Has anyone tried adjusting their W-4 at their job to have extra withholding instead of dealing with quarterly payments? Seems like it would be easier than remembering these quarterly deadlines.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! One thing that really helped me was using the IRS withholding calculator on their website (irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator) to figure out the best approach. You can input your freelance income, your new job's expected salary, and it will tell you whether to adjust your W-4 withholding or make estimated payments. In my case, I found that increasing my withholding at my new job by about $200 per paycheck was much simpler than dealing with quarterly payments. The key thing to remember is that the IRS doesn't care HOW you pay your taxes throughout the year - whether it's through withholding or estimated payments - they just want to receive the money. So you have flexibility in choosing the method that works best for your situation.

I've assisted numerous taxpayers with this exact scenario. The ONE card utilizes a legitimate banking infrastructure that's fully compatible with IRS direct deposits. The ACH transfer system doesn't distinguish between traditional bank accounts and prepaid products like ONE when processing your refund. Tax Slayer merely transmits your banking details to the IRS without any interference in the deposit process. I've observed successful deposits to ONE cards from multiple tax preparation services including Tax Slayer, with standard processing timeframes of 8-21 days from acceptance date.

I used Tax Slayer with my ONE card last year and it worked perfectly! Got my refund in about 10 days after acceptance. Just make sure you're using the correct routing number (031302955) and your full account number from the ONE app. One tip - screenshot your account details from the app rather than trying to write them down, since the account numbers are pretty long. The IRS doesn't care what tax software you used, they just need valid banking info. Don't stress too much about it!

Have you looked at Schedule K-1 (Form 1041)? This is what trusts use to report distributions to beneficiaries. The trust itself files Form 1041, and then each beneficiary gets a K-1 showing their taxable portion. Talk to your CPA about this!!

I went through something very similar when I inherited my grandfather's trust last year. The confusion around trustee/beneficiary roles and tax implications is incredibly common, and that concerning language about distributions being "reported as income" would have me worried too. A few things that helped me navigate this situation: 1. **Document everything** - Keep detailed records of all distributions and their sources (income vs. principal). This becomes crucial for tax filing. 2. **Get the trust's Tax ID number** if you don't have it already. The trust will need to file its own tax return (Form 1041) separate from your personal returns. 3. **Request all trust accounting records** from the previous trustee or estate administrator. You'll need to understand what income the trust has generated since your aunt passed away versus the original inherited assets. The fact that your current lawyer has been completely unresponsive for over a month is absolutely unacceptable, especially when dealing with time-sensitive estate matters. I'd definitely consider filing a bar complaint as others suggested. One thing that gave me peace of mind was getting a second opinion from a CPA who specializes in trusts and estates. Even before your September attorney appointment, a good CPA might be able to review that specific language and explain the tax implications. Sometimes they can get you in much sooner than attorneys. Hang in there - trust administration is complex but you'll get through this!

Has anyone found TaxCaster to be accurate at all? I used it last year and it was off by over $1,500 compared to my actual refund when I filed. It showed I'd get about $3,200 back but I only got $1,700.

Just to add another perspective - I've been using TaxCaster for about 3 years now and found it pretty reliable when I stick to ONLY federal income tax withholding (Box 2 on W-2). One tip that helped me get more accurate estimates: if you're married filing jointly like the original poster, make sure you're entering the COMBINED federal withholding from both your W-2s. So if your Box 2 shows $4,200 and your wife's shows $3,800, you'd enter $8,000 total in the federal taxes field. Also, don't forget to account for any estimated tax payments you might have made throughout the year if you have side income or investment gains. Those count toward your total "payments" just like withholding does. The calculator works best for straightforward situations - W-2 income, standard deduction, maybe some common credits like child tax credit. If you have business income, rental properties, or complex deductions, you're better off using the full tax software or consulting a professional.

hey just want to share my experience. i was doing care across the tijuana border too, but my tax lady told me i needed to have the provider fill out a w-10 form (its like a tax form for childcare providers) and she said they need a TIN or something. when i tried getting this from my mexican provider they got really nervous and didn't want to sign anything. so i ended up not claiming the credit :( has anyone had luck getting mexican providers to fill out paperwork??

I've been dealing with a similar cross-border childcare situation for years, and I can confirm that you CAN claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit even with a Mexican provider! The key things to know: 1. The IRS doesn't prohibit foreign childcare - they care that the expenses enable you to work, not where the care happens. 2. On Form 2441, write "FOREIGN" where it asks for the provider's tax ID number. Don't stress about getting a US tax ID from your Mexican provider. 3. For documentation with cash payments, create your own paper trail: keep a monthly log of payments, dates of service, and provider's name/address. If possible, get your provider to sign simple receipts (even handwritten is fine) acknowledging the payment and service dates. 4. Your $8,400 total is above the $6,000 limit for two qualifying children, so you'd only be able to claim up to $6,000 in expenses anyway. 5. Since you're filing as Head of Household and working in the US, you definitely meet the "care to enable work" requirement. Your previous tax preparer was wrong - many don't know the rules for foreign providers. The IRS has accepted foreign childcare expenses for decades as long as they're properly documented. Just make sure you keep good records going forward!