Oh wow, reading through all these comments is both reassuring and frustrating at the same time! I filed on February 20th and I'm still stuck in processing hell too. As someone who's also new to the US tax system (moved here in mid-2023), I had no idea that international filers get put into a separate review queue - that explains SO much! I've been checking "Where's My Refund" obsessively and getting the same generic "still processing" message for months. It's especially maddening when you hear about people who filed in April getting their refunds already while we February filers are still waiting. I'm definitely going to download that IRS2Go app and try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned. At this point I just want to know if there's an actual issue with my return or if it's just sitting in some digital pile waiting for someone to process it. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this waiting game! 😅

Just wanted to jump in here as another February filer still waiting! Filed on Feb 16th and seeing all these comments makes me feel so much less alone in this situation. I'm also relatively new to the US (moved here late 2022) and this whole process has been incredibly stressful. What really gets me is how random it all seems - some February filers got theirs months ago while others are still waiting, and people who filed in April are already done. I had no idea about the international filer review queue until reading this thread, which explains a lot! I've been using "Where's My Refund" daily and getting the same vague "processing" message. Definitely downloading the IRS2Go app tonight and going to try that Claimyr service everyone's mentioning. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and timelines - it's reassuring to know this isn't just happening to me and that there might actually be light at the end of this very long tunnel! 🤞

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! This thread has been incredibly informative. Just to make sure I understand correctly - the GoFundMe donations will count as business income on our tax return, but then we can deduct the kiln purchase as a business expense, essentially balancing it out? I'm leaning toward using Section 179 to deduct the full equipment cost in the same year since we're still a small operation and this would help offset the crowdfunding income immediately. Does anyone know if there are any specific requirements for Section 179 eligibility with pottery kilns? I assume it qualifies as business equipment, but want to make sure before we launch the campaign. Also planning to be extra diligent about documentation - screenshots of the final GoFundMe total, the equipment invoice, bank transfer records, everything. Better to have too much paperwork than not enough if the IRS ever has questions!

This is such a great discussion! As someone who went through a similar situation with my small woodworking business, I wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet. If your pottery studio is set up as a sole proprietorship (which many small creative businesses are), the GoFundMe income will flow through to your personal tax return on Schedule C. This means it could potentially affect other things like your self-employment tax calculation, even if the income and equipment expense offset each other for regular income tax purposes. The self-employment tax is calculated on your net business income, so if the crowdfunding pushes your total business income higher (even temporarily before the equipment deduction), you might see a small increase in SE tax. It's usually not a huge amount, but worth factoring into your planning. Also, make sure to check if your state has any specific rules about crowdfunding income. Some states handle it differently than the federal treatment, especially regarding sales tax implications if there's any question about whether you're "selling" something (even if it's just gratitude and recognition). The Section 179 route is definitely the way to go for your situation though - it'll give you the cleanest offset against the GoFundMe income!

Carlos, I've been through something very similar with a 1099-C for debt that resulted from identity theft. The stress is real, but you have solid options to handle this properly. First, definitely try one more certified letter to the creditor explaining this is fraudulent debt and requesting a corrected 1099-C. Keep copies of everything. If they refuse, you'll need to use Form 982 to exclude this from your taxable income. Since this stems from identity theft, you have a legitimate basis for exclusion. The form has an "other" category where you can specify "disputed debt due to identity theft." Most importantly, include a detailed written statement with your tax return explaining the situation. Reference your 2019 police report number and attach copies of: - The original police report - Any correspondence with the creditor showing your dispute - Documentation from credit bureaus about the identity theft The IRS sees these situations regularly. As long as you document everything properly upfront, you should be fine. Don't let their mistake cost you taxes on money you never actually received or benefited from. One last tip: if you're using tax software, make sure it properly handles the Form 982 exclusion so the 1099-C amount doesn't get added to your income even though it's reported. The software should handle this automatically once you complete the Form 982 section. You've got this - just stay organized and document everything!

