Has anyone tried using the IRS Withholding Calculator instead of paying for one of these services? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort or if it gives similar results.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key issue is that when you're both working and select "married filing jointly" on your W-4s, each employer calculates withholding as if that job is your only household income. This creates a significant under-withholding problem. Here's what worked for us: We used the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and discovered we needed to add about $200 extra withholding per month total. We split this between our two paychecks - I added $75 extra on line 4(c) of my W-4, and my spouse added $125 on theirs. The math makes sense when you think about it - at your combined income of ~$132K, you're hitting higher tax brackets that neither employer accounts for individually. Don't feel bad about not knowing this - the current W-4 system is really confusing for dual-income households. Once we made the adjustment, our withholding was spot on for this tax year. I'd definitely recommend running your numbers through the IRS calculator first since it's free and gives you the exact amounts to put on your W-4 forms. Good luck!

I experienced this specific scenario during the current filing season. My return was initially flagged with a TC 570 (Additional Account Action Pending) on my transcript, which correlates with the 'verification needed' status on WMR. After 16 days, it was automatically released with a TC 571 (Resolved Additional Account Action) without any correspondence being sent. The status then changed to 'processing' and my refund was issued 6 days later with a TC 846 (Refund Issued). This is a normal sequence for returns that trigger automated verification protocols but are subsequently cleared without taxpayer intervention.

This is actually really encouraging to hear! I filed in early February and have been stuck on verification for about 3 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me hope that maybe I'll see movement soon too. It sounds like the automated system is pretty good at clearing legitimate returns without needing us to jump through hoops. I've been checking WMR obsessively every day, but after reading the comments about transcripts being more detailed, I think I'll create an account and start monitoring that instead. Thanks for starting this thread - it's exactly what I needed to see today to stop panicking about my refund!

did u verify your identity on id.me? sometimes that holds things up even after amendment is processed

Been in the same situation - got my amendment letter 6 weeks ago and still waiting. From what I've learned lurking here, it really depends on what was changed in your amendment. Simple math errors usually process faster, but if you claimed additional credits or deductions, they might do extra verification. Have you tried calling the amended return hotline (866-464-2050)? The wait times are brutal but sometimes they can at least tell you if there are any issues holding it up.

14 Have you considered muni bonds? The interest is generally tax-free at the federal level, and if you buy bonds issued in your state, they're often exempt from state taxes too. Nice option for taxable accounts, especially in higher tax brackets.

Great question! Since you're debt-free with a paid-off house, you have some unique opportunities. A few additional strategies to consider: 1. **Backdoor Roth IRA conversions** - If your income ever pushes you out of direct Roth IRA eligibility, this keeps that option open. 2. **Tax-loss harvesting** in taxable accounts - Systematically realize losses to offset gains and reduce your tax burden. 3. **Asset location optimization** - Keep tax-inefficient investments in tax-advantaged accounts and tax-efficient ones in taxable accounts. 4. **Consider a small business or side hustle** - Opens up business deductions and potentially a Solo 401(k) for additional retirement savings. 5. **Health Sharing Plans** - If available in your area and you're comfortable with them, these aren't insurance but can reduce healthcare costs while maintaining HSA eligibility. 6. **Energy-efficient home improvements** - Federal tax credits are available for things like heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-efficient windows. Since you don't have dependents, maximizing tax-advantaged space and being strategic about investment placement becomes even more important. You're already doing great with the debt-free lifestyle!

Anybody here messed around with QOFs (Qualified Opportunity Funds)? My buddy was talking about them for deferring capital gains but I don't really understand how they work or if they're legit tax strategy or just something sketchy.

Great thread! One strategy I haven't seen mentioned yet is tax loss harvesting in taxable investment accounts. If you have any investments outside your 401k that are at a loss, you can sell them to offset capital gains or even up to $3,000 in ordinary income annually. Just be careful about the wash sale rule - you can't buy the same or "substantially identical" security within 30 days. Also, if you're self-employed at all or have any 1099 income (even small amounts), consider setting up a Solo 401k or SEP-IRA. The contribution limits are much higher than traditional IRAs. For example, with a Solo 401k you can contribute up to $69,000 for 2025 (or $76,500 if you're 50+) based on your self-employment income. Another often overlooked deduction is continuing education related to your current job. Courses, certifications, books, and even conference attendance can be deductible if they maintain or improve skills needed in your present work. Your employer might even reimburse you, making it essentially tax-free money.