Don't forget about the medical mileage rate if she ever uses a personal vehicle for appointments! It was 22 cents per mile for 2023.

Just wanted to add some practical advice from someone who's been through this exact situation with my elderly father. Your documentation approach is solid, but I'd suggest one additional step that really helped us during an IRS inquiry. Create a simple one-page summary that shows the total medical transportation expenses ($262.50 for bus trips + the two Lyft rides) alongside her other major medical expenses for the year. This gives context and shows the transportation costs are reasonable relative to her overall medical care. Also, since your mom doesn't drive, you might want to note that in your documentation - it establishes that public transit was her necessary and reasonable method of transportation, not just a choice. The IRS looks favorably on taxpayers who use the most economical transportation method available. One last tip: if any of those 35 appointments were for specialists that required referrals, keep those referral documents too. They help establish the medical necessity of each trip. Good luck with your filing!

Important point nobody mentioned - even if you determine your mom can't claim you as a dependent, you need to coordinate with her before filing. If she incorrectly claims you and you also claim yourself, both returns will get flagged and processed manually, delaying any refund by months. Make sure to talk to her BEFORE either of you file. You don't want to be in a situation where the IRS has to sort it out.

I was in a very similar situation last year and want to share what I learned. The key thing that helped me was creating a detailed spreadsheet of ALL my expenses for 2024 - not just the obvious ones like tuition and rent. Here's what I included in my support calculation: - Tuition and fees (what mom paid vs what I paid) - Housing costs (rent, utilities, renter's insurance) - Food expenses (groceries, dining out, meal plans) - Transportation (car payments, insurance, gas, public transit) - Medical expenses (insurance premiums, copays, prescriptions) - Personal expenses (clothing, phone bill, entertainment) - Educational supplies (books, laptop, etc.) When I added everything up for the full year, even though my parents paid my tuition and supported me through May, I had actually provided more than half my own support because my post-graduation expenses were substantial and I was making good money. The bright side of not being claimed as a dependent was significant - I got the full standard deduction, qualified for education credits on expenses I paid myself, and my overall refund was actually larger than the dependent exemption would have saved my parents. Sometimes it works out better for the family overall if the new graduate files independently! Definitely run the numbers both ways before deciding, and make sure you and your mom are on the same page before either of you files.

The processing date is recent so ur probly getting it soon. mine took exactly 19 days after processing to hit my account

Your transcript looks solid! That $4,908 refund is legit - the negative balance means the IRS owes you money. With your processing date of Feb 24th, you should see the direct deposit hit your account by mid-March. The codes are pretty straightforward: 150 is your tax owed from self-employment, 766 is likely your refundable portion of other credits, and 768 is your EIC. Since there's no holds or pending issues showing, you're in good shape for a smooth refund!

As someone who's been through the IRS maze a few times, I can definitely relate to the anxiety these codes cause! The good news is that a 290 code for $0.00 combined with a 571 code is actually a pretty positive sign. It typically means the IRS reviewed something on your return, made a technical adjustment that didn't impact your bottom line, and then released any holds they had on your account. I'd recommend downloading the IRS2Go app if you haven't already - it makes checking your transcript super easy. Also, don't be afraid to call if you're still worried after a couple weeks. The wait times are brutal, but sometimes talking to a real person can give you peace of mind. Hang in there - you're probably closer to resolution than you think! 🙂

Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to this whole IRS thing and honestly, seeing all these different codes and experiences is both helpful and a little overwhelming 😅 I've been lurking here for a while but never posted before. It's really reassuring to see how supportive this community is - everyone seems so willing to help each other navigate these confusing IRS situations. I haven't had to deal with transcript codes yet, but reading through all your explanations (especially the detailed breakdowns) is really educational. Thanks for creating such a welcoming space for us newcomers to learn from your experiences!

I'm a tax preparer and wanted to jump in to confirm what everyone else is saying - your dad's heart is in the right place, but he's definitely misunderstanding how taxes work! The key thing to remember is that we have a "progressive" tax system. This means you only pay higher tax rates on income ABOVE certain thresholds, not on your entire income. So even if you did hit the 12% bracket (which you won't at $16k), you'd only pay 12% on the dollars above that threshold. At your income level of around $16,128, here's what would actually happen: - First ~$14,000: $0 in federal income tax (standard deduction) - Remaining ~$2,128: 10% federal tax = about $213 - Total federal income tax for the year: ~$213 You'd also pay FICA taxes (Social Security/Medicare) of about 7.65%, but that's unavoidable regardless of your income level and isn't affected by working fewer hours. So to save $213 in taxes, your dad is suggesting you give up thousands in income. That math just doesn't work out! Keep that third day if you can handle it with school - you're building great financial habits that will serve you well in the future.

As someone who went through this exact same situation during college, I can't stress enough how important it is to understand that working MORE hours is almost always better financially, even with taxes! I made the mistake of listening to similar advice from family members and cut my hours during my sophomore year. Looking back, I probably lost out on $3,000+ that year just to save maybe $200-300 in taxes. That money could have really helped with textbooks, living expenses, or just building up my emergency fund. The tax system is designed so that earning more money always leaves you with more take-home pay, even after taxes. The people explaining marginal tax brackets above are spot on - you're only taxed at higher rates on the income ABOVE each threshold, not your entire paycheck. Plus, there are other benefits to consider beyond just the immediate money. Working more hours gives you more experience, potentially better references for future jobs, and helps you build good work habits. Some employers also offer benefits like employee discounts or even tuition assistance programs if you work enough hours. My advice? Keep that third day if you can balance it with your studies. Your future self will thank you for the extra savings and work experience!