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.

I think everyone is overlooking the major issue here - the business OWNS VANS! If you have company vehicles and employees, you should probably be looking at a more formal business setup beyond just home office deductions. Have you considered renting a small commercial space for your business? The tax benefits might actually be better, especially as you grow. When I expanded my pet business beyond just a home office, my accountant showed me that commercial rent was 100% deductible as a business expense, whereas home office has all these complicated calculations and limitations. Plus, with a separate location, I avoided bringing business liability onto my personal property.

Definitely form that LLC ASAP! With employees, company vehicles, and clients bringing their pets to your property, you're exposed to significant liability risks. An LLC will protect your personal assets if something goes wrong - dog bite, employee injury, vehicle accident, etc. Also, once you have the LLC, you might want to look into the Augusta Rule (Section 280A(g)). If your LLC "rents" your home for business meetings, client consultations, or employee training sessions, you can pay yourself up to 14 days of fair market rental value completely tax-free. This could be more advantageous than the home office deduction in some cases. For your current situation though, yes, that dedicated backyard space absolutely qualifies for the home office deduction as long as you maintain exclusive business use. Just make sure you're calculating based on total property square footage (house + entire yard) and keep meticulous records. The IRS loves to challenge home-based businesses with unusual setups, so documentation is everything.

Check your email. TurboTax sends confirmation. Look for "Refund Advance" in subject line. Also check spam folder. They sent mine there. Had same issue in 2022. Thought I applied. Didn't get confirmation. Called TurboTax. They confirmed no application on file. Entered card doesn't equal applying. Need to complete all screens. Very confusing process.

I went through this exact confusion two years ago! The key thing to understand is that TurboTax makes the advance application process intentionally separate from just entering your banking information. Here's what you should check: 1. Log into your TurboTax account and look specifically for a document called "Refund Advance Agreement" or similar 2. Check your email (including spam) for any messages with "Refund Advance" in the subject line 3. Look for any mention of loan terms or advance amounts in your tax documents The fact that you have clear documentation from last year but nothing this year is a pretty strong indicator that you didn't complete the advance application. The Credit Karma card entry is just for receiving your regular refund - it doesn't automatically trigger the advance process. If you really need the funds quickly, you might want to call TurboTax directly to get a definitive answer, but based on what you've described, it sounds like you'll be waiting for your regular refund instead. The good news is that refunds are processing pretty quickly this year!

You mentioned you owed $5,300 and now you're withholding $7,200 more - that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a huge refund. Remember that tax situations change year to year! Did you get raises? Any new investments or income sources? Will your deductions be different this year? The best approach is to do a mid-year "checkup" in June or July using the withholding calculator. Adjust your W4s then based on actual year-to-date withholding plus projected earnings for the rest of the year.

The overwithholding you're experiencing is super common when both spouses check the "multiple jobs" box - it's essentially double-penalizing your withholding. Here's what I'd recommend: First, try having only ONE of you check that box (typically the higher earner), and the other spouse should leave it unchecked. This alone might solve most of your overwithholding issue. If that's still not quite right, consider using the dollar amount method instead of the checkboxes. You can put a specific additional withholding amount on line 4(c) or even a negative amount on line 4(b) if you need less withheld. The key is that you can adjust your W4s multiple times during the year - you're not locked into your current settings! I'd suggest making a change now, then checking your year-to-date withholding around mid-year to see if you're on track. Also, keep in mind that owing $5,300 last year might not mean you'll owe the same this year, especially if you got raises or your tax situation changed. The goal is to get as close to zero as possible - either a small refund or small amount owed is ideal.

One strategy nobody's mentioned - since you've been laid off, your income this year will likely be much lower. This could create a perfect opportunity to sell some of those shares, realize the capital loss, and potentially accelerate your AMT credit recovery. When your regular tax is lower than your AMT (which often happens in higher-income years), you can't claim as much of the AMT credit. But in lower-income years, the difference between regular tax and AMT calculations can work in your favor for claiming more of that credit. This is definitely a situation where running some tax projections would be helpful before making any moves.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - I went through a similar situation a few years back with ISOs from a startup that crashed. The good news is that you absolutely can recover most or all of that $290K through the AMT credit system, but it requires strategic planning. A few key points based on my experience: 1. **Don't panic sell everything at once** - Since you're unemployed this year, your income is likely much lower. This creates an opportunity to strategically realize some capital losses while maximizing your AMT credit recovery. 2. **Form 8801 is your friend** - You'll need to file this every year to claim your AMT credit. The credit carries forward indefinitely, so you won't lose it. 3. **Consider timing your stock sales** - Selling some shares this year (when your income is lower) vs spreading it across multiple years can significantly impact how much AMT credit you can recover annually. 4. **Document everything** - Keep detailed records of your original ISO exercise, the AMT paid, and current share values. This will be crucial for Form 8801 calculations. The fact that you never sold any shares actually works in your favor for AMT credit purposes. With proper planning, you should be able to recover the vast majority of that $290K over the next few years. Don't give up hope - this situation is fixable, though it will take time.