This is why I always fill out a new W4 claiming ZERO exemptions even though I could claim more. I'd rather get a refund than owe money. Last year I got back almost $3k!

I'm sorry this happened to you! I work in payroll and see this issue more often than you'd think. While it's frustrating, the responsibility for monitoring withholdings does fall on the employee. However, I understand how easy it is to trust that your employer got it right. For future reference, on a $12,700 annual salary, you should expect to see roughly $25-30 per pay period withheld for federal taxes (assuming bi-weekly pay). The fact that you only had $96 total for the year means something was definitely wrong with how your W4 was processed. My advice: Submit a new W4 to HR immediately with clear, legible information. Also ask them to verify what they have on file - sometimes handwriting gets misread or data entry errors happen. Going forward, always check your first 2-3 paystubs after any W4 change to catch issues early. You might also want to make quarterly estimated payments for this year to avoid another surprise tax bill. The IRS has worksheets to help calculate what you should pay.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - check if Box 2b "Taxable amount not determined" is checked. If it is, that explains why Box 2a is blank. This is common with Roth distributions because the financial institution doesn't know your basis and contribution history. If you made the withdrawal in 2024, remember you can still make 2024 Roth IRA contributions until April 15, 2025, which could offset what you withdrew if you want to "replace" that money in your retirement savings.

I went through this same situation with Fidelity last year! The blank Box 2a is completely normal for Roth IRA contribution withdrawals. Since you only took out your original contributions (not earnings), you shouldn't owe any taxes or penalties on this distribution. However, you do still need to report it on your tax return even though it's not taxable. When you file, you'll need to complete Form 8606 Part III to document that this was a non-taxable distribution of contributions. Keep good records of your total Roth IRA contributions over the years - this becomes important for tracking your basis. The key thing to remember is that with Roth IRAs, your contributions always come out first (before any earnings), and since you already paid taxes on that money before contributing it, there's no additional tax when you withdraw it. You're in the clear!

Just sharing my negative experience as a cautionary tale. I tried an Indian tax firm 2 years ago and regretted it. They completely messed up my home office deduction and missed several business expenses. Ended up having to hire a US CPA to fix everything and file an amended return. The cheap price wasn't worth the headache and I actually ended up paying more in the end. The time difference also made communication really frustrating - I'd send questions and wait a full day for responses.

I'd be really careful about this decision. While the cost savings might seem attractive, there are some serious risks to consider beyond just the quality of work. First, data security is a major concern - you're sending highly sensitive financial information overseas where US data protection laws may not fully apply. Even if they claim to have secure systems, enforcement and recourse can be limited if something goes wrong. Second, if there are any disputes or issues with your returns, resolving them becomes much more complicated when dealing with an overseas firm. US consumer protections and professional liability standards may not apply the same way. I'd recommend asking some key questions before proceeding: Are they actually US-licensed CPAs or EAs? Can they provide references from other US clients with similar tax situations? What are their data security protocols? Do they carry professional liability insurance that covers US clients? What's their process for handling IRS communications or audits? If you do decide to proceed, maybe start with just your personal return first to test their service before trusting them with your business taxes. The $250 savings might not be worth the potential headaches and risks.

Same boat here! Been refreshing ADP multiple times a day 😅 Good to know from @Harold Oh that HR said EOD tomorrow - gives me some peace of mind. Really hoping they come through because I've already got all my other docs ready to go. The waiting game is killing me!

I'm in the same situation! Been checking ADP obsessively and nothing yet. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and experiences - makes me feel less alone in this waiting game. @Harold Oh thanks for calling HR, that EOD tomorrow timeline gives me hope! I've got everything else ready to file so just need that W2 to drop. Hopefully Amazon comes through for all of us soon 🤞

This is such a timely question! I just went through this process last month with my son's leftover 529 funds. One thing that caught me off guard was the requirement that the 529 account must have been open for at least 15 years before you can do the rollover - definitely check that first. Also worth noting: the beneficiary (your son) needs to have earned income equal to or greater than the rollover amount in the tax year. If he's not working or doesn't have sufficient earned income, that could be a roadblock. The 5-year conversion rule that others mentioned is definitely correct, and it applies to the entire amount regardless of whether it was contributions or earnings in the 529. I learned this the hard way when I was hoping to access some of those funds sooner for an emergency. One silver lining though - at least unused 529 funds now have this option instead of just sitting there or facing the 10% penalty on earnings if withdrawn for non-education purposes!

One additional consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet is the impact on financial aid if you have other children who might still need college funding. When you roll 529 funds to a Roth IRA, those assets shift from being counted as parental assets (which have a lower impact on financial aid calculations) to retirement assets (which aren't counted at all for FAFSA purposes). This could actually be beneficial for financial aid eligibility for your other kids, but it's something to factor into your decision timeline. If you have younger children who will be applying for financial aid in the next few years, the timing of this rollover could affect their aid packages. Also, make sure to coordinate with your tax preparer since there are specific reporting requirements for these rollovers on your tax return, even though the rollover itself isn't a taxable event.