Something no one mentioned yet - have you checked if all 3 employers are withholding Social Security correctly? There's a cap on Social Security tax ($168,600 for 2025), but with multiple employers, each one doesn't know what the others are withholding. If your total income is under the cap this probably isn't relevant, but it's something to check if your wages get higher in future years.

This is such a frustrating situation but you're definitely not alone! The multiple job withholding issue catches so many people off guard. I went through something similar a few years back when I had two W-2 jobs plus some consulting work. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you update your W-4 forms, consider doing it gradually if you're worried about over-correcting. You could increase your withholding by maybe $50-60 per paycheck on your main job initially, then check your paystubs after a month or two to see how it's looking. The IRS withholding calculator can help you fine-tune from there. Also, since you're already dealing with this year's tax bill, you might want to look into setting up a payment plan with the IRS if $1,300 is tough to pay all at once. They offer short-term payment plans (120 days or less) with minimal fees, or longer installment agreements if needed. Just don't ignore it - they're actually pretty reasonable to work with if you're proactive about it. The silver lining is that once you get your withholding adjusted properly, you shouldn't have this problem again. It's just one of those things they don't really teach you about having multiple income sources!

Tax preparer here. This is really common! Most likely the software is making different assumptions about your filing status or eligibility for certain credits based on your children. Did you answer the same "interview" questions on all platforms? Sometimes one platform will ask "Did you provide more than half the support for your child?" while another assumes this based on other answers. Or one platform might qualify your kids for the Child Tax Credit while another is qualifying them for the Credit for Other Dependents instead.

This happened to me two years ago and it was incredibly frustrating! The key thing is that even though you uploaded the same W2s, the platforms are making different assumptions about how to apply various tax laws based on your family situation. Since you mentioned you have kids, here's what's likely happening: each platform is automatically calculating child-related credits (Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, etc.) differently based on their initial questionnaires. They might also be handling your state taxes completely differently - some states have complex interactions with federal calculations that each software interprets slightly. My advice: pick the two platforms that seem most reasonable (I'd probably eliminate the one showing the most extreme result) and complete your entire return on both. Don't just stop at W2 entry. Enter all your deductions, any 1099s, childcare expenses, education credits - everything. Then compare the final results line by line. Most platforms will show you a detailed tax summary or Form 1040 preview before you file. Look specifically at: - How they calculated your Child Tax Credit - State income tax deduction vs. state taxes owed - Any automatic deductions they applied The differences will probably become much clearer once you have the complete picture rather than just the W2 portion.

I've been through this exact situation and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that worked for me was checking if your former employer is registered with your state's business licensing department - many states have online databases where you can search by company name and find their EIN listed in their registration documents. Also, if you paid into unemployment insurance while working there, your state's unemployment office might have the employer's EIN on file and could provide it to you. I called my state's workforce commission and they were able to look it up for me using just the company name and my employment dates. Don't let their negligence stress you out too much - the IRS understands that some employers are unresponsive, which is exactly why Form 4852 exists. Just document your attempts to contact them (save those emails and call logs) in case the IRS ever asks. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this!

Have you tried checking with your bank? If you had direct deposit set up with this employer, your bank statements might show the company's full legal name and sometimes additional identifying information that could help you track down their EIN through business databases. Also, if you're still struggling to find the EIN after trying all these suggestions, remember that you can actually file Form 4852 without the EIN initially - just put "UNKNOWN" in that field and include a note explaining that the employer is unresponsive. The IRS will work to identify the employer based on the other information you provide (company name, address, your employment dates, etc.). While this might add some processing time, it's better than missing the filing deadline entirely. You can always amend your return later once you get the correct EIN, but at least you'll have filed on time and avoided any late filing penalties.

Has anyone tried calling the IRS directly about this? I've been getting rejected for a similar issue and every tax preparer I talk to gives me different answers!

I work as a tax preparer and can confirm what others have said - the IRS definitely tightened their validation systems starting with 2023 tax year returns. What worked before may not work now because the automated checks are more sophisticated. For your specific situation, the rule is clear: only the parent claiming the child as a dependent can claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit. This is stated in IRS Publication 503. The fact that your ex pays for daycare doesn't change who's eligible to claim the credit. Your best options are: 1) You claim both the Child Tax Credit and Child Care Credit, then work out the financial arrangement privately with your ex, or 2) If you have multiple children, split them so each parent claims one child as dependent along with that child's care expenses, or 3) Your ex could claim the child as dependent (you'd need to sign Form 8332) and then he could claim both credits. The reason you're getting different answers from preparers is that some may not be up to date on how strictly these rules are now being enforced by the IRS systems.

I'm a CPA and can confirm this is absolutely NOT an IRS requirement. Your tax preparer is either misinformed or implementing their own excessive policy. The IRS does require preparers to exercise "due diligence" when claiming certain credits like EITC or Child Tax Credit, but this means completing Form 8867 and asking specific questions - not collecting and storing your personal documents. What's actually required: Preparers should verify the accuracy of information you provide (like SSNs, names, ages) and document their verification process. This typically involves seeing documents to confirm details, not keeping copies. Red flags in your situation: - Birth certificates aren't required for standard dependent claims - Report cards have no relevance to tax filing - Utility bills for "proof of residence" isn't a standard requirement - No legitimate preparer should be hoarding copies of SSN cards I'd strongly recommend asking your preparer to cite the specific IRS regulation requiring this. When they can't produce it (because it doesn't exist), you'll know you need a new preparer. After 8 years of working together, he should be able to explain this policy change with actual documentation, not vague references to "new IRS rules." Trust your instincts - this is definitely not normal or required.

This is definitely a red flag and you're absolutely right to question it. I've been doing my own taxes for years using TurboTax and similar software, and I've never been asked to provide copies of birth certificates, utility bills, or report cards - not even when claiming dependents or various tax credits. The fact that your preparer can't point to a specific IRS publication or regulation requiring this should tell you everything you need know. If this were a legitimate new requirement, the IRS would have published clear guidance about it, and every tax preparation software would be asking for the same documentation. What's particularly concerning is that he's asking to KEEP copies rather than just verify the information. Even if there were some verification requirement, keeping physical copies of such sensitive documents is a huge security liability. One data breach or break-in at his office and your entire family's identity could be compromised. I'd give him one more chance to produce the actual IRS regulation he's citing. If he can't or won't, I'd seriously consider doing your taxes yourself with software or finding a more reputable preparer. After 8 years of working together, he should be able to give you a straight answer about why he suddenly needs all this documentation.