One thing nobody mentioned - if you rent through these Uber programs, track your charging costs separately too! Sometimes they give you free Supercharger access, but sometimes not. If you pay for charging, those costs are deductible too, just like gas would be. I rented a Model 3 last summer and saved all my charging receipts - added up to about $90/week in deductions my tax guy said I wouldn't have been able to claim otherwise.

Great question about mixing deduction methods! I went through this exact scenario two years ago when my personal car broke down mid-year and I switched to Uber's Tesla rental program. You're absolutely right that you can't use standard mileage for a rental vehicle - the IRS is very clear about that. But the good news is that the entire $340 weekly rental fee is indeed deductible as a business expense, assuming you're using the vehicle primarily for rideshare/delivery work. The key thing to remember is documentation. When you make the switch, create a clear cutoff date in your records. For the period with your personal vehicle, track your business miles and use the standard mileage rate (currently 65.5 cents per mile for 2023). Then from your rental start date forward, keep all rental receipts and track your business vs. personal use percentage. Also don't forget about the charging costs if your rental doesn't include free Supercharger access - those are deductible too! I kept a simple spreadsheet with charging receipts and it added up to decent additional deductions. One tip: if you're on the fence about timing, consider waiting until the start of a new quarter to make the switch. It makes the record-keeping cleaner and reduces any confusion if you get audited.

If you can't access SBTPG, you might try contacting your bank directly. Many larger banks can see pending ACH transfers 1-2 days before they post to your account. Just tell them you're expecting an ACH deposit from "SBTPG LLC" or "TurboTax" and ask if they can see anything pending. This worked for me when I was in a similar situation - my bank could see the pending deposit a day before it actually posted to my account.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed through TurboTax and selected the early refund option that failed, and now I can't access the SBTPG site either. It's so confusing because you think you're getting your money faster, but it seems like it actually creates more delays and uncertainty. Reading through all these responses is really helpful though - sounds like the general consensus is to expect 1-2 business days after the IRS date for the money to actually hit your account. I wish TurboTax was more upfront about how this process actually works instead of just marketing it as "get your refund faster." Has anyone had luck getting clearer timelines directly from TurboTax customer service, or is it better to just wait it out like most people are suggesting?

Just a heads up that you may be able to fire this tax preparer for cause and get a refund of some of your prep fees. The AICPA and other professional organizations have ethical standards that include timely communication with clients. Document all your interactions carefully! I had the same issue last year and got 50% of my fees back.

I'm dealing with something similar right now and wanted to share what I learned from speaking with an EA (Enrolled Agent). The key issue isn't whether your preparer had the right to file an extension - they generally do have that authority as part of their professional duty. The real problem is the communication breakdown. Your preparer should have contacted you much earlier about potential issues, especially knowing you'd have a balance due. The fact that they waited until you contacted them just 4 days before the deadline is a service failure on their part. For the interest and penalties, here's what you should know: Interest on unpaid taxes accrues regardless of extensions, but you might be able to get failure-to-pay penalties abated if you can show "reasonable cause." The preparer's poor communication and late notification could potentially qualify as reasonable cause. I'd recommend requesting a copy of the actual Form 4868 they filed to see if they properly estimated your payment or left it blank. If they didn't handle the extension properly, that strengthens your case for penalty relief. Also document all your communications with them - dates, times, what was discussed. This will be important if you pursue penalty abatement or file a complaint with their licensing board.

One thing to consider - if you're in a high-tax state, the state tax savings could be substantial too! Everyone always focuses on federal, but don't forget to factor in state tax savings when deciding if a dedicated home office is worth it. In my case (California), the state tax savings added another 30% on top of the federal savings from my home office deduction.

Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - make sure you understand the record-keeping requirements if you do set up that dedicated space. The IRS expects you to maintain detailed records showing the exclusive business use. I keep a simple log of my business activities in the space, take dated photos of the setup, and maintain receipts for any office-related purchases. It might seem like overkill, but if you're ever audited, having thorough documentation makes the process much smoother. Also, consider the timing - if you're setting up the space mid-year, you can only deduct expenses for the portion of the year it was actually used for business. So if you convert the space in July, you'd only get 6 months of deductions for 2025. With your numbers ($920 federal + $190 state), even a partial year could be worthwhile, and you'd get the full benefit starting in 2026.

Has anyone here actually done the math on SEP IRA vs 401k for an S-corp owner? I'm in a similar situation to the original poster and trying to figure out if the switch is worth it.

The transition from SEP IRA to 401k when adding employees is actually pretty common for growing S-corps, so you're definitely on the right track. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you coordinate the timing carefully if you're planning to make a final SEP contribution for 2024. Since you can make SEP contributions up until your business tax filing deadline (including extensions), you could potentially make your final 2024 SEP contribution as late as September 2025 if you file an extension. Just make sure this doesn't overlap with when you start your 401k contributions to avoid any confusion. Also, consider whether you want to offer any matching in your new 401k plan. It's a great way to attract and retain employees, and as an S-corp owner, you'll benefit from the match too. The administrative costs are usually worth it once you have multiple employees, especially compared to having to contribute equally for everyone under a SEP.