What's the best alternative to TaxSlayer if I do end up having to switch? I'm filing a relatively simple return - just W-2 income and student loan interest deduction. Nothing complicated.

I had this exact same issue with TaxSlayer two days ago! Super frustrating, especially after paying for the service. What worked for me was clearing all my browser data (cookies, cache, everything) and then trying again about 6 hours later. I think their servers were just completely overloaded during peak hours. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them temporarily. Some of those can interfere with the final submission process. I know it's annoying to have to wait when you just want to get your taxes done, but from what I've seen on social media, most people who waited 12-24 hours were able to submit successfully without having to start over. Don't do the chargeback yet - you'll likely be able to complete your return once their server issues are resolved!

Hey, one thing nobody's mentioned - even if he's not on the birth certificate, has he established legal paternity any other way? In my state, unmarried fathers have to file an acknowledgment of paternity before they have any legal rights to the child at all. If he hasn't legally established paternity, he might not even be able to claim the child regardless of the custody situation. Just something else to consider.

Based on what you've described, your ex doesn't have a strong case at all. The IRS uses the "qualifying child" test, and the key factor is where your son lived for more than half the year - which is clearly with you. The birth certificate situation actually works in your favor here because it raises questions about whether he's even established legal paternity. I'd recommend documenting everything: keep a calendar showing exactly which days your son is with each of you, save receipts for expenses you're covering, and maybe consider getting a formal custody agreement to make everything official. If he tries to claim your son anyway, you can dispute it with the IRS, but having clear documentation will make that process much smoother. The fact that he wasn't present for the birth and isn't on the certificate, combined with your son living with you full-time except for every other weekend, makes this a pretty clear-cut case in your favor from a tax perspective.

Everybody's focusing on the support test, but don't forget the residency requirement! For a qualifying relative who is not related by blood or marriage (like a girlfriend/boyfriend), they have to live with you as a member of your household for the ENTIRE year. But since you mentioned brother and brother-in-law relationships, those fall under the eligible relationship categories in Publication 501, so the residency requirement doesn't apply to you. You only need to meet the support and income tests.

Diego, based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you have two main paths forward depending on how the numbers work out: **Option 1**: If your family can provide more than 50% of your total annual support (including what you paid yourself Jan-June), you could qualify as their dependent. This would help them with healthcare subsidies, but you'd need to be claimed on their return. **Option 2**: If the support test doesn't work out, you could file your own return and potentially qualify for significant healthcare premium tax credits based on your low income. With income under $5,900, you'd likely qualify for substantial subsidies - possibly covering most of your premium costs. I'd recommend calculating both scenarios to see which provides the better overall tax benefit for your family situation. You might want to use one of the tools mentioned here or speak with an IRS agent to get official confirmation of your calculations before making the final decision. The good news is that either way, someone in your family should be able to get healthcare assistance - it's just a matter of optimizing who claims what!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation but with a twist - I buy vintage electronics from US estate sales and auctions, then sell them to collectors in Japan and Germany through online marketplaces like eBay and specialized forums. Like Anastasia, my contracts specify that ownership transfers when items leave my US shipping location, but I'm wondering if the fact that I'm using international shipping platforms changes anything about the sourcing determination. The platforms handle some of the payment processing and currency conversion, so I'm not sure if that creates any complications. Also, does anyone know if there are different considerations when you're selling collectibles versus regular retail products? The items I sell are often unique pieces, not mass-produced inventory, so I'm curious if the IRS has different rules for this type of business model.

I've been following this discussion closely since I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation. I import handmade crafts from artisans in Mexico and Guatemala, then sell them at craft fairs and farmers markets here in California. What's interesting about this thread is how consistent everyone's advice has been about the title transfer rule. My tax preparer told me the same thing - it's all about where legal ownership passes to the buyer, not where the goods originated or where payments come from. One thing I'd add for anyone in similar situations: keep really detailed records of your contracts and shipping documentation. The IRS wants to see clear evidence of where title transfers, especially if your business grows and you get audited. I learned this the hard way when I had to reconstruct my records for last year's return because I hadn't been documenting the transfer terms properly. @Anastasia - based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you're in good shape with your contracts specifying title transfer in the US. That should make your sourcing determination pretty straightforward for tax purposes.

Another quick tip - consider using an expense tracking app specifically for vacation rentals throughout the year. I use one called Stessa that connects to my credit cards and bank accounts. When I buy something, I immediately categorize it in the app as either an operating expense or a capital improvement/depreciable asset. Takes seconds and saves massive headaches at tax time!

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my vacation rental startup costs! One thing that might help is looking into Section 195 startup expense deductions. You can elect to deduct up to $5,000 in startup costs immediately (with the remainder amortized over 15 years), but this phases out if your total startup costs exceed $50,000. Since you mentioned spending $75k, you might not qualify for the immediate deduction, but understanding how startup costs vs. ongoing operating expenses are treated could help you categorize things properly. Items purchased to get the property "ready for guests" might fall under startup costs rather than regular rental expenses. Also, don't forget about the passive activity loss rules - even though you mentioned losses will carry forward, make sure you understand the $25,000 annual rental loss allowance if your AGI is under $100k. This could impact whether immediate expensing vs. depreciation matters more in your specific situation.