Just to add something - we deduct our state corporate income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, payroll taxes, and a few others. Our accountant said it saved us about $8,300 last year. Make sure whoever is doing your taxes knows to look for ALL possible tax deductions even if federal income tax isn't one of them.

Great thread everyone! As someone who's been running a C corp for about 5 years now, I can confirm what others have said - federal income tax is definitely NOT deductible. I learned this the hard way my first year when I tried to claim it and got flagged during an audit. What I've found helpful is keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all tax payments throughout the year, categorizing them as either deductible or non-deductible. This makes tax prep much smoother. The deductible ones for us include state franchise taxes, local business license fees, property taxes on our facility, and the employer portion of payroll taxes. One thing I didn't see mentioned - if you're in a state with gross receipts taxes or other business-specific taxes, those are typically deductible too. We pay a gross receipts tax in our state that amounts to about $3,400 annually, and that's been a legitimate deduction for us. Also, don't forget about any business personal property taxes you might be paying on equipment, vehicles, etc. Those add up and are definitely deductible business expenses.

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing last year - filed early, expecting my refund quickly, and then watched that "Return Received" status for what felt like forever. The tracker is generally reliable but it's definitely not real-time, so all that refreshing really is pointless (though I totally get the compulsion!). 12 days isn't actually that long in IRS time, especially during peak season. The fact that your friends who filed after you got theirs faster could be due to their returns being simpler - no credits that need verification, straightforward W-2 income, etc. Your $2,850 refund suggests you might have some credits or deductions that require a bit more processing time. Try to resist checking more than once a day (easier said than done, I know). The system usually updates overnight, so checking in the morning is your best bet. Hang in there - you're still well within the normal processing window!

Hey Lucy! I totally understand your frustration - I was in almost the exact same situation a few months back. Filed through TurboTax, got the "Return Received" status, and then... nothing for weeks. I was checking that darn tracker multiple times a day too! Here's what I learned: the tracker IS reliable, but it's definitely not instant. The IRS typically processes returns in batches and updates the system once daily (usually overnight). So all that refreshing during the day really doesn't help, though I know it's hard to resist! The 21-day timeline is more of a general guideline than a promise. Things that can slow it down include certain tax credits (like EITC or Child Tax Credit), unusual deductions, or just the sheer volume during filing season. Your friends might have had simpler returns that sailed through faster. My advice? Check once a day max, preferably in the morning after the overnight updates. I know $2,850 is a lot of money when you need it for car repairs, but you're still well within normal processing time at 12 days. Try to hang in there - your refund will come!

Called my state tax office and they said once it shows issued its basically guaranteed within 5 business days for DD. hope this helps!

I'm in a similar situation - mine shows issued 2/8 and still waiting! From what I've read on here and other forums, it seems like most people get their state refunds 2-4 business days after the issued date for direct deposit. The anxiety is real though, especially when you've been waiting since January. Hang in there!

This is definitely not normal and I'd be very cautious about this request. As others have mentioned, legitimate tax preparers don't need to keep copies of Social Security cards on file - they only need the numbers for filing purposes. Since you've been working with this accountant for 3 years, I'd recommend having a direct conversation about what specifically changed in their process to suddenly require this documentation. A few questions to ask: 1. What specific security concern prompted this new requirement? 2. Why do they need physical copies when they already have your SSNs on file? 3. How will these copies be stored and protected? 4. Would they accept in-person verification instead of copies? If they can't provide clear, satisfactory answers to these questions, that's a major red flag. The fact that this is a sudden change after years of working together is particularly concerning. Trust your instincts here - if something feels off, it probably is. You might also want to check if your state has specific regulations about tax preparer document retention requirements. Many states actually prohibit keeping unnecessary copies of sensitive documents like Social Security cards.

I'd be very concerned about this request, especially after 3 years of working together. As a general rule, tax preparers should minimize the sensitive documents they keep on file, not expand them over time. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - you might want to check your state's consumer protection laws regarding tax preparers. Many states require preparers to have written policies about document retention and client data security. If your accountant can't produce such a policy or explain how this request fits within it, that's another red flag. Also consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports if you haven't already. Whether or not this request is legitimate, it's a good reminder that your SSN is valuable to identity thieves. The alert won't affect your daily life but will require lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts. If you do decide to continue with this accountant, I'd strongly recommend asking for their written data security policy and getting any explanation about this request in writing as well. That way you have documentation if issues arise later.

I went through this exact situation with my parents helping me buy a car last year. Here's what worked for us - we created a super simple one-page loan document that included: - The exact amount borrowed ($22,500) - A minimal interest rate (we used 2%) - A payment schedule (monthly for 2 years) - Both our signatures Nothing fancy, no notary or anything. This made it crystal clear it was a loan, not a gift. I've been paying them back monthly, and neither of us had any tax issues. The interest they've received is so small they just included it with their other interest income. The IRS isn't out to get you on family helping family situations as long as you have some basic documentation showing it's actually a loan you intend to repay.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you're in a pretty straightforward situation. The key thing is documenting that this is actually a loan, not a gift. Even though it's family helping family, the IRS just wants to see there's a genuine intention to repay. Since you're planning to pay your brother back in 6-8 months, I'd recommend creating a simple written agreement now that states the loan amount ($30,000), your repayment plan, and gets both your signatures. You don't need anything fancy - just something that clearly shows this is borrowed money. The good news is that when you do pay him back, those payments won't be considered gifts at all - they're just loan repayments. And even if you didn't have any documentation, the annual gift exclusion for 2025 is $19,000, so your brother could give you that much without any reporting requirements anyway. The most important thing is having that paper trail showing your intent to repay, which it sounds like you clearly have. Don't stress too much about this - family loans are pretty common and the IRS understands the difference between genuine assistance and gift-giving when there's proper documentation.