Random tip: If your AGI is under $73,000, you qualify for the IRS Free File Program which gives you access to free commercial tax software INCLUDING for things like Schedule 3. TurboTax deliberately hides their Free File version on their website and tries to trick people into paying. Go through the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) to access the ACTUALLY free versions.

I went through this exact same frustration last year! TurboTax's "free" marketing is so misleading - they hook you in and then hit you with upgrade fees halfway through. Your 401k contributions are definitely what's triggering the Schedule 3 requirement for the Saver's Credit. But here's the thing - you don't need to pay TurboTax's ridiculous fees for this. I ended up switching to FreeTaxUSA after getting burned by the upgrade trap, and they handle ALL the schedules including Schedule 3 completely free for federal filing. The Saver's Credit can actually save you money on your taxes (up to $1,000 depending on your income), so it's worth claiming even if TurboTax is trying to charge you for it. Don't let them scare you into thinking you need their expensive version - there are plenty of legitimately free options that handle the exact same forms without the bait-and-switch tactics. Also, pro tip: if you do qualify for the Saver's Credit, make sure you're maximizing it by understanding the income limits and contribution amounts. It's one of the better tax benefits for people just starting to save for retirement.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in March and have been stuck with a 570 code for months. The worst part is the complete lack of communication from the IRS about what's actually happening or when it might be resolved. What I've learned from my research is that the 570 code with a large EIC like yours ($4,972) almost always triggers an income verification review. They're basically cross-checking your reported income against what your employers submitted to make sure everything matches up. The good news is that your transcript shows all the right pieces are there - your withholding ($843), your EIC ($4,972), and the math adds up to about $5,815 total refund. The system just has a hold while they verify everything. I know everyone says calling the IRS is impossible, but I finally got through last week using the callback feature early in the morning. The agent told me that 570 holds for EIC verification are taking 12-16 weeks this year due to staffing issues. Not what I wanted to hear, but at least it gave me a realistic timeline. Hang in there - from what I've read on here and other forums, almost all of these EIC verification holds eventually get released once they complete their review. It's just a matter of waiting it out unfortunately.

I can totally relate to your frustration! I went through almost the exact same situation last year - filed in April, had a 570 code with EIC, and waited what felt like forever for any movement. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part. One thing that helped me was understanding that the 570 code with a large EIC amount like yours ($4,972) is actually pretty routine. The IRS has automated systems that flag returns with significant refundable credits for review, especially EIC claims over a certain threshold. It's not necessarily because they think anything is wrong - it's just part of their fraud prevention process. Your transcript actually looks pretty clean to me. The fact that your withholding ($843) plus EIC ($4,972) adds up to roughly $5,815 in expected refund means all the pieces are there. The 570 is just temporarily blocking the release while they complete their review. I know waiting is incredibly stressful when you're counting on that money, but try to take comfort in the fact that your situation seems straightforward. No weird codes, no notices, just a standard verification hold. Most of these do resolve within a few months once the review process works through the queue. Keep checking Fridays for updates and hang in there! Your refund is substantial enough that it'll be worth the wait once it finally comes through.

As someone who's dealt with similar situations, I'd strongly recommend erring on the side of caution here. The key factor isn't how you receive the money (cash vs check vs deposit) - it's the underlying nature of the transaction. If you provided labor helping them move and they're compensating you for that time and effort, that's typically considered taxable income regardless of what anyone calls it. The $1,300 amount might seem small, but the IRS has increasingly sophisticated matching systems. If your friend claims this as any kind of business expense or deduction, that creates a paper trail that could eventually be matched against your tax return. The potential headache of dealing with a notice or audit later isn't worth the relatively small tax savings. My suggestion would be to either: 1) Have your friend clearly document this as a personal gift with no services exchanged, or 2) Report it as miscellaneous income to be completely above board. Given that you provided moving services, option 2 is probably the more honest approach. You can always consult a tax professional if you're unsure, but when in doubt, reporting income is usually the safer path.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add a perspective from someone who's been through IRS correspondence before. The most important thing to understand is that the IRS doesn't really care about the mechanics of how you received payment - they care about the economic substance of the transaction. If you helped someone move and they gave you $1,300, that's almost certainly compensation for services, not a gift. The fact that they're calling it a "gift" doesn't change the reality that you provided labor and received payment for it. True gifts are given without any expectation of services in return. Here's what I learned from my own experience: trying to avoid reporting legitimate income often creates more problems than it solves. Even if the immediate tax burden seems annoying, it's nothing compared to the stress and potential penalties of dealing with IRS notices later. My recommendation would be to report this as miscellaneous income on your tax return. It's straightforward, honest, and protects you from any future complications if your friend's reporting doesn't align with yours. The peace of mind is worth far more than whatever taxes you'd save by treating it as a gift.

