I've been farming for 15 years and have used Section 179 multiple times for equipment purchases. Your math looks solid, but I'd add a few practical considerations from my experience: First, make sure you have enough taxable income to absorb the full deduction this year. Section 179 can't create a loss - it can only reduce your taxable income to zero. Any unused portion carries forward, but you lose the immediate cash flow benefit. Second, consider timing. If you're having a particularly good income year, this could be perfect. But if your farm income is variable (like most of ours), you might want to think about spreading the deduction across multiple years using regular depreciation instead. Also, don't forget about state taxes. Some states don't follow federal Section 179 rules exactly, so you might need to make adjustments on your state return. One last thing - if you're planning any major changes to your operation in the next few years (retirement, selling land, changing crops), factor in the recapture rules mentioned by others. I've seen farmers get caught off guard by this when they transition their operations.

One important detail I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you're aware of the Section 179 income limitation. The deduction can't exceed your taxable income from all active trades or businesses for the year. So if your farm shows a $40K profit but you have $20K in losses from another business activity, your Section 179 deduction would be limited to $20K, not the full amount you calculated. Also, since you mentioned this is a family farm, be careful about the definition of "business use" if family members occasionally use the vehicle. The IRS can be pretty strict about personal vs. business use, especially for vehicles. I'd recommend setting up a formal policy about who can use the truck and for what purposes, and document it well. One more thing - with an $85K purchase, you're getting into the range where the IRS might take a closer look. Make sure you have solid documentation not just for the purchase itself, but also showing how this vehicle is necessary for your specific farming operations. Being able to demonstrate that you need this particular truck (versus a less expensive option) for legitimate business reasons will strengthen your position if questioned.

Just wanted to share a quick update on using the Master File approach - I called the Practitioner Priority Service this morning using the exact language everyone mentioned ("Master File archived wage data for pre-2013 records") and it worked perfectly! Got transferred directly to Account Management Services where the agent immediately understood what I needed. She explained that their legacy IDRS system maintains wage records going back to 2005, but requires special routing codes that aren't available through normal transcript channels. She processed my request for 2011-2012 records and gave me reference number AMS-2025-47291 with an estimated 10-14 business day turnaround. The agent also mentioned something interesting - if you have clients who worked for federal agencies or military during those older years, those records are maintained in an entirely separate system and may require different procedures. She suggested specifying "federal employment records" if that applies to avoid additional delays. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing the real procedures that actually work. It's incredible how much time we waste following the standard published guidance when the solutions are hiding in these undocumented departmental processes. Hoping this helps others who are still struggling with similar cases!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you everyone for sharing these real-world solutions! I've been struggling with a similar case (client with 13 years unfiled, needing 2011-2014 transcripts) and had basically given up hope after months of getting nowhere with standard Form 4506-T requests. The Master File approach through Account Management Services sounds like exactly what I need to try. I love how specific everyone has been about the exact language to use ("Master File archived wage data") and the reference number formats - it gives me confidence I'll be talking to the right people instead of getting bounced around endlessly. One question for those who've successfully used this method - have you found any particular days of the week or times of day when it's easier to get through to the Practitioner Priority Service line? I'm planning to call first thing Monday morning, but wondering if there are optimal times to avoid long hold periods. Also really appreciate the tips about checking former employers directly and state tax records as backup options. It's smart to have multiple approaches since even the Master File method might not work for every situation. This community knowledge-sharing is so much more valuable than any official IRS guidance I've seen!

Fyi this happened to me with a relocation package too. Here's what I learned: the "special accounting rule" is something employers can elect to use, BUT they have to consistently apply it to all employees. Also, the benefit has to be "provided" in Nov/Dec - the date they paid the invoice doesn't matter, it's when you received the service.

