Has anyone tried turbotax self-employed for tracking expenses throughout the year? Is it worth the subscription cost?

As someone who's been doing 1099 work for about 3 years now, I'd definitely recommend using a combination approach. The 30% rule is a good starting point, but tracking your actual expenses can really help you optimize that percentage over time. For mileage tracking, I've found that consistency is key - whatever app you choose, make sure you actually use it religiously. I started with a simple spreadsheet but quickly realized I was forgetting to log trips. Now I use an automated app and it's saved me thousands in deductions. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started: keep ALL your receipts, even for small expenses. Coffee with a potential client, parking meters when visiting client sites, even a portion of your internet bill if you work from home. These little things add up significantly over the year. Also, consider setting up a separate business checking account if you haven't already. It makes tracking business expenses so much easier come tax time, and it looks more professional when dealing with clients.

You need to stop checking it every day or you'll drive yourself crazy. I was in the same boat, checking 10x a day for weeks on end. Finally just forgot about it and then one day randomly got a deposit in my account. Try to forget about it - obsessing won't make it come any faster.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed in early March, got accepted immediately, but have been stuck on "still being processed" for about 8 weeks now. Also claimed the child tax credit for my first baby. It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening or when to expect the money. I've been checking the transcript but those codes are like reading hieroglyphics. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone! Definitely going to try some of the suggestions people mentioned here, especially the early morning calling strategy and maybe checking out that transcript analyzer tool.

Couldn't you also just submit a superseding return instead of an amended return? If it's right after filing and before the deadline, that's usually easier.

This is such a frustrating situation with your supervisor! I totally get the stress. One thing that might help while you're waiting for the acceptance notification is to document exactly what errors you've identified and gather all the supporting documentation you'll need for the amendment. That way once you get the green light, you can move quickly on the 1040-X preparation. Also, since this happened so close to filing, you might want to double-check if a superseding return would be an option instead of an amendment - it could save your client months of processing time if you're still within the filing deadline period. ProSeries should be able to handle either approach once you know which route to take.

Warning from personal experience: be careful with subscription deductions! I tried deducting Netflix because I "watch it for inspiration for my design work" and got flagged for an audit. The IRS agent basically laughed at that justification. The difference with your Spotify situation seems to be that you have a much clearer connection to revenue. I couldn't really prove Netflix was "ordinary and necessary" for my graphic design business, but you can show how Spotify directly contributes to your creative process and final products. If you do deduct it, just make sure you can clearly demonstrate the business purpose. Maybe keep screenshots of playlists you create for work, notes about which songs inspired which projects, etc. Anything that shows a direct line between Spotify and your income-generating activities.

Based on your description, you have a really strong case for deducting your Spotify Premium subscription! The key is that you can clearly demonstrate it's "ordinary and necessary" for your specific business operations. What makes your situation particularly solid: 1. You have a documented creative process that directly relies on Spotify (finding lyrical inspiration) 2. You can show business growth tied to this process (increased client base from your lyric-art style) 3. You use it for marketing purposes (promoting playlists on business social media) 4. You can quantify the business use (20+ hours weekly for inspiration hunting) To protect yourself if questioned, I'd recommend: - Keep a simple log of projects inspired by songs you discovered on Spotify - Save screenshots of your business-related playlists - Document any client collaborations involving music features - Track the time spent using Spotify for business vs personal use Since you're using it almost exclusively for business purposes, you should be able to deduct the full subscription cost. Just make sure to maintain good records showing the direct connection between your Spotify use and your revenue-generating activities. The IRS looks for that clear business purpose, and yours is much stronger than someone who just says "music helps me focus while I work." You're actually using the platform as a research tool for your creative process.

Has anyone used the IRS Tax Tool for Education Credits to figure this out? I tried using it but got confused when it asked about "qualified expenses paid with tax-free educational assistance" versus "qualified expenses paid by me." Not sure how to split these up correctly.

I went through this exact situation with my daughter two years ago and it was definitely confusing at first! You're on the right track with your understanding. A few key points that helped me figure it out: 1. You're correct that the scholarship money covering room and board becomes taxable income that needs to be reported somewhere - either on your return or your daughter's. 2. For the American Opportunity Credit, you can still claim it for any qualified expenses you paid out-of-pocket. Since you mentioned paying $650 for textbooks, that alone could qualify you for a partial AOC (up to $650 credit in this case). 3. The decision between reporting the taxable scholarship on your return vs. having your daughter file her own really depends on your tax bracket vs. hers. If the taxable scholarship amount is under the standard deduction ($13,850 for 2025), having her file separately usually saves money. 4. Don't forget about Form 8863 - you'll need it if you're claiming the AOC, and it helps calculate exactly how much scholarship money is taxable vs. non-taxable. One thing that really helped me was getting all the documentation together first - the 1098-T from the school, all scholarship award letters, and receipts for what you paid out-of-pocket. Having everything organized made the whole process much clearer. You can definitely still claim her as a dependent regardless of which approach you take for the scholarship taxation!