Did you receive an acknowledgement email when you filed through MilTax? And have you checked if your state return (if applicable) shows as accepted? Sometimes that can give you a clue about federal processing too.

Hey Kevin! Fellow service member here - I totally get the confusion with the IRS transcript system. It's like trying to navigate different military forms when you need specific paperwork. You're absolutely right that you selected the wrong transcript type. The Wage and Income Transcript only shows what employers and other payers reported to the IRS (like your W-2s), not whether your actual tax return was filed or processed. Since you filed through MilTax about 3 weeks ago, you'll want to check either the "Return Transcript" to see your filed return details, or better yet, the "Account Transcript" which shows all account activity including when your return was received and processed. The processing timeline is typically 21 days for e-filed returns, so you're right in that window. Also, don't forget you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool for a quick status check - it's usually more up-to-date than the transcripts during processing.

I went through almost the exact same situation with my raw land investment last year. After getting conflicting advice from different sources, I learned that the IRS has specific rules for undeveloped land improvements that are different from regular rental property rules. The key distinction is that raw land held purely for investment (not producing income) generally cannot generate current deductions for improvements. Your gate, road work, and electrical installation are all considered capital improvements that increase your basis in the property. You'll benefit from these costs when you sell, but not on your current tax return. However, there are a few expenses you might be able to deduct now: property taxes, interest on loans used to purchase the land, and legitimate maintenance costs (like clearing vegetation that keeps growing back). The improvements you mentioned are all permanent additions that add value, so they must be capitalized. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - receipts, contracts, before/after photos. When I eventually sell or convert to rental property, having this documentation will be crucial for proving my increased basis and potentially qualifying for depreciation if I build rentals.

I've been dealing with similar raw land investment tax questions and wanted to share what I learned from my CPA who specializes in real estate investments. The improvements you mentioned (gate, road grading, electrical) are definitely capital improvements that get added to your cost basis rather than deducted currently. This is actually beneficial long-term because they'll reduce your capital gains when you sell. One thing I don't see mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking which improvements are considered "land improvements" versus potential "building improvements" for future depreciation purposes. When you eventually develop the property, some of these costs (like the electrical infrastructure) might qualify for faster depreciation schedules than others. Also, double-check that you're not missing any deductible expenses you ARE entitled to now: property taxes, loan interest if you financed any of this work, professional fees for surveys or legal work, and any legitimate ongoing maintenance costs. These add up and can provide some current tax relief while you wait to benefit from the capitalized improvements. Keep every receipt and document the business purpose of each expense. The IRS is pretty strict about raw land deductions, so good documentation is your best protection.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! The variable hours with multiple jobs make the standard W-4 approach really tricky. Here's what worked for me after a lot of trial and error: Since you're already getting paid twice monthly at your current job, your calculation of $67 extra per paycheck ($675 ÷ 10 remaining paychecks) is spot on. I'd actually bump that up to $75-80 per paycheck to account for the variability in hours - better to get a small refund than owe money. For the W-4 forms themselves, I found it easiest to handle all the extra withholding through ONE job rather than trying to split it between both. Since your current job pays more per hour ($32 vs $21), I'd update that W-4 to include the extra withholding on line 4(c) and leave the multiple jobs box unchecked. For your new job, just fill out the W-4 normally without any special adjustments. The key thing I learned is that the multiple jobs checkbox uses assumptions that don't work well with irregular schedules. The manual extra withholding approach gives you much more control and accuracy. One last tip: keep track of your year-to-date withholding from both jobs every few months so you can adjust if needed. Good luck with the new position!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - just started a second part-time job while keeping my main job, and the W-4 forms are honestly confusing me too! Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the consensus is to handle extra withholding through just one job rather than trying to coordinate between both. I'm leaning toward the approach of adding extra withholding to my higher-paying job's W-4 (like the $75-80 per paycheck suggestion) and keeping the new job's W-4 simple. One thing I'm still wondering about - has anyone had issues with payroll departments when you submit updated W-4s mid-year? I'm worried my current employer might ask questions about why I'm suddenly adding extra withholding. Is this something they typically just process without comment, or should I be prepared to explain the multiple jobs situation? Also, for those who've used the "primary vs secondary job" approach, how do you handle it if the hours at your "secondary" job end up being way more than expected? Do you just adjust the extra withholding amount at your primary job, or is there a point where you'd need to switch which job you consider primary? Thanks for all the detailed advice everyone - this thread has been way more helpful than the IRS instructions!

14 One thing nobody's mentioned - make sure you're properly licensed and insured for a home laundry business! My sister got hit with fines because she didn't have the right permits. Also affects your tax situation because those permit fees and insurance premiums are deductible business expenses.

Great discussion everyone! As someone who's been running a small home-based service business for a few years, I can definitely relate to the confusion around deductions. One thing I'd add is to consider setting up a separate business bank account if you haven't already - it makes tracking business expenses so much easier come tax time. Also, don't forget about deducting your business insurance premiums, any professional memberships or subscriptions related to your laundry business, and even mileage for business-related trips (like picking up supplies or meeting clients). These smaller deductions can really add up over the year. Keep receipts for everything and consider using a simple spreadsheet or accounting app to track expenses monthly rather than scrambling at tax time. One last tip - if you're doing laundry for other businesses, make sure you're issuing proper invoices and keeping copies. The IRS loves to see that paper trail for business-to-business transactions.

I'm glad you found this community thread - this PayPal 1099-K situation is becoming incredibly common and causing a lot of unnecessary stress for people! You're absolutely doing the right thing by asking questions before just panicking and reporting gift money as income. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your parents sent the money through PayPal's "Friends and Family" option, that actually helps support your case that these were personal gifts rather than business transactions. PayPal typically issues 1099-Ks based on total transaction volume, but the transaction type can be relevant context. Also, since you mentioned this was for grad school expenses, you might want to check if any of these funds were used for qualified education expenses that could give you other tax benefits (like the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit). Even though the gift money itself isn't taxable to you, you might still be able to claim education credits for how you spent it. The documentation everyone mentioned is key - keep those records organized in one place. If the IRS ever does ask questions, having a clear paper trail showing family support for education expenses makes this pretty straightforward to explain.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who dealt with a very similar situation! I received about $28,000 in PayPal transfers from my parents during my master's program and also got hit with that dreaded 1099-K form. I completely understand the panic you're feeling right now. Here's what I learned after going through this process: The 1099-K is basically just PayPal covering themselves by reporting transaction volumes over $600 (the new threshold). It doesn't mean the IRS automatically considers this taxable income - they know that payment apps are used for all kinds of personal transactions now. The most important thing is to have your story straight and documented. I kept a simple spreadsheet showing each transfer amount, date, and what I used it for (rent, groceries, tuition, etc.). I also saved screenshots of text conversations with my parents that clearly showed these were gifts for school support, not payments for services or business income. When I filed my taxes, I had to reconcile the 1099-K amount but was able to properly categorize the family gifts as non-taxable. My tax preparer said this is becoming extremely routine now - they handle dozens of these cases every tax season. Don't let this stress you out too much! You're handling it exactly right by asking questions and gathering documentation. The IRS isn't trying to tax genuine family support for education - they just need the paper trail to be clear if they ever review your return.