned from a full-time job to trading about 18 months ago and initially put "Self-employed" on my tax return, thinking that since I was working for myself, that was the right choice. Big mistake! Got a letter from the IRS asking for clarification about my business activities and requesting Schedule C documentation that I didn't have (since I wasn't actually running a business). Had to send in explanatory letters and documentation showing that my activities were investment-related, not business-related. My tax preparer corrected it to "Investor" for the following year and explained that the key distinction is whether you're in the business of trading (which requires trader tax status) or investing in securities for capital appreciation. Since most of us don't qualify for trader status, we're investors by definition. The IRS actually has clear guidance on this - if you're buying and selling securities for your own account to generate capital gains, you're an investor. If you're providing trading services to others or meet the very specific trader tax status requirements, then you might use different classifications. Bottom line: stick with "Investor" and sleep easy knowing you're using the correct terminology that matches how you'll be filing your returns.

I went through this exact dilemma last year! After a lot of research and talking to a tax professional, I can confirm that "Investor" is definitely the right choice for your situation. The key thing to remember is that your occupation should align with how you're actually filing your taxes. Since you don't qualify for trader tax status, you'll be reporting all your gains and losses on Schedule D and Form 8949 - which is exactly what investors do. You're not filing Schedule C (business income) because trading securities for your own account to generate capital gains is investing, not running a business. I was also worried about audit flags initially, but my CPA explained that the IRS sees this situation all the time - especially with more people leaving traditional jobs to trade full-time. As long as you're accurately reporting all your income and paying the correct taxes, listing "Investor" won't raise any red flags. One tip: make sure you're properly tracking all your trades and any wash sale adjustments. TurboTax can sometimes miss these details with active trading, so double-check everything before filing. You're overthinking this - "Investor" is the accurate, IRS-recognized occupation for what you're doing. Go with confidence!

Has anyone ever had the payroll department make a mistake with the W-4? When I started my current job I filed as married with 2 allowances but they somehow put me as exempt for the first 3 paychecks without me requesting it. It was a headache to fix.

This is a great reminder for everyone! I learned this the hard way when I first started working. What really helped me understand my paystub was looking at each deduction line by line and researching what each acronym meant. For example, "OASDI" is Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (Social Security tax), and "Medicare" is obvious but some people don't realize it's separate from Social Security. Also, if you're planning to claim exempt, make sure you actually qualify! The IRS is pretty strict about this - you need to have owed zero federal income tax last year AND expect to owe zero this year. If you're unsure, it's better to have a small amount withheld than to face penalties and interest later. You can always adjust your withholding throughout the year if needed.