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Random question - can I use blue ink for the correction or does it have to be black? I know the IRS is picky about some of these details.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I went ahead and made the correction using the single line method that Paloma mentioned - drew a clean line through the wrong number, wrote the correct amount above it, and initialed with the date. The correction was pretty minor (just a few hundred dollars difference in my totals), so I didn't include an explanatory note. I also ended up checking my work with taxr.ai before submitting, and it confirmed that my correction was done properly and didn't find any other issues. Really glad I found this thread before panicking and ordering a new form! Submitting everything today and feeling much more confident about it.
That's great to hear it worked out! I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with similar form correction anxiety. Quick question - when you initialed and dated the correction, did you put that right next to the change or in the margin? I have a small correction to make on my 1096 too and want to make sure I do it exactly right. Also, how long did the taxr.ai check take? Trying to get everything submitted before the deadline!
I'm seeing a lot of complicated answers here but it's actually pretty simple. I've owned 3 homes and here's what I've learned: if you didn't pay it, you don't deduct it. The seller credit on closing is just an adjustment to make the sale fair - it's not income and it's not a deduction. When you actually pay the property taxes in 2025, that's when you deduct them - regardless of what period they cover.
Thanks for this simple explanation. I was overthinking it completely. So just to confirm - even though the seller gave me money for their portion of the taxes, when I pay the full bill next year, I still deduct the entire amount?
Exactly right, Sofia! You deduct the entire amount you pay in 2025. Think of it this way - the seller credit essentially reduced what you paid for the house, so when you pay the full tax bill, you're paying for the full year of ownership responsibility. The IRS doesn't care that part of those taxes were "economically" the seller's - they only care about the actual cash payments you make to the tax authority.
As a first-time homeowner myself, I went through this exact confusion last year! You're absolutely right - since you didn't make any actual property tax payments in 2024, there's nothing to deduct on your 2024 return. The key thing to remember is that property tax deductions are based on the cash basis - meaning you can only deduct what you actually paid out, not what was assessed or owed. That seller credit you received at closing isn't taxable income to you, it's just an adjustment to make the transaction fair since you'll be paying the full year's taxes when they come due. When February 2025 rolls around and your escrow company pays those property taxes, you'll be able to deduct the full amount on your 2025 tax return. Keep your escrow statements and closing documents organized - you'll need them to show exactly what was paid and when. One tip: make sure to review your mortgage servicer's annual escrow analysis statement early next year. It will show exactly when property tax payments were made, which is crucial for determining the correct tax year for your deduction.
This is really helpful! I'm also a first-time homeowner and was worried I was missing out on a deduction this year. Quick question - when you say to keep the escrow analysis statement, should I be looking for a specific form or document name? My mortgage company sends me so many different statements and I want to make sure I'm saving the right one for tax purposes.
Just wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you keep detailed records of the original loan transaction too. Since you withdrew $50K in cash from your bank, that withdrawal should be documented on your bank statements. This creates a clear paper trail showing the money left your account and then returned, which helps establish the legitimacy of the loan arrangement. Also, regarding the 15% interest rate you charged - that's actually quite reasonable and well above the current Applicable Federal Rates (AFR), so you shouldn't have any issues with the IRS questioning whether this was a legitimate loan versus a disguised gift. The AFR for short-term loans is currently much lower, so your 15% rate clearly shows this was a commercial-style transaction. One more thing to consider: if you plan to make similar loans in the future, you might want to consider having your friend write you a check for the interest portion instead of paying in cash. This creates better documentation and avoids the complications others mentioned about carrying large amounts of cash.
Great points about documentation! I'm curious though - if someone has already completed the loan transaction in cash like the OP did, is it too late to create better documentation after the fact? Or are there steps they can take retroactively to strengthen their paper trail for tax purposes? I'm thinking about writing up a more detailed summary of what happened with dates and amounts, but I'm not sure if that would actually help or if it needs to be contemporaneous documentation.
I've been through a similar situation with personal loans to family members, and I learned the hard way that documentation is everything. Here's what I wish I had known from the start: First, yes, you absolutely need to report that $7.5K as interest income on your tax return. Even though it's cash sitting in your safe, it's still taxable income the moment your friend paid it to you. The IRS doesn't care about the physical form - income is income. Second, while your loan agreement is a good start, I'd strongly recommend creating a supplemental memo now documenting the complete transaction timeline. Include the withdrawal date from your bank, the loan disbursement date, the repayment date, and amounts. Even though this is after-the-fact documentation, it shows you're treating this as a legitimate business transaction. Third, consider depositing that $7.5K interest into your bank account rather than keeping it as cash. This creates a clear audit trail and removes any potential complications from having large amounts of undocumented cash. Plus, if you ever get audited, having bank records showing the interest income makes everything much cleaner. Finally, make sure your friend understands this was a legitimate loan with interest, not a gift. If the IRS ever questions either of you about it, you both need to tell the same story about this being an arm's length transaction.
