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Another thing to consider - if you're talking to banks for business loans specifically (not personal loans), they actually might want to see different numbers. When I applied for a small business loan, they wanted to see my business's total revenue (the total income line) AND the profit (ordinary business income). They used the revenue to gauge business size and the profit to assess profitability. Just something to keep in mind depending on what you're using these numbers for!
This is super helpful. Do banks also look at your salary vs distributions when making lending decisions? I've heard some business owners take tiny salaries and large distributions to avoid payroll taxes, but wasn't sure if that affects loan applications.
Yes, banks absolutely look at your salary vs. distributions ratio. If they see an unusually low salary with large distributions, it raises red flags for two reasons. First, it suggests you might be trying to avoid payroll taxes, which makes them question your financial practices. Second, they want to ensure the business can sustain proper operational costs including reasonable compensation. For SBA loans especially, they'll often require you to show that your salary is market-rate for your role and industry. They understand the tax advantages of distributions, but want to see that you're running the business legitimately with appropriate compensation structures.
I just want to point out something that confused me at first - there's also the "gross receipts" line on the 1120-S which is different from both total income and ordinary business income. Gross receipts is literally ALL money coming in before ANY deductions, total income is after some adjustments, and ordinary business income is after most expenses. The IRS publication 542 explains this, but honestly it's super confusing to read. My accountant explained it like this: gross receipts = all money in, total income = money after cost of goods sold and a few other things, ordinary business income = your actual profit after regular business expenses.
Thank you all for the amazing explanations! This clears up so much confusion. So if I understand correctly - for tax purposes, I need to focus on the ordinary business income as that's what flows to my personal return. But for discussing my business size or applying for loans, total income or even gross receipts might be more relevant figures.
Not to complicate things further but Schedule K on the 1120-S can also adjust your ordinary business income with separately stated items (like Section 179 deductions) before it hits your personal return. That tripped me up my first year!
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22 I went through this exact situation last year with my survivor benefits. Just make sure you get your SSA-1099 form which shows all the benefits you received for the year. Social Security should mail it to you by January, but you can also get it online by creating an account on ssa.gov if you haven't received it.
10 Free Tax USA handled my son's survivor benefits really well last year. Much better than TurboTax which kept trying to charge me extra for "special forms" or something. And it was completely free for federal filing.
I'm sorry for your loss. Losing a parent at such a young age is incredibly difficult, and it's admirable that you're taking responsibility for handling your taxes properly. To directly answer your question: Social Security survivor benefits may or may not be taxable depending on your total income, but they don't count toward the filing requirement threshold itself. However, since you earned $13,500 from your job and you're likely claimed as a dependent, you definitely need to file a return. Here's the key point many people miss: the filing requirement for dependents is based on *earned income* (like wages from your job), not total income including Social Security benefits. Since your earned income of $13,500 exceeds the dependent filing threshold of $1,350, you must file regardless of your Social Security benefits. As for the benefits themselves, with your income level, it's very likely that none of your $7,800 in survivor benefits will be taxable. But you still need to report them on your return - they go on lines 6a and 6b of Form 1040, with the help of the Social Security Benefits Worksheet in the instructions. Don't stress too much about this - you're actually in a pretty straightforward situation, and you'll likely get a refund of taxes withheld from your paychecks!
Thank you for such a clear and compassionate explanation! This makes so much more sense now. I was getting confused trying to figure out if the Social Security benefits "counted" toward income, but understanding that the filing requirement is based on earned income separately really helps. So just to confirm - even though my total money coming in is over $21k, the fact that most of it is Social Security survivor benefits doesn't push me into some higher tax bracket or anything? And I should definitely expect a refund since I'm probably in the lowest tax bracket with just my job income? I really appreciate everyone's help here. This whole process felt overwhelming at first, but breaking it down like this makes it seem much more manageable.
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Just went through this exact situation with my duplex last year! The $24,500 roof replacement is definitely a capital improvement that needs to be depreciated over 27.5 years, not deducted as a repair expense. I know it's frustrating when you're looking at that big expense hitting your cash flow but not getting the immediate tax benefit. One thing that helped me was understanding that even though you can't deduct it all at once, that $891 annual depreciation deduction ($24,500 ÷ 27.5 years) will be there every year, and it reduces your taxable rental income consistently. Plus, if this creates a rental loss and your modified AGI is under $100K, you might be able to deduct up to $25K of that loss against your other income. The silver lining is that this depreciation will lower your property's tax basis, so if you ever sell, you'll have some tax benefits to recapture. Just make sure to keep all your receipts and document the "placed in service" date properly for your tax records. Good luck with your first year as a landlord - these big expenses are tough but you're building equity!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really encouraging to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm definitely frustrated about not getting the immediate deduction, but when you put it that way - having a guaranteed $891 deduction every year for the next 27.5 years - it doesn't sound quite as bad. Quick question: when you mention the tax basis being lowered, does that mean I'll owe more in capital gains if I sell the property later? I'm trying to understand all the long-term implications before I file. Also, did you use regular tax software to handle the depreciation setup, or did you need something more specialized for rental properties?
