Quick question - has anyone here dealt with YouTube videos that are partly educational/business and partly entertainment? I'm a real estate agent but my videos include funny skits about house hunting along with actual advice. Not sure if I need to separate those costs somehow??

Based on my experience with similar educational content, your YouTube videos should absolutely qualify as deductible business expenses. The key is that they serve a legitimate business purpose - establishing your expertise and attracting clients - even if they're not direct "hire me" ads. I'd recommend documenting the business purpose of each video series and keeping detailed records of all production costs. The IRS generally looks favorably on marketing expenses that build your professional reputation and demonstrate expertise in your field. One tip: if you're working with the same production company regularly, consider getting a written agreement that clearly outlines the business purpose of the content. This can be helpful documentation if you ever need to justify the expenses during an audit. Your $4,000 investment sounds very reasonable for professional video content that can continue generating business value for years to come!

I think there's some confusion here about amended return direct deposits. The IRS officially began allowing direct deposits for amended returns in August 2020, but implementation has been inconsistent. What many people don't realize is that the payment method depends on how you filed the amendment - Form 1040-X through e-file can receive direct deposit, but paper 1040-X submissions almost always result in paper checks regardless of providing banking information.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Filed my amended 2023 return electronically three weeks ago for some missing 1099-INT income. Like you, I was surprised they asked for direct deposit info this time - definitely wasn't an option when I amended my 2021 return. From what I've gathered lurking in tax forums, the direct deposit for amended returns seems to be working more reliably now, but it's still not 100% guaranteed. The fact that they're asking for banking info is definitely a good sign though! One thing I learned is that you can check your IRS account transcript online to see if there's an 846 code when your refund gets processed - that will tell you the payment method. Planning to check mine religiously once it hits the 12-week mark. Fingers crossed we both get the convenience of direct deposit instead of waiting for snail mail! 🤞

Dumb question but do personal checks from clients who didn't send 1099s count as "under the table" income? My tax guy said i don't need to report income without a 1099 but that sounds wrong to me.

This is exactly the kind of mixed income situation that trips up a lot of freelancers! The good news is that having personal reimbursements mixed with business income in your bank account isn't inherently problematic - you just need to be able to document the difference. Here's what I'd recommend: Create a simple spreadsheet with three columns - Date, Amount, and Type (Business Income vs Personal Reimbursement). Go through your bank statements and categorize each deposit. For the reimbursements like your dad's utility bills or friend payments, keep any supporting documentation (texts, emails, original receipts) that show these were reimbursements rather than income. The IRS cares about accuracy, not perfection in your banking setup. As long as you can substantiate which deposits were actual income versus personal transactions, you'll be fine. That said, definitely consider opening a separate account for future business income - it makes everything so much cleaner come tax time. One last thing - make sure you're setting aside money for quarterly estimated tax payments if you haven't been doing that already. Self-employment tax can be a nasty surprise if you're not prepared!

All of this back filing info is helpful but just be aware there are time limits on claiming refunds! If you're owed money from the IRS, you typically have only 3 years from the original due date to file and claim a refund. So for example, for tax year 2020 (which was due April 2021), you have until April 2024 to file and still get your refund. For 2017, the deadline to claim a refund was April 2021 - if you're filing 2017 now, you can still file the return but you wouldn't get any refund you were owed. Just wanted to mention this since it seems like some people are discussing filing returns from several years back!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year. I was trying to back file for 2018 and got so much conflicting information from different sources that I almost gave up. The bottom line is: NO tax software can e-file returns for prior years beyond what the IRS accepts (current year + maybe previous year early in filing season). This is an IRS system limitation, not a software limitation. Both TaxACT and TurboTax will let you prepare old returns online, but you'll have to print and mail them. I ended up using TaxACT because it was cheaper for prior years ($25 vs TurboTax's $60), but the end result was identical - had to mail everything in. One tip: make sure you use certified mail when sending old returns. The IRS processing times for mailed returns can be really long (took 4 months for mine), and you want proof they received it. Also double-check you're mailing to the correct address for your state - it's different than where you'd mail current year returns. Good luck with your 2017 filing!

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for 5 years now. The state returns are usually available by mid-January, sometimes earlier depending on your state. For your estimated payment, you can probably just use the same method you used for Q3 unless your income has changed significantly.

I made the switch from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA two years ago and it was one of my best financial decisions! A few tips for your transition: 1. **State returns timing**: California forms are usually available by late January, but you're right to be concerned about the January 15th deadline. I'd recommend calculating your estimated payment based on your Q3 method or using 110% of last year's tax liability to be safe. 2. **Data entry**: Since this is your first year with FreeTaxUSA, gather all your previous tax documents beforehand. The interface is clean and intuitive, but you'll need to manually enter everything this first time. 3. **Features you might miss**: FreeTaxUSA doesn't have some of TurboTax's bells and whistles like the mobile app for document photos, but honestly, I found those features more gimmicky than useful. 4. **Import capabilities**: You can import W-2s and 1099s directly from most major employers and financial institutions, which saves a ton of time. The $15 state fee is still a steal compared to what TurboTax was charging me ($120+ for state). You'll love not being constantly upsold to premium versions you don't need!