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I'm wondering if I should be worried. I made about $1800 babysitting last year and didn't report it... is the IRS gonna come after me now?
As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can confirm you're on the right track! Yes, you absolutely need to report that $2700 as self-employment income on Schedule C, even without a 1099. The IRS considers all income taxable regardless of whether you receive forms. A few tips from my experience: - Keep detailed records of all your babysitting-related expenses (mileage, supplies, etc.) - they add up quickly - You'll owe self-employment tax (about 15.3%) on your net profit after expenses - Since you earned over $600, you should consider making quarterly estimated tax payments going forward to avoid underpayment penalties next year - The family should have given you a 1099-NEC since they paid you over $600, but their oversight doesn't change your reporting obligation Don't stress too much - this is a common situation and as long as you report everything honestly, you'll be fine. The IRS actually appreciates when people proactively report income that might otherwise go unreported!
This is really helpful! I'm just getting started with understanding all this tax stuff as a newcomer to reporting self-employment income. Quick question - when you mention making quarterly estimated tax payments going forward, how do you calculate how much to pay? Is there a simple way to figure that out, or do you need to estimate your whole year's babysitting income in advance?
Random question - has anyone used TurboTax to file with Form 4852? Their software seems confused when I try to report that I received a 1099 but am disputing it with a 4852. It keeps calculating taxes on the disputed amount no matter what I do.
TurboTax isn't great with special forms like 4852. I had better luck with FreeTaxUSA last year for a similar situation. Their interface actually walks you through the dispute process much more clearly.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll give FreeTaxUSA a try. Really don't want to pay taxes on $18k I never received just because TurboTax can't handle this situation correctly.
I went through something very similar two years ago with a former client who issued a fraudulent 1099-NEC after we had a contract dispute. Here's what worked for me: 1. File Form 4852 as others suggested, but make sure to attach a detailed written statement explaining the situation. Include dates, communications with your attorney, and any evidence that you performed no work for them during the tax year. 2. Consider filing Form SS-8 if there's any question about whether you were actually an employee vs. contractor - this can help establish that no legitimate working relationship existed during the tax period. 3. Keep copies of everything and send your return via certified mail. The IRS processed mine without issue, but it did take about 6-8 weeks longer than usual. 4. Document everything with timestamps - when you received the 1099, when your attorney contacted them, their lack of response, etc. This creates a clear timeline showing you acted in good faith to resolve the issue. The key is being proactive and thorough with your documentation. The IRS deals with fraudulent information returns more often than you'd think, so they have processes in place to handle legitimate disputes like yours.
This is really helpful, thank you Katherine! I hadn't thought about Form SS-8 - that's a great point about establishing that no legitimate working relationship existed. Quick question about the detailed written statement you mentioned attaching to Form 4852 - did you follow any specific format or just write it as a narrative explanation? I want to make sure I include all the right details without making it too lengthy for the IRS reviewer to process.
I just went through this process for my 2023 taxes with our November baby, and it was much simpler than our rental property deductions! You'll need to get a Social Security Number for your baby though - the hospital will give you the paperwork, but it takes a few weeks to process. The IRS won't accept your return claiming the credit without a valid SSN for the child.
Isn't there also an adoption credit that's different from the Child Tax Credit? What if someone adopts a newborn instead of having a biological child? Would they qualify for both in the same tax year?
Think of adoption credits like buying a house vs. the Child Tax Credit like your annual property tax benefits. The adoption credit (up to $15,950 for 2024) covers qualified adoption expenses, while the $2,000 Child Tax Credit is an annual benefit for having a dependent child. You can claim both, but they serve different purposes - one for the upfront costs of adoption, the other for ongoing support of raising a child.
Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy! π As a parent who just went through this process, I can confirm that the $2,000 Child Tax Credit for 2024 is exactly right. What's great is that even though your baby arrives in June, you'll qualify for the full credit when you file your 2024 taxes next year - no proration needed! With your combined income of $185k, you're well within the safe zone. The phase-out doesn't start until $400k for married filing jointly, so you have plenty of breathing room there. One tip from my experience: start the Social Security number application process at the hospital right after birth. It typically takes 4-6 weeks to receive the card, and you'll need that SSN to claim the credit on your 2024 return. If for some reason it doesn't arrive by April 15, 2025, you can always file an extension to give yourself more time. Also, don't forget that up to $1,600 of that $2,000 credit is refundable, meaning you could get money back even if you don't owe taxes. The remaining $400 can offset any tax liability you have. It's honestly one of the more straightforward tax benefits to claim!
Mines been doing the same thing since March. Starting to think we're never getting our money back fr fr
dont say that π i need this money so bad
what codes do u see on ur transcript? that matters more than the as of date tbh
idk how to even read these codes π₯΄ its like trying to decode ancient hieroglyphics
@Freya Larsen I feel you! The transcript codes are confusing AF. Look for code 150 return (filed ,)846 refund (issued ,)or 570/571 hold (codes .)If you see 570 that usually means there s'a hold on your refund for review. The key ones to watch are in the 800s - those show actual refund activity!
Arjun Kurti
Has anyone noticed that FreetaxUSA sometimes doesn't recognize the supplemental tax withholding from RSUs correctly? I had to manually add my state withholding amounts because they weren't pulling in properly from my W-2 entry.
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RaΓΊl Mora
β’Yeah, I had the same issue! I found that you need to go to the "Federal Taxes Withheld" section and there's an option to add additional withholding that wasn't captured from your W-2 entry. I think the problem is that FreetaxUSA has trouble with supplemental withholding codes on some W-2 forms.
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Dylan Campbell
Great thread! I'm dealing with a similar RSU situation in FreetaxUSA. One thing I discovered that might help others - if you have RSUs that vested in multiple tranches throughout the year, FreetaxUSA has a "batch entry" feature in the Capital Gains section that can save you a lot of time. Instead of entering each sale transaction individually, you can group transactions with the same acquisition date and cost basis. This is especially helpful if you had quarterly vestings and multiple same-day sales. Just make sure your total proceeds and cost basis match what's on your consolidated 1099-B. Also, for anyone wondering about ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan) transactions - those follow different rules than RSUs and have their own section in FreetaxUSA under "Other Income." Don't mix them up with your RSU reporting!
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Zara Shah
β’Thanks for the batch entry tip! I didn't know FreetaxUSA had that feature. I've been manually entering each RSU transaction one by one, which has been a nightmare with quarterly vestings. Quick question - when you use the batch entry, does it still generate the proper forms (like Schedule D) automatically, or do you need to double-check anything? I want to make sure the IRS gets all the right documentation even with the consolidated entries.
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