Has anyone looked at how the IRS treats the "field of education" part? The regulations specifically mention education as an SSTB category, so I'm wondering if tutoring could fall under that regardless of the reputation/skill part.

I went through this exact same question last year and ended up consulting with a tax professional who specializes in small business deductions. What really helped clarify things for me was understanding that the IRS distinguishes between formal educational institutions and individual service providers. The key factor isn't just whether you're skilled or have credentials - it's whether your business model fundamentally depends on monetizing your personal reputation or fame. Most tutoring businesses are providing legitimate educational services based on subject matter expertise, which is different from the celebrity endorsement/appearance model that the SSTB "reputation or skill" category is targeting. In my case, I tutor high school students in calculus and physics. Even though I have advanced degrees and charge competitive rates, my business is structured around delivering actual educational outcomes rather than selling access to my personal brand. My tax professional confirmed this likely keeps me outside SSTB classification. The income threshold you mentioned ($155K) is definitely in the phase-out range, so getting this classification right is important for your deduction. If you're still unsure, it might be worth investing in a consultation with a tax professional who can review your specific business structure and marketing approach.

If you filed on April 15, 2020 (the extended deadline that year due to COVID), your tax transcript should be available until at least April 15, 2027, as the IRS maintains records for 7 years. If you filed earlier in 2020 for your 2019 taxes, you still have plenty of time before those records expire. One thing that hasn't been mentioned: if you've moved since 2019, make sure you're using your address from that year when requesting transcripts by mail. The IRS will only send sensitive information to the address they have on file from that tax year unless you've formally updated your address with them through Form 8822.

I feel your pain about losing track of important tax documents during stressful times - caring for family can definitely throw off our usual organization systems! Here's what I've learned works best for getting your 2019 AGI: **Try these in order:** 1. **Check your tax software account first** - If you used TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, etc. in 2019, log into that account. They usually keep your returns for 7+ years and it's instant access. 2. **Search your email thoroughly** - Look for "tax confirmation 2019", "e-file accepted", or your tax software's name. Many people save the PDF confirmation emails without realizing it. 3. **Contact your tax preparer** - If you used one, they're required to keep records and this is often the fastest route. 4. **IRS Get Transcript Online** - Go to IRS.gov/transcripts. You'll need to verify your identity with a credit card, mortgage, or auto loan info. 5. **Call the automated transcript line** - 800-908-9946 is less congested than the main number. **Only if all else fails:** Call 800-829-1040 right at 7am when they open. Have your SSN, filing status, and 2019 address ready. The online transcript is usually your best bet if you can get through the verification process. Good luck!

Does anyone know if this same approach works for other types of income? My 14yo son has a small YouTube channel that just started generating ad revenue, but they required my info since he's underage.

This is really helpful information! I had no idea there were specific exemptions for different types of work that minors do. My 17-year-old works as a camp counselor during summers and also does some pet-sitting through a neighborhood app. I'm wondering if there are other exemptions I should know about beyond the domestic service one that was mentioned for babysitting. It sounds like the type of work might make a difference in whether self-employment taxes apply or not. Does anyone know where I can find a comprehensive list of these exemptions for minors? Also, the Roth IRA idea is brilliant - I never thought about starting retirement savings this early but the compound growth potential is amazing. Definitely going to look into setting that up for my daughter once we get her tax situation sorted out.

FreeTaxUSA utilizes what's called a Refund Transfer product through SBTPG (Santa Barbara Tax Products Group). When you select the option to pay your preparation fees from your refund, you're technically taking out a short-term loan against your anticipated refund amount. Per IRC §6695, this establishes a separate financial transaction requiring the refund to be deposited with the facilitating financial institution (SBTPG) before disbursement to your personal account, regardless of whether fees have been previously satisfied through another refund. Their system is programmed to process each tax year and jurisdiction (federal/state) as discrete transactions through their ACH network.

I'm in the exact same boat - first time using FreeTaxUSA and got confused about the SBTPG routing too! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like even though my state fees were already deducted, my federal refund will still go through SBTPG since I selected that payment option during filing. Just wanted to add that I found it helpful to create accounts on both the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool AND the SBTPG website so I can track it through both systems. That way I'll know when the IRS sends it and when SBTPG actually deposits it to my bank. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel less anxious about the whole process!

Has anyone tried filing a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) about SBTPG? I just submitted one yesterday after getting nowhere with SBTPG for 9 weeks. They're legally required to respond to CFPB complaints within 15 days.

This is exactly what happened to me! I've been dealing with SBTPG holding my $2,400 refund since March. They keep saying they returned it to the IRS, but when I finally got through to an IRS agent (after waiting 3 hours on hold), they confirmed there's no record of SBTPG returning anything. What really got me was when I asked SBTPG for proof they returned my refund - like a transaction ID or confirmation number - they couldn't provide any documentation. Just kept repeating the same script about "processing delays" and "10-12 weeks." I'm definitely going to try filing that CFPB complaint and the Form 3911 refund trace. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops when they're clearly just sitting on our money. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is happening to tons of people!