I had a similar situation a few years back with a temp job that lasted only three days. The key thing to remember is that even though the amounts seem tiny, the IRS computer systems will automatically flag any discrepancies between what employers report and what you file. Here's what I'd suggest: First, try logging into those employers' payroll systems online if you still have access - many companies use ADP, Paychex, or similar services where you can download your W2 electronically even after leaving. If that doesn't work, you have until the end of February to receive them by mail before you can take action. If you still don't have them by then, definitely file Form 4852 as others mentioned. The most important thing is to be as accurate as possible with your estimates. Even if you're off by a few dollars, showing good faith effort to report the income properly is what matters to the IRS. One last tip - keep records of all your attempts to get the W2s (emails, phone calls, etc.) in case you ever need to show you made reasonable efforts to obtain the proper documentation.

Just to add another perspective - I work in payroll and can confirm that employers are legally required to send W2s by January 31st, regardless of how small the amount. If you worked even one day and were paid as a W2 employee (not 1099), you should receive one. That said, small disorganized companies sometimes mess this up. If you don't receive them by early February, definitely start the process others mentioned - contact the employer first, then the IRS if needed. One thing to keep in mind: even though the income amounts are tiny, if these employers withheld ANY federal taxes from your paychecks (which they might have done automatically), you're essentially giving the government free money by not claiming those refunds. For such small amounts, you probably had more withheld than you actually owe in taxes, so you'd likely get it all back. The good news is that filing Form 4852 is pretty straightforward if it comes to that, and the IRS is generally understanding about situations where employers fail to provide required documents.

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same situation last tax season. I had a Pell Grant and was trying to maximize my refund with my two dependents, and I made the same mistake of trying to enter it under wages initially. What ended up working for me was going to the "Income" section and finding "Scholarships and Fellowships" under the less common income types. When I entered my information there, I put "SCH" as the payer and only entered the amount that exceeded my qualified education expenses (which I calculated using my 1098-T form). The really important thing I learned is that you want to be strategic about this. In my case, reporting about $3,200 of my Pell Grant as taxable income actually increased my Earned Income Tax Credit by almost $900 because it bumped me into a higher income bracket that was more favorable with my dependents. So even though I was "adding income," my overall refund was significantly higher. Make sure you run the numbers both ways - with and without reporting the excess Pell Grant - to see which scenario gives you the better refund. The tax software should help you calculate this, but it's definitely worth double-checking since the EITC calculations with dependents can be complex.

I just went through this same process a few weeks ago and can confirm what others are saying - you definitely don't want to enter your Pell Grant under wages! Here's the step-by-step that worked for me in TurboTax: 1. Go to Federal Taxes → Income → Less Common Income 2. Look for "Scholarships and Fellowships" 3. Enter "SCH" as the payer (no employer ID needed) 4. Only enter the amount that exceeded your qualified education expenses The tricky part is calculating that excess amount correctly. I used my 1098-T form to see what I paid for tuition and fees, then added up my required textbooks and supplies. Whatever was left over from my total Pell Grant after subtracting those qualified expenses - that's what I reported as taxable income. With three dependents like you have, this could really help your EITC! In my case with two kids, reporting about $2,100 of excess Pell Grant income actually increased my refund by $750 because of how the earned income credit calculations work. One tip: make sure you keep good records of all your qualified education expenses (receipts for books, documentation of required supplies, etc.) in case the IRS ever asks. And definitely run the calculation both ways in your tax software to see which gives you the better refund before you submit!

Does anyone know if there's a dollar limit for meal deductions? Last year I had a few expensive client dinners (around $300-400 each) that were definitely business related, but I'm worried they might look excessive to the IRS.

Great discussion here! Just wanted to add one more important point about Schedule C Line 24b meal documentation. Beyond keeping receipts and noting business purpose, I've found it helpful to take photos of the business cards of people I meet with during meals. This creates an easy backup record of who attended and their business connection to you. Also, if you're using a business credit card for meals, make sure the statement description clearly shows it's a restaurant/meal expense. Some merchants code differently than you'd expect, and having clear records helps during tax prep. I learned this the hard way when my accountant questioned a "business meal" that showed up as a generic merchant code on my statement. For anyone still confused about the 50% limitation - you deduct 50% of the actual meal cost on your Schedule C. So if you spent $100 on a qualifying business meal, you can deduct $50 as a business expense.