As someone who's dealt with state tax residency issues, I'd strongly recommend NOT amending your returns to show you remained a resident of your original state if you genuinely established residency elsewhere. That's basically giving up money you don't owe. The documentation you provided (lease, utility bills, tax returns) is actually pretty solid evidence. States often push back initially hoping people will just give up and pay. Here are a few additional steps to consider: 1. Look into your state's specific residency rules - many states have a "183-day rule" where physical presence for more than half the year establishes residency regardless of your driver's license status. 2. Create a detailed timeline showing your physical presence in each state throughout the year. Include work schedules, travel receipts, anything that shows where you actually were. 3. Consider getting a tax attorney who specializes in multi-state residency issues. The consultation fee might be worth it to avoid paying taxes you don't owe. 4. If your new state has no income tax or lower rates, you have even more reason to fight this - the savings could be substantial. Don't let them bully you into paying if you legitimately changed your residency. The driver's license issue is inconvenient but not necessarily fatal to your case.

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I moved from New York to Florida during the pandemic for a temporary nursing assignment that ended up becoming permanent. NY is being incredibly aggressive about claiming I still owe them taxes even though I've been living and working in Florida for over a year. What I've learned is that the driver's license issue, while not ideal, isn't necessarily a deal-breaker. Many states focus more on where you actually spent your time and your intent to establish residency. Here's what's helped me so far: - I created a detailed day-by-day calendar showing my physical presence in each state - Got letters from my apartment complex showing my lease dates and rent payments - Collected all my medical appointments, prescriptions filled, grocery receipts - basically anything showing daily life activities in the new state - Filed a Declaration of Domicile with my county clerk (Florida allows this) The key thing my tax attorney told me is that states often send these aggressive letters hoping people will just give up and pay. Don't amend your returns yet - that's essentially admitting you were wrong when you might not be. Consider getting a consultation with a tax professional who handles multi-state residency issues. It might cost a few hundred dollars but could save you thousands in taxes you don't actually owe. Also, document everything going forward - get that driver's license changed ASAP and keep records of when you do it. Better late than never!

Just to add some clarification on the $600 threshold mentioned earlier - that's actually for 1099s, not W2s. For W2s, employers are required to issue them for ANY amount if federal income tax, Social Security tax, or Medicare tax was withheld, regardless of how small the amount. Even if no taxes were withheld, they still need to issue a W2 if you earned $600 or more. But since you mentioned you're pretty sure they withheld taxes from your $115-140 shift, they're definitely required to send you a W2. Given that it's already February and you haven't received it, I'd suggest calling the employer first. If that doesn't work, the IRS can help after February 14th. Keep records of your attempts to contact the employer - the IRS will ask about that when you call them.

I work in payroll and can confirm what others have said - if ANY taxes were withheld from your single day's pay, the employer is legally required to issue you a W2, no matter how small the amount. The $600 threshold only applies when NO taxes were withheld. Since you mentioned they likely withheld taxes from your $115-140 shift, they definitely owe you a W2. The January 31st deadline has passed, so they're already late. I'd recommend calling their payroll or HR department first - sometimes W2s get lost in the mail or sent to old addresses. If you can't reach them or they're unresponsive, definitely contact the IRS after February 14th. They take missing W2s seriously and will contact the employer on your behalf. Make sure to keep records of your attempts to contact the employer - the IRS will want to know what steps you've already taken. Also, don't forget that you'll need that W2 info for your tax return. If you end up having to file without it using Form 4852, you'll need to estimate your withholdings as accurately as possible based on any pay stub or records you have.