Has anyone here specifically done both a full-time W-2 job and Uber Eats? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if there's any specific tax software that makes this combination easier to file? My full-time job is simple but I'm worried about messing up the Uber part.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned is to consider setting up a separate bank account just for your Uber Eats earnings and expenses. This makes tracking everything so much easier come tax time! I opened a free business checking account and have all my delivery income deposited there, plus I pay for gas, car maintenance, and other delivery-related expenses from that account. At the end of the year, it's super easy to see exactly what I earned and what I spent. Also, don't forget you can deduct things like insulated delivery bags, phone mounts for your car, and even hand sanitizer if you bought it specifically for delivery work. These smaller expenses add up and can reduce your taxable income. Just keep all your receipts! With your current income level and the amount you're planning to work, you'll likely be in the 12% tax bracket for most of that Uber income, plus the 15.3% self-employment tax. So budgeting around 25-30% of your gross Uber earnings for taxes is smart advice.

Omg I was EXACTLY where you are!!! Filed early February, got that stupid letter, freaked out completely! 😭 Called and verified my identity on March 2nd, and my refund hit my account March 24th! Just under 3 weeks! I was shocked it went so fast after all the nightmare stories I read. Hang in there - the worst part is over now that you've verified!

As a fellow service member who's been through this process, I can share some reassurance! After ID verification is complete, you're typically looking at 2-3 weeks for processing. The IRS doesn't officially expedite military returns, but when you mention PCS during any follow-up calls, agents are usually more helpful. I'd recommend checking your online transcript weekly rather than WMR - it updates faster and shows the actual processing codes. If you don't see movement by the 3-week mark, definitely call the military helpline that Chris mentioned. The timing should work out for your PCS if everything goes normally. Stay positive - you're through the hardest part!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been putting off reorganizing my retirement accounts for way too long, reading through everyone's experiences has finally given me the confidence to move forward. I particularly appreciate the distinction that several people made about the terminology - that internal transfers within the same institution aren't technically "rollovers" at all in IRS speak, so the one-rollover-per-year rule doesn't even come into play. That makes so much more sense than trying to figure out whether same-trustee transfers count as trustee-to-trustee transfers. The advice about calling your financial institution for a "dry run" is golden. I'm definitely going to do that with my Schwab accounts before making any moves. It's such a simple step that could prevent a lot of headaches down the road. One small addition based on my own research - I've found that most major brokerages have online help articles or FAQs specifically about IRA consolidation that can be helpful to review before calling. They often include screenshots of the forms you'll need to fill out and examples of how the transfers will appear on your statements. It's nice to have that background knowledge when you're talking to a representative. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource!

This has been such an enlightening thread! I'm dealing with a very similar situation - multiple IRAs at Vanguard that I've been wanting to consolidate but was nervous about the tax implications. What really clicked for me reading through everyone's experiences is that these internal transfers are fundamentally different from rollovers because you never actually receive the money. The one-rollover-per-year rule is specifically designed to prevent people from using their IRA as a short-term loan by taking distributions and redepositing them multiple times. I love the suggestion about doing a "dry run" with your financial institution. That seems like such a smart way to understand exactly what will happen before committing to anything. I'm definitely going to call Vanguard and ask them to walk me through their process step by step. One question for those who have already done this - did you consolidate all your accounts at once, or did you do it gradually over time? I'm wondering if there are any advantages to spacing out the transfers versus doing everything in one go. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is amazing for getting real-world insights on these complex tax situations!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that Barbados was added to the EU's tax haven blacklist a while back. Although it was later removed after they made some reforms, there's been greater scrutiny of Barbados structures. The Canadian tax treaty with Barbados still exists, but many of the advantages have been neutralized by anti-avoidance rules. For Canadians with legitimate international business, places like Malta, Cyprus, or even the UK now often make more sense than traditional "tax havens" because they have substance-friendly business environments while still offering tax advantages. The key is having genuine business reasons for your structure beyond just tax savings.

This is a great overview of the current state of international tax planning. The landscape has definitely shifted dramatically in the past few years. I've been working in cross-border tax for over a decade and the changes since BEPS implementation have been massive. One thing I'd add is that the Canada-Barbados tax treaty itself has been under review multiple times, and there's ongoing political pressure to either terminate it or add significant limitations. The 2016 amendments already restricted some benefits, and there's been talk of further changes. For anyone considering these structures, I'd strongly recommend focusing first on whether you have genuine international business activities that would naturally generate income in an offshore jurisdiction. If you're just trying to shift Canadian-source income abroad, you're probably going to run into serious problems regardless of the structure you choose. The compliance costs alone - proper transfer pricing documentation, substance requirements, ongoing legal and accounting fees - often make these arrangements uneconomical for smaller businesses. Sometimes the simplest approach of just paying Canadian corporate tax and using available domestic tax planning strategies ends up being both cheaper and less risky.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. I went through this exact situation when my mother passed away about 18 months ago, and I completely understand the anxiety you're feeling right now. You absolutely made the right decision working with H&R Block and mailing the return - that's the proper procedure for these situations. Unfortunately, deceased taxpayer returns do take significantly longer than regular returns. Mine took about 17 weeks total, and I was checking the status obsessively the entire time. The IRS has to do additional verification steps to confirm you have the legal right to claim the refund, which adds months to the normal processing time. A few things that helped me get through the waiting period: First, I stopped checking "Where's My Refund" daily because it just showed "processing" for months and made me more anxious. Second, I made sure to monitor the mail very carefully since they may request additional documentation - I had to send a copy of the death certificate around week 12. Third, after about 15 weeks, I called just to confirm they had received everything, which gave me some peace of mind even though they couldn't provide a specific timeline. The hardest part is that you can't fully close this chapter while it's hanging over you, especially when you're already grieving. But you did your research, you followed the proper procedures, and the refund will come through. Try to be patient with the process - you're definitely not alone in this experience, and what you're going through is completely normal for these situations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. I went through this exact situation when my uncle passed away last year, and the waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking. You definitely made the right choice working with H&R Block and mailing it in - that's the standard procedure for deceased taxpayer returns. Unfortunately, these returns do take much longer than regular ones. Mine took about 23 weeks total from mailing to refund. The IRS has to do additional verification steps that regular returns don't require, and paper filing adds even more time to the process. A few things that helped me manage the stress: I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery to track any incoming IRS mail, stopped checking "Where's My Refund" obsessively (it just says "processing" for months), and called the IRS after 18 weeks just to confirm they had received everything. They couldn't give me a timeline, but at least I knew it was in their system. Make sure you monitor the mail address on the return carefully - the IRS may request additional documentation like a death certificate or probate papers. I had to send extra paperwork around week 15. I know how difficult it is to have this hanging over you while you're grieving. It feels like you can't fully close that chapter until everything is resolved. But you did your research and followed the proper procedures. The refund will come through - it's just a matter of being patient with their incredibly slow process. Hang in there!