for all the worry about reporting $15... lol... the IRS isn't coming after anyone for a $15 prize that generates maybe $2 in tax. they're busy with bigger fish. just cash the check and enjoy your win! congrats!!

Congratulations on your PCH win! I work in tax preparation and can confirm what others have said - since you physically received the check in January 2025, this counts as 2025 income that you'll report when you file your 2026 tax return. For the $15 amount, you're absolutely right to want to do things correctly even though it's small. You'll report this as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 of your Form 1040. The good news is that at your likely tax bracket, this will add maybe $2-4 to your total tax liability. One practical tip: keep the check stub and any documentation from PCH in your tax records for 2025. Even though PCH won't send you a 1099 for amounts under $600, having your own documentation is always smart. You can definitely cash the check now - the timing of cashing it doesn't affect the tax treatment at all. Enjoy your unexpected windfall!

I interviewed with Intuit last tax season (didn't get the job but it was a good experience). One thing nobody mentioned yet is that some of the HireVue questions are timed pretty strictly. I think I had 30 seconds to prepare and then only 2 minutes to answer each question. My advice: practice giving concise answers beforehand. I rambled too much and got cut off mid-sentence on two questions, which probably hurt my chances. Also, they asked me a technical question about the difference between standard and itemized deductions and how I would explain it to someone who knows nothing about taxes.

Has anyone gone through the Intuit interview recently? I'm wondering if they still use HireVue or if they've switched to something else for 2025 season hiring. Their job posting mentions "video interview" but doesn't specify the platform. Also curious about the pay rate they're offering this year if anyone has that info.

Has anyone switched from standard mileage to actual expenses after the first year? I'm wondering if it's worth keeping track of everything just in case actual expenses end up being higher in future years.

Just to add some clarity on the depreciation calculation if you do switch from mileage to actual expenses - it's actually not too complicated once you understand the concept. When you use standard mileage, the IRS considers that you've already "taken" depreciation at a rate of 27 cents per mile for 2024 (this is built into the 67 cents total rate). So if you drove 10,000 business miles in your first year using standard mileage, you've already "used up" $2,700 of depreciation ($0.27 x 10,000 miles). If you switch to actual expenses in year 2, you'd subtract that $2,700 from your vehicle's basis before calculating remaining depreciation. For your $26,500 Forester with 60% business use, your depreciable basis would be $15,900 (60% of $26,500). If you used standard mileage in 2024 and drove, say, 8,000 business miles, you'd subtract $2,160 in "deemed depreciation" from that $15,900 basis. Then you'd depreciate the remaining amount over the rest of the 5-year recovery period using straight-line method. The math gets a bit involved, but it's definitely doable with a good tax software or spreadsheet once you understand the concept.

Something no one has mentioned - are you sure these are actual "profits" being transferred and not contractual payments for legitimate services? Many non-profits outsource manufacturing, distribution, accounting, etc. to for-profit companies through proper arms-length contracts.

This is a serious issue that deserves immediate attention. As someone who has dealt with non-profit compliance audits, what you're describing could constitute private inurement or excess benefit transactions, both of which can result in the organization losing its tax-exempt status. The key question is whether these transfers serve a legitimate charitable purpose or are essentially disguised distributions to private parties. Even if the for-profit entities provide services back to the non-profit, the transfers must be at fair market value and properly documented. I'd strongly recommend documenting everything you can about these transactions - dates, amounts, the entities involved, and any stated justifications. You should also check if any board members or executives have financial interests in these for-profit companies, as that would make the situation even more problematic. Consider consulting with a tax attorney who specializes in non-profit law before taking any action, especially if you're concerned about potential retaliation at work. They can help you understand your options, including whistleblower protections that may apply.

I've been helping people with tax issues for about 8 years now, and unfortunately, this TurboTax check problem seems to be happening to quite a few people this year. In my experience, the fastest solution is probably to deposit the check at your primary bank (not a check cashing place), and perhaps talk to a manager about reducing the hold time since it's a tax refund check. It might also be worth considering that sometimes these problems occur when there's a mismatch between the name on your tax return and the name on your bank account, which can cause direct deposits to be rejected and converted to checks. Just something to possibly check for next year.

This is exactly why I've been telling people to avoid TurboTax this year! I'm a tax preparer and I've seen at least 15 clients come to me with this exact same issue - the mysterious check number 100001 that banks won't cash. What's really frustrating is that TurboTax isn't being transparent about this problem. They're calling it a "small percentage" but from what I'm seeing, it's affecting way more people than they're admitting. The worst part is that families who need their refunds for rent, groceries, or other essentials are getting screwed over by a company that's supposed to make tax filing easier, not harder. I've been recommending clients file amended returns to get direct deposit set up properly, but that's another 8-12 week wait. Absolutely ridiculous that a major tax software company can't handle basic payment processing in 2025.