This is a really complex situation that I've seen trip up a lot of couples! One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on but is super important - make sure you're both on the same page about who's claiming your daughter BEFORE either of you files. The IRS has gotten much better at catching duplicate dependent claims automatically, and if both of you claim her, both returns will be rejected or flagged for manual review. This can delay your refunds by months and potentially trigger an audit where you'd both have to provide documentation proving your support calculations. Given what you've described - that your fiancé pays for housing, food, and most of your daughter's expenses - it sounds like he might qualify under the qualifying relative test. But as others have mentioned, you'll need to calculate the exact support percentages including ALL sources (any child support, government benefits, etc.). My recommendation would be to run the numbers both ways: calculate your combined tax benefit if you claim her versus if he claims her. Sometimes the person providing more support isn't necessarily the one who gets the bigger tax advantage, especially when you factor in filing status changes. If the difference is significant, it might be worth having him claim her and you signing Form 8332. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready - the IRS loves to audit dependent situations involving unmarried couples!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years, and he's been supporting my 5-year-old son since I lost my job last year. One thing I learned from talking to a tax preparer is that even if your fiancé qualifies to claim your daughter, you need to think about the timing. Since you mentioned you're planning to get married next summer, if that's before December 31st, 2025, you'll be filing as married for the entire tax year anyway. But if it's after December 31st, then you'll still need to figure out the dependent situation for your 2025 taxes. Also, I found out that some states have different rules about dependents than the federal government, so if you live in a state with income tax, you might want to check those rules too. In my state, the dependent rules mostly follow federal guidelines, but there were a couple of small differences that affected our decision. The record-keeping advice everyone's giving is spot on. I started a spreadsheet tracking every expense - rent, utilities, groceries, clothes, medical bills, everything. It seemed like overkill at first, but having those exact numbers made the support calculation much clearer and gave me confidence that we were making the right choice.

Quick question - I'm in the same situation but I already had the lawn equipment before I started renting out part of my house. Can I still claim depreciation on these items even though I purchased them earlier for personal use?

Great question! Yes, you can definitely deduct lawn care expenses for your rental property. Since your tenant has access to the backyard, that portion of your yard maintenance is a legitimate rental expense. Here's what you need to know: **Equipment ($825 total):** These are capital expenses that must be depreciated over time, not deducted all at once. Lawn equipment typically has a 5-year depreciation schedule under MACRS. **Supplies ($300 fertilizer/weed killer):** These are fully deductible in the year purchased - much simpler! **Your labor:** Unfortunately, you can't deduct the value of your own time, but any materials you buy are fair game. **Mixed-use allocation:** Since you live in the main house, you'll need to determine what percentage of the yard maintenance relates to the rental vs. your personal use. The IRS typically accepts square footage calculations (rental space ÷ total property space). **Documentation:** Yes, keep all receipts! You'll report these on Schedule E, and good records are essential if you're ever audited. Pro tip: Consider whether the time you spend on lawn care might be better spent on other income-generating activities. Some landlords find that hiring a service simplifies their taxes and frees up time, even if it costs a bit more upfront.

Did you verify your identity on ID.me? Sometimes that can cause delays if it's not done

Don't panic! I went through the same thing last year. Blank transcripts are super common in the first month after filing. The IRS processing systems update in batches, not real-time. Since you e-filed 3 weeks ago, you're right in that normal window where nothing shows up yet. I'd give it another week or two before getting concerned. The fact that WMR shows "received" is actually a good sign - means your return made it into their system successfully.

Be super careful with any ERC filing right now! The IRS announced last month they're auditing these claims like crazy because of all the fraud. My brother's construction company used one of those "ERC specialists" that advertise everywhere, paid them 25% of the expected refund, and now he's under audit and might have to pay everything back WITH penalties. Make sure whoever helps you is looking at real eligibility, not just trying to get you to file. The rules are complicated - it's not just "did you stay open during the pandemic.

As someone who just went through this process for my small retail store, I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion before committing to any of those fee structures you mentioned. The 30% contingency fee is definitely excessive, and the $8,000 upfront seems way too high for a 14-employee restaurant. What worked for me was first using a service to verify eligibility before paying anyone big fees. I spent about $200 to get a detailed analysis of whether we actually qualified, which saved me from potentially wasting thousands on a claim that might not hold up. Once I knew we legitimately qualified, I worked with a local CPA who charged a flat $2,800 fee to prepare and file everything. The key is making sure you have solid documentation showing how government orders specifically impacted your restaurant operations. Indoor dining restrictions would likely qualify you under the "partial suspension" test, but you need to document exactly which orders affected you and when. Don't rush into anything - the IRS is being very strict about ERC claims right now, so getting it right the first time is crucial.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything you submit to them. The IRS lost my verification docs TWICE last year smh

I went through this exact same verification process last year! When you click on the "Verify Your Tax Return Information Now" notification, it will take you to a secure portal where you'll need to verify your identity using ID.me or answer some personal questions about your financial history. They usually ask for things like previous addresses, loan amounts, or account information that only you would know. The whole process took me about 15-20 minutes online. Definitely enable those email notifications and go paperless - it really does speed things up! I got updates within days instead of waiting weeks for mail. Just make sure you have a secure email address since you'll be getting sensitive tax info. The verification itself isn't scary, just tedious. Once you complete it, your return goes back into processing and you should see movement within a few weeks. Good luck! 🤞