Have you checked to see if your provider is actually licensed? In my state, licensed providers have to give you their tax info. If they're unlicensed, you might want to report them to your state childcare licensing agency too, not just the IRS. Unlicensed providers can be a serious safety concern.

This is such a frustrating situation, but you absolutely have legal options here. The fact that your provider is refusing to provide their SSN and misrepresenting the amount you paid them is a huge red flag. First, document EVERYTHING - save all your Venmo receipts, bank statements, and any text/email conversations you've had with the provider. Take screenshots of your payment history before anything gets deleted. You can definitely still claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit. File Form 2441 and write "REFUSED" where the provider's SSN should go. Include their name, address, and the actual amount you paid ($19,500). The IRS has procedures for exactly this situation. Also consider filing Form 3949-A to report suspected tax fraud. If your provider is lying about how much they received from you, they're likely doing it with other families too. This is tax evasion, plain and simple. One more thing - check if your state requires daycare providers to be licensed. If they are supposed to be licensed and aren't, you should report that to your state's childcare licensing agency as well. Licensed providers are typically required to provide tax information to parents. Don't let this provider cheat you out of your legitimate tax credit. You paid that money and you deserve the deduction!

Have you tried calling Go 2 Bank directly? Sometimes they can see pending deposits before they post to your account. Wouldn't it be better to get the information straight from the source rather than relying on others' experiences which might not match your specific situation? Another option is to check your tax transcript for the 846 code, which sometimes gives a more accurate date than WMR. Either way, planning for the official date and being pleasantly surprised by an early deposit is probably the safest approach for your home repairs timeline.

I've been banking with Go 2 Bank for about 18 months now, and from what I've experienced, they're pretty reliable with the early deposits on tax refunds. Mine came 2 days early last year - WMR showed March 15th but it hit my account on March 13th around 2am. The thing that surprised me was how it just appeared overnight without any pending notification first. I'd definitely recommend setting up push notifications on your Go 2 Bank app if you haven't already, because you might wake up to a pleasant surprise! Given that your home repairs are urgent, I'd say there's a solid chance you'll see it by the 27th or 28th. Fingers crossed for you!

Has anyone mentioned the business income limitation for Section 179? You can't deduct more than your business income for the year. So if you only have $4k in business income, that's your maximum Section 179 deduction regardless of the vehicle cost.

This is exactly the kind of question I love seeing here! As someone who's helped several small business owners navigate vehicle deductions, I want to add a few practical considerations to the excellent advice already given. First, @Kingston Bellamy nailed the technical aspects, but let me add this: with only $3,500-4,500 in expected revenue, you might want to seriously consider the standard mileage rate that @Raul Neal mentioned. Here's why - even if you qualify for the full Section 179 deduction, you're limited by your business income. So you'd only be able to deduct $4,500 maximum in year one, with the rest carried forward. However, if you're confident your woodworking business will grow significantly in years 2-3, then taking the Section 179 approach makes sense because you can use those carryforwards. One thing I always tell clients: make sure you have a separate business bank account and keep immaculate records from day one. The IRS scrutinizes vehicle deductions heavily, especially for newer businesses. Document every business trip with date, destination, business purpose, and odometer readings. Also, since you mentioned this is currently a hobby, make sure you're operating with profit motive and treating it as a real business. The IRS has specific rules about hobby vs. business classification that could affect all your deductions. The F-150 Lightning is an awesome choice - just make sure the business case supports the tax strategy!

Has anyone dealt with a situation where some of the assets in the trust distribution were themselves inherited by the trust? My grandpa's trust is distributing some IBM stock that he inherited from his brother before putting it in the trust. I'm wondering if there are multiple basis step-ups happening or if it's just based on when my grandpa originally received it.

This is a really important question that a lot of people don't think about until it's too late. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given is to make sure you understand whether your trust is grantor vs. non-grantor for tax purposes, as this can also affect the basis treatment. Also, don't just assume the trustee will automatically provide all the basis information you need. In my experience, some trustees are great about this, but others will give you minimal documentation unless you specifically ask for detailed records. I'd recommend requesting not just the cost basis, but also any records of stock splits, dividends reinvested, or other corporate actions that might have affected the basis over time. One more tip: if you're planning to sell some of these assets relatively soon after receiving them, it might be worth having a tax professional review the distribution documents before you make any moves. The holding period rules can be tricky, and a small mistake could cost you thousands in unnecessary taxes.

Has anyone considered the potential red flags of someone wanting to pay such a large amount upfront? In some cases it could be completely innocent, but I've heard of people using rent payments to launder money. Might be worth asking why they want to pay it all upfront.

I'd also suggest getting references and doing a thorough background check if you haven't already, especially with such a large upfront payment. Legitimate tenants who want to pay in advance usually have good reasons - like they're relocating for work, received a windfall, or just prefer the convenience of not dealing with monthly payments. One practical tip: consider asking for the payment via bank transfer or certified check rather than cash, and make sure you provide a detailed receipt that breaks down exactly what months the payment covers. This creates a clear paper trail for both tax purposes and your own protection. Also, don't forget that you'll still need to provide the tenant with proper documentation at year-end (like a 1099 if applicable) showing the total rent they paid, even though you'll be reporting the income across multiple tax periods as others have mentioned.