Quick question - did your pay rate increase when they switched you to 1099? Because if not, you're effectively taking a 7.65% pay cut since you're now responsible for the employer portion of FICA taxes. Many employers who do this "conversion" properly will increase the hourly rate to offset the tax difference.

This is a classic case of employee misclassification that's unfortunately becoming more common as employers try to cut costs. The fact that nothing about your actual job changed except how they categorize you for tax purposes is a major red flag - employers can't just decide to reclassify workers to avoid their tax obligations. Based on what you've described (set hours, using company equipment, boss directing your work, working on-site), you clearly meet the IRS criteria for being an employee rather than an independent contractor. The "less than 40 hours" justification your boss used has no legal basis - employee classification isn't determined by hours worked. You have a few options: 1) Talk to your employer about correcting this (they may not realize they're violating IRS rules), 2) File Form SS-8 to get an official IRS determination on your worker status, and 3) File Form 8919 to pay only the employee portion of Social Security/Medicare taxes instead of the full self-employment amount. Don't just accept the 1099 and pay the extra taxes - you shouldn't be penalized financially because your employer wants to save money on payroll taxes and benefits. The IRS takes misclassification seriously, and you have legitimate grounds to challenge this.

Has anyone mentioned sales tax yet? Food trucks/trailers have complicated sales tax requirements that vary by location. In some places, prepared food has different tax rates than grocery items. If you're moving between different tax jurisdictions for events, you might need to track and remit sales tax based on where you made the sales.

Great question about the QBI deduction! Since you're filing Schedule C as a sole proprietor, you likely do qualify for the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction. This applies to your net profit from the food truck business (after all deductions) and can be a significant tax saver. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of keeping detailed mileage logs. Since you're traveling between events, commissary kitchens, and supply runs, those business miles add up quickly. You can either deduct actual vehicle expenses (gas, maintenance, insurance) or use the standard mileage rate - whichever gives you a bigger deduction. Also, don't forget about business insurance premiums! Your food truck liability insurance, equipment coverage, and any business-related health insurance premiums are all deductible. For record-keeping, I'd strongly recommend getting a dedicated business bank account and credit card if you haven't already. It makes tracking expenses so much easier, especially during tax season when you're trying to separate personal from business expenses. The fact that you're asking these questions shows you're being proactive about your taxes, which is smart. Even without a CPA right now, keeping good records will save you time and money whether you eventually hire one or continue doing your own taxes.

I would suggest possibly exploring whether you might qualify for HOH through a different qualifying person than your co-parent is using. In some cases, taxpayers might have multiple qualifying dependents. It's also worth noting that the "same address" issue might not be problematic if you and your co-parent maintained separate households within that address and can document this. This is somewhat rare but possible in certain multi-unit dwellings or formally divided living spaces. I'd recommend consulting with a different tax professional for a second opinion before filing an amendment.

I understand the stress this situation creates, but you're taking the right approach by addressing it proactively. As a government employee who's seen many similar cases, I want to emphasize that the IRS actually appreciates when taxpayers self-correct errors before they're detected. Here's what I'd recommend: 1) Contact your tax preparer immediately - they should file Form 1040-X at no additional cost since this was their error 2) Change your status to Single (unless you have another qualifying person for HOH that's different from what your co-parent claimed) 3) Keep detailed records of all communications and filing dates One thing others haven't mentioned: if your refund was based on the incorrect HOH status, you may owe additional tax. Make sure you're prepared for that possibility. The good news is that voluntary corrections typically result in no penalties, especially when done promptly. The IRS processing time for amendments is currently running about 16-20 weeks, so patience will be key. Your proactive approach shows good tax compliance awareness - this will work out fine with proper remediation steps.

Has anyone actually successfully claimed the Lifetime Learning Credit for Coursera courses before? I tried last year with TurboTax and it kept asking for a 1098-T which I didn't have. Ended up not claiming anything because I was worried about triggering an audit.

I actually went through this exact situation last year with my Coursera IT certificate! Here's what I learned: You absolutely can claim these expenses without a 1098-T. The key is documenting everything properly. I kept screenshots of my course enrollment showing the required computer specs, all my monthly payment receipts from Coursera, and the computer purchase receipt with a note explaining why it was needed for the course. For the Lifetime Learning Credit, what matters is that the course helps you acquire or improve job skills - which IT Help Desk training definitely does. The computer counts as a qualified expense if it's required for the course (not just convenient). I ended up claiming about $1,800 total between the course fees and my laptop. No audit issues, got the credit approved. Just make sure you can show the computer was actually required, not just a personal upgrade you wanted to make anyway. The IRS doesn't require a 1098-T for the Lifetime Learning Credit - they just want proof you paid qualified educational expenses. Keep those receipts organized and you should be fine!

I'm kinda confused about all the bank bonus stuff too. Last year I did like 4 different bank account bonuses and only got a 1099 from one of them. Is it possible the others just didn't report it? Or should I be worried?

Thanks for all the helpful responses everyone! This community is great for getting real answers. I just wanted to add that for Alabama specifically, you'll also need to report this on your state return since Alabama has a state income tax. The good news is that most tax software will automatically carry over the federal information to your state return once you enter it. For anyone else dealing with multiple bank bonuses, I'd recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet throughout the year with the bank name, bonus amount, and date received. Makes tax time so much easier when you have everything organized ahead of time.