FYI - the whole refund advance situation is diff this yr. TT basically front-loads their offers during peak marketing season (early Jan). They don't advertise this, but their advance $ comes from a limited pool that usually runs dry by end of Jan. Super annoying, ik! Pro tip: if ur refund's coming soon anyway, prob not worth the hassle of trying other options. Most ppl are getting refunds pretty quick this yr - like 14-21 days if ur return is straightforward. Might be faster to just wait for the real thing vs jumping thru hoops for an advance now.

Hey KhalilStar! I went through this exact same situation last year. TurboTax has definitely gotten more restrictive with their advance program - it's frustrating because they don't really explain the changes upfront. Since you already filed and got accepted, your best bet might be to just track your refund status closely. The IRS has actually been processing returns faster this season compared to last year. You can check "Where's My Refund" daily, and since you filed on Jan 24th, you should hopefully see movement soon. I know it's tough when you're counting on those funds, especially as a recent grad. If you absolutely need cash now, maybe look into your bank's options for small personal loans rather than trying to switch tax services at this point. Hang in there! 💪

Since your wife works at a nonprofit, she might want to check if they're eligible for any special grants that support remote workers. I serve on the board of a small nonprofit and we just got approved for a capacity building grant that specifically covers remote work expenses for our staff, including mileage reimbursements and home office setup. Many foundations have shifted their funding priorities to support flexible work arrangements since the pandemic. Your wife might mention this to her leadership team if they say they "can't afford" to reimburse these legitimate work expenses.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's navigated similar territory with my spouse's W-2 employment situation. While the federal deduction elimination is frustrating, don't overlook some other potential strategies: 1) **State conformity variations**: As others mentioned, check if your state still allows these deductions. Some states like California, New York, and Pennsylvania haven't conformed to the federal changes. 2) **Employer advocacy**: Beyond just asking for reimbursement, consider proposing a formal policy change. Many nonprofits are more receptive when you frame it as "supporting all remote workers" rather than just personal requests. You could even offer to research and draft the policy language. 3) **Documentation for future**: Keep detailed records anyway. The TCJA provisions expire after 2025, so these deductions may return for 2026 and beyond. Having good documentation ready could be valuable. 4) **HSA/FSA considerations**: If she has access to a dependent care FSA, some home office expenses (like internet used for work) might qualify in certain situations. The key is being proactive with the employer conversation. Many nonprofits want to do right by their employees but simply haven't updated their policies for the remote work reality.

I'm also transitioning from W-2 to K-1 income next year and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'm still confused about though - when you receive a K-1, does the partnership withhold any taxes at all, or is it 100% on you to handle quarterly payments? Also, I keep seeing references to the QBI deduction but I'm not clear on the income limits for physicians. Does anyone know the exact thresholds where it starts phasing out? I want to make sure I understand if this will apply to my situation or not. The tax software recommendations are great too - I was planning to stick with TurboTax but sounds like I should explore other options for handling K-1s properly.

Welcome to the K-1 world! I made this same transition about 4 years ago from emergency medicine W-2 to partnership K-1, and while it's definitely more complex, there are some real advantages once you get the hang of it. A few things that weren't mentioned yet that might be helpful: 1) Ask EmergencyHealth Partners if they provide any tax guidance or have a recommended CPA. Many larger medical partnerships have relationships with tax professionals who understand their specific structure. 2) Consider opening a high-yield savings account specifically for tax payments. I automatically transfer 30% of each distribution there so I'm never scrambling to make quarterly payments. 3) Keep detailed records of any home office space you use for administrative work - this can be a significant deduction that many physicians overlook. 4) If you're planning any major purchases (car, equipment, etc.) that could be business-related, consider timing them strategically for tax purposes. The Republican tax plan uncertainty is frustrating, but honestly the current system already favors partnerships pretty well compared to W-2 employment. The potential QBI deduction permanence would just be icing on the cake. Don't be embarrassed about the learning curve - most of us in medicine never learned this stuff in school! You'll figure it out quickly, and the financial flexibility of partnership income is usually worth the extra tax complexity.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Code 977 is definitely good news! It means your amended return has been accepted and is being processed. The fact that it showed up in just 8 days is actually really fast - most people wait weeks to see any movement. From what I've seen, after 977 you're typically looking at 2-4 more weeks before you see code 846 (refund issued) if you're getting money back. Just keep checking your transcript weekly and you should see progress soon. The electronic filing definitely helped speed things up compared to paper amendments!

A practical tip from another spa professional - make sure you're also tracking all your ongoing continuing education for both massage and esthetics! I deduct all my workshops, specialized training classes, reference materials, and even subscriptions to professional publications. And don't forget that some expenses can be partially deductible for personal/business mixed use. For example, I have a tablet that I use about 70% for work (client scheduling, reference materials, continuing education) and 30% for personal use - so I deduct 70% of its cost. Looking at the numbers you mentioned ($9,500 for the program + $1,200 for supplies), that's a significant deduction that could really lower your tax bill!

Great question about education deductions! As someone who's navigated similar situations with professional development expenses, I'd recommend being very careful about how you document and categorize these costs. Since you've been established as a massage therapist for 12 years and are now adding esthetician services at the same spas with integrated billing, this strongly supports treating it as skills improvement rather than entering a new profession. The IRS Publication 970 specifically addresses education that "maintains or improves skills needed in your present work." A few key points to consider: - Keep detailed records showing how both services are part of your integrated spa business - Document that you're working at the same locations and receiving combined payments - Consider whether taking the education credit vs business deduction gives you better tax savings (run both scenarios) - Don't forget to track ongoing expenses like state license renewals, continuing education requirements, and professional liability insurance increases The fact that you're performing both services under the same business structure at established locations really strengthens your case. Just make sure you have good documentation in case of questions later!