Great question! I've been a 1099 contractor for 6 years and deal with similar travel situations. The key is the "sleep or rest" test - if your business duties require you to be away from home substantially longer than an ordinary workday AND you need rest before returning, then overnight lodging becomes deductible. For your 4-hour each way situation, that's definitely qualifying. The Friday night stay is a clear business deduction since it's directly tied to your meeting. Weekend stays get murky unless you can justify a business purpose (like avoiding Sunday night traffic that would impact Monday work, or conducting additional business activities). One tip: document your reasoning in writing. Keep notes about why the overnight stay was necessary for business rather than convenience. Also consider the economics - sometimes the hotel + gas savings from not making two round trips actually costs less than the wear and tear on your vehicle. The IRS doesn't have a specific mileage threshold, but anything over 100 miles one-way generally supports the overnight necessity argument. Your 4-hour drive definitely qualifies. Just make sure to keep detailed records of the business purpose, dates, and all receipts.

As someone who's been through multiple IRS audits as a 1099 contractor, I wanted to add a few practical tips that have saved me headaches: 1. **Keep a travel journal** - Beyond just receipts, document the business purpose, who you met with, what was discussed, and why the overnight stay was necessary. I use a simple Google Doc that syncs to my phone. 2. **Take photos of your odometer** before and after trips if you're claiming mileage. It's extra documentation that auditors appreciate. 3. **Consider the "temporary vs. indefinite" rule** - Since you mentioned this is a monthly client visit, the IRS generally considers work locations temporary if the assignment is expected to last one year or less. If this becomes a multi-year arrangement, they might reclassify it as a regular work location. 4. **Save booking confirmations** that show you chose reasonably-priced accommodations. I always screenshot hotel booking pages showing I compared prices and chose a mid-range option. The 4-hour distance definitely supports your overnight deduction, but the monthly frequency means you'll want to be extra diligent with documentation. Better to over-document now than scramble during an audit later!

As someone who just went through this exact process for my consulting business, I wanted to share a resource that really streamlined my research. The NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) website has a commercial vehicle section that maintains updated GVWR specifications specifically for tax and fleet purposes. What made my search easier was focusing on vehicles that are well above the 6,000 lb threshold rather than those that barely qualify. For example, most full-size SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia typically have GVWR ratings around 7,300-8,600 lbs, giving you a comfortable margin above the requirement. One thing I learned that might save others time - if you're looking at hybrid or electric versions of traditional trucks/SUVs, they almost always qualify because the battery weight pushes them well over 6,000 lbs. The Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid, for instance, has a higher GVWR than the regular gas version. Also worth noting that some credit unions and business banks offer special financing rates for vehicles that qualify for Section 179, since they're considered business equipment purchases rather than consumer auto loans. Saved me almost a full percentage point on my loan rate just by mentioning the tax deduction eligibility when I applied.

I've been following this thread closely as I'm in a similar situation with my construction business, and the wealth of information here has been incredible! One additional resource I discovered that might help others is the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) database. They maintain detailed specifications for modified and upfitted vehicles that are popular in commercial applications. If you're considering vehicles with aftermarket equipment like tool boxes, lift kits, or specialized attachments, these modifications can sometimes affect the GVWR in ways that push borderline vehicles over the 6,000 lb threshold. Also wanted to mention something I learned from my fleet insurance agent - some commercial auto insurance policies actually offer discounts for vehicles that qualify for Section 179 deductions since they're classified as business equipment rather than standard commercial vehicles. It's another small cost saving that can help offset the purchase price. For anyone still doing research, I'd also recommend checking with your local SBA (Small Business Administration) office. Many have counselors who are familiar with vehicle tax deductions and can provide guidance on the business use documentation requirements. They sometimes have workshops specifically about equipment purchases and tax planning that could be helpful. The community knowledge sharing in this thread has been outstanding - thanks to everyone who contributed their real-world experiences and professional insights!

Just want to add - the whole system is wildly inconsistent. For tax purposes, your kid ages out of the Child Tax Credit at 17. For FAFSA college financial aid, they're considered your dependent until 24. For health insurance, they can stay on your plan until 26. For court-ordered child support (at least in my state), it's until 18 or high school graduation, whichever comes LATER. No wonder parents are confused! It's like each government department made up their own rules without talking to each other.

This is such a common frustration! I went through the exact same thing when my oldest turned 17 last year. What really helped me was understanding that even though you lose the Child Tax Credit, there are actually several other credits and deductions you might still qualify for that can partially offset the loss. Since your daughter is 17 and in high school, definitely look into the Credit for Other Dependents (up to $500). If she's taking any dual enrollment courses or college prep classes that count for college credit, you might qualify for education credits. Also, if you're paying for SAT/ACT prep courses or college application fees, some of those educational expenses might be deductible. The key is to think beyond just the Child Tax Credit - there's often a patchwork of other benefits available. It's frustrating that the system is so complicated, but don't assume you're getting nothing just because you lost that one big credit. I actually ended up with more total tax benefits than I expected once I found all the alternatives I qualified for.

17 Tip for the multiple W-2s - make sure you check if you overpaid Social Security tax! Each employer withholds 6.2% up to the annual wage limit ($168,600 for 2025), but if you had multiple employers and your combined income exceeded that limit, you may have overpaid. You can claim that as a credit on your return!

Just wanted to add something about HSA contribution limits that might help others - the annual limits are per person, not per HSA account. So if you have multiple jobs with HSA-eligible health plans, all employer contributions count toward your single annual limit ($4,300 for individual coverage in 2024, $4,550 for 2025). I learned this the hard way when I had overlapping employment and both employers were contributing. The IRS doesn't care that it came from different sources - they just look at the total. Keep track throughout the year, especially during job transitions, because it's much easier to prevent over-contributions than to fix them after the fact. Also, regarding multiple W-2s - don't forget to check if either employer offered dependent care FSA or commuter benefits. Those also have annual limits that apply across all employers, similar to the Social Security tax issue someone mentioned above.

I went through this EXACT situation last year with a different broker. Yes, you absolutely must report the capital gains on your taxes - no way around that unfortunately. But here's what worked for me to finally get my money: I sent a certified letter to their corporate headquarters (not just emailing support) stating that I would be filing complaints with FINRA, the SEC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and my state's attorney general if the issue wasn't resolved within 15 business days. I cited specific regulations about client fund access and mentioned potential small claims court action. Got a call from their executive resolution team 3 days later and had my funds within a week. Sometimes you gotta make noise at the right level!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with a different broker, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that if you do end up filing regulatory complaints, make sure to keep copies of everything and document all your communications with timestamps. One thing I learned from my situation is that when you're paying taxes on gains you can't access, it's worth consulting with a tax professional about whether you can claim any deductions related to the costs of trying to recover your funds - things like certified mail, legal consultation fees, etc. These might be deductible as miscellaneous expenses depending on your situation. Also, some states have additional investor protection programs beyond the federal regulators. Check if your state has a securities division that handles investor complaints - sometimes having complaints filed at both state and federal levels creates more pressure for resolution. Hope you get this sorted out soon! The tax situation is frustrating enough without having to deal with unresponsive customer service on top of it.