I'm really sorry for your losses - losing puppies is heartbreaking, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to deal with the financial implications on top of the emotional toll. As a small business owner (not in breeding, but I've dealt with similar inventory loss situations), I wanted to confirm what others have said here. Those puppy losses don't require any special reporting or deductions on your Schedule C. Your business expenses remained the same, but your income was lower than projected - that's exactly how business losses naturally get reflected in your tax filing. What impressed me reading your post is how professionally you're approaching this. You've been tracking expenses meticulously, you understand the investment phase vs. income-generating phase of your business, and you're asking the right questions. This kind of documentation and business-like approach is exactly what protects you if the IRS ever questions whether you're running a legitimate business versus an expensive hobby. The advice about keeping detailed records of the losses (vet records, documentation of what the puppies would have sold for, etc.) is spot-on. You don't need it for a specific tax deduction, but it's great supporting documentation for your overall business records. Keep up the professional approach - it sounds like you're building something sustainable despite this setback. Wishing you better luck with future litters!
Thank you for the kind words and validation that we're handling this professionally. It really helps to hear from someone outside the breeding community that our approach makes sense from a general business perspective. You're absolutely right that the emotional side has been the hardest part. We got into breeding because we love the dogs first and foremost, so losing puppies feels like losing family members, not just "inventory." But you're also right that we need to treat this as the business it is when it comes to taxes and record-keeping. I appreciate everyone's advice in this thread. It's clear that the key is maintaining detailed records and demonstrating business intent, not finding some special tax treatment for the losses. We'll keep doing what we're doing - tracking everything meticulously and running this operation professionally. Hopefully this year's setback will just be a learning experience that makes us better breeders going forward.
I'm so sorry for your puppy losses - that's always devastating, both emotionally and financially. As a tax professional who works with several breeding operations, I can confirm what others have said here about how to handle these losses. The puppy losses you experienced are considered ordinary business losses, not something that requires special reporting. Your Schedule C will naturally reflect this situation - you incurred all the breeding expenses (stud fees, whelping supplies, initial puppy care, etc.) but had fewer puppies to sell than anticipated. This automatically results in a lower profit margin or potentially an overall business loss for the year. What's most important is maintaining excellent documentation. Keep detailed records of all puppies born, veterinary records related to the losses, projected versus actual sales, and all associated expenses. While you don't report these losses as a separate line item, having this documentation is crucial if you're ever audited. Given that you mentioned this was your first year generating significant income after 3 years of investment, make sure you're prepared to demonstrate business intent versus hobby activity. The IRS scrutinizes breeding operations closely, especially those with multiple years of losses. Keep a written business plan, maintain separate business accounts, and document any operational changes you make to improve profitability going forward. Your meticulous expense tracking shows you're already approaching this professionally - that's exactly what you need to continue doing.
Thank you for the professional perspective! As someone new to this community, it's reassuring to hear from a tax professional that confirms what other breeders have shared here. Your point about demonstrating business intent versus hobby activity really resonates with me. I can see how the IRS would be skeptical of operations that consistently lose money, especially in something like breeding that people often do for passion rather than profit. The emphasis on documentation throughout this thread has been eye-opening. It seems like successful breeding operations aren't just about producing healthy puppies, but also about maintaining business records that prove you're operating professionally. @Chris, I hope you find this professional confirmation helpful as you navigate your first year with actual sales. It sounds like you're already doing everything right from a record-keeping standpoint, which should serve you well going forward. Question for @Clarissa - do you typically recommend that breeding clients work with tax professionals who specialize in agricultural or animal-related businesses, or can most general tax preparers handle Schedule C breeding operations adequately?
Amina Toure
I wonder if this is related to the increased security measures the IRS implemented this year? Have you checked if there are any identity verification requirements you might have missed? The whole system seems more complicated this year, and I'm concerned that the disconnect between tax preparers, the IRS, and banks is creating these delays. Did TurboTax mention anything about verification codes or additional steps?
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
I had this exact issue with Chime last year! Here's what I learned: Chime processes tax refunds differently than regular direct deposits because they go through a different ACH network pathway. Even though your DoorDash and UberEats payments hit instantly, tax refunds often take 1-2 business days even after the IRS sends them. The good news is that if TurboTax confirmed they sent it this morning, you'll likely see it by tomorrow evening at the latest. In the meantime, you can check the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool to see if it shows as "sent" on their end too - that'll give you extra peace of mind. I know the waiting is stressful when you have bills due, but hang in there!
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