Thanks everyone for all the helpful suggestions! I'm going to try the state portal option first since it's free, but it's good to know I have backup options with the tax software or taxr.ai if that gets too complicated. Really appreciate all the advice on handling the multiple state situation - definitely feeling less stressed about this now!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in tax preparation - when you file state-only returns after already submitting your federal, double-check that your federal AGI matches exactly what you're reporting on your state forms. Even small discrepancies can trigger correspondence from the state. Also, since you moved between Colorado and Arizona mid-year, you'll want to be extra careful about which state gets credit for which income periods. Colorado is particularly strict about this for people who move in/out during the tax year. Make sure you have documentation of your move date (lease agreements, job start date, etc.) in case either state questions your residency periods later. One more tip: if you end up owing money to either state, consider making the payment even before you file the return if possible. Both states charge interest and penalties from the original due date, not from when you actually file.

Just wanted to add some clarity on that code 971 notice - it's typically an automated notice that gets generated when your return is processed, especially if there are credits involved like EIC or Child Tax Credit. Since yours was issued the same day as processing (02-24-2025), it's likely just a standard CP12 or similar notice confirming your refund amount and breakdown. Nothing to stress about! Your transcript looks clean and you should expect that $6,122 refund soon. The processing date of Feb 24th means you filed early and should get your money faster than most people.

That $6,122 refund is definitely good news! Just to add - that processing date of Feb 24th puts you in cycle 20250605 which typically means refunds go out within 21 days of processing. So you should see your money by mid-March at the latest. The fact that your tax liability is $0 despite having taxable income just means your withholdings and credits completely covered what you owed. Pretty common situation, especially with the Earned Income Credit you're getting. Your transcript looks totally normal - no holds, no adjustments, just a straightforward refund case.

Anyone know if getting a car loan affects how Section 179 works? I'm looking at a $45k work van but financing most of it. Can I still claim the full amount or only what I put down?

Great question about financing! You can definitely claim the full Section 179 deduction on the entire purchase price, not just your down payment. The IRS considers you to have "placed the asset in service" when you start using it for business, regardless of your financing arrangement. Just keep a few things in mind: make sure you have adequate business income to absorb the deduction (Section 179 can't create a business loss), and document that the van is used more than 50% for business purposes. Also, don't forget about the vehicle weight limits - if your van is over 6,000 lbs GVWR, you might be able to deduct more than the typical passenger vehicle limits. The financing actually works in your favor from a cash flow perspective - you get the full tax benefit upfront while spreading the actual payments over time.

Really appreciate all the detailed responses here! This community has been incredibly helpful. Based on everyone's input, it sounds like the carryforward is definitely available, which is a relief. I'm particularly interested in the strategic planning aspects that several people mentioned - the idea of mapping out equipment purchases over multiple years and considering the business income limitation alongside the investment ceiling. We're definitely going to work on that multi-year forecast approach. One follow-up question for the group: has anyone dealt with situations where the carryforward amount is so large that it takes multiple years to fully utilize? We're looking at potentially $1+ million in carryforward, and I'm wondering if there are any practical considerations for tracking and managing such a large amount over several tax years. Also, the bonus depreciation alternative that was mentioned is intriguing - I'll definitely discuss with our CPA when they return whether it makes sense to use that strategy for some assets while preserving the Section 179 carryforward for future years. Thanks again everyone - this has given me a much better framework for our upcoming tax planning discussion!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of documenting your Section 179 election properly when you have carryforwards. Make sure your tax preparer completes Part I of Form 4562 correctly each year - there's a specific line for carryforwards from prior years that needs to be tracked accurately. I learned this the hard way when we had an IRS audit three years after our initial large equipment purchase year. The agent wanted to see a clear paper trail showing how our carryforward was calculated and how it was being applied in subsequent years. Having detailed records of the original asset purchases, the calculations showing why they were disallowed, and year-by-year tracking of the carryforward utilization made all the difference. Also, keep copies of the depreciation schedules from the year you made the original election. If you ever need to reconstruct the carryforward calculation years later (like we did during our audit), having that original documentation is invaluable. The carryforward is a great benefit, but the IRS expects you to maintain proper records to support it. Better to be over-documented than scrambling to recreate records later!

With your income at $580k, you're definitely going to be phased out of the Child Tax Credit completely. The phaseout for single filers starts at $200,000 and you'd lose the entire credit well before your income level. Your wife at $35k would get the full $2,000 credit, so she should absolutely be the one claiming your child. Also worth noting - if your wife qualifies for Head of Household status (which she might if she's paying more than half the household costs for her and the child), that filing status comes with better tax brackets and a higher standard deduction than single. This could save her even more money beyond just the Child Tax Credit. Don't forget about the Child and Dependent Care Credit for your daycare expenses too! Same logic applies - it's also income-limited, so having your wife claim those expenses will likely result in a bigger benefit than if you tried to claim them.

This is a really smart question to ask! Given your income levels, you're absolutely right that your wife should claim the child. With your $580k income, you're completely phased out of the Child Tax Credit (the phaseout starts at $200k for single filers), while your wife at $35k would get the full $2,000 credit. One additional consideration - since you mention you cover more household expenses, make sure you're both clear on who can legitimately claim Head of Household status. The person claiming the child as a dependent must also be paying more than half the costs of maintaining the home to qualify for HOH. If you're covering most expenses but your wife is claiming the child, she might not meet the HOH requirements and would need to file as single. You might want to consider documenting who pays for what household expenses, or potentially restructuring how you split costs if it makes sense tax-wise. Sometimes shifting some bill payments to the lower-income partner can help them qualify for HOH status, which provides better tax rates and a higher standard deduction on top of the Child Tax Credit savings. Also definitely look into the Child and Dependent Care Credit for your daycare costs - same income limitation logic applies there too!