Has anyone tried just renting their apartment to their "business" and then having the business pay for it? My buddy claims he does this and writes off 100% of his rent. Sounds kinda shady to me but he swears it works.

Just wanted to add a practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar rent burden situation - make sure you're measuring your home office space correctly for the deduction. I initially just eyeballed it and said "about 15%" like you did, but when I actually measured with a tape measure, my dedicated work area was only 12% of my total apartment square footage. The IRS expects precise calculations, not estimates. Measure the length and width of your exclusive business space, then divide by your total apartment square footage. Keep photos and measurements in your tax files as documentation. Also, remember that hallways, bathrooms, and kitchen don't count toward your total space calculation - only actual livable square footage. This small difference in measurement accuracy could save you from headaches if you ever get audited, and ironically, being more precise actually helped me discover I could claim a slightly higher percentage than I originally thought when I included some storage space I was using exclusively for business supplies.

One thing nobody mentioned - you can actually sometimes get TaxAct cheaper at Costco or even Amazon compared to buying directly from TaxAct's website. I think I saved like $15 last year buying it through Costco. Just make sure you're getting the current tax year!

Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! This is exactly what I needed to know. Sounds like the downloadable TaxAct Deluxe will work perfectly for our situation - being able to do up to 5 federal returns with one purchase means my wife and I can both file without buying separate copies. The state filing fees are something I hadn't considered, but that's still more cost-effective than buying two full software packages. I'm definitely going to check out those retail options too - saving $15 at Costco would be great. And @Finley Garrett, that taxr.ai suggestion is interesting. I might upload our documents first just to double-check that Deluxe will handle everything we need before I purchase. Really appreciate all the real-world experiences shared here. This community is incredibly helpful!

I'm dealing with my first offset situation right now and honestly, finding this thread feels like striking gold! My refund was offset for an old student loan about 3 days ago and I've been completely in the dark about what happens next. The IRS notice basically just said "remaining funds will be issued" but gave zero timeline information. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has been so much more helpful than anything I could find on government websites. That 2-3 week timeline seems really consistent across different situations, which gives me realistic expectations instead of just wondering if I'll ever see the rest of my money. I'm definitely going to call that BFS number (800-304-3107) that everyone keeps mentioning - sounds like they actually provide useful information unlike the regular IRS helpline. It's reassuring to know they can confirm there aren't other offsets waiting in the wings too. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual timelines and experiences. It makes such a difference to hear from people who've actually been through this process rather than trying to decipher vague official language. The waiting is stressful when you're budgeting around that money, but at least now I know what to realistically expect!

I'm going through this exact situation right now and this thread has been such a relief to find! My refund was offset for an old student loan debt about 6 days ago, and I've been checking my bank account obsessively ever since. The IRS notice was so vague - just said "remaining funds will be released" with no timeline whatsoever. Reading everyone's real experiences here gives me so much more confidence than trying to navigate government websites that barely explain anything. That 2-3 week timeline seems really consistent across different debt types and amounts, which helps me plan my budget instead of just hoping for the best. I'm definitely calling that BFS number (800-304-3107) tomorrow that so many people have recommended. Sounds like they can actually give you useful information about where your case stands, unlike the regular IRS line where you wait forever just to get generic responses. It's frustrating when you're counting on that money for expenses, but knowing that pretty much everyone here got their remaining refunds within that timeframe gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information you can't get anywhere else!

The community wisdom on this topic is pretty consistent, but I'm curious about a few details in your situation. Do you have any dependents who lived with you? How long have you been separated before the divorce was finalized? Were you the primary financial provider for the household? These factors can significantly impact whether you qualify for Head of Household status, which generally provides better tax advantages than filing as Single. Also, have you considered potential implications for credits like the Child Tax Credit if you have children?

I went through this exact situation in 2023 and completely understand the confusion! Since your divorce was finalized in 2024, you're legally considered single for the entire tax year - no MFJ option with your ex-spouse. For Head of Household vs. Single, you'll want to carefully evaluate if you meet ALL the HOH requirements: • You paid more than 50% of household maintenance costs (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, repairs) • A qualifying person (child, parent, or other dependent) lived in your home for more than half the year • You can claim that person as a dependent (or could claim them if not for income/joint return restrictions) The HOH status can save you significant money - better standard deduction and tax brackets compared to Single filing. I saved about $1,800 by qualifying for HOH instead of Single. One tip: keep detailed records of all household expenses and living arrangements. The IRS sometimes requests documentation to verify HOH eligibility, especially in post-divorce situations. I had to provide utility bills, lease agreements, and school records showing my daughter's address. If you're unsure about the qualifying dependent rules, IRS Publication 501 has detailed examples that might match your situation exactly.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Got both letters within a week of each other and totally panicked. The key thing is DO NOT send anything unless they specifically request documents in writing. I made the mistake of proactively sending bank statements and it actually slowed down my case because they had to match everything up. The CP05 review took about 16 weeks total for me, but once it was done my refund hit my account within 2-3 business days. Hang in there - the waiting sucks but you'll get through it! 💪

Same boat here! Got my CP05 in December and still waiting. The anxiety is real when you're counting on that refund 😅 One thing that helped me was setting up an IRS online account so I could check my transcript regularly - at least then you can see if there's any movement on your case. The automated phone system (1-800-829-1040) also gives basic status updates without having to wait on hold for hours. Just remember these letters don't mean you did anything wrong, they're just part of their verification process. Stay strong! 🤞