I'm an accountant and I made a simple Excel calculator for SEP IRA contributions for my clients. It's nothing fancy but it gets the job done. It includes the adjustment for self-employment tax and handles the circular calculation accurately. I'd be happy to share it if you DM me. No charge obviously, just pay it forward somehow!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - if you're making $85k as a freelancer, you might also want to consider whether a Solo 401(k) could work better for you than a SEP IRA. With a Solo 401(k), you can contribute both as an employee ($23,000 for 2024) AND as an employer (up to 25% of compensation), potentially allowing higher total contributions. The downside is Solo 401(k)s have more administrative requirements, but for someone at your income level, the extra contribution room might be worth it. Most of the same financial institutions (Fidelity, Vanguard, etc.) offer Solo 401(k) calculators too if you want to compare the numbers. Just something to consider as you're figuring out your retirement strategy!

I had the exact same issue with H&R Block and almost paid for their expert help. First time I used them after switching from TurboTax. Does anyone know if TurboTax handles these box 12 codes better? Thinking about switching back.

This is such a common source of confusion! The key thing to understand is that when H&R Block (or any tax software) adjusts your refund after entering box 12 codes, it's usually preventing double-counting rather than adding new taxes. Most box 12 codes represent money that has already been handled elsewhere on your W-2. For example, if you have code D (401k contributions), that money was already excluded from your Box 1 wages, so it shouldn't be deducted again. When the software sees you've entered retirement contributions both in box 12 AND manually elsewhere, it corrects the error. The "informational only" designation is misleading - while some codes like DD (health insurance costs) truly don't affect your taxes, others like retirement contribution codes absolutely need to be entered correctly to avoid errors. The software isn't trying to reduce your refund maliciously; it's just making sure everything adds up properly according to tax law.

Next year im going with FreeTaxUSA... turbotax keeps adding random fees and their 'benefits' are useless if you have EIC

Same situation here! I also paid for the early access thinking it would help bypass the PATH Act delays. Turns out I basically paid extra to get my refund 5 days earlier... sometime after mid-February when PATH lifts anyway 🤦‍♀️ Definitely calling TurboTax tomorrow to see if I can get that fee refunded like Amina mentioned. Thanks for posting this - good to know I'm not the only one who got caught up in their misleading marketing!

I'm a tax preparer and see this exact situation frequently during tax season. Let me clarify a few key points that might help you make the best decision: First, you're absolutely right to be concerned about the FAFSA implications, but the good news is that having your own child makes you an independent student regardless of who claims you on taxes. Your boyfriend's income won't affect your aid eligibility. Regarding whether he "has to" claim you - dependency is optional even when you meet the requirements. The IRS allows eligible dependents to be claimed, but doesn't require it. This gives you flexibility to choose the scenario that benefits your household most. For the tax calculations, here's what to consider: - If your boyfriend claims both you and your child, he gets Head of Household status, Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000), and potentially other credits - If you file independently and claim your child, you might qualify for EITC and the Child Tax Credit yourself, but your boyfriend would file as Single Given your low income ($2,700), you likely won't owe any federal taxes either way. The question becomes which scenario generates the largest combined refund for your household. I'd strongly recommend using tax software to model both scenarios before deciding. Most preparers can run these calculations for you if you bring both sets of documents. The difference could be substantial - often $2,000-3,000 in similar situations I've seen. Your financial aid should be safe either way, so focus on maximizing your tax benefits!

I'm also navigating a similar situation and wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing considerations for your FAFSA filing. Since you're already receiving aid for this academic year, your current FAFSA was based on your previous tax information when you were likely independent. For next year's FAFSA (2025-2026), you'll be reporting 2023 tax information, which would include whatever decision you make about filing status this tax season. The reassuring news that everyone has shared about having a child making you independent for FAFSA is absolutely correct. But I'd recommend filing your FAFSA as early as possible after October 1st (when the new form opens) regardless of which tax approach you choose. This ensures you get priority consideration for aid, especially if your school has limited funding for certain grant programs. Also, keep detailed records of your living situation and expenses. If there are ever questions about your independent status, having documentation of your household composition and who pays for what can be helpful. This is especially important since you're in an unmarried relationship with shared financial responsibilities. The fact that your aid is likely protected gives you the freedom to focus purely on tax optimization, which is actually a great position to be in compared to many students who have to choose between tax benefits and financial aid eligibility.

Has anyone used a land trust instead of an LLC? My tax advisor mentioned this might be better for privacy while still keeping conventional mortgage rates for my rental. Thoughts?

Great question! I went through this same decision process about 3 years ago. Here's what I learned: For rental properties, LLCs can definitely provide valuable liability protection, but there are some practical considerations beyond just taxes. The biggest surprise for me was how it affected my insurance - I had to switch to commercial property insurance which was about 30% more expensive than homeowner's coverage. Regarding your primary residence, I'd strongly recommend against putting it in an LLC. You'll lose the homestead exemption in most states, which often provides significant asset protection already. Plus, as others mentioned, you'd lose that valuable capital gains exclusion when you sell. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - if you do decide on an LLC for the rental, consider getting an EIN from the IRS and opening a separate business bank account even if you're filing as a disregarded entity. It makes bookkeeping so much cleaner and helps maintain that legal separation between personal and business assets. As for marriage, definitely something to plan for! When I got married, we had to decide whether to add my spouse as a member or keep them separate. We ended up adding them to maintain the joint asset protection, but it required updating our operating agreement and state filings. My advice? Start with an umbrella insurance policy for immediate protection while you research the LLC option thoroughly for your specific state and situation.