Has anyone used TurboTax to report trustee fees and expenses? Does it walk you through where to put this stuff or do I need to use a CPA? I'm getting a modest fee ($8,000) for handling my mom's trust but spent about $2,100 on expenses.

I'm currently going through a similar situation as successor trustee for my grandmother's estate. One thing I learned from my tax preparer is that the IRS Publication 559 (Survivors, Executors, and Administrators) has specific guidance on trustee fees and deductible expenses. For your $3,200 in expenses, the key is that they must be "ordinary and necessary" for administering the trust. Travel costs to manage trust property, office supplies for record-keeping, and postage for beneficiary communications typically qualify. However, the value of your unpaid time off work is not deductible. Whether you use Schedule C or report as "other income" depends on the scope and nature of your trustee activities. If you're actively managing properties, making investment decisions, or running a business within the trust, Schedule C is likely appropriate. If your role is more passive oversight, "other income" might be correct. Given the complexity and the potential tax implications, I'd recommend getting clarity from your CPA before filing. The difference in how you report this could affect both your income tax and self-employment tax liability.

I'm confused about something... if the client wrote checks directly to the subcontractors but asked you to deliver them, would you still need to file 1099s? Asking because I'm in a similar situation but my client wrote checks with the sub names on them, I just handed them out.

Just want to emphasize one important detail that might save you headaches - make sure you get W-9 forms from ALL your subcontractors before you pay them, not after. I made the mistake of trying to collect tax info after the job was done and some contractors had already moved on to other cities or changed phone numbers. Also, keep detailed records of everything - copies of all checks you wrote, the amounts, dates, and what work each contractor did. If you get audited, the IRS will want to see the paper trail showing these were legitimate business expenses. Since you're reporting this on Schedule C, having good documentation will help justify the deductions and show you weren't just trying to hide income. One more tip: if any of your contractors were incorporated businesses (like "ABC Roofing LLC"), you generally don't need to send them 1099s. But you still need to report the expenses on your Schedule C.

Make sure to file your taxes on time even if you're missing the W2!! You can always file an amended return later if the numbers end up being different when you finally get the W2. The penalty for filing late is much worse than filing with slightly incorrect information and amending later.

I went through something very similar last year and here's what worked for me: Don't panic! You have several good options that others have mentioned. My recommendation is to start with calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 first thing Monday morning. They'll contact your employer directly and also send you Form 4852. While you're waiting for that form to arrive, gather your final paystub from that employer - you'll need the year-to-date totals for wages, federal tax withheld, Social Security, Medicare, and any state taxes. The key thing that helped me was realizing that the free filing software (I used FreeTaxUSA) does let you manually enter W2 information when you select "Enter W2 manually" instead of importing. You just enter the numbers from your Form 4852 exactly like you would a regular W2. One thing to keep in mind - if you end up owing money on your return, make sure to pay by the April deadline even if your return isn't completely finalized. You can always file an amended return later if needed, but avoiding late payment penalties is crucial. Don't let your employer's disorganization stress you out too much - the IRS deals with this situation all the time and has clear procedures to help taxpayers in your situation!

Random question - does anyone know if the implant maintenance costs are also deductible? Like special cleaning tools, follow-up visits, etc.? I'm about to get implants too and wondering about ongoing expenses.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else considering this - I claimed dental implants on my 2024 return and it went through without any issues. The key was having really good documentation from my dentist explaining the medical necessity (I had lost teeth due to an accident). One thing I learned: keep track of ALL related expenses, not just the implant surgery itself. I was able to deduct the initial consultations, X-rays, bone grafting procedure, temporary dentures during healing, and even mileage to/from appointments. It all added up to a significant deduction that made the financial hit a bit easier to handle. Also, if you're planning the procedure, consider timing it strategically across tax years if possible. If you know you'll have high medical expenses in a given year that will easily exceed the 7.5% AGI threshold, it might make sense to bunch procedures together to maximize the deduction benefit.

Has anyone had success asking their mortgage company to pay the property taxes in the correct tax year? I'm in a similar situation where my county always sends bills late (usually December) but my mortgage company sometimes waits until January to pay them, which messes up my tax deductions.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! My county sent out 2023 property tax bills in February 2024, and my mortgage company just paid them last month. Really frustrating to potentially lose out on deductions because of government delays. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone looked into whether there's any recourse against the county for the late billing? It seems like their delay is what's causing all these tax complications for homeowners. I know it won't help with this year's taxes, but maybe there's a way to push for more timely billing in the future. Also, for those mentioning the SALT cap issues - I'm curious if anyone has calculated whether it's actually worth switching from escrow to paying property taxes directly to have more control over timing. The mortgage company discount on my rate is pretty small, so it might be worth the flexibility.