In our case, the trust paid the taxes before distributing to beneficiaries. Our accountant said it depends on whether the trust is a "simple" or "complex" trust for tax purposes. For us it was complex since it had the option to accumulate income. Ur trust might be different tho. The accountant said the $200k was technically a capital gain to the trust since it was essentially selling its right to the property. They said the trust's basis in the property was the important part in calculating how much of that $200k was actually taxable gain.

This is a really complex situation that highlights why trust taxation can be so tricky! Based on what you've described, there are several key factors that will determine the tax treatment: 1. **Trust Classification**: Whether your trust is "simple" (must distribute all income annually) or "complex" (can accumulate income) will largely determine who pays the tax. 2. **Nature of the Settlement**: Since this was malpractice insurance compensating for a lost property interest, it's likely treated as a capital transaction rather than ordinary income. The tax calculation would compare the settlement amount to your trust's basis in the lost 21% property interest. 3. **Trust Document Language**: The specific provisions in your trust document about how settlements and capital transactions are allocated between income and principal will be crucial. Given the $200,000 amount and complexity involved, I'd strongly recommend getting professional guidance from a CPA who specializes in trust taxation before making any distributions. They can review your trust document, determine the trust's basis in the lost property, and calculate the proper tax treatment. The good news is that if it's determined to be a recovery of basis (rather than a gain above basis), the tax impact could be minimal. But you definitely want to get this right before distributing the funds!

Does anyone know if the tax treatment is different for RSUs vs stock options? My company gives us both and I'm completely lost about how to handle either of them on my taxes.

@Liam Sullivan - I went through this exact same confusion last year! Here's what I learned the hard way: First, your RSU income should definitely be on your W-2 in Box 1, combined with your regular salary. It won't be listed separately, which is why you might have missed it. When RSUs vest, they're treated as regular compensation income, not as a special type of income. The process is actually simpler than it seems: 1. The fair market value of your RSUs when they vested gets included in your W-2 Box 1 (wages) 2. Any taxes withheld appear in Box 2 (federal income tax withheld) 3. You report this on your 1040 just like regular wages - no special forms needed for the vesting event itself If you're absolutely certain the RSU income isn't on your W-2, that's a red flag. Your employer is required to include it. I'd recommend calling your payroll department again and specifically asking them to walk you through where the RSU income appears on your W-2. Also check if you received any supplemental documents from your company or brokerage that show the vesting details - these can help you verify the amounts even if they're combined on your W-2. The good news is once you locate it on your W-2, reporting it is straightforward since it's just regular income!

lmaooo liberty tax stays playing games wit ppls money. switched to HR block this year and way better experience ngl

I used to work at a tax prep office and can confirm what Dylan said - Liberty Tax almost always takes their advance loan repayment from your federal refund first. They have to set up a temporary bank account during tax prep that intercepts your federal refund, deducts what you owe them, then deposits the remainder into your actual account. Your $800 state refund should come directly to you without any deductions. Just make sure to keep checking your account because sometimes the timing can be weird depending on when the IRS processes everything.

I've been a freelance developer for 8 years, and the SSTB classification has always been confusing. My accountant told me the key factor is what your clients are actually paying you for. If they're paying for a finished software product or implementation, you're generally not an SSTB. If they're paying primarily for your expertise and advice, that leans toward consulting. In my business, I make it very clear in contracts that clients are paying for development and implementation of software solutions. Any planning or advisory components are presented as necessary steps in the development process, not separate consulting services.

I went through this exact situation last year as a freelance developer making around $150k. After consulting with a CPA who specializes in tech businesses, here's what I learned: Software development itself is generally NOT considered an SSTB, but the devil is in the details of how you structure and describe your services. The IRS looks at the "principal purpose" of your business. If you're primarily creating software products, building applications, or implementing technical solutions, you're likely in the clear. However, be careful about how you market yourself and structure your contracts. Avoid terms like "consultant" or "advisory services" if possible. Instead, focus on language like "custom software development," "application implementation," or "technical solutions delivery." One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed time logs showing what percentage of my work was actual coding/development versus strategic planning or advice-giving. This documentation could be crucial if you're ever audited. At your income level of $145k, you're still well under the phase-out thresholds anyway, so even if some portion were considered SSTB, you'd likely still get most of the QBI benefits. But it's definitely worth getting this classification right for future years as your income grows.

I've been in a similar situation and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that worked for me was calling around to smaller, local banks and credit unions in your area - they're often more flexible than the big chains. I found a small community bank that cashed my $3,200 refund check for just a $10 fee, even though I wasn't a customer. They required two forms of ID and had me fill out some paperwork, but it was totally worth it to avoid the crazy fees at check cashing places. Also, try calling the banks first before going in person - some have different policies for government checks that the tellers might not know about, but the managers do. Don't give up, there are options out there!

I know this is a really frustrating situation! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is trying check cashing places specifically that advertise "government checks" - they often have higher limits than regular retail stores. Places like Check Into Cash, ACE Cash Express, or Money Mart sometimes go up to $5k for tax refunds, though you'll pay around 2-4% in fees. Also, if you have any prepaid debit cards (like Green Dot or NetSpend), some of them allow you to deposit checks through their mobile apps with higher limits than traditional mobile banking. It's worth checking if you already have one of those cards sitting around. The mobile deposit might take a few days to clear but could be a good backup option!