ur better off going thru HR block if u need an advance. they do RAL's up to $3500

Just want to clarify something - Chime does advertise "get your tax refund up to 2 days early" but this only applies once the IRS actually processes and releases your refund. They don't offer actual tax advances like some tax prep companies do. If you really need money before your refund comes, you might want to look into other options, but be careful of high fees!

Hey has anyone noticed that Vanguard sometimes messes up the cost basis on their 1099 forms? I had to call them last year because the numbers were completely wrong and it would have cost me an extra $2k in taxes!

For your Vanguard 1099-R, definitely double-check all the numbers against your account statements before filing. Since you mentioned this was for home repairs after a pipe burst, you'll want to keep detailed records of the repair costs and any insurance claims. The IRS may ask for documentation if they audit the hardship exception. One thing to watch out for - if your employer's 401k plan has specific hardship withdrawal rules, those might be different from the general IRS rules for penalty exceptions. Your plan administrator should have given you paperwork when you took the distribution that explains what type of withdrawal it was classified as under your specific plan. Also, remember that even if you qualify for an exception to the 10% penalty, you'll still owe regular income tax on the full $15,000. Make sure you've set aside enough money for that tax bill or adjust your withholding for the rest of the year if needed.

I appreciate everyone's helpful suggestions here! I'm dealing with a similar situation with Box 20 Code \ entries on my K-1s from two different energy partnerships. One thing I'm curious about - when these codes reference things like "Section 751 assets" or "unrecaptured section 1250 gain," do I need to report these amounts anywhere on my current year return, or are they truly just for future reference when I sell my partnership interest? I'm using FreeTaxUSA this year instead of TurboTax, and I want to make sure I'm not missing any required reporting. The software has a section for "other partnership information" but I'm not sure if these specific codes belong there or if they're just informational notes I should save for my records. Also, has anyone noticed if different partnerships use the backslash code differently? My two K-1s seem to have completely different types of information under this same code, which is adding to my confusion.

I've been dealing with partnership K-1s for about 5 years now, and those Box 20 Code \ entries used to really stress me out too! What I've learned is that these codes are essentially the partnership's way of providing you with additional information that doesn't fit neatly into the standard boxes. For your specific situation with energy partnerships, those Code \ entries are very common. Energy partnerships often have complex depreciation schedules, depletion allowances, and other industry-specific items that need to be communicated to partners. The key thing to remember is that most of this information is for your records and future reference rather than immediate reporting. Here's what I do each year: I create a simple folder (digital or physical) for each partnership and save all the K-1 information, including those Box 20 notes. When tax time comes around, I enter the main K-1 data into my tax software, but I also make sure to save those Box 20 details separately. This has been incredibly helpful the few times I've had questions from the IRS or when I was considering selling one of my partnership interests. The most important advice I can give is don't overthink it for your current year return. Focus on getting the main K-1 items reported correctly, and treat those Box 20 codes as important documentation to keep with your tax records.

I'm actually going through something similar with a different payroll service. What happens if you don't get this resolved before the filing deadline? Is it better to file an extension or try to file with the substitute form?

I went through this exact situation with my S-Corp a few years back when my payroll company went out of business mid-year. Here's what I learned from my CPA and the IRS: 1. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your attempts to contact Gusto, including dates, times, and what they told you. Screenshot any emails or chat conversations. 2. **Know your rights** - As others mentioned, Gusto has a legal obligation to provide your W-2 regardless of your subscription status. The fact that they processed payroll for you creates this responsibility. 3. **Form 4852 is your friend** - If Gusto continues to refuse, Form 4852 (Substitute W-2) is the legitimate IRS-approved solution. Make sure to use your final paystub's year-to-date totals, as these should match what was reported to Social Security. 4. **Consider state requirements too** - Don't forget that you may also need state wage statements depending on where your LLC was based. The good news is that this situation is more common than you'd think, and the IRS has established procedures to handle it. Just make sure all your numbers are accurate and you have documentation showing your good faith efforts to obtain the proper W-2.

Does anyone know if there are any specific deductions we can take as survey takers? Like can I write off my internet bill or part of my cell phone if I use it for mobile surveys?

Great question! I went through this exact same situation last year. You're absolutely right to be tracking everything - that spreadsheet will be your best friend come tax time. To add to what others have mentioned, there's actually a good online calculator that can help estimate your self-employment tax burden based on your survey income. Since you're looking at potentially $1200-1500, you'd be well over the $400 threshold for self-employment tax, so you'll owe both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax on that amount. One thing I learned the hard way - if you expect to owe more than $1000 in taxes for the year (including on your survey income), you might need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid an underpayment penalty. Since you're already at $780 and expecting more, this could apply to you depending on your regular job's withholding. The good news is that once you get the hang of reporting this income, it becomes pretty routine. Just make sure to save those spreadsheet records - the IRS can ask for documentation even if the survey companies don't send you 1099 forms.