Don't forget about state and local taxes too! Since you mentioned working in a different township than you live in, check if both places have local income taxes. Where I live, I have to pay both city and school district taxes for where I live AND a local tax for where I work. It adds up fast.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between being classified as an independent contractor versus an employee. The IRS has specific tests for this, and just because your boss says you're "independent" doesn't necessarily make it legally true. Key factors the IRS looks at include: Do you control HOW the work is done? Do you have your own tools? Can you work for other shops? Do you set your own schedule? If your boss controls most aspects of your work (when you work, how you do repairs, what jobs you take), you might actually be misclassified as a contractor when you should be an employee. This matters because if you're truly an employee, your boss should be paying half your Social Security/Medicare taxes and providing a W-2. Being misclassified can cost you thousands in extra self-employment taxes. If you think you might be misclassified, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to get an official determination, or Form 8919 when you file your taxes to only pay the employee portion of Social Security/Medicare taxes. Just something to consider as you navigate this situation!

I'm confused about something - if Form 5498 is sent to us and the IRS, why do we need to report anything about Roth IRA contributions or withdrawals at all? Doesn't the IRS already have all this info?

Great question about Form 5498! Just to add some clarity - you should also make sure you understand the timing of when you can access different parts of your Roth IRA. Since you mentioned putting money in at the beginning of 2022 and withdrawing near the end of 2023, you're well within the safe zone for contribution withdrawals. For future reference, contributions can always be withdrawn tax and penalty-free at any time since you already paid taxes on that money. But earnings are a different story - they need to meet both the 5-year rule AND a qualifying reason (like your first-time home purchase) to avoid taxes and penalties. One thing to double-check: make sure your withdrawal amount doesn't exceed your total contributions. If you withdrew more than you contributed, the excess would be considered earnings and you'll need to verify it qualifies under the first-time homebuyer exception. Your Form 1099-R from the withdrawal should show the total amount you took out, which you can compare against your contribution history from those 5498 forms.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with my freelance marketing business - constantly traveling for client meetings and events. One thing I learned the hard way is that you need to be really careful about partial travel days. If you leave after noon or return before noon, you can only claim 75% of the per diem rate for that day. I was claiming full per diem for every travel day until my accountant caught this mistake during tax prep. Also, make sure you're not double-dipping - if a client reimburses you for meals, you can't also claim the per diem deduction. The documentation is key too. I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for: date, destination, business purpose, departure/return times, and which per diem rate I used. Takes maybe 5 minutes per trip but saves hours during tax season compared to sorting through receipts!

Great question about per diem rates! I've been running my consulting business for about 3 years now and made the switch to per diem after drowning in receipts just like you. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is that you should check if your business is subject to any industry-specific rules. For consulting work, the per diem approach is generally straightforward, but some regulated industries have additional documentation requirements. Also, since you mentioned spending around $2,100 monthly on business travel, you might want to calculate both methods (actual expenses vs. per diem) for a typical month to see which gives you a better deduction. Sometimes actual expenses can be higher than per diem rates, especially in expensive cities or if you have business dinners with clients. One practical tip: I use a simple travel app to log my business purpose and locations in real-time, then export it monthly. Makes the documentation painless and you never forget why you traveled somewhere when tax time rolls around. The IRS really wants to see that business purpose documented clearly, not just "client meeting" but something like "Q4 strategy session with XYZ Corp in Denver.

I've been dealing with IRS transcript issues for years and this is totally normal! The IRS has multiple separate systems that barely communicate with each other - it's like they're running on technology from the stone age. Your Account transcript pulls from one database, your Wage & Income transcript from another, and sometimes they just don't sync up properly. Since you accurately reported all your income and the totals match what you filed, you've done everything correctly from a legal standpoint. That missing W2 will probably show up eventually (mine took 7 months last year!), but even if it doesn't, you're covered because you have the physical copy and reported it properly. The blank Wage & Income transcript is also super common - mine stays blank until late summer every year. It's frustrating but unfortunately just how their antiquated systems work. Keep that physical W2 copy safe and try not to stress about their technical problems!

This is such a common issue and you're absolutely right to not panic! I went through the exact same thing last year - had 4 W2s but only 3 showed up on my transcript for months. I was convinced I was going to get audited or something terrible would happen. The reality is the IRS computer systems are incredibly outdated and different databases don't communicate with each other properly. Your Account transcript, Wage & Income transcript, and other systems all pull from separate sources that update at completely different speeds. What matters most is that you accurately reported all your income on your return (which you clearly did since your totals match up), and that you keep your physical copy of that W2. You've fulfilled your legal obligation by reporting everything correctly. My missing W2 eventually appeared about 8 months later, but my refund processed normally way before that and I never heard anything from the IRS about it. The fact that your Wage & Income transcript is completely blank is also totally normal - mine stayed blank until September! Keep that physical W2 safe and try not to stress about their technical problems. This is just standard IRS system dysfunction, not an issue with your filing.

Has anyone tried using TurboTax for calculating their home office deduction? I'm self-employed and work out of my garage (converted it to an office) and I'm trying to decide if I need special software or if the mainstream tax programs handle this ok?

I've been using TurboTax Self-Employed for my home office deduction for the past two years and it's been really straightforward. The software walks you through everything step-by-step, including helping you measure your space and calculate the percentage of your home used for business. One thing I really appreciated is that it automatically calculates both the simplified method ($5 per square foot) and the regular method (percentage of actual home expenses) and shows you which one gives you the bigger deduction. For my 150 square foot home office, the simplified method actually worked out better. The software also has a good section on documentation - it reminds you to keep receipts for things like office supplies, equipment, and your portion of utilities. Just make sure you have all your home expenses handy (mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, etc.) before you start if you want to compare both methods.