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Default Nov 08, 2021 at 08:35 PM
  #1
I asked for help with doing the W4 and explained I am disabled, I'm struggling with understanding it, and need assistance. The response was that no one on staff is qualified to give me tax advice and can't help me.

But. I wasn't asking for tax advice. I need someone to explain to me what parts of it mean so I can understand how to input my information. When I look at this form, it just looks like words and numbers and jibberish. I don't understand it. My mind can't compute what it's saying. I'm having trouble with comprehension. It was recently suggested by my therapist that I might have dyslexia.

I'm sitting here feeling so defeated. I don't want to work for an organization that doesn't want to respect and accommodate disabled people.
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Heart Nov 08, 2021 at 08:47 PM
  #2
Cinnamonson - I'm so sorry you are struggling with a lack of accommodation. In the day and age of litigations, and because everything online can be used in a court of law (versus in-person conversations), it's likely that people aren't helping you because they don't want to get in trouble for saying the wrong thing. So the easy thing for them to say to get out of a legal loophole is that they can't give out tax advice.

However, we don't know one another online here.

Perhaps the company is okay, but it just takes some getting used to with those new online protocols and other new things that I don't even know about (since I've been out of the workforce for over 15 years now). Wowzers, have things changed! They were mean to me, too, in college, when I worked in a research lab. I tried to explain my disabilities, so that I can be accommodated, but they were not forgiving or helpful. I left that lab after a miserable 3 years that nearly killed me.

Anyway, if you're not "feeling it" it with this company, you can always find a better job. Meanwhile, you will need to learn how to fill out those kinds of forms. We can help you here. We can maybe find something online through a google search to help explain the fields. Would you like to work on that, so that you're best prepared for either this job or the next one?

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Default Nov 08, 2021 at 08:51 PM
  #3
W-4 websites:

Nerd Wallet

IRS

H&R Block

YouTube video on W-4 (Travis Sickle)

If the links are still confusing above, perhaps we can go line by line to assist you here. Since the info online isn't work-related, we can't get in trouble for offering online resources for advice, and references to our own personalized suggestions.
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Default Nov 08, 2021 at 08:57 PM
  #4
Thank you! I'm looking at this. I just. I don't know how much taxes were taken out of my last paycheck because I couldn't find a way to get that paystub. I have no clue. Just reading this stuff makes my head spin and feels overwhelming. I have no way to get these answers. I don't know what to do. My brain has math struggles, I've never been good at math...I think I have some kind of math learning disability but I don't remember because I can't remember much about my childhood. I just know I always had to receive extra help with math and stay after and I barely passed even with help.
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Question Nov 08, 2021 at 09:04 PM
  #5
I used to be good at math and calculus and statistics, but not anymore. But I can still try to help. I hope other people with more tax experience can chime in here, too.

Hang in there. Math bothers a lot of people, so you're not alone in that struggle. And if you do have an undiagnosed learning disability in this area, it's okay. Many people do. As long as it's not a requirement for your job (and only these confusing tax forms), then you're good!

You can request your old taxes from your former employers. You just contact their human resources departments and ask them for a copy of your tax forms for the year(s) you worked for them. They should be able to get you those via snail mail. That might take time for you to receive, due to delays in mailing. If your employer is okay with that, then wait for your old taxes to arrive.

Do you need to know your past tax info to complete the W-4? It's been a while, so I forgot. If you don't or if you can estimate, then we can work from there.

Is there a due date when your boss expects all this done?
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Lightbulb Nov 08, 2021 at 09:13 PM
  #6
1. Do you currently have more than one job at the same exact time?
2. Did you work other jobs and then start this new job?


If the answer is NO to the first question and YES to the second, then you can put 0 (zero) in all lines within the Step 4 box.

However, if the answer is YES to the first question, then there will be more steps involved. We can help you with this.

3. Do you have dependents (children or an elderly parent or elderly family member who are legally your dependents)? If so, then you can claim $2,000 per child or $500 per dependent. If you are single and don't have any children or elderly/disabled people you legally care for, then just put 0 (zero) in the last field in Box 3.

4. Are you married or single? If single, do you have dependents or children you look after legally? If yes to dependents, then check "head of household." If no, then check "single or Married filing separately."
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Default Nov 08, 2021 at 09:17 PM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by SprinkL3 View Post
I used to be good at math and calculus and statistics, but not anymore. But I can still try to help. I hope other people with more tax experience can chime in here, too.

Hang in there. Math bothers a lot of people, so you're not alone in that struggle. And if you do have an undiagnosed learning disability in this area, it's okay. Many people do. As long as it's not a requirement for your job (and only these confusing tax forms), then you're good!

You can request your old taxes from your former employers. You just contact their human resources departments and ask them for a copy of your tax forms for the year(s) you worked for them. They should be able to get you those via snail mail. That might take time for you to receive, due to delays in mailing. If your employer is okay with that, then wait for your old taxes to arrive.

Do you need to know your past tax info to complete the W-4? It's been a while, so I forgot. If you don't or if you can estimate, then we can work from there.

Is there a due date when your boss expects all this done?
Do you know what's weird? I got a 4.0 in Statistics. But any other math? I can't do. Isn't that weird? I don't know why that is.

I did not leave all my past employers on good terms and when I call them to get documents, they are very rude to me. So I don't like to call them and ask for things. That is a whole story I won't get into.

