Has anybody used any specific brokerage that makes this stock transfer process easier? I'm with Fidelity and wondering if there's paperwork I need to fill out or if I can do it all online.

One thing to keep in mind that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you document everything properly for your records. When you gift stock, you'll want to keep records of the fair market value on the date of transfer (you can use the average of high and low prices for that day), along with your original purchase information. Also, if you're gifting shares worth close to the $19,000 limit, consider doing it earlier in the year rather than waiting until December. Stock prices can be volatile, and you don't want to accidentally exceed the annual exclusion if the stock appreciates between when you plan the gift and when you actually execute it. Your parents should also understand that they'll need this cost basis information when they eventually sell, so make sure to provide them with all the original purchase details - dates, prices, and any relevant documentation.

If your still having issues call their support line - 1-800-446-8848. They're actually pretty helpful rn bc so many ppl are having this problem

Have you tried using the TurboTax mobile app instead? Sometimes when the web version is having server issues, the mobile app still works fine. Also, make sure you're not using any ad blockers or browser extensions that might be interfering with the e-file process. If all else fails, you can always file a paper return - just download Form 1040 from the IRS website directly.

Does anyone know if there are any specific deductions we can take as survey takers? Like can I write off my internet bill or part of my cell phone if I use it for mobile surveys?

Great question! I went through this exact same situation last year. You're absolutely right to be tracking everything - that spreadsheet will be your best friend come tax time. To add to what others have mentioned, there's actually a good online calculator that can help estimate your self-employment tax burden based on your survey income. Since you're looking at potentially $1200-1500, you'd be well over the $400 threshold for self-employment tax, so you'll owe both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax on that amount. One thing I learned the hard way - if you expect to owe more than $1000 in taxes for the year (including on your survey income), you might need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid an underpayment penalty. Since you're already at $780 and expecting more, this could apply to you depending on your regular job's withholding. The good news is that once you get the hang of reporting this income, it becomes pretty routine. Just make sure to save those spreadsheet records - the IRS can ask for documentation even if the survey companies don't send you 1099 forms.

I fixed this exact problem last year by using the "Married but withhold at higher Single rate" checkbox on my W-4. It's simpler than trying to calculate an exact additional withholding amount. This basically makes your withholding closer to what a single person would pay on the same income, which is usually about right when both spouses work. We had the EXACT same situation - my wife's taxes were like 11% and mine were only 6%. After checking that box and submitting a new W-4, my withholding went up to about 15%, which was a little high, but we'd rather get a refund than owe.

This is such a frustrating but common issue! I went through the exact same thing last year. The key problem is that the W-4 form changed significantly in 2020, and most people (including HR departments) don't fully understand how it works for two-earner households. What's happening is that each employer is calculating withholding as if that's your only household income. So your husband's employer sees his $78K salary and thinks "married filing jointly with one child = low tax burden" without knowing about your $115K income that pushes your combined household into much higher tax brackets. Here's what worked for me: I used the IRS Withholding Estimator (irs.gov/W4App) with both our incomes and it calculated that we needed an additional $520 per month withheld from my husband's paycheck. We put this amount in Step 4(c) of his W-4 as "Extra withholding per pay period." For your 2024 taxes that you'll owe, definitely file by April 15th even if you can't pay the full amount immediately. The failure-to-file penalty is much worse than failure-to-pay. You can set up a payment plan online at irs.gov if needed. The silver lining is that once you fix the W-4 forms properly, this won't happen again in 2025!

You might also wanna look into whether u qualify as a real estate professional for tax purposes. If u do, the passive activity loss limitations don't apply to your rental properties, which would make this whole question moot cuz then the losses wouldnt be considered passive in the first place. U need to meet two requirements: 1) more than half ur personal services during the year are in real property trades/businesses, and 2) u perform more than 750 hours of services in real property trades/businesses.

Another consideration for your situation is the timing of when you can use passive losses. If you have suspended passive losses from prior years on the property you're keeping, those can only offset passive income in the current year - they can't offset the depreciation recapture unless you're disposing of that specific property too. However, if you have current year passive losses from your other rental property, those should be able to offset the passive income portion of your gain, including the depreciation recapture. Just make sure you're tracking which losses come from which property, especially if you have suspended losses carried forward from multiple years. Also worth noting - if you're planning any other real estate transactions soon, the timing could affect your overall tax strategy. Sometimes it makes sense to bunch gains and losses in the same year to maximize the offset benefit.