All Posts

What does it say on the IRS refund site?   FROM THE IRS WHERE’S MY REFUND SITE: https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund How it works Where's My Refund shows your refund status: Return Received – We received your return and are processing it. Refund Approved – We approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown. Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take 5 days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.  

Yes, you are correct. If you already have a taxable amount of social security income, and you add more income to your return, such as the New York State (NYS) inflation refund check, it will increase the taxable amount. This means more social security is being taxed along with your rebate/refund from NYS.    For these reasons the tax would be more than you were expecting.   @BrooklynJeff 

If you are filing as Married Filing Separately you are not eligible for the deduction.  If you are Single and your AGI is over $150,000 or Married Filing Jointly and your AGI is over $250,000 you are not eligible for the deduction.   If you are age 65 or older and meet the requirement, the additional deduction is automatically added on your federal tax return.   Standard deductions for 2025 Single - $15.750 add $2,000 if age 65 or older Married Filing Separately - $15,750 add $1,600 if age 65 or older Married Filing Jointly - $31,500 add $1,600 for each spouse age 65 or older Head of Household - $23,625 add $2,000 if age 65 or older   New Bonus Standard Deduction (OBBB): An additional $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older. This is per eligible individual, meaning a married couple both over 65 could get $12,000. Important: This bonus deduction is temporary, lasting from 2025 through 2028. Income limitations: It phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. The amount is calculated on Schedule 1-A, Part V, with that amount flowing to Form 1040 Line 13b Look at your Form 1040 - You can view your Form 1040 plus Schedules 1, 2 and 3 at any time using the online editions. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

Unless I read this wrong, this is a pretty confusing solution, and I don't believe it's correct.  I had previously entered the Room and Board into the field "Other Books and materials not required by the school" and this is what happened.  Not only did it eliminate the expense correctly, it gave me the full $2500, "American Opportunity Tax Credit".   I went from owing an additional $1800 which I should not be, to a very sizable refund.   Talk about a RED FLAG.

Thanks.  This is another reason why Turbo tax putting the income from a 1099 MISC as unearned income is a problem.  it lowers the deduction significantly, whereas if it was recorded as earned income (which it is) the amount of the deduction would be close to $12k instead of the 5k I am now (because of other W-2 employment).  While I figured out how to count the 1099 MISC income as earned income for purposes of the kidding tax, I cannot figure out if/how to over ride Turbo Tax  to make it earned rather than unearned income for purposes of the 1040 itself. Any ideas? 

Sometimes there is a question about whether you spent over a certain amount (based on your tax return) for medical expenses.  If you answer 'no', then you will not see the options to enter any medical expenses.  If you answer 'yes', then the medical expense categories will be available for you to enter data.   The idea is that if you did not spend enough to make it beneficial, then answering 'no' will save you the effort of entering expenses that will not be claimed.  

If you federal return is correct as originally filed you may need to update the federal to amend your state return. It's important to wait until you can access an amended return before you try to change anything. State returns allow amendments, however they are all different on how to do that. For example, some states have a checkbox on the form to select amended, while other states have an amendment form. TurboTax will help you when the amendment process is ready.    Read the instructions carefully because it's important for TurboTax to know the original numbers and the corrected numbers.   First wait to see if your return was accepted or rejected. Accepted: An amended return must be completed to make the corrections. Rejected:  Make the change before you resubmit your return through e-file. If it was accepted you can amend your state tax return using the information below. The amended Form 1040-X will be ready later this month. The IRS is not willing to accept amendments until later in the tax season. Uses the links below for assistance and readiness. Tax Form Availability (check here to see when 1040-X is available) How to Correct Federal Tax Returns  Amend a tax return for the current tax year @amyhiroko1977 

And....if you are looking for your 2024 AGI so that you can e-file 2025, your AGI is not on your 2024 W-2.    It is on your 2024 tax return --- your Form 1040.       Where do I find my AGI?   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/agi/help/how-do-i-find-last-year-s-agi/01/25947   Your 2024 tax return shows your 2024 Adjusted Gross Income  (AGI)  If you filed a joint return then the AGI is the same for each of you.   Form 1040        line 11   If entering the amount from your 2024 tax return does not work, then try entering “0” instead.  If that does not work and you still cannot e-file, then print, sign, and mail your tax return.   You can get a free transcript of your past return from the IRS:   https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript Note: If you filed late or amended your return, your correct 2024 AGI may not be in the system.  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1944348-how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online Note:  If you mail your federal return, you will also need to mail your state return.  You will not be able to e-file your state return.