Dude, I've been writing off my entire internet bill for years as a 1099 worker and never had an issue. As long as your primary use is for work, you're good. Don't overthink this... the IRS isn't going to come after you for a few hundred bucks in internet bills lol.

As a 1099 contractor myself, I can confirm that both the hotspot device and monthly data plan are deductible business expenses. The key is proper documentation and accurate business use percentage calculation. For your situation, since you're using the hotspot exclusively for work (8+ hours daily), you should be able to deduct 100% of both costs. However, I'd recommend keeping detailed records showing: 1. Purchase receipt for the hotspot device 2. All monthly service bills 3. A simple log documenting work hours/usage for at least one sample month 4. Any emails or documentation from your employer about remote work requirements The expensive data plan you mentioned is actually a positive for your deduction - it shows the business necessity since regular plans wouldn't meet your work requirements. Just make sure to save everything and be prepared to justify the business use percentage if ever questioned. Don't let fear stop you from claiming legitimate business expenses - just document everything properly!

This is such a thoughtful approach to help your mom! I went through a similar situation with my dad last year when he was short on Social Security credits. One thing I'd emphasize is making sure you document everything properly from day one. The IRS wants to see that this is a legitimate business arrangement, not just disguised family support. Here's what worked for us: - Created a simple written contract outlining duties (meal prep, cooking, cleanup) - Set regular work hours and pay schedule (we did $16/hour for 12 hours weekly) - Used a time tracking app so he could log his hours - Paid through direct deposit to create clear records - Had him submit simple weekly invoices listing what he cooked The key is treating it exactly like you would any other employee. We also made sure the wage was competitive with local personal chef rates by checking Care.com and local meal prep services. My dad earned all 4 Social Security credits in 8 months this way, and the IRS has never questioned it because we have solid documentation. The extra paperwork was totally worth it knowing he'll have proper benefits when he retires. One bonus tip: consider having your mom get a food handler's permit or basic food safety certification. It's usually under $50 and adds legitimacy to the professional cooking arrangement.

This is a brilliant way to help your mom build Social Security credits! I actually helped my grandmother set up a similar arrangement a couple years ago when she was in the exact same situation. One thing I'd add to all the excellent advice here - consider starting with a trial period first, maybe 2-3 months, to work out any kinks in your system before committing long-term. This lets you figure out realistic hours, iron out the paperwork process, and make sure the arrangement works for both of you. Also, don't underestimate the value of what she's already doing! Professional meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleanup easily justifies $12-18/hour in most areas. When I researched rates for my grandmother, I was surprised how much personal chef services actually cost. The Social Security credits add up faster than you'd think. At $1,730 per quarter for each credit, paying her even $500/month consistently will get her significant progress toward those missing credits. The peace of mind knowing she'll have proper retirement benefits is absolutely worth the extra tax paperwork. Just make sure you both understand this counts as taxable income for her, so help her set aside money for taxes. But honestly, seeing my grandmother's relief when she realized she'd qualify for full Social Security benefits made all the administrative work totally worthwhile.

Filed on January 29th and just wanted to add my experience to this thread! I was in almost exactly the same situation - job change in November 2024 that created withholding complications, expecting around $4,300 back. The "Where's My Refund" tool was stuck on "processing" for nearly a month. What really helped ease my anxiety was reading through all the experiences shared here. It became clear that returns with multiple W-2s from job changes are routinely getting flagged for manual review this year, which explains the delays. I had two W-2s plus claimed some work-related education expenses. I finally got my refund this past Tuesday! Once it moved from "processing" to "refund approved," the money hit my account within 48 hours. The total wait was about 4 weeks from acceptance, but seeing everyone else's timelines helped me understand this was completely normal for our situation. For anyone still waiting who filed around the same time - based on all the patterns I'm seeing in this thread, it really looks like they're systematically working through late January filings with job change complications right now. The wait is absolutely stressful when you need that money, but hang in there!