Yes, exactly - the depreciation you claim reduces your property's "adjusted basis," so when you sell, you'll have more taxable gain. But here's the thing: you have to "recapture" that depreciation at a 25% rate (up to that rate) regardless of whether you actually claimed it or not. So you might as well take the deductions now! For the software question - I used TurboTax Premier (the version that handles rental properties) and it walked me through the whole depreciation setup pretty smoothly. Just needed to input the improvement cost, date it was completed, and select "residential rental property." The software automatically calculated the 27.5-year schedule and populated Form 4562. If you're comfortable with tax software and your situation is straightforward, the rental property versions of major tax programs handle this well. But if you have multiple properties or complex situations, a tax pro might be worth it for the first year to make sure everything's set up correctly.
This is a great discussion! As someone who's been managing rental properties for a few years, I can confirm that the $24,500 roof replacement is definitely a capital improvement requiring depreciation over 27.5 years. The IRS is pretty clear that replacing an entire roof adds value and extends the property's useful life. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're also considering the "mid-month convention" for depreciation. Since you placed this improvement in service last month, you can only claim a partial year of depreciation for this tax year. The software should handle this automatically, but it's worth understanding. Also, don't forget that if you do any related work like replacing gutters, downspouts, or fixing fascia boards as part of this project, some of those components might be separable as repairs if they weren't part of the structural roof replacement. Having a detailed, itemized invoice from your contractor is key for maximizing your deductions within the rules. The annual $891 depreciation deduction will be a nice consistent benefit, and as others mentioned, it'll help offset your rental income year after year. Welcome to landlording - these big maintenance items are part of the territory but you're building long-term wealth!
Thanks for bringing up the mid-month convention - that's something I hadn't considered! So even though I completed the roof work last month, I won't get the full year's depreciation deduction this tax year? That makes sense but is another thing to factor into my planning. Your point about the gutters and downspouts is interesting too. My contractor did replace the gutters as part of the overall project, but it was all bundled into one price. Do you think it's worth going back to ask them to break out those costs separately, or is it too late since the work is already done? I'm trying to figure out if there's any way to maximize the immediate deductions I can take this year while staying within the rules. Also appreciate the welcome to landlording - definitely learning that these big expenses are just part of the game!
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One thing nobody's mentioned - if you're giving this money specifically for education, you could pay his student loans directly or contribute to a 529 plan. Payments made directly to educational institutions for tuition bypass gift tax rules entirely!
That's only for current tuition paid directly to the school, not for reimbursing previous education expenses or paying off existing student loans. The direct payment exception only works for current students, not retroactively.
Just wanted to add another perspective on timing - if you're concerned about the paperwork but still want to give the full amount now, remember that Form 709 isn't due until April 15th of the year following the gift (so April 2026 for a 2025 gift). This gives you plenty of time to get familiar with the form and maybe consult with a tax professional if needed. Also, don't let the gift tax form intimidate you - it's actually pretty straightforward for a simple cash gift like yours. The IRS instructions are clearer than most other tax forms, and there are good examples included. You're doing a wonderful thing helping balance things out between your kids!
Isabella Ferreira
Hi Fatima! I completely understand how stressful this waiting period must be, especially when you're counting on your refund for important home repairs. The 570 code can really cause anxiety when you don't know what it means. The good news is that your situation looks very typical based on what I've seen in this community. When all your dates are identical like yours (3/4), it usually indicates an automated system review rather than a manual audit, which typically resolves much faster. Since you're retired, this is most likely just routine verification of your retirement income - the IRS probably wants to cross-check your pension, 401k distributions, or Social Security benefits against their records. It's a standard process but unfortunately takes time. Based on the patterns shared by others here, most 570 codes with matching dates like yours get resolved within 2-3 weeks without you needing to do anything. I'd suggest checking your transcript again around March 18th to look for either a 571 code (hold released) or 846 code (refund issued). Keep an eye on your mail too - if you see a 971 code appear on your transcript, it means they've sent a notice, though many times these are just informational rather than requesting documents. Hang in there! Your home repairs will happen - just with a slight delay. This community has seen countless situations exactly like yours resolve automatically. You're definitely not alone in this!
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Jamal Carter
Fatima, I can absolutely relate to your frustration - the 570 code is one of those IRS mysteries that can cause so much unnecessary stress, especially when you're depending on that refund for something important like home repairs! Your situation with all the dates being identical (3/4) is actually really encouraging. From what I've learned in this community, when all the dates match like that, it typically means the IRS computer system automatically flagged something for a quick review rather than a human auditor manually selecting your return. Automated reviews usually resolve much faster. Since you mentioned you're retired, this is very likely just the IRS doing routine verification of your retirement income sources - they probably want to cross-reference your pension distributions, 401k withdrawals, or Social Security benefits with their records. It sounds scary but it's actually pretty standard. Based on all the success stories I've seen shared here, most people with your exact situation (570 code with matching dates) see their holds released within 2-3 weeks without having to do anything. I'd suggest checking your transcript again around March 18th to look for either a 571 code (hold released) or 846 code (refund issued). Keep monitoring your mail too - if a 971 code shows up on your transcript, it means they've sent you a notice, though often these are just "FYI" letters rather than requests for more documents. Try to hang in there! Your home repair project will happen - it's just taking an unexpected detour through the IRS verification process. This community has seen so many situations like yours resolve automatically. You've got this!
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