Your instincts are absolutely correct - they can't apply the special accounting rule to benefits provided in August/September. The rule specifically states benefits must be "provided" in the last two months of the year, not just paid for then. I'd recommend documenting everything: your original move date, when your belongings arrived, any communications about the relocation timeline. Then send a formal written request to HR citing IRS Pub 15-B and requesting they issue a corrected 2023 W-2. If they refuse, you have options. You can file Form 4852 with your 2023 return to report the correct amount, or contact the IRS directly for guidance. Don't let them push this to 2024 just because it's easier for their accounting - you'll end up paying tax on income you should have reported last year, potentially affecting your tax brackets and other calculations.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with a $38,000 critical illness payout from my employer's plan. Like you, I paid premiums with pre-tax dollars, and my initial tax preparer (also at H&R Block, coincidentally) told me the entire payout was tax-free. Something didn't sit right with me, so I did my own research and discovered what everyone here is confirming - when you pay premiums with pre-tax dollars, the benefits are typically taxable income. I ended up switching to a CPA who specialized in employee benefits taxation, and she confirmed that I owed taxes on the full amount. The frustrating part was that H&R Block never asked me HOW the premiums were paid - they just assumed it was tax-free because it was "insurance." That's a dangerous assumption that could have cost me thousands in penalties and interest if the IRS had caught it later. My advice: get everything in writing from H&R Block explaining their reasoning, then take that to a second tax professional for review. Don't let them file your return until you're 100% confident in the tax treatment. The IRS doesn't care what H&R Block told you - you're ultimately responsible for accurate reporting on your return. For what it's worth, even after paying taxes on my payout, I was still grateful to have had the critical illness coverage. But I definitely learned to be more skeptical of chain tax services when dealing with complex situations like employer-sponsored insurance benefits.

I'm a tax attorney who specializes in employee benefits, and I need to strongly reinforce what the experienced tax preparer said earlier - H&R Block is absolutely giving you incorrect advice that could result in serious consequences. The tax treatment of critical illness insurance benefits is governed by IRC Section 104(a)(3) and related regulations. When premiums are paid with pre-tax employer dollars (or employee pre-tax payroll deductions), the benefits are taxable income under Section 61. This is settled law, not a gray area. H&R Block's mistake likely stems from confusing critical illness insurance with health insurance reimbursements (which are generally tax-free) or with policies where premiums are paid with after-tax dollars. But the source of premium payments is absolutely critical for determining taxability. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Request written documentation from H&R Block citing the specific tax code sections supporting their position 2. Get your employer's benefits department to provide written confirmation of how premiums were handled (pre-tax vs. after-tax) 3. Consider consulting with a CPA or tax attorney who has experience with employer-sponsored insurance benefits The IRS has been increasingly focused on unreported income from insurance payouts. With a $47,000 benefit, you're looking at potential tax liability in the range of $10,000-15,000 depending on your bracket, plus penalties and interest if caught later. Don't risk it based on questionable advice from a chain tax service. If you need definitive guidance, consider requesting a private letter ruling from the IRS for your specific situation, though this may be overkill given how clear the law is on pre-tax premium situations.

Another option that saved me when ID.me was being impossible - if you have a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC), you can make an appointment and get your transcripts printed on the spot. No ID.me needed! Just bring photo ID and proof of address. Use the IRS office locator online to find one near you. I know it's old school but sometimes going in person cuts through all the digital BS. Also, pro tip: if you call ID.me support, ask to speak with a "tier 2" agent - they have more authority to actually fix account issues vs the first level support who can only reset passwords and stuff.

Had this exact same issue a few months back and it was maddening! Here's what finally got me through: First, definitely try that phone number Oliver mentioned but call right at 8am EST when they open - I got through in about 20 minutes vs the 3+ hour waits later in the day. Second, while you're waiting for ID.me to sort itself out, you can still get your transcripts other ways. The IRS2Go mobile app lets you check basic refund status without ID.me, and you can request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T (just takes about a week). Also, if you're on Twitter/X, try messaging @IDmeSupport - their social media team actually responds way faster than email support. Hang in there, it's frustrating but you'll get through it! 🤞