This thread has been incredibly comprehensive! I'm amazed at how much collective knowledge everyone has shared about payroll codes. As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add that I recently encountered "ABS PAY" on my federal government pay stub and was initially confused. After reading through all these experiences, I contacted our payroll office and learned that for federal employees, ABS PAY specifically tracks when we use sick leave, annual leave, or administrative leave that's paid at our regular rate. The key thing I discovered is that it appears separately on our Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) even though it's taxed the same as regular work hours. What really helped me was checking my leave balances in the employee portal - I could see exactly which type of leave was deducted and match it to the ABS PAY entry on my stub. For anyone in federal service dealing with this, the hours should align perfectly with your leave usage. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - it's exactly this kind of community support that makes navigating workplace bureaucracy so much easier!

This has been such a valuable thread for understanding payroll mysteries! As someone who recently started working at a nonprofit organization, I can add that we also use "ABS PAY" but it includes volunteer coordinator time when staff members are out representing our organization at community events or training sessions. What I found interesting is that our HR explained it covers any time you're being paid but not at your regular desk - whether that's sick leave, attending mandatory workshops, or even jury duty. The nonprofit sector seems to track these things pretty meticulously for grant reporting purposes. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. It's made me realize that asking about payroll codes isn't embarrassing - it's actually being responsible about understanding your compensation. I'm definitely going to save this thread as a reference for future questions!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Got my CP05A notice back in May, sent all my documents immediately via certified mail, and here I am 7 months later still getting that same useless "being processed" message. It's absolutely maddening. What really gets me is that I actually managed to get through to someone last month (after a brutal 2.5 hour hold using that 7 AM tip!) and they basically told me my case is "under review" with zero timeline or explanation of what they're actually reviewing for so long. Like, how hard is it to verify some W-2s? I've started keeping a detailed log of every interaction and am seriously considering reaching out to my congressman's office at this point. Reading everyone's stories here makes me feel less crazy but also more frustrated that this is happening to so many people. The system is completely broken and we're all just stuck waiting for our own money while they take their sweet time. Thanks for creating this thread - it's become my support group for dealing with this bureaucratic insanity! Stay strong everyone, we'll get through this eventually! 😤

I'm so sorry to see so many of us going through this! I just got my CP05A notice last week and was really hoping it would be a quick process, but reading everyone's experiences here has definitely opened my eyes to what I'm in for. It's absolutely ridiculous that they can demand our documents within 30 days but then take 6+ months (or apparently over a year!) to review them. I'm definitely taking notes from all the advice shared here - sending everything via certified mail, calling at 7 AM, keeping detailed logs, and reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service if needed. It's crazy that we have to become experts in bureaucratic warfare just to get our own money back! This thread has become like a support group for IRS trauma victims (love that description!) and while it's comforting to know I'm not alone, it's also infuriating that this broken system is affecting so many hardworking people. Hang in there everyone - hopefully we'll all get through this nightmare eventually! 💪

Just wanted to add that if you enrolled through a state marketplace instead of healthcare.gov, you'll need to log into that state's specific website. Each state exchange handles their own 1095-A forms. Also, if you're still having trouble accessing it online, many tax prep software programs can help you locate and import the form directly - might be worth checking if your tax software has that feature!

If you're having trouble with the healthcare.gov login or the phone lines are too busy, another option is to contact your tax preparer if you use one - they often have access to IRS systems that can help locate your 1095-A. Also, some local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites can help you navigate getting the form if you qualify for their services. Don't stress too much though - you've got plenty of time before the filing deadline!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation as a freelance video editor in the film industry. One thing that really helped me was setting up quarterly estimated tax payments once I understood my new income level. The IRS has a safe harbor rule - if you pay 110% of last year's tax liability through estimated payments, you won't get hit with underpayment penalties even if you owe more at filing time. For the home office deduction, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything with photos and measurements. I use about 200 sq ft of my 2000 sq ft home exclusively for equipment storage, maintenance, and editing. That's 10% of my home, so I can deduct 10% of eligible home expenses (mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, etc.). Keep detailed records of what equipment is stored there and how you use the space. Regarding incorporation, I stayed as a sole proprietor for now because my equipment rental income is around $65k. My CPA showed me that the S-corp benefits don't really kick in until you're closer to $80-100k due to the additional costs and complexity. But definitely run your own numbers - every situation is different!

I'm a location sound mixer who just went through this exact tax situation last year. The jump from getting refunds to owing $30k+ is unfortunately very common when your 1099 income crosses certain thresholds - the self-employment tax really hits hard. A few things that helped me navigate this: 1) **Quarterly estimates are crucial** - Set aside 25-30% of all 1099 income immediately. I use a separate savings account and transfer money there with every payment. 2) **Track EVERYTHING** - Your wife can deduct way more than you might think. Equipment maintenance, storage rental if you need off-site space, travel between locations, even the mileage driving to equipment rental houses. Keep detailed records. 3) **The home office deduction is still valid** - Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you're using space exclusively for equipment storage, maintenance, and editing, that qualifies regardless of how the 1099 is categorized. 4) **Consider equipment depreciation** - Instead of deducting the full cost of expensive gear purchases in one year, you might benefit from depreciating them over several years to smooth out your tax burden. For incorporation, my CPA's rule of thumb is that S-corp benefits typically outweigh the costs once your net self-employment income hits around $60-80k, but it really depends on your total household income and other factors. The savings come from avoiding self-employment tax on distributions, but you have to pay yourself a reasonable salary first. Definitely get a CPA who understands film industry work - it makes a huge difference!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through the exact same confusion about a year ago! Just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I actually called Vanguard directly when I first noticed those VMFXX dividends because I was so worried about missing something on my taxes. The customer service rep explained it perfectly: VMFXX is what they call a "settlement fund" and it's an integral part of your Roth IRA structure, not a separate taxable account. She told me that thousands of customers call with this same question every year, especially around tax season, so you're definitely not alone in this confusion! What really sealed it for me was when she pulled up my account and showed me that those dividends are coded internally as "non-reportable income" because they occur within the Roth IRA wrapper. She also mentioned that if I ever did have taxable dividend income from any Vanguard account, they're required to send me the appropriate tax forms - and since I wasn't getting any 1099-DIV forms, that was proof these earnings weren't taxable. Keep doing exactly what you're doing with those regular contributions to VTTSX. You're building wealth the smart way!

This is such a great thread for new investors! I just wanted to chime in as someone who was in your exact shoes about 8 months ago. Those VMFXX dividends had me completely stressed out during my first tax season - I was frantically searching through my Vanguard statements trying to add up every tiny dividend payment thinking I needed to report them. What finally clicked for me was realizing that if Vanguard thought these dividends were taxable, they would have automatically sent me a 1099-DIV form. The fact that they don't send one for VMFXX earnings within a Roth IRA is their way of telling you "don't worry about this for taxes." I love how everyone here explained the "container" concept - that's exactly how I think about it now. Your Roth IRA is like a special tax-free vault, and it doesn't matter if your money is sitting in the VMFXX waiting area or actively invested in VTTSX - it's all inside that same vault growing tax-free. You're doing everything right by contributing regularly and choosing a target-date fund like VTTSX. Those little VMFXX dividends are just a nice bonus that will compound over the decades ahead without you ever owing a penny in taxes on them!