Has anyone used TurboTax for reporting this kind of income? I do similar stuff and I'm wondering if the self-employed version will walk me through all these deductions or if I should go to a real accountant.

As someone who's been doing content creation for a few years now, I can confirm that both expenses you mentioned are likely deductible if you're treating this as a legitimate business. For the pedicures/manicures: Since your feet are literally the product in your content, these fall under "ordinary and necessary" business expenses. The key is documentation - keep receipts and note which services were specifically for content creation vs. personal maintenance. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet linking each service to specific content/photoshoots. For the Surface tablet: If you're using it exclusively (or nearly exclusively) for your business, you can deduct the full purchase price using Section 179 or depreciate it over time. Since you mentioned it's basically only used for taking photos and posting content, you're in great shape here. Pro tip: Start tracking your business expenses in a dedicated app or spreadsheet right now. Include date, amount, purpose, and how it relates to your income-generating activities. This will make tax time so much easier and give you confidence if you're ever questioned about deductions. Also consider other potential deductions you might be missing: portion of your phone bill, internet costs, props/backgrounds, lighting equipment, storage/cloud services, and even a portion of your home if you have a dedicated space for content creation.

Has anyone used both ProSeries and Drake tax software for their independent practice? I'm trying to decide which one to go with when I leave my firm.

Your pricing strategy sounds reasonable for starting out! I made the transition from Block to my own practice three years ago, and one thing I learned is to be confident about your rates from day one. $125-130/hour is actually quite fair for the Chicago market, especially with your Jackson Hewitt experience. A few practical tips: Consider offering a free 15-minute initial call to discuss their needs - this helps you qualify clients and gives them confidence in your expertise. For that first consultation, prepare a structured agenda so you maximize the value you provide in that hour. I also recommend getting everything in writing with a simple consultation agreement that outlines what you'll cover. Don't forget to factor in your prep time when pricing - reviewing their documents beforehand often takes 15-30 minutes that you should account for. And definitely get comfortable talking about money upfront. Clients respect professionals who are clear about their fees and payment terms. Good luck with your new venture!

I'm also banking with Capital One and experiencing the exact same thing! My DDD is 2/24 as well, and like you, I've been checking multiple times today with no pending transaction showing. After reading through all these responses, I feel so much better knowing this is completely normal for Capital One - they apparently just don't show IRS deposits as pending like other banks do. I filed on February 3rd and got accepted the same day, so our timelines are very similar. It sounds like we should expect our refunds to just appear Saturday morning without any prior warning, probably in the early morning hours. I'm definitely going to stop the obsessive checking and just look once on Saturday! This thread has been incredibly reassuring for those of us new to Capital One's deposit process.

I'm also a Capital One customer with a DDD of 2/24 and experiencing the exact same anxiety! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea Capital One handled IRS deposits so differently from other banks. I've been with them for about 6 months after switching from Chase, and Chase always showed pending deposits 2-3 days early, so when nothing appeared this week I was convinced something went wrong with my return. Reading everyone's experiences here is so reassuring! It sounds like Capital One's "stealth mode" approach is completely normal - no pending notifications, just the refund appearing overnight on the DDD. I filed on February 1st and got accepted within hours, so my timeline is very similar to yours. For what it's worth, I also have a slight name variation concern (my tax return shows my full middle name but my bank account only has the middle initial), but based on what others have shared, this seems to rarely cause issues as long as SSN and account details match. I'm definitely going to stop checking every few hours and just look once early Saturday morning. Thanks for starting this thread - it's amazing how much peace of mind comes from knowing others are going through the exact same experience!

Has anyone tried using TurboTax or other tax software for filing multiple years of back taxes? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if it's worth paying for.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - if you're really overwhelmed by the whole process, consider reaching out to a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. They provide free tax help for people who generally make $64,000 or less, and many volunteers have experience with back tax situations. I used VITA when I was catching up on 4 years of unfiled returns and the volunteer was incredibly patient and knowledgeable. They helped me understand which deductions I could claim and even caught some errors I would have made filing on my own. You can find VITA locations on the IRS website - just search "VITA site locator." The best part is it's completely free, and they can often help you file electronically even for prior years, which gets your refunds processed faster than mailing paper returns.

Yes! The 846 code with a date means the IRS has officially released your refund for that date - that's the best confirmation you can get! With Chime, you should definitely see it before the 28th, possibly as early as tomorrow. I had the exact same anxiety my first year switching from TurboTax to a different service, but FreeTaxUSA and similar platforms work just as reliably. The main difference with Chime is they don't hold your money for processing days like traditional banks do. Once they receive the ACH transfer from the IRS, it hits your account immediately. Keep checking - you're likely going to wake up to a nice surprise in your account soon! 🤞

Great success story! I'm also with Chime and filed around the same time as you. One thing I'd add for anyone reading this - make sure to screenshot your transcript when you see that 846 code with your DDD. I learned this tip from a friend who had issues last year where the bank claimed they never received the deposit, but having that transcript screenshot was crucial proof when sorting it out. Also, for those worried about the timing, I've noticed Chime typically releases funds between 12-3 PM on weekdays when they get the ACH notification, so don't panic if you don't see it first thing in the morning. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but posts like this really help keep spirits up! 💪