This is such a timely question - I'm dealing with the exact same situation with my gaming channel! Based on what I've learned from my accountant, you're absolutely right to start deducting those expenses now even without monetization. The key thing the IRS looks for is "profit motive" - which sounds like you clearly have with your business plan and serious approach. You don't need formal business registration to claim these deductions on Schedule C of your personal return as a sole proprietor. One crucial tip: start documenting EVERYTHING now. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every expense with date, amount, business purpose, and receipt photo. For those monthly subscriptions like Canva Pro and TubeBuddy, they're perfect examples of "ordinary and necessary" business expenses since they're directly related to content creation. Also consider tracking your time investment - hours spent on video creation, research, learning new skills, etc. This helps demonstrate the business nature of your activity versus just a hobby. The IRS wants to see consistent, profit-directed effort even before revenue starts flowing. The 3-out-of-5-years profit rule others mentioned is real, but don't let it scare you. Many legitimate businesses take time to become profitable, especially in content creation. Your business plan showing the path to monetization through sponsorships will be valuable documentation if ever questioned.

This is such great advice from everyone! I'm in a very similar situation with my DIY home improvement channel - been investing in tools, editing software, and even some basic lighting equipment while building up content before applying for monetization. One thing I'd add that really helped me get organized: I created a dedicated Google Drive folder structure for all my YouTube business documents. I have separate folders for receipts, business planning documents, usage logs for shared equipment, and even screenshots of my analytics showing growth metrics. This makes it super easy to find everything if I ever need to provide documentation. Also, don't forget about mileage if you travel for content! I've been tracking trips to hardware stores for project supplies, driving to filming locations, even trips to pick up equipment. At the current IRS rate of 65.5 cents per mile, those trips add up quickly. I use a simple phone app to track business-related driving. The key thing I've learned is to err on the side of over-documenting rather than under-documenting. Better to have too much supporting evidence than not enough if questions ever come up. Your business plan idea is spot-on - even a simple document showing you've thought through your monetization strategy demonstrates this isn't just an expensive hobby.

I've been through this process twice now and here's my honest take: the 5071C is annoying but not the end of the world. Yes, you absolutely need to verify your identity - ignoring it means no refund ever. For the online route, make sure your phone is fully charged and you have stable internet. The ID.me system can be glitchy and nothing's worse than getting halfway through and having technical issues. I'd also recommend doing it on a computer if possible - the mobile experience isn't great. One thing nobody mentions: after you verify, resist the urge to keep calling the IRS asking for updates. Your case goes into a queue and calling doesn't speed it up, just wastes your time. Most people see their refunds 2-4 weeks after successful verification. Also, if you're really strapped for cash and this is taking too long, look into whether your bank offers refund advance loans. Some will give you money upfront based on your expected refund amount, though there are fees involved. The whole system is frustrating but you'll get through it. Just stay patient and don't let the stress get to you!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and totally get the stress! The 5071C letter basically means the IRS flagged your return for identity verification - it's become super common lately, especially for returns filed early in the season. Here's what I'd recommend: definitely try the ID.me online verification first. It's usually faster than scheduling a phone appointment. Make sure you have your driver's license, the 5071C letter (you'll need the verification code on it), your Social Security card, and your tax return handy. The facial recognition part can be a bit finicky, so do it somewhere with good lighting and make sure your phone camera is clean. If the online route doesn't work after a couple tries, don't waste days fighting with it - just call the number on your letter to schedule a phone verification. Timeline-wise, after I completed verification it took about 3 weeks for my refund to show up. The "Where's My Refund" tool didn't update for like 2.5 weeks and then suddenly showed a deposit date, so don't panic if it seems stuck on "processing." The most important thing is to get this done ASAP because your return is completely frozen until you verify. Once you do, the processing clock starts ticking again. You'll get your money, just hang in there!

Whichever way you go, make sure you keep track of the Section 199A information that needs to be reported on each K-1. I self-filed our partnership return last year and totally forgot about reporting each activity separately for the qualified business income deduction. Cost both partners a lot in missed deductions on our personal returns.

I've been through this exact situation! Last year I tried the "preview method" you mentioned and it was a disaster. I missed several critical calculations and ended up having to pay penalties for errors. Here's what I learned: Form 1065 has way more interdependent calculations than you'd think. The K-1s pull data from multiple schedules, and if you mess up one number early on, it cascades through the entire return. My advice? If you want to save money, use the full software but skip the accountant. The e-filing fee is worth it for the validation checks alone. I ended up using FreeTaxUSA for business returns this year - their partnership module is solid and much cheaper than TaxAct. They caught three errors I would have definitely missed doing it manually. Also, make sure you understand the deadlines. Partnership returns are due March 15th (not April 15th), so you're cutting it close if you're just starting now. You can file for an extension, but that's just for the return itself - any taxes owed are still due by the original deadline. Don't penny-wise-pound-foolish this. The IRS notices for partnership return errors are no joke and will cost you way more than software fees.

Don't forget another important aspect - if you plan to eventually convert the property back to personal use or sell it, keep very detailed records of all improvements and expenses. I made the mistake of not tracking these properly and it caused major headaches when I sold my rental. Also, start a separate bank account for the rental income and expenses if you haven't already. Commingling personal and rental funds makes accounting much harder and increases audit risk.

Just wanted to add something that might save you some headaches down the road - when you're allocating those property taxes between personal and rental use, make sure you keep a written record of your calculation method and the dates you used. I had a similar conversion situation and got selected for an audit two years later. The IRS examiner specifically asked to see how I calculated the allocation percentage and wanted documentation showing the exact conversion date. Having that paper trail made the audit much smoother. Also, since this is your first year with rental property, consider setting up a simple spreadsheet to track all your rental-related expenses by month. It'll make next year's tax prep much easier and help you spot deductible expenses you might otherwise forget about.

Last year I thought I'd cracked the code on IRS deposit dates too... spent hours on tax forums tracking patterns only to have my refund show up on a completely random Tuesday that didn't match any pattern! 😂 My theory is they just roll a 20-sided die at the IRS office to decide when to release our money lol. But seriously, my business return took exactly 47 days last year despite all the pattern-watching I did.

I've been tracking this same pattern! Filed my business return on February 8th with cycle code ending in 05, and I'm also noticing the 05/05 gap. What's interesting is that May 5th is a Sunday this year, so that could definitely explain why it's not showing up as a DDD. The IRS typically doesn't process direct deposits on weekends or holidays. My guess is those returns that would have been in the 05/05 batch got rolled into either 04/05 or 06/05 instead. Still frustrating when you're trying to plan cash flow for business expenses though! Have you tried calling the business tax line to get any insight into your specific return status?