Filed on January 28th and got my refund today! I had to share since so many people in this thread are in similar situations. Like many others here, I had a job change in late 2024 (switched in October) that created a withholding nightmare, and I was expecting around $4,600 back. My "Where's My Refund" tool was stuck on "processing" for exactly 4 weeks with no updates whatsoever. I had two W-2s from the job change plus claimed some dependent care expenses, which I now understand automatically triggers their manual review process. Reading through all the experiences shared in this thread was honestly a lifesaver for my anxiety levels. It became so clear that we're all dealing with the same systematic delays for returns involving job changes. The IRS is just being extra careful with these types of situations this year. Once my status finally changed from "processing" to "refund approved" on Monday, the direct deposit hit my account this morning - so the actual payout happens really fast once they finish the review. For everyone still waiting who filed around the same time frame, hang in there! Based on all the patterns shared here, it really seems like they're working through late January filings with multiple W-2s right now. The wait is absolutely brutal when you need that money, but your refunds should be coming very soon!

Ugh, I'm going through the exact same thing with my PA refund! Got that dreaded 8-12 week message and have been obsessively checking my bank account ever since. It's so frustrating because you hear federal takes forever but state is supposed to be quick. After reading all these comments I'm definitely going to check out that taxr.ai thing - seems like a lot of people are getting actual answers from it instead of just generic timelines. At least we're not alone in this waiting game! 🙄

PA resident here too! Just wanted to chime in that I got the exact same scary 8-12 week message last month and was absolutely panicking. But my refund actually hit my account exactly 23 days after the processed status showed up on my transcript. So definitely don't lose hope! The state is just covering themselves with that long timeframe. I know the waiting is brutal when you're counting on that money - I was refreshing my banking app constantly too 😅 Hang in there, it's probably coming way sooner than 12 weeks!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Annabel. I went through this exact situation when my mother passed away last year, and I know how daunting it feels when you're already dealing with so much. One thing that really helped me was creating a checklist before I started the IRS process. Here's what worked for me: 1. Get at least 5 certified copies of the death certificate (you'll need originals for multiple agencies) 2. Make copies of the will pages that name you as executor 3. Fill out Form 56 completely - don't leave any sections blank, even if they seem optional 4. For Form 4506-T, be very specific about which tax years you need (I requested the last 3 years to be safe) The most important thing I learned is to keep detailed records of every interaction with the IRS. Write down dates, times, and the names of representatives you speak with. This saved me when there was confusion about whether they had received my paperwork. Also, consider requesting both the Account Transcript AND the Return Transcript for each year. The Account Transcript shows payment history and any outstanding issues, while the Return Transcript shows what was actually filed. Having both gives you the complete picture of your dad's tax situation. The process is slow, but you're doing everything right by getting organized now. Take it one step at a time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Annabel. Having just gone through this process myself when my stepfather passed away six months ago, I completely understand how overwhelming it feels when you're already dealing with grief and so many other estate matters. Everyone has given excellent advice about the forms and procedures. I'd like to add a few practical tips that helped me get through this more smoothly: First, when you're ready to call the IRS, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings around 7-8 AM. I found the wait times were significantly shorter than calling later in the day or week. Have a book or something to do while on hold - even the "shorter" waits were still 45+ minutes. Second, create a simple spreadsheet or document tracking every form you submit, when you sent it, confirmation numbers, and follow-up dates. The IRS processes these requests in different departments, and having your own records helps enormously if you need to call back about the status. Third, if your dad had a tax preparer, reach out to them as well. Many CPAs and tax preparers have direct lines to IRS practitioners and can sometimes expedite requests or at least help ensure your paperwork is filled out correctly the first time. The timeline really varies - mine took about 4 weeks total, but I know others who waited 8+ weeks during busy season. Once you get the transcripts though, you'll have all the information you need to properly handle his tax obligations for the estate. Take care of yourself during this process. It's a lot to handle while you're grieving.