I went through this exact same waiting game last year and totally understand the stress! The move from "Fingerprints Pending" to "In Process" is actually a really positive sign - it means they've cleared your background check and are now in the final review stages. Based on my experience and what I've seen in our local tax prep community, once you hit "In Process" you're typically looking at 15-25 business days for approval. I know that seems like forever when tax season is already rolling, but you're actually still in good shape timing-wise. One thing that really helped me was setting up a daily check routine - I'd check my e-Services portal first thing in the morning with my coffee, then forget about it for the rest of the day. Checking multiple times daily just drove me crazy and didn't speed anything up! Also, make sure you're ready to act fast when approval comes. Mine showed up on a Wednesday morning and I was able to start e-filing that same afternoon because I had everything else prepared. Use this waiting time to get your software configured, create your client intake forms, and maybe even start gathering documents from existing clients. You're closer than you think - hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same process right now and your post really resonates with me! I submitted my EFIN application on January 15th and I'm still stuck on "Fingerprints Pending" status, so seeing that you've moved to "In Process" gives me hope that mine will update soon too. The sanitization delay thing is so frustrating - I had the same experience where FedEx showed my fingerprints delivered on January 20th but the IRS didn't log them as received until February 2nd. It's like they're operating in a completely different timeline! Based on what others are saying here about the "In Process" status typically taking 2-4 weeks, it sounds like you should get your approval sometime in early March, which honestly isn't too bad considering how backed up everything is right now. I've been talking to other preparers in my area and it seems like anyone who submitted in January is looking at March approvals. One question - when you call to check on your status, are you able to get through to someone easily? I've tried calling a few times but keep getting stuck in phone tree hell. Wondering if there's a better time of day to call or a specific number that works better for EFIN inquiries. Hang in there - we're all in this waiting game together!

I've been following this discussion closely as someone considering similar investments. What strikes me most is how the people with actual experience (Laura, Gabriel, Josef) are telling a very different story than what these promoters present in their seminars. The point about liquidity is huge - I hadn't really considered that aspect. When Neil Jesani talks about these investments, he makes them sound like you can easily exit if needed, but it sounds like that's not the reality. I'm particularly concerned about the multi-state filing requirements Laura mentioned. As a busy professional, the last thing I need is additional complexity in my tax situation, especially if the actual returns don't justify it. Has anyone here looked into conservation easements as an alternative? I've heard they can provide similar tax benefits but with potentially less complexity and risk. Though I imagine they have their own set of issues to consider. Thanks to everyone for sharing real experiences rather than just speculation. This kind of honest discussion is exactly what I needed to hear before making any decisions.

I've been working in tax compliance for over 15 years and want to add some perspective on the regulatory landscape around these mineral investments that hasn't been covered yet. The IRS has significantly increased enforcement actions against what they call "micro-captive" and energy tax shelter arrangements since 2019. They've created specialized examination teams specifically for these types of investments, particularly those marketed to high-income professionals. What's particularly concerning is that many promoters of these programs have started requiring participants to sign agreements limiting their ability to share information about the investment's performance or tax outcomes. This should be a massive red flag - legitimate investments don't require secrecy clauses. I've also noticed that several of the major accounting firms have started declining to prepare returns involving certain types of mineral partnerships due to liability concerns. If the Big 4 firms are walking away from these structures, that should tell you something about the risk profile. For those considering these investments, I'd strongly recommend asking the promoter to provide: 1) A list of all investors from 2019-2020 who are willing to discuss their actual returns and tax outcomes 2) Details on any IRS examinations or challenges of the investment structure 3) Professional liability insurance coverage details for their tax opinions If they can't or won't provide this information, that's your answer right there.