Has anyone used TurboTax for this situation? I'm trying to figure out how to actually enter this on my return. Do I just put in half the amount shown on the 1098? Will that trigger a mismatch flag with the IRS since they received the full amount under my SSN?

This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar boat but wanted to add something important that my CPA mentioned - make sure you understand the "traceable proceeds" rule. The IRS cares about whether the borrowed money was actually used to buy, build, or improve your home. Since you both are on the deed and mortgage, and the loan proceeds went toward purchasing your shared home, you should be fine. But if either of you later refinances or takes a home equity loan, be careful about what those funds are used for. Only interest on money used for the home itself qualifies for the mortgage interest deduction. Also, keep those bank transfer records showing your boyfriend's payments to you - not just for this year, but going forward. The IRS could ask for documentation years later during an audit, and having a clear paper trail of the payment arrangement from day one will save you headaches down the road.

Have you checked your status on the NJ Division of Taxation website? Sometimes the generic "processing" message doesn't tell the whole story. I found out my return was actually on hold because they were missing a document (that I definitely submitted 🙄). Called them and got it sorted in one day, refund came a week later. Also, if you're really desperate for the cash, you might want to look into tax refund advances for next year. I know it's too late now, but as a fellow gig worker, I've used them before when things were tight. Yeah, the fees suck, but sometimes you need that money now, not when the state decides to finally process your return! 😂

I'm in a similar situation - filed my NJ return on March 12th and still waiting! The uncertainty is definitely stressful, especially when you're counting on that money. One thing I learned from calling their automated line is that if you have ANY business income (including gig work), your return automatically goes into a secondary review queue. They don't advertise this, but the rep told me it adds about 2-3 weeks to processing time because they have to verify the income against 1099s. Also, pro tip: if you create an account on their taxpayer portal, you can sometimes see more detailed status updates than the basic "Where's My Refund" tool. Mine showed "under review" when the main site just said "processing." Hang in there - from what I'm seeing in this thread, it sounds like we're all just caught in the March filing crunch with extra delays this year!

Be very careful how you proceed. I had a client who found himself in a similar situation, but he made the mistake of posting accusations about the tax preparer on social media before verifying all the facts. The preparer sued him for defamation and it turned into a legal nightmare. First, absolutely verify your refund status directly with the IRS. Then document all your attempts to contact the preparer. If you confirm the refund was issued and the preparer has it, send a formal demand letter via certified mail before taking any other steps. This creates a paper trail that will be crucial if you need to escalate to legal action or file complaints with regulatory agencies. While you should absolutely report fraud, making sure you have solid evidence first will protect you from potential counteractions.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely infuriating when someone you trusted with your taxes pulls a disappearing act! 😤 Based on what others have shared, here's what I'd recommend as your immediate next steps: 1. **Verify your refund status first** - Use the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool online or call their refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. This will tell you if your refund was actually issued and when. 2. **Document everything** - Screenshot all your unanswered calls/texts, save voicemails, etc. This creates a paper trail you'll need later. 3. **Send a certified letter** - Give them one final written demand with a 10-day deadline to respond. This shows you tried to resolve it professionally. 4. **File the complaints simultaneously** - Don't wait! Submit Form 14157 to the IRS, file with your state's attorney general consumer protection division, and report to local police if the refund was actually issued and cashed. The key is acting fast and hitting multiple angles at once. These preparers often count on people giving up, but when they see formal complaints from multiple agencies, they usually cave quickly. You've got this! 💪 Keep us updated on how it goes - your experience could help others in the same boat.

Just wanted to add that the income threshold for receiving a 1099-K changed for 2024. It used to be $20,000 AND 200 transactions, but now it's just $600 total regardless of the number of transactions. That's why so many more people are getting these forms this year and are confused!

Hey Ethan! I totally get the confusion - dealing with multiple 1099 forms can be really overwhelming. Here's what helped me when I was in a similar situation: The key thing to remember is that TurboTax is asking for your actual income and expenses, not necessarily the exact amounts on the 1099 forms. Those forms are just what third parties reported to the IRS about payments they made to you. For your social media work (1099-NEC), that's straightforward - it goes directly into your Schedule C as business income. But for the 1099-K from your online selling, you need to be careful. If you're just selling personal items for less than you paid for them, that's not really taxable income - you're actually taking a loss. Make sure you track all your expenses too: PayPal fees, shipping costs, packaging materials, etc. These can really add up and reduce your tax burden. And definitely keep good records of what you originally paid for items you're selling, especially if they're personal belongings. One last tip - since you're making decent income from side work, start thinking about quarterly estimated taxes for 2025. You don't want to get hit with penalties next year!

One approach that worked well for my cousin and me was setting up an escrow account specifically for property taxes and other shared expenses. We each contribute our 50% share monthly (so about $283 each per month for your $6,800 annual tax bill). The account automatically pays the tax bill when due, and we both have access to statements showing exactly what each person contributed. This removes the stress of one person having to front the entire tax payment and wait for reimbursement. It also creates a clear paper trail for tax purposes since each person's contributions are documented. Most banks can set this up as a simple joint account with automatic transfers from your individual accounts. Just make sure the account agreement specifies that each person owns their contributions, not 50% of the total balance. The key is getting this arrangement documented in your co-ownership agreement so both the monthly contributions and the purpose of the account are legally clear. This way if your brother's income becomes unpredictable, you're not scrambling to cover his portion at tax time.

I'd recommend getting a formal partition agreement drafted by a real estate attorney. This is different from just a co-ownership agreement because it specifically addresses what happens if the co-ownership relationship breaks down. In your partition agreement, you can include the 50/50 tax responsibility, but also cover scenarios like what happens if your brother stops paying his share for multiple years. The partition agreement can establish that if one owner defaults on tax payments, the other owner can pay the full amount and then has the legal right to either: 1) Place a lien on the defaulting owner's share of the property, or 2) Force a sale of the property to recover the unpaid amounts. This gives you real legal recourse beyond just having a piece of paper saying he owes 50%. Michigan law is pretty favorable for this type of arrangement, and having it properly recorded with the county clerk gives you maximum protection. The upfront cost of getting this done right (probably $500-800 for a good attorney) is way less than what you could lose if things go sideways with your brother's finances down the road.