Carlos, I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago - 1099-C for about $4,800 from debt that resulted from identity theft in 2018. The stress was overwhelming at first, but it's absolutely manageable if you handle it correctly. Here's what worked for me step by step: **Immediate Actions:** - Send one final certified letter to the creditor (I used USPS certified mail with return receipt). Give them 30 days to issue a corrected 1099-C showing $0. Reference your original police report and include copies of your previous dispute letters. - File a complaint with the CFPB online - this creates an official record and sometimes motivates creditors to fix their mistakes. **For Your Tax Return:** - Complete Form 982 and select "Other" for the exclusion type. Write in "Disputed debt - identity theft per police report [your report number]" - Include a clear written statement explaining the timeline: identity theft in 2019, police report filed, ongoing disputes with creditor, debt never legitimately owed - Attach copies of your police report and any creditor correspondence showing your disputes **Tax Software Tip:** Most software will ask you to enter the 1099-C amount first, then guide you through Form 982. The software should automatically exclude that amount from your taxable income - just double-check your final return shows $0 additional income from the canceled debt. I never heard back from the IRS about mine, got my refund on schedule, and saved about $1,200 in taxes I didn't actually owe. The key is being thorough with documentation upfront. You've got a solid case with that 2019 police report!

As someone who went through a similar situation with my spouse's arthritis, I wanted to share what we learned about the business angle since that seems to be a common question here. Unfortunately, the Section 105 route really isn't viable unless your husband becomes an employee of your business. However, there are a couple of alternative approaches to consider: 1) If your business is a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC, you might be able to deduct a portion of your home office expenses if you use part of your home regularly for business. While this won't directly help with the pool costs, it could help you reach that 7.5% AGI threshold for medical deductions more easily. 2) Consider whether any aspects of the installation could qualify as business expenses if you ever host business meetings or client entertainment at your home (though this is very limited and has strict IRS rules). For the appraisal question - we found that some appraisers specialize in "medical improvement valuations" and can provide more detailed breakdowns of what constitutes medical necessity vs. property enhancement. It cost us an extra $200 but the detailed report was invaluable during our IRS correspondence. Also, don't forget to keep records of any alternative treatment costs you're avoiding (like those $13,500 annual club memberships you mentioned). While not directly deductible, it helps demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of the home installation for medical purposes.

This has been an incredibly informative discussion! As someone who's been researching this exact situation for my own family, I wanted to add a few points that might help others: For those asking about ongoing expenses (chemicals, heating, maintenance), make sure to distinguish between costs directly related to the medical therapy versus general pool maintenance. We've been advised to keep a detailed log showing when the pool is used for prescribed therapy sessions versus recreational use, and only deduct the proportional costs. One thing I learned from our tax attorney is that the IRS is particularly scrutinous of home pool deductions because they're often seen as luxury items. Having multiple forms of documentation helps - not just the doctor's letter, but also evidence that you explored other treatment options first (physical therapy records, documentation of why public facilities weren't viable, etc.). Also, if you're installing the pool specifically for medical purposes, consider having your contractor provide two separate quotes: one for a basic pool and another for the medical-specific features (therapeutic jets, heating systems, accessibility ramps, etc.). This can help clearly establish which portions are purely medical versus property improvement. The key seems to be creating an ironclad paper trail that demonstrates medical necessity rather than convenience or luxury. Every successful case I've read about had extensive documentation from day one.

Has anyone considered a third option? You could lease your truck to the S-Corp through a formal lease agreement. The S-Corp pays you lease payments (which are fully deductible business expenses for the company) and you report the lease income on your personal return. This avoids the whole depreciation issue while still giving the company a deduction for the vehicle use.

Great question Sofia! As others have confirmed, you're correct that the S-Corp cannot claim bonus depreciation on your personally-owned truck. Since the asset isn't owned by the corporation, only you as the individual owner can claim depreciation on your personal tax return. However, I'd suggest comparing all your options carefully. The accountable plan reimbursement you're currently using is actually quite beneficial - you get tax-free reimbursements from the company, and the S-Corp gets a full business deduction for the payments. Before considering selling the truck to the S-Corp (which creates potential tax complications as Dmitry mentioned), run the numbers on both the standard mileage rate versus actual expenses through your accountable plan. Given that you have a heavy truck over 6,000 lbs with high operating costs, the actual expense method will likely be more advantageous than the 67 cents per mile standard rate. The key is maintaining detailed records of business versus personal use regardless of which method you choose. Your current setup might already be optimal from a tax perspective!