Just to add some recent experience - got my refund on my Emerald Card last week and it was super smooth with MetaBank. Took exactly 2 business days after the IRS said "refund sent" on WMR. One thing I'd recommend is downloading the MyBlock app if you haven't already - makes it way easier to check your balance and transaction history than trying to use their website which can be buggy sometimes. The routing number 073972181 that others mentioned is correct, and your card number is your account number for direct deposit setup.

MetaBank is definitely the issuer for Emerald Cards. I've had mine for 2 years now and the deposits are usually pretty reliable. Just make sure you have the right routing number (073972181) when you set up direct deposit with the IRS. One heads up though - if you're getting a really large refund, you might want to call MetaBank customer service ahead of time to let them know to expect it. Sometimes they put temporary holds on unusually large deposits for security reasons, which can delay access to your funds by a day or two.

Has anyone actually tried using TurboTax for this situation? My partner and I have a similar setup (both W-2s plus I have freelance work) and I'm wondering if the software handles this clearly or if it's confusing.

As someone who's been through this exact confusion, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you only need ONE Form 1040 when filing married filing jointly, regardless of how many different income sources you and your wife have. Your freelance income will go on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business), and then the self-employment tax gets calculated on Schedule SE. The net earnings from self-employment and the deductible portion of your self-employment tax will flow to Schedule 1. Your W-2 income and your wife's W-2 income both get reported in the wages section of the main 1040. The person at work who told you that you need separate 1040s for self-employment income was definitely mistaken. That's never required for MFJ filers. The whole point of joint filing is that all income, deductions, and credits from both spouses get combined on a single return. Just make sure you keep good records of your freelance income and expenses for Schedule C. With $12,000 in freelance income, you'll likely owe some self-employment tax, so consider making quarterly estimated payments if you haven't been doing that already.

Has anyone thought about how this would work with FHA loans? I'm planning to go FHA since I only have about 5% to put down, and I'm curious if this $25,000 credit could be used with an FHA loan or if it would somehow disqualify you from using FHA. Also wondering about timing... if this passes, would it be retroactive for people who bought recently or only for purchases after the law is passed? I'm looking to buy in the next 2-3 months and don't know if I should wait.

As someone who's been through the homebuying process twice (once in 2010 and again in 2018), I want to share some perspective on timing and expectations with this potential credit. The biggest mistake I made in 2010 was waiting for the "perfect" policy conditions - I delayed buying for almost 8 months hoping for better programs or rates. Meanwhile, home prices in my area went up 12% that year, which completely wiped out any benefit I might have gotten from waiting. If you're financially ready to buy now and have found something in your budget, don't let the uncertainty about this $25,000 credit paralyze you. Housing policy changes can take months or years to implement even after they're passed, and there's no guarantee this particular proposal will make it through Congress. That said, if you're not quite ready financially or haven't found the right property yet anyway, then sure - keep an eye on the policy developments. But don't put your life on hold for a tax credit that may or may not materialize. The best time to buy is when your finances are solid and you've found a home you can afford at current market conditions.

Can someone explain how bonuses work with taxes? I got a $3000 bonus last year and they took out like $1200 for taxes! Is there any way to get some of that back or have less taken out next time?

Great post! One thing I'd add is about timing - if you're making W-4 adjustments based on this year's return, try to do it sooner rather than later in the year. I made the mistake of waiting until October to adjust mine after getting a huge refund, so I only got a few months of corrected withholding. Also, for anyone who's married, don't forget that both spouses' W-4s need to work together. If one spouse claims all the credits and deductions on their W-4 while the other claims none, it can mess up your withholding calculations. The IRS withholding calculator actually has an option for married couples filing jointly that takes both incomes into account - definitely worth using if your situation is more complex than just one W-2.

Don't overthink this! Just split the difference by claiming "single, 0 dependents" on both jobs and adding extra withholding on the higher paying job. I did this for years and it worked fine. The tax brackets jump pretty significantly around 100k so having both jobs pushes you into higher rates that neither job accounts for alone.

I went through this exact same situation last year with two jobs totaling around $140k, and I can definitely relate to the stress! Here's what worked for me: The key thing to understand is that each employer calculates withholding as if their job is your only income. So with $73k + $64k, you're actually in a much higher tax bracket than either employer realizes. I ended up using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (it's free on irs.gov) and it was actually pretty accurate despite seeming complicated at first. For your income level, you'll likely need to have additional withholding from one job - probably around $400-500 per month based on my experience. In ADP and Workday, look for these sections: - Step 2(c): Check the "Multiple Jobs" box on BOTH forms - Step 4(c): Add the extra withholding amount on your HIGHER paying job only Don't add extra withholding to both jobs or you'll way overwithhold. I made that mistake initially and got a huge refund, which isn't ideal either. If the online tools are still confusing, honestly your HR departments should be able to help you navigate their specific systems. Most have dealt with this before since multiple jobs are pretty common now. You've got this! Better to figure it out now than get surprised at tax time.