Has anyone noticed that the information is sometimes slightly different between copies? I swear my state copy had a different withholding amount than my federal copy last year.

This is such a common confusion! I went through the exact same thing my first few years doing taxes. What helped me understand it was thinking of it like carbon copies from the old days - they're all identical information, just labeled for different destinations. Copy B goes with your federal return (if filing paper), Copy 2 goes with state returns (if filing paper), and Copy C is yours to keep. Since you're using tax software, you can literally use any copy to enter the data - I usually just grab whichever one is on top. The software handles all the electronic filing, so those specific copy designations don't matter for e-filing. Just make sure you hang onto at least one copy (Copy C is perfect for this) for your records. Don't feel dumb about not realizing this - the tax system could definitely be clearer about these things!

Been self-employed for 10+ years and use per diem for meals exclusively. Quick tip: don't forget the first and last day of travel are calculated at 75% of the standard rate. A lot of people miss that and claim 100% for all days.

Great question, Carmen! I've been using the per diem method for my consulting business for the past three years, and it's been a game-changer for simplifying my tax prep. Here's what I've learned: Yes, you can absolutely use per diem rates instead of tracking individual meal receipts. The key is maintaining proper documentation of your travel - dates, locations, and business purposes. I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for departure date, return date, destination city, client name, and business purpose. One thing to watch out for that I learned the hard way - make sure you're using the correct GSA rates for each specific location. Some cities have higher rates than others, and it can add up to significant differences over a year of travel. Also, as others mentioned, remember the 75% rule for first and last travel days. I use a combination of my calendar exports and client contracts to document the business purpose of each trip. During my first year using per diem, I was worried about having enough documentation, but my CPA assured me that as long as I could clearly show the business connection and had accurate dates/locations, I was in good shape. The time savings alone made it worth switching from receipt tracking - I estimate I save about 2-3 hours per month not having to organize and categorize meal receipts!

Just want to add that I've noticed Chime deposits tend to come in waves throughout the day. Last year there was a big morning batch around 10am EST, then another wave around 2pm, and final deposits around 4-5pm. So if you haven't received it yet, don't lose hope until late afternoon. Also, make sure your Chime notifications are turned on so you don't miss it!

Just wanted to share my experience - I have a 3/24 DDD with Chime and got my deposit this morning at 11:47am! So there's definitely hope for those still waiting. I was checking obsessively yesterday but nothing came through until today. For anyone still waiting, it seems like they're processing in batches throughout the day like others mentioned. Good luck everyone! 🙏

Has anyone considered the middle ground option of filing Schedule E? If you and your dad formed a partnership (even informally), you might be able to report this on Schedule E as partnership income rather than Schedule C. This could potentially avoid self-employment tax while still allowing for expense deductions. Though this depends on the specific nature of your agreement and involvement.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago with my brother-in-law. We flipped one house together and I was torn between Schedule C and Schedule D treatment. What ultimately helped me decide was documenting the actual hours I spent on the project. I kept a simple log showing I worked about 25-30 hours per week for 4 months on renovation, coordinating with contractors, picking materials, etc. That level of time investment clearly pushed it into "business activity" territory. The IRS has a general rule that if you're materially participating in the activity (more than 500 hours annually OR substantially all the participation in the activity), it's likely a business rather than an investment. Your 5 months of regular weekend and evening work probably puts you well over that threshold. One thing to consider: even though Schedule C means self-employment tax, you can also deduct business expenses that wouldn't be allowed on Schedule D. In my case, the additional deductions (including mileage, tools, some meals with contractors, etc.) more than made up for the SE tax difference. My advice: document your actual involvement and hours if you can reconstruct them. That will give you the strongest position if you ever need to defend the Schedule C treatment.

As someone who's been doing content creation for several years now, I can confirm that 711510 "Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers" is the go-to code for most YouTubers and content creators working with MCNs. I've used it consistently and my CPA has never had any concerns about it. One thing I'd add is that you should also make sure you're properly categorizing your income on Schedule C. Since you're getting a 1099-MISC, you'll likely report this under "Other income" rather than as traditional freelance work. The business code helps the IRS understand your industry, but the income categorization is equally important. Also, don't let the business code choice stress you out too much - as long as it reasonably represents what you do (creating entertainment content), you're fine. The IRS isn't going to penalize you for choosing between similar codes like 711510 vs 519130, especially when content creation is still a relatively new field that doesn't always fit perfectly into traditional business categories.

I've been in the same boat with my content creation business! After years of uncertainty, I finally consulted with a tax professional who specializes in digital creators, and they confirmed that 711510 "Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers" is indeed the most appropriate code for YouTube/content creators receiving 1099-MISC from MCNs. What really helped me was understanding that the IRS recognizes content creation as a legitimate form of entertainment performance, even if it's digital. Your gaming content, commentary, and audience engagement all fall under "performing" in the modern sense. One tip that saved me a lot of stress: I now use the same business code consistently every year and keep a simple document explaining why I chose it (creates entertainment content for online audiences). This way, if there are ever any questions, I have a clear rationale ready. The consistency also makes filing so much smoother year after year. Don't let this part of your taxes stress you out anymore - you're doing legitimate creative work and 711510 perfectly captures that!