Great question! I've been dealing with survey income for a couple years now. Here are the key points based on my experience: 1. **Report ALL income** - You need to report every dollar you earn from surveys, even if it's just $50. The $600 threshold only determines whether companies send you a 1099 form, not whether you owe taxes. 2. **Keep detailed records** - Since you're using multiple survey platforms, create a simple spreadsheet tracking each payment: date, platform name, amount earned. This will be crucial at tax time. 3. **Schedule C vs Other Income** - Survey work is generally considered self-employment income, so you'll likely need to file Schedule C. This means paying self-employment tax (about 15.3%) if your net earnings are $400 or more. 4. **Don't forget deductions** - You can deduct legitimate business expenses like a portion of your internet bill, phone costs if you do mobile surveys, maybe even a home office deduction if you have a dedicated space. 5. **PayPal reporting** - Even if you haven't cashed out yet, you still owe taxes on money earned this tax year. PayPal will also report payments to the IRS if you exceed certain thresholds. Start tracking everything now while it's still manageable. Trust me, trying to reconstruct your earnings from 8 different survey sites in March is a nightmare!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is quarterly estimated tax payments. If you're going to earn $900+ from surveys this year, you might need to make quarterly payments to avoid an underpayment penalty at tax time. The general rule is if you'll owe more than $1,000 in taxes (including self-employment tax), you should make quarterly payments. With $900 in survey income, you're looking at roughly $127 in self-employment tax alone, plus regular income tax depending on your bracket. You can make these payments online through the IRS Direct Pay system. The deadlines are January 15, April 15, June 15, and September 15. Since you're already partway through the year, you might want to calculate what you owe for the quarters you've missed and catch up. Also, don't forget that some states have their own reporting requirements for this type of income. Check your state's tax website or consider consulting a tax professional if this gets complicated. Better to get it right the first time than deal with notices later!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for the past 3 years and when I logged in this week, I literally stared at the screen for 5 minutes trying to figure out what happened. The new interface is completely unrecognizable compared to what we're used to. What's really frustrating me is that I actually recommended this system to several friends and family members over the years because of how simple and straightforward it was. Now I feel bad because they're probably going to have the same confusing experience we're all having. The old system was perfect for people who just wanted digital versions of the paper forms without all the bells and whistles. I'm going to work through all the tips shared here - the relocated "Start New Tax Return" button, manual saving, and that search function for finding forms by number. It's disappointing that we need a whole community guide just to navigate what should be basic functionality, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions. Has anyone else noticed if the error checking is actually better like some mentioned, or does that not make up for all the navigation headaches? Trying to find some silver lining in this whole mess!

I'm going through this exact same situation! Been using Free File Fillable Forms for about 4 years and was completely caught off guard by how different everything looks this year. I actually logged out and back in twice thinking I was in the wrong place somehow. What's really bothering me is that they seem to have redesigned the entire user experience without considering that many of us chose this system specifically because it was simple and predictable. I don't need fancy features or a "modern" interface - I just need reliable access to the digital forms so I can file for free. The tips in this thread have been incredibly helpful though! I found that "Start New Tax Return" button everyone mentioned (seriously, why would they move it to the right side?) and I'm definitely going to be obsessive about manual saving after reading about people losing their work. Has anyone figured out if there's a way to provide feedback to the IRS about these interface changes? It seems like there are a lot of long-time users who are struggling with this overhaul, and maybe if enough people speak up, they'll consider some usability improvements for next year.

