Just went through the same thing with SBTPG - got denied even though my transcript looks perfect and I have a 710 credit score. Talked to my tax preparer and they said SBTPG has basically stopped approving most people this season, even folks who would have been approved easily last year. Really sucks because I was counting on that advance to help with some medical bills. Guess we're all stuck waiting for the IRS to do their thing. At least when I checked my transcript yesterday it looks like everything is processing normally, so hopefully we'll see our refunds in a few weeks 🤞

Ugh yes, same exact thing happened to me! Filed early and SBTPG denied me even with a 685 credit score. My tax preparer said they're being ridiculously strict this year - apparently they've tightened up big time since last season. Really needed that advance for rent but looks like we're all stuck waiting for the IRS. At least your transcript shows the refund coming through, that's a good sign! Hopefully we'll all get our money in the next couple weeks 🤞

Just want to add that if the person absolutely refuses to provide their SSN and you still pay them anyway, YOUR ORGANIZATION will be responsible for the backup withholding (24% of what you paid them). And the IRS can assess penalties for failure to obtain a W-9!!! I learned this the hard way with our arts nonprofit. We were fined $250 per missing W-9 during an audit. Plus we had to pay the backup withholding we should have collected. Totaly wiped out our small reserve fund.

Based on my experience with our local community center's nonprofit, I'd strongly recommend being very clear with your media person about why you need their SSN and what protections are in place. Many people don't realize that the W-9 form they're completing stays with your organization - it's not sent to the IRS. You might also explain that this is a standard business practice for any organization paying contractors over $600, not just nonprofits. Sometimes framing it as "this is what every business does" rather than "the IRS requires this" makes people more comfortable. If they're still hesitant, you could offer to show them your organization's data security policies or explain how you store and protect sensitive information. We found that transparency about our processes helped reluctant contractors feel more confident about sharing their information. One last suggestion - if the promotional work might extend beyond this year, make sure you're tracking payments by calendar year, not by project. You could potentially split the work across two calendar years to stay under the $600 threshold if that makes sense for your timeline.

Has anyone tried filing early but claiming the child tax credit in an amendment later? Wondering if I could get the base refund faster and then deal with the credit later.

One thing to keep in mind is that the delay isn't just about the Child Tax Credit itself - it's also about how you file. If you e-file and choose direct deposit, your refund will come faster once it's released than if you file a paper return or request a paper check. I've been through this a few times with my kids, and I've found that filing electronically on the very first day the IRS accepts returns (usually around January 21st) and then just accepting the mid-February wait is the most predictable approach. Yes, it's frustrating to wait, but at least you know roughly when to expect it. Also, make sure you have your bank account info exactly right for direct deposit - any mistakes there can add another week or two to the process. The IRS has to mail you a paper check if the direct deposit fails, which obviously takes longer.

As someone who's been doing gig work for a few years, I'll echo what others have said - you definitely need to report the income. But here's something that might help: even though your meal expenses during deliveries aren't deductible (as Diego correctly pointed out), don't forget about some other potential deductions that are easy to miss. For example, if you bought any insulated bags, phone mounts, or other equipment specifically for deliveries, those are legitimate business expenses. Also, if you had to pay any fees to DoorDash or other platforms, those would be deductible too. One thing I learned the hard way - start tracking everything now for 2025, even small expenses. Get a mileage tracking app or keep a simple log. It makes tax time so much easier when you have good records from the beginning rather than trying to reconstruct everything at the end of the year. Good luck with your filing! The good news is that with your mileage deduction alone, you'll likely owe very little or nothing in taxes.

I work for a tax preparation service and want to emphasize what others have said - you absolutely must report all income, even if it's just $780. Since you made over $600, DoorDash definitely sent you (and the IRS) a 1099-NEC form, so they already know about this income. The good news is your math is probably right about the deductions. With 650 miles at the 2024 standard rate of 67 cents per mile, you're looking at about $435 in mileage deductions alone. That would bring your taxable profit down significantly. However, be careful about those meal deductions - as Diego mentioned, just buying food because you're hungry during your shift isn't a legitimate business deduction. The IRS is very specific that meals are only deductible for overnight travel or actual business meetings. My advice: file Schedule C to report the income and claim your legitimate deductions (mainly mileage and any equipment you bought). You'll likely end up owing little to nothing after deductions, but you'll be compliant with tax law and have a paper trail if you continue gig work next year.

This is a really complex situation that raises several red flags from a tax perspective. The one-day timing between the quit claim deed and the sale is going to draw scrutiny from the IRS, and you need to be prepared for potential challenges. Here are the key issues you're dealing with: 1. **Step Transaction Doctrine**: The IRS could argue this was a sham transaction designed purely to split capital gains tax. You'll need to document legitimate non-tax reasons for the transfer timing. 2. **Gift Tax Requirements**: Your father-in-law needs to file Form 709 for gifting a $225,000 interest in the property, even though he can likely use his lifetime exemption to avoid actual tax. 3. **Basis Calculation**: Yes, your wife gets carryover basis (father's original cost plus improvements), but only if the IRS accepts the validity of the gift transfer. My recommendation: Get professional tax advice immediately. A tax attorney or CPA experienced with property transactions can help you document the legitimate reasons for the timing and prepare for potential IRS challenges. The potential penalties for getting this wrong (both income tax and gift tax issues) far exceed the cost of professional guidance. Don't try to handle this alone - the stakes are too high and the transaction structure is too suspicious-looking without proper documentation and professional support.

I've been following this discussion and I think everyone is giving you solid advice about the complexity here. As someone who went through IRS scrutiny on a property transfer (though mine was an inheritance situation), I can tell you that documentation is absolutely everything. The carryover basis calculation that Rajiv explained is correct - your wife takes her father's adjusted basis for her portion. But given the one-day timing, you really need to focus on two things: 1. **Gather ALL improvement documentation now** - receipts, permits, contracts, even photos with dates. The IRS will want to see everything that went into her father's adjusted basis calculation. 2. **Document legitimate reasons for the timing** - was this part of estate planning discussions that had been ongoing? Health concerns? Family financial planning? Any paper trail (emails, texts, financial advisor communications) that shows this wasn't just a last-minute tax strategy. I'd also suggest getting a professional tax preparer who has experience with these situations. The intersection of gift tax, step transaction doctrine, and basis calculations is too complex to risk getting wrong. The cost of professional help will be far less than potential penalties and interest if the IRS challenges this. The good news is that if you can document legitimate reasons and properly calculate the basis, this type of transaction isn't automatically invalid. But the burden will be on you to prove it wasn't just tax avoidance.