Does anyone know if you can still get the refund advance if you have tax payments due from previous years? I owe about $800 from 2023 that I'm on a payment plan for, but I should be getting about $3000 back this year.

Just to add some helpful context for everyone asking about eligibility and amounts - the TurboTax refund advance program typically has a few key requirements beyond just the minimum refund amount: 1. Your expected federal refund needs to be at least $500 (as mentioned earlier) 2. You can't have any federal tax liens or levies 3. Your Social Security benefits can't be garnished 4. You need to pass their identity verification process The advance amounts are usually tiered: $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,250, $2,000, $3,500, or $4,000 depending on your expected refund size and their risk assessment. One thing I learned from experience - if you're planning to use the advance, make sure you have all your tax documents ready to go on January 2nd. The sooner you file after the program launches, the better your chances of getting approved, especially if you're borderline on any of their criteria. Also, keep in mind that while there are no fees for the advance itself, you do need to use TurboTax's paid service (usually around $60-120 depending on your return complexity) unless you qualify for their free version.

Just went through this exact situation last year with my own short-term disability claim. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - paystubs showing premium deductions, all correspondence with the insurance company, and any HR documents about the disability policy. Also wanted to mention that if you're getting conflicting information or missing tax forms, don't wait until the last minute to sort it out. The IRS can be pretty understanding about disability payment reporting issues if you're proactive about getting the right documents, but it becomes a bigger headache if you wait until after you've already filed. For your specific situation with the manufacturing injury - make sure you also check if any workers' compensation payments are involved, as those have completely different tax rules (usually not taxable at all). Sometimes there's overlap between disability and workers' comp that can complicate things.

This is such helpful information, everyone! I'm dealing with a similar situation and had no idea about the premium payment distinction. One thing I wanted to add - if you're still employed but on disability, check your paystubs carefully during the disability period. Sometimes employers continue certain deductions (like health insurance) but stop others (like disability premiums) while you're out on claim. This can actually affect the tax treatment if your premium payments were interrupted. Also, don't forget to check if your disability payments count toward your Social Security earnings record. Short-term disability usually doesn't, but some policies have provisions where a portion gets reported to SSA. This doesn't change the tax treatment but it's good to know for your future Social Security benefits calculation. Miguel, definitely call both your employer's benefits department AND the insurance companies directly. Get everything in writing about who paid what premiums and what tax forms you should expect. Better to over-document this stuff than scramble at tax time!

I'm going to disagree with most people here and suggest consulting a tax professional for at least your first year as homeowners. Yes, TurboTax can handle basic mortgage deductions, but there are strategic decisions that could save you thousands. For example, unmarried couples have flexibility in how they allocate property tax and mortgage interest that married couples don't. A tax pro might suggest structures that maximize deductions based on your individual tax situations. They can also help with things like home office deductions if applicable.

I'd recommend going with a tax professional for your first year as homeowners, especially given your income level and unmarried status. While TurboTax can technically handle the basic deductions, there are some strategic considerations that could save you significant money. At $270k combined income, you're likely in higher tax brackets where proper allocation of deductions matters more. A good CPA can help you optimize which partner claims what percentage of mortgage interest and property taxes based on your individual tax situations. They can also advise on timing strategies - like whether to bunch certain deductions in one year vs. spreading them out. The cost of a tax professional (usually $300-600) is often recovered through the additional deductions and strategies they identify. You can always go back to TurboTax in future years once you understand the optimal structure for your situation. Think of it as an investment in getting your homeowner tax strategy right from the start.

Don't overthink this. I've been selling vintage toys for years and what I do is just track total inventory purchases vs total sales. I take my total purchase cost for the year, subtract the value of stuff I still have on hand, and that's my COGS. Easy peasy. Never had an issue with the IRS. Just keep your receipts in case they ever ask questions.

As someone who's dealt with similar inventory tracking issues in my small business, I'd recommend going with the retail inventory method that Camila mentioned - it's specifically designed for situations like yours where you have purchase records but can't match specific items to sales. Here's what worked for me: Calculate your average cost per item from all your Korean receipts (total spent ÷ total items purchased), then use that to value your ending inventory. The IRS accepts this approach for small businesses, and it's much more defensible than guessing or ignoring COGS entirely. Also, for future reference, consider using a simple spreadsheet or app to track inventory as you purchase it. Even basic descriptions in English will help enormously next year. You don't want to miss out on legitimate COGS deductions - they can significantly reduce your tax burden compared to just reporting everything as other income.

its so annoying that we have to pay federal taxes on this tbh. like were just trying to recover/take care of our babies 🤮

Congrats on the baby! 🎉 Just went through this myself last year. One thing to watch out for - if you received any benefits in late December 2023, those might show up on your 2024 1099-G even though you already reported them. Also, keep all your documentation because sometimes the EDD amounts don't match what you actually received due to overpayments or adjustments. Better to have everything organized now than scramble later!