Another option is using the free report from Robinhood directly. If you go to Statements & History > Tax Documents, they usually have a section for crypto transactions even if you didn't get an official 1099. You can download this and use it to fill out your 8949 manually. Worked fine for me last year. Just take your time and double-check your math.

Just to add some clarity on the reporting requirements - the IRS actually updated their stance on crypto reporting in recent years. Even if your total gains/losses are small, you're still required to answer "Yes" to the cryptocurrency question on Form 1040 if you had any crypto transactions during the year (buying, selling, exchanging, or receiving crypto as payment). The good news is that if you only had small losses, those can actually help offset other capital gains on your tax return. And if you have net capital losses, you can deduct up to $3,000 against ordinary income each year, with any excess carrying forward to future years. One tip: make sure you're tracking the exact dates and times of your transactions, especially if you bought and sold the same cryptocurrency multiple times. The IRS uses specific identification methods for determining which "lots" you sold, and this can significantly impact your tax liability. FIFO (first-in, first-out) is the default, but you can elect specific identification if you have good records.

What's the best alternative to TaxSlayer if I do end up having to switch? I'm filing a relatively simple return - just W-2 income and student loan interest deduction. Nothing complicated.

I had this exact same issue with TaxSlayer two days ago! Super frustrating, especially after paying for the service. What worked for me was clearing all my browser data (cookies, cache, everything) and then trying again about 6 hours later. I think their servers were just completely overloaded during peak hours. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them temporarily. Some of those can interfere with the final submission process. I know it's annoying to have to wait when you just want to get your taxes done, but from what I've seen on social media, most people who waited 12-24 hours were able to submit successfully without having to start over. Don't do the chargeback yet - you'll likely be able to complete your return once their server issues are resolved!

Got my 846 code last week. Money showed up two days later. Bank held it one more day. Finally got access yesterday. Three weeks total from filing. Not bad. Better than last year. Much better than 2021. IRS seems to be catching up finally.

This is really encouraging to hear! I filed about 2.5 weeks ago and have been anxiously checking my transcript daily with no updates yet. Reading these success stories gives me hope that things are moving faster this year. Quick question - when you say your refund "just hit" your account, was it there when you woke up this morning or did you get a notification from your bank? I have alerts set up but I'm wondering if I should be checking more frequently. Also, did your transcript show any other codes before the 846 appeared, or did it go straight from processing to refund issued?

Random question - does anyone know if the self-employment tax rate has changed for 2025? I heard something about an adjustment but can't find a clear answer online. Trying to budget for next year.

This is such a helpful breakdown! I'm in a similar situation and have been dreading the self-employment tax aspect of going full-time with my freelance work. Your math really puts it in perspective - it's essentially the same cost, just more visible. One thing I'm curious about though - what about retirement savings? As a W-2 employee, I can contribute to my 401(k) and get the company match. How does that compare to self-employment retirement options like SEP-IRAs or Solo 401(k)s? I know you mentioned ignoring retirement stuff in your calculation, but that seems like it could be a significant factor in the overall financial picture. Also, have you factored in the quarterly estimated tax payment requirements? I've heard horror stories about underpayment penalties if you don't get the timing and amounts right.

Another thing to consider - make sure you're actually itemizing deductions before worrying about this. With the higher standard deduction ($13,850 for single filers in 2023), you might not even benefit from claiming mortgage interest if your total itemized deductions don't exceed the standard amount.

This is actually a pretty straightforward situation that comes up frequently. Since you paid 100% of the mortgage interest from your own accounts, you're absolutely entitled to claim the full deduction regardless of whose SSN appears on the 1098. The IRS Publication 936 specifically addresses this - the person who actually pays the mortgage interest gets the deduction, not necessarily the person whose name is on the loan documents. Just make sure to: 1. Attach a clear statement to your return explaining that while the 1098 shows your father's SSN, you made all mortgage payments 2. Keep detailed records of all your payments (bank statements, online payment confirmations, etc.) 3. Include both SSNs in your explanation for clarity Since your dad is your dependent and doesn't file his own return, there's no risk of duplicate claims. The IRS sees these situations regularly and has established procedures for handling them. As long as you can document your payments, you shouldn't have any issues claiming the full mortgage interest deduction.