As someone who's been through estate administration, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered: First, yes, use the 2023 Form 1041 for your fiscal year ending November 2023. That's definitely correct. Second, since you mentioned you're "nowhere close to settling the estate by December," you'll likely need to file another 1041 for the following fiscal year (November 2023 to November 2024). Estates can remain open for years, and you'll need to file annual returns until everything is distributed and the estate is closed. Third, be very careful about estimated tax payments. If the estate owes more than $1,000 in tax, you may need to make quarterly estimated payments for the current fiscal year. This caught me off guard with my mother's estate. Finally, regarding your investment transfers - make sure you understand the difference between estate income and distributable net income (DNI). If you distribute assets to beneficiaries during the fiscal year, there are specific rules about how much taxable income flows through to them versus staying with the estate. The learning curve is steep, but it's absolutely doable if you're methodical about it. Keep detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, purposes. You'll thank yourself later if the IRS has questions.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might save you some headaches down the road. Since you mentioned you're comfortable with complex returns and have rental property experience, you're probably well-positioned to handle the 1041 yourself. One thing I learned the hard way with my aunt's estate - start documenting your executor compensation decisions early. Even if you plan to waive fees, keep track of the hours you spend on estate administration. If the estate ends up being more complex or time-consuming than expected (which sounds likely given your comment about being nowhere close to settling), you might want to claim reasonable compensation later. Also, regarding the fiscal year choice - that was smart given your situation. Just be aware that if you end up needing to make any significant distributions to beneficiaries, the timing within your fiscal year can affect the tax consequences. Sometimes it's better to wait until the next fiscal year begins if you're close to year-end. For the 2023 vs 2022 form question - definitely 2023 as others have confirmed. But double-check that any tax law changes between 2022 and 2023 don't affect your specific situation. Usually not an issue, but worth a quick review especially for estate-specific provisions. Good luck with everything - sounds like you've got a good handle on the complexity involved!

Does anybody know if the "undetermined term" status affects the actual tax rate you pay? Or is it just an issue of which form/section to report it on? My broker labeled a bunch of my crypto transactions this way and I'm trying to figure out if it actually matters for how much tax I owe or just for paperwork purposes.

I've dealt with this exact situation and want to emphasize something important: when you have undetermined term transactions, the IRS expects you to make a reasonable effort to determine the actual holding period rather than just defaulting to short-term treatment. Here's my recommended approach: First, gather any records you can find - old statements, trade confirmations, even bank records showing when funds were transferred for purchases. Second, if you're missing some information, create a spreadsheet documenting what you know and your methodology for estimates. Third, when in doubt, consider using Form 8949 with the appropriate adjustment codes to explain your situation. One thing I learned the hard way: if you report everything as short-term just because it's "undetermined," you might overpay taxes significantly. The IRS won't refund the difference if you later find records showing they were actually long-term holdings. It's worth spending the time upfront to get this right, especially given the substantial difference in tax rates between short-term and long-term capital gains. Also, keep detailed records of your research process in case of questions later. The IRS appreciates good faith efforts to comply accurately.

I'm dealing with this exact same frustration with my daughter's Coverdell ESA from E*Trade! Just got my 1099-Q yesterday with boxes 2 and 3 completely blank, and I've been losing sleep over how to calculate the taxable portion correctly. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like this is unfortunately the norm rather than the exception across pretty much all custodians. I called E*Trade and got the same story: "We can send you statements but we don't track basis information." So frustrating that we're all having to become tax accountants for information that should be readily available! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my tax preparer: if you've made contributions in different tax years, make sure you're tracking the dates carefully. The basis calculation can get more complex if you have overlapping contribution and distribution years, especially if there were market fluctuations between contributions. I'm definitely implementing the spreadsheet system going forward and creating that methodology summary document that others mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - knowing that the IRS accepts good-faith calculations with proper documentation has taken a huge weight off my shoulders!

Welcome to the club of frustrated Coverdell ESA holders! I went through this exact nightmare two years ago with my twins' accounts from TD Ameritrade. The blank boxes 2 and 3 on the 1099-Q forms sent me into a complete panic initially. After reading through all the great advice here, I want to emphasize one thing that really helped me: don't let perfect be the enemy of good when reconstructing your basis calculations. I spent weeks obsessing over every tiny detail in my statements, but ultimately the IRS just wants to see that you made a reasonable, good-faith effort to calculate the correct amounts. Here's my practical advice: Start with your most recent statements and work backwards. Look for clear contribution entries (usually labeled as "contributions" or "deposits") - that's your basis. Everything else (dividends, capital gains, market appreciation) is earnings. Create a simple month-by-month spreadsheet showing account value, new contributions, and calculated earnings. Most importantly, don't let this stress consume you. Yes, it's incredibly frustrating that custodians leave us hanging like this, but thousands of people successfully navigate this exact situation every tax season. The IRS understands that account holders often have to reconstruct this information when custodians don't provide it. You've got this! The fact that you're being diligent about getting it right shows you're on the right track.