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One thing nobody's mentioned - even if you're taking the standard deduction now, it might be worth tracking large purchases like cars just in case your situation changes later in the year. For example, if you have unexpected medical expenses or make large charitable donations that push you over the threshold for itemizing, having that car sales tax information ready could be valuable. The tax software asks everyone because it doesn't know your full situation until all information is entered.
That's smart, I never thought about that! How much of a difference could the car sales tax actually make though? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the trouble of finding all the paperwork from my purchase last year.
For a typical car purchase, you might be looking at hundreds or even thousands in deductible sales tax. On a $25,000 car with 7% sales tax, that's $1,750 potentially deductible. On a $40,000 car, it could be $2,800 or more depending on your state's tax rate. That's significant enough that it could tip the scales if you're close to the itemizing threshold. The documentation is pretty simple - just need your bill of sale showing the purchase price and tax paid. Most people keep this with their important car documents anyway.
I just want to add that H&R Block's software is just gathering ALL possible information that could affect ANY taxpayer. They don't know your specific situation until you finish everything. Most ppl take the standard deduction ($13,850 single, $27,700 married) but some with lots of mortgage interest, medical expenses, or charity might benefit from itemizing. That's why they ask about the car - it's just covering all bases.
So basically we're all answering a bunch of questions that probably don't matter? That's super annoying. Why can't they just ask up front if we're likely to itemize or take the standard deduction, and skip all these irrelevant questions?
You might want to look into filing Form 8082 (Notice of Inconsistent Treatment) with your return. This lets the IRS know you're reporting something differently than how it was reported to you. Since the 1099 has both names but you're only reporting part of the income, this form can help explain the discrepancy and potentially avoid automatic notices.
This is a really complex situation that requires careful handling. Based on what you've described, I'd strongly recommend getting professional help from a tax attorney or CPA who specializes in divorce situations, especially since you're dealing with multiple years of unfiled returns. Here's my understanding: Since your name appears on the 1099, you likely have some obligation to report income, even though only your husband's SSN is listed. The IRS could potentially come after you later if they determine you received unreported income. However, the exact amount you should report depends on your actual involvement and benefit from the business. A few key points to consider: - Document everything about your role in the business (emails, texts, bank records showing deposits/expenses) - Determine what percentage of the business operations and income you were actually responsible for - Consider whether you want to file amended returns for those past years or just handle going forward properly Given that you're in divorce proceedings and dealing with $28k annually, the cost of professional tax advice will likely be much less than potential penalties or problems down the road. Don't try to navigate this alone - the stakes are too high and the rules too complex.
Has anyone had experience with options that aren't clearly Section 1256 contracts? I have some foreign index options and I'm not sure if they qualify for the 60/40 treatment or if they're just regular capital assets.
Only options on "broad-based" indices qualify as Section 1256 contracts. Foreign indices generally don't qualify unless they're specifically listed by the IRS. If your foreign index has fewer than 10 stocks or if the options aren't regulated by the CFTC, they're probably just regular capital assets with standard short/long term treatment.
I went through this exact same headache last year with SPX spreads that crossed tax years. The key insight that finally solved it for me was understanding that the "mark-to-market" treatment under Section 1256 creates two separate tax events: one on December 31st (the deemed sale) and another when you actually close the position. For your bear put spread, you need to calculate the fair market value of each leg as of December 31st. The long 4800 put and short 4700 put each get treated as if they were sold and immediately repurchased at those values. This creates your 2023 tax liability/benefit under the 60/40 rules. Regarding the tax software issue with negative cost basis - this is definitely a common problem. What worked for me was creating separate entries for each leg rather than trying to enter them as a spread. For the short leg, I entered the premium received as the "proceeds" and the December 31st mark-to-market value as the "cost basis." This gives the correct economic result without triggering the software's validation errors. The IRS instructions are confusing on this point, but the underlying principle is that each Section 1256 contract stands alone for tax purposes, even when they're part of a larger strategy. Don't let the software limitations force you into incorrect reporting - the tax law is what matters, not what the software easily accepts.
Wait, I'm confused about one thing. If you e-filed your amended return, why would TurboTax give you a 1040-V at all? I thought amended returns (Form 1040-X) had to be filed by mail, not electronically. Has this changed recently?
As of 2020, you can e-file amended returns now! It was one of the changes they made during COVID that stuck around. But only certain tax situations qualify for e-filing amendments. If your amendment involves certain schedules or forms, you might still have to paper file.
Just to add some reassurance to what others have said - you're absolutely right to be confused about this! The 1040-V situation is one of those quirks where the tax software doesn't have enough context to know you've already overpaid. I went through something very similar two years ago with a backdoor Roth conversion that got reported incorrectly. Had already paid way more than I owed, filed an amended return, and got that same 1040-V telling me to send more money. I ignored it completely and everything worked out fine - got my refund about 4.5 months later. The key thing to remember is that the IRS systems will reconcile everything when they process your amended return. They can see your original payment and will automatically issue the refund for the overpayment. No need to send additional money or paperwork beyond what you've already e-filed. One tip: keep good records of your original payment confirmation and the acceptance confirmation for your amended return. If there are any delays or questions later, having those documents handy will make resolving issues much easier.
Liam Duke
Quick question - is ur aircraft a single engine or multi? I'm looking at buying a Piper Seminole to put on leaseback with a flight school and wondering what kind of depreciation schedule to expect. Also what state are u in? I heard some states have personal property tax on aircraft that can really add up!
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Manny Lark
ā¢Not OP, but I have a Seminole on leaseback in Florida. Multi-engine aircraft typically follow the same 5-year MACRS depreciation schedule, but your operating costs will be substantially higher than a single engine. The real question is whether you'll generate enough rental income to offset the higher costs of operating a twin. For a Seminole, you're looking at roughly $280-350/hr rental rate depending on your market, but your insurance will be significantly higher than a single engine aircraft. As for state taxes, Florida doesn't have personal property tax on aircraft, but many states do. I know California, Texas, and Georgia all have some form of property tax on aircraft that can run 1-2% of the value annually.
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KylieRose
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year with my Cessna 172 on leaseback. A few quick tips since you're down to the wire: 1. Definitely use business code 532400 as mentioned earlier - that's exactly what I used and it worked perfectly. 2. For your depreciation, since the aircraft was purchased last year, make sure you're claiming the right bonus depreciation rate. If it was placed in service in 2023, you can take 80% bonus depreciation which is a huge tax advantage. 3. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're properly allocating expenses between your maintenance work for the club vs. your aircraft ownership. The IRS will want to see clear separation between these two income streams on your Schedule C. 4. Don't forget about Form 4562 for depreciation - it's required when you have assets like aircraft. Since you mentioned having good documentation of your 500+ business hours, that should help establish this as a legitimate business rather than a hobby. Just make sure you have receipts for all your deductible expenses ready in case of questions later. Good luck with the filing! Even if it's not perfect, getting something reasonable submitted and then amending later with a CPA is a solid plan.
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