My check was mailed 3/1 and just arrived yesterday. Has your address changed recently? Did you file with a tax preparer who might have entered wrong banking info? Are you sure your transcript shows actual mailing and not just the notice of the change from direct deposit?

I'm in a very similar situation - my refund was also mailed 3/15 according to my transcript and switched from direct deposit to paper check (also showing code 971). Haven't received it yet either, which has me concerned since I need it for upcoming medical expenses too. Based on what others are sharing here, it sounds like we're still within the normal timeframe, but it's definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money. I'm going to wait until early April before taking any action, but thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this timing issue right now.

Has anyone here actually been audited for cash income? What did they specifically ask for? I'm a bartender and get a lot of cash tips that I report honestly, but I don't have any real "proof" besides my bank deposits.

For cash income documentation during an audit, the IRS typically accepts what they call "contemporaneous records" - meaning records made at or near the time of the transaction. Your notebook approach is actually on the right track, but you'll want to enhance it. Key documents that strengthen your case: 1) Daily cash receipts log (your notebook counts, but make entries consistent and detailed), 2) Bank deposit records that correlate with your logged income, 3) Any receipts or invoices you provide to customers, 4) Photos of completed work or service agreements, and 5) Calendar or appointment book showing scheduled jobs. The IRS understands that cash businesses often have less formal documentation, but they look for consistency between your reported income, lifestyle, bank deposits, and spending patterns. Your bank statements showing regular deposits that match your notebook entries will be very helpful. Consider also taking photos of completed work and keeping simple service agreements or at least text messages with clients about job details - these all help corroborate your income claims. The key is showing a reasonable, consistent system rather than perfect documentation.

Jumping in with a quick question - does anyone know if there's a specific tax form I should use if I need to explain the 1099-K situation? I got one from eBay last year even though most of what I sold was just clearing out my garage.

Just wanted to add my experience here since I went through something very similar last year. I was laid off and had to sell a bunch of my personal stuff - furniture, electronics, clothes, you name it. Everything was sold for way less than what I originally paid, just like your situation. The key thing I learned is that the IRS doesn't care about these sales from a tax perspective when you're selling at a loss. Think about it - if you could deduct losses on personal items, everyone would be claiming deductions for their used cars, old furniture, etc. So it works both ways - no deduction for the loss, but also no income to report. I kept a simple spreadsheet with three columns: what I sold, approximate original price, and selling price. This was mostly for my own peace of mind and in case I ever got questioned. But honestly, since everything was clearly sold at a loss and these were obviously personal belongings (not business inventory), I didn't stress about it too much. Hope your job search goes well - I know how tough that whole situation can be!

Has anyone had the mortgage company send incorrect information on the 1098? My lender somehow included fees that aren't actually interest in box 1 and I'm not sure how to report that correctly.

Great question Olivia! You're absolutely right to double-check this. The key thing to remember is that rental property mortgage interest and personal residence mortgage interest are completely separate deductions that go on different forms. For your rental property, the mortgage interest should be entered in the rental income/expense section of FreeTaxUSA, which will put it on Schedule E as a business expense against your rental income. The homeowner mortgage interest deduction section you mentioned is for your PRIMARY RESIDENCE only, and that goes on Schedule A as an itemized deduction. So if you only have a rental property (no mortgage on your personal home), you should NOT be filling out the homeowner deduction section at all. But if you have mortgages on both your rental AND your personal residence, then yes - you'd enter both, but in their respective sections. FreeTaxUSA should handle this correctly as long as you're entering the information in the right places. Just make sure you're not entering your rental property mortgage interest in both sections!

Has anyone used TurboTax to report their short-term rental income? I'm trying to figure out if the basic version will handle this or if I need to upgrade to the premium version.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of keeping a detailed calendar or log of your rental activity. Since you're using the basement personally when family visits, you'll want to document exactly which days were: 1. Rented to paying guests 2. Available for rent but vacant 3. Used personally by you or family 4. Unavailable due to maintenance/repairs The IRS can be pretty strict about this documentation if you get audited. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, status (rented/available/personal/maintenance), and any notes about bookings or personal use. Also, since you mentioned you sometimes let family stay there when they visit - make sure you're not charging them rent, because if you are, those days would count as rental days for tax purposes. If it's truly free family use, then it counts as personal use and reduces your deductible percentage. One more tip: take photos of the space in its rental-ready condition and keep receipts for any improvements or furnishings you buy specifically for the rental. These can help establish your basis for depreciation calculations.