8 Has anyone used the IRS's "Where's My Refund" tool with large donation deductions? I'm wondering if returns with big charitable contributions take longer to process or if they get refunds at the normal speed.

15 I work as a tax preparer and see large charitable deductions regularly. A few additional points that might help: The IRS has specific thresholds that can trigger computer screening - donations over certain percentages of AGI are more likely to get a second look, but this doesn't mean you'll definitely be audited. Having complete documentation is your best protection. One thing I always tell clients: make sure you're not exceeding the annual deduction limits. For 2023, cash donations to public charities are generally limited to 60% of your AGI, though there were temporary 100% limits during COVID that have since expired. Any excess can be carried forward for up to 5 years. Also, if any of your donations were appreciated property (stocks, real estate, etc.), there are additional documentation requirements and different percentage limits (usually 30% of AGI for appreciated capital gain property). Keep digital copies of everything and store them in multiple places. In an audit, missing documentation is often more problematic than the size of the deduction itself.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your company was taking ANY tax withholding from your checks even while classifying you as 1099, make sure that gets properly credited to you! Sometimes companies do weird hybrid arrangements where they withhold some taxes but still issue a 1099.

This is such a complicated situation, but you're definitely on the right track! I went through something similar two years ago and it was worth the hassle. A few additional tips from my experience: Make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING - your SS8 determination letter, all your 1099s, any communication with the employer, and your payment records. The IRS may ask for documentation later. When you file Form 8919, double-check your math on the Social Security and Medicare taxes. I made an error the first time and had to file an amended return. The savings are substantial though - I got back about $3,200 in overpaid self-employment taxes. Also, don't be surprised if this takes a while to process. My refund took about 16 weeks because misclassification cases apparently get extra scrutiny. But it was definitely worth the wait! If you do decide to hire a tax professional, make sure they have experience with worker misclassification issues. Not all CPAs are familiar with SS8 determinations and Form 8919. Good luck!

I've been dealing with Section 179 carryovers for my consulting business and wanted to share what I've learned through some painful trial and error. The key thing that wasn't immediately obvious to me is that you need to maintain really detailed records of WHEN each carryover originated, not just the total amount. Here's why this matters: if you have carryovers from multiple years (like your $570 from 2022 plus new ones from 2025), you need to use them in FIFO order - first in, first out. So your 2022 carryover gets used before any 2025 carryover when you finally have enough business income. Also, make sure you're calculating your business income limitation correctly each year. It's not just your Schedule C profit - you need to consider the taxable income limitation as well. This caught me off guard in a year where my business was profitable but my overall tax situation was different due to other deductions. One more tip: create a simple spreadsheet to track each asset's Section 179 status. Include columns for purchase date, original cost, Section 179 amount taken, carryover amounts by year, and current status. This has saved me so much headache when preparing returns and will be invaluable if you ever get audited.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I have Section 179 carryovers from multiple years due to business losses. One thing I want to emphasize that really caught me off guard is the importance of keeping your Form 4562 from each year, even the loss years. I made the mistake of not saving my 2022 Form 4562 because "nothing happened" that year due to the loss. When I went to prepare my 2025 return, I had to reconstruct the carryover amounts from scratch. The IRS transcript didn't show the detail I needed, and it took me weeks to piece together which assets had carryover amounts and how much. Now I keep a dedicated tax folder with every Form 4562, even if the carryover amount is zero that year. I also maintain a running summary sheet that shows the carryover balance at the end of each tax year. This has made preparing subsequent years so much easier and gives me confidence that I'm not missing any deductions I'm entitled to claim. For anyone using tax software, double-check that your carryover amounts are transferring correctly year to year. I've seen cases where software updates or version changes caused carryover amounts to get lost in the transfer process.

Has anyone used FreeTaxUSA for filing back taxes? Their prior year returns are only $15 each and I've heard good things, but not sure how they handle situations with missing documents.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but for 2019-2021. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that you should prioritize getting your wage and income transcripts from the IRS before you start filing. You can request these online through the IRS website or by calling them. These transcripts will show you exactly what income the IRS has on record for each year, which is super helpful if you're missing W-2s or 1099s. It also helps you verify that you're not missing any income sources you might have forgotten about. For the Recovery Rebate Credit specifically, the transcript will show if you received any stimulus payments that year, so you'll know exactly how much credit you can still claim. I discovered I was eligible for an extra $600 from the second stimulus that I never received. The transcript is free and gives you a complete picture before you start the actual filing process. Much better than guessing what your income was!

H&R Block user here - mine went through fine with 1099-NEC. Def call again and get a second opinion

This is frustrating but unfortunately pretty common. The IRS systems don't always sync properly with third-party software like H&R Block. A few things to try: 1) Get your tax transcript online to see exactly what the IRS has on file, 2) Contact H&R Block to confirm they successfully transmitted your return, and 3) If you do need to fax the 1099-NEC, send it to the processing center that handles your region (you can find this on IRS.gov). Keep records of everything you send. The processing delays this year have been brutal so you're definitely not alone in this mess.