This just happened to my sister too! She made a copy of her return, wrote a letter explaining the situation, included proof that her check was cashed, and sent it all certified mail. Make sure you keep the certified mail receipt! She called a couple weeks later to confirm they received it, and they told her it would take 8-10 weeks to process but she wouldn't be charged any penalties since she had proof her payment was received on time.

I went through something very similar earlier this year! The key is to respond quickly and keep everything organized. Here's what worked for me: 1. Make copies of EVERYTHING - your original return, the CP80 notice, bank statements showing the cashed check, and any correspondence 2. Write "COPY - DO NOT PROCESS" in red at the top of each page of your tax return copy 3. Include a cover letter explaining that they cashed your check but claim they didn't receive your return - reference the CP80 notice number 4. Send everything via certified mail to the address listed on your CP80 notice I also recommend calling the IRS (even though it's painful) to get a representative to note in your account that you're responding to the notice. This creates a paper trail that you're addressing the issue proactively. The whole process took about 10 weeks to fully resolve, but I didn't get hit with any penalties since I had proof of timely payment. Stay organized and document everything - you'll get through this!

Just a quick tip - make sure you pay the additional tax owed from that 1099 income ASAP, even before filing the second amendment. You'll minimize any interest and penalties that way. The IRS charges interest from the original due date of the return until you pay, regardless of when you discover the error. You can make a payment online using IRS Direct Pay and select "amended return" as the reason.

As someone who's been through the multiple amendment process myself, I want to emphasize that you should definitely include a detailed cover letter with your second 1040-X explaining the entire timeline. Something like "Filed original return with W-2 from main job only → Received forgotten W-2, filed first amendment → Now received unexpected 1099-NEC, filing second amendment." The IRS processors really appreciate this clarity, especially when amendments are filed close together. Also, since you're dealing with babysitting income, make sure you understand that this is typically considered self-employment income even if it was casual work. You'll need to file Schedule SE for the self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), which adds about 15.3% on top of your regular income tax. One more thing - consider making an estimated payment now for the additional taxes owed. Interest accrues from the original April deadline regardless of when you discovered the error, so paying early can save you money even before your amendment is processed.

Something similar happened to me. What I did was create an ID.me account which the IRS uses for verification. Even if you don't remember your exact address, the ID.me verification includes other methods like uploading your ID and doing a video chat verification. Once verified there, I could access my IRS account and see/update my address info.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! What finally worked for me was a combination approach. First, I called the IRS transcript line at 1-800-908-9946 early in the morning (like 7:30 AM) when wait times are shorter. When they couldn't verify me with the addresses I provided, the agent actually told me I could visit a local Taxpayer Assistance Center with two forms of ID and they could help me access my account records and update my address. I scheduled an appointment at the TAC office, brought my driver's license and passport, and they were able to pull up my account and show me what address they had on file (turns out it was an address from 2019 that I had completely forgotten about). They updated it on the spot and printed my transcripts right there. The whole visit took about 45 minutes. If you have a TAC office nearby, I'd definitely recommend this route over trying to guess addresses online. You can find locations and schedule appointments at irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office. Good luck with your mortgage application!

Has anyone dealt with investment allocation when consolidating HSAs? We've been running into this issue where my wife's HSA has good investment options but mine has terrible ones with high fees.

This is exactly the kind of optimization question I love seeing! You're on the right track thinking about this strategically. One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned - if you're self-employed and have variable income, having your wife handle the full HSA contribution through her W-2 job provides more predictable cash flow planning. Her payroll deductions are steady and automatic, while your business income might fluctuate seasonally. Also, don't forget about the HSA catch-up contributions if either of you will be 55+ this year - that's an extra $1,000 you can contribute on top of the family limit. For the investment allocation question, I'd suggest treating your HSAs as part of your overall portfolio allocation rather than trying to optimize each account separately. Since you can both use either HSA for family medical expenses, think of them as one combined healthcare investment pot when deciding on asset allocation. The solo 401k route for your business income is probably the smart move here - especially since you mentioned not having enough total income to max both. The 401k limits are much higher and you get both employee and employer contribution opportunities as a business owner.

This is such a common source of confusion for new employees! I remember being totally lost when I got my first real paycheck. Just to add to what others have said - FED MWT EE is your federal income tax withholding, and the amount depends on what you put on your W-4 form when you started. One thing that helped me was keeping my first few paystubs and comparing them to make sure the deductions stayed consistent. Sometimes payroll makes mistakes, especially in your first few pay periods while they're setting everything up in their system. Also, don't worry if the amount seems high - like others mentioned, if too much is being withheld, you'll get it back as a refund when you file your taxes. Better to have too much withheld than to owe a big payment in April!

As someone who works in payroll processing, I can confirm that FED MWT EE is indeed Federal Withholding Tax for the Employee portion. The confusing part is that every payroll system seems to use slightly different abbreviations - I've seen FED W/H, FIT-EE, Fed Tax, and about a dozen other variations all referring to the same thing. One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - if this is your first job or you recently had a major life change (got married, had a kid, bought a house, etc.), you might want to review your W-4 after a few paychecks to make sure your withholding is on track. The IRS updated the W-4 form a few years ago to be more accurate, but it can still be tricky to get right. Also, keep in mind that your federal withholding will be higher in your first few paychecks of the year and then level out once you hit the Social Security wage base limit (around $160k for 2024). Just something to be aware of so you don't panic if you see variations throughout the year!