Between google and my dad, I was able to fill out the form. I just needed an explanation for terms and things. Once I had a definition I was like "OHH!" I tried to google online but anytime I close the window, it deleted all my progress and I had to start the form over again. Anyway, it's done. How do I feel about working for this person? I don't know. I don't think I like her but I will try. And yes, I HAVE done these forms and I do file taxes. But I have a mildly impaired memory so I can't retain what things mean most of the time. It's so frustrating. Thank you for the support.
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Heart Nov 08, 2021 at 10:10 PM
  #8
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Originally Posted by cinnamonsun View Post
Do you know what's weird? I got a 4.0 in Statistics. But any other math? I can't do. Isn't that weird? I don't know why that is.
I totally understand this phenomenon! Statistics is a different kind of math altogether, so for those who can do stats but not algebra or geometry or trig or calc, or even vice versa, it makes sense! Stats is like a language and math combined, and it might require different brain usage than standard maths.

Quote:
I did not leave all my past employers on good terms and when I call them to get documents, they are very rude to me. So I don't like to call them and ask for things. That is a whole story I won't get into.
That makes sense in terms of you avoiding them. A backwards way around that is asking the IRS for a copy of your tax returns, if you needed that info from the previous year. But only from the previous year.

Quote:
Between google and my dad, I was able to fill out the form. I just needed an explanation for terms and things. Once I had a definition I was like "OHH!" I tried to google online but anytime I close the window, it deleted all my progress and I had to start the form over again. Anyway, it's done. How do I feel about working for this person? I don't know. I don't think I like her but I will try. And yes, I HAVE done these forms and I do file taxes. But I have a mildly impaired memory so I can't retain what things mean most of the time. It's so frustrating. Thank you for the support.
I'm so sorry you struggle with memory problems. I do, too, nowadays. I'm glad your dad was able to help out though. At least the initial steps got done! Yay!

As far as your job, perhaps give it time to see how you do. If you don't like it, quit. If it's not a career-turner, then you can always find a new job until you find your niche. It's when you want to build a career with good recommendations, then that's when it gets tricky.

I burned a few bridges myself, so I can totally understand being weary of what kinds of job and environments you don't want to work for. If you get the feel that they are NOT inclusive of those with disabilities, etc., then do your best there while you seek alternative employment. Then make up some excuse to quit and leave two weeks notice. That would be one way to move forward without burning bridges. But if they are just an awful company (I've worked for those, too), then just leave. It's better for your mental health that way.

Hopefully this job works out well though.

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Default Nov 09, 2021 at 05:50 PM
  #9
This is a seasonal position. It's only for a very short period of time and while I get paid, it's not really a career. But it gives me the title of being a professional photographer. And I might be able to use this for something else down the road or to push my own photography career if I want one. It's a step but not the end of the journey, you know what I mean? But really. I was a shoe salesperson for several years and I'm just happy and thankful to have a new experience and do something else, even if it's briefly. It makes me feel better and I desperately need to do something else/new than what I've been doing.

I could easily go to the two shoe stores at the mall and convince them to hire me. But the problem is...I don't want to do that for the rest of my life. I need something different. I want to utilize my talents. I have taken so many art courses I could go back and easily finish and have a bachelor's in art. I won an art scholarship. I've won awards for artwork in competitions. I've had poems published in a journal and a scholarly article published. I'm an artist and a writer, but you don't exactly make money usually, being an artist or writer. However, I am sick of retail to the point where it's boring and suffocating. I want a more fulfilling and purposeful job at this point in my life.
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Heart Nov 09, 2021 at 06:00 PM
  #10
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Originally Posted by cinnamonsun View Post
This is a seasonal position. It's only for a very short period of time and while I get paid, it's not really a career. But it gives me the title of being a professional photographer. And I might be able to use this for something else down the road or to push my own photography career if I want one. It's a step but not the end of the journey, you know what I mean? But really. I was a shoe salesperson for several years and I'm just happy and thankful to have a new experience and do something else, even if it's briefly. It makes me feel better and I desperately need to do something else/new than what I've been doing.

I could easily go to the two shoe stores at the mall and convince them to hire me. But the problem is...I don't want to do that for the rest of my life. I need something different. I want to utilize my talents. I have taken so many art courses I could go back and easily finish and have a bachelor's in art. I won an art scholarship. I've won awards for artwork in competitions. I've had poems published in a journal and a scholarly article published. I'm an artist and a writer, but you don't exactly make money usually, being an artist or writer. However, I am sick of retail to the point where it's boring and suffocating. I want a more fulfilling and purposeful job at this point in my life.

You are super smart and talented! If you could get a 4.0 in stats and win scholarships for art, you are superb! I have always admired artists! If you want to be a professional photographer for magazines, newspapers, the art world, and more, totally go for it! In the end, it's not about money but rather what you love to do!

My friend got his art degree and does freelance photog for advertisers and weddings. He doesn't make much money at all, but he loves doing what he's doing. He's excellent at chemistry and things like that, but he chose art because that's his passion. He also does graphic design and some other things he learned in college.

The new job sounds like a start to a new career! Its sad how they couldn't help you with the W-4, but it sounds more like they are covering their own legal issues than it's about you. I really think it's not about you at all, and that hopefully they will accept you and enjoy working with you and make it a really fun work experience! If you're taking photographs, that's an awesome job!

Many moons ago, like 30 years ago, I sold shoes in JCPenney's children shoe department. I once knew how to work those feet measuring thingies and know about the nomanclature of the foot - or whatever it was called. I measured every stinky child's foot that came in - funky socks, sweaty toe jam, and all. I did that for about 3 years (between the ages of 13 and 16, with a permit from my parents). It was quite an experience. I also helped catch an employee who was stealing, which was one of the major highlights of my job. Back then, teens could get those kinds of jobs. Today, not so much - but then again, maybe so, since they seem to have a shortage of employees these days.

I miss the retail life, but I don't miss standing on my feet all day or smelling and touching other's feet. I don't know how I did it. I'd be too germaphobe these days, but back in the day, I was fearless.

Anyway, that's cool that you sold shoes. It can be a fun job, but I could see why you would want to go for your passion - art! Do follow your passion!
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