Anyone else had entries in box 14 for "moving expenses"? My company relocated me last year and they put some code in box 14, but part of the moving costs also showed up in box 1 as taxable income. So confused about how to handle this.

Box 14 can definitely be confusing since it's not standardized! Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have several good options to figure out what that code means. Since you mentioned you're in California (from your response to Nina), there's a good chance it could be SDI (State Disability Insurance) withholding, which is pretty common. If you want a quick answer without having to track down your old employer's HR department, the taxr.ai suggestion seems like it worked well for others here. Otherwise, calling your former restaurant's payroll department would be the most direct route - they should be able to tell you exactly what their internal code means. The good news is that most Box 14 entries don't complicate your federal return at all. TurboTax should handle whatever it is automatically once you enter your W-2 information. But knowing what it is could help you claim any applicable state deductions if it turns out to be something like SDI contributions.

Just a heads-up - I learned this the hard way. The mortgage interest statement (Form 1098) you receive from your lender doesn't necessarily reflect what's actually deductible. My second home is under an LLC for liability protection, and this created complications with my mortgage interest deduction.

Great discussion here! I wanted to add one more consideration that's particularly relevant for higher-income earners like yourself - the timing of when you close on your second home can impact your deduction for the first year. Since mortgage interest is deductible when paid (not when accrued), if you close late in the year, you might only get a few months of deductible interest for that tax year. However, you may also be able to deduct points paid at closing if they meet certain criteria. Also, don't forget about the mortgage insurance premium deduction if applicable - it's been extended through 2025 and phases out for higher incomes, but it could provide additional tax benefits alongside your mortgage interest deduction. The phaseout begins at $100k AGI for joint filers and is completely eliminated at $109k AGI. Given your mention of being in a higher income bracket, it's worth running the numbers to see if itemizing (with mortgage interest, property taxes up to the SALT cap, and other deductions) will exceed the standard deduction for your filing status.

Has anyone noticed that TaxSlayer's prices went up again this year? I've used them for the past 3 tax seasons and I swear the same service tier cost $15 less last year. And now they're pushing this File&Go thing which is basically just them charging extra to take their money later instead of now. I'm thinking about switching to a different service next year. Anyone have recommendations for something more straightforward with fewer upsells and hidden fees?

I went through this exact same confusion with TaxSlayer last week! The File & Go option is definitely just a payment method - you're not missing out on any actual tax benefits by skipping it. What helped me decide was realizing that if I have $39 to pay TaxSlayer now, I'd rather keep that money in my refund instead of giving it to them as an extra convenience fee. The "tax preparation fees" they mention are just TaxSlayer's own software fees, not anything the IRS requires. I ended up paying directly with my debit card and saved the extra charges. My taxes were filed just fine without File & Go. Don't let their wording make you think it's mandatory - it's purely optional and costs more than paying upfront.

According to SBTPG's terms and conditions under section 4.3(b) of their Refund Advance Agreement, approval is "subject to underwriting criteria including but not limited to verification of tax refund claim and credit evaluation." I went through this process this January and can confirm they do evaluate both. My refund was projected at $12,400, and I was approved for a $5,000 advance with a credit score of 710. Would like someone to confirm if this is typical or if I should have qualified for more?

I've been through this process with SBTPG twice in the last few years, and I can confirm it's definitely both credit and refund amount based. Here's what I've learned from my experience: The $7k advance you mentioned typically requires: • Expected refund of at least $12k-14k (they won't advance more than ~50% of your expected refund) • Credit score probably in the 650+ range (though they don't publish exact requirements) • Clean tax history with no major issues Since you usually qualify for the $4k advance with TurboTax/H&R Block, you're likely in decent standing credit-wise. But the jump from $4k to $7k is significant and they're much more selective at that level. My advice: if your expected refund this year is substantially higher than previous years (like $12k+), it might be worth trying. But if you're expecting a similar refund to previous years, you'll probably get offered something in the $3k-5k range regardless of which service you use. The good news is that most of these applications are soft credit pulls, so shopping around won't hurt your score. Just be prepared that the "up to $7k" marketing might not reflect what you actually qualify for.

This is exactly the kind of complex tax situation where having proper documentation from day one is crucial. I've seen too many businesses get into trouble with the IRS because they didn't establish clear policies upfront. A few additional considerations that might help: **Allocation Method**: Consider using a "days available" method to allocate costs. If the suite is available 365 days per year, but only used for entertainment 50-60 days, you might be able to argue that a larger portion should be treated as facility rental rather than entertainment. **Business Purpose Documentation**: Create a standard form for each suite usage that captures: date, attendees, business purpose, topics discussed, and outcomes. This becomes invaluable if you face an audit. **Separate the LLC's Books**: Make sure the LLC maintains separate books and records. Each member company should receive detailed K-1s showing their share of different types of expenses (facility rental vs. entertainment). **Consider Revenue Recognition**: Since you mentioned the LLC will have some revenue from reselling unused tickets, make sure you're properly accounting for this income and how it affects the overall deduction calculations. The fact that you're asking these questions upfront puts you way ahead of most businesses. Document everything, work with a qualified CPA, and you should be in good shape. The key is being able to demonstrate legitimate business purpose for the arrangement.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm seeing a pattern here that proper documentation and allocation methodology are absolutely critical for these suite arrangements. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: consider the optics and "reasonableness" test from the IRS perspective. Even if you follow all the technical rules perfectly, luxury suite expenses can still draw scrutiny simply because they seem excessive for smaller businesses. To strengthen your position, I'd recommend: 1. **Comparative Analysis**: Document that the suite arrangement is actually more cost-effective than alternatives (hotel meeting rooms, catering venues, etc.) when used for legitimate business meetings 2. **Industry Benchmarking**: If your industry commonly uses entertainment for client relations, document this as standard business practice 3. **Revenue Connection**: Track and document any actual business generated from suite usage - new clients, deals closed, partnerships formed, etc. 4. **Professional Appearance**: Make sure the suite usage supports your business image and client expectations in your industry The IRS will often challenge luxury expenses not just on technical grounds, but on whether they're "ordinary and necessary" for your specific business. Having a clear business case beyond just tax optimization will serve you well if questioned. Also, since you're in Michigan, be aware that the state may have different rules about what constitutes deductible entertainment expenses, especially if any of the member companies are professional services firms subject to additional restrictions.