Have you considered filing through a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site and then applying for a separate refund advance loan through a financial institution? Ohio has numerous VITA locations that handle self-employment income below certain thresholds, and they file for free. Then you could separately apply for a Tax Refund Express Loan through regional banks like Fifth Third or Huntington that serve Ohio/WV. This separates the filing from the advance, potentially giving you better terms on both. I've seen people get their returns filed more accurately this way while still accessing funds quickly.

I'm in a similar situation and found that TaxAct's Refund Advance program works well for Ohio residents with mixed income. They approved my advance within 24 hours even with Schedule C income, though I had to upload bank statements showing my business deposits. The key was having organized quarterly payment records to the IRS - they seem to use that as verification that your self-employment income is legitimate. One thing to watch out for: make sure you calculate your expected refund accurately because if your actual refund is less than the advance amount, you'll owe the difference immediately. Also, most providers now require you to receive your refund through their bank products, so factor that into your decision. For transportation issues, some tax prep offices offer mobile services or will work with you over video calls for the verification process. Worth asking about if you find a provider you like but can't physically visit.

Has anyone used TurboTax Business to handle their final S-corp return when dissolving? I'm trying to decide if I should use software or hire someone for this final filing. Not sure if the standard software handles dissolution scenarios properly.

I went through this exact process last year when I dissolved my S-corp. For Line 10 on Form 966, you need the date when you formally adopted the resolution to dissolve the corporation. Even as a sole shareholder, you should create a simple written resolution stating your decision to dissolve the S-corp and date it. That's the date that goes on Line 10. Here's a basic template I used: "I, [Your Name], as the sole shareholder and director of [Corporation Name], hereby resolve to dissolve this corporation effective [Date]." Sign it, date it, and keep it with your corporate records. One thing to watch out for - make sure you coordinate the timing with your state filing requirements. Some states want you to file dissolution paperwork with them before submitting Form 966 to the IRS, while others are more flexible. Check your state's specific requirements to avoid any complications.

Has your wife's income changed? When both spouses work, your withholding is affected by combined household income. If her income increased significantly, that might explain the higher withholding at your new job. Another thing to check - did you fill out the "multiple jobs" section (Step 2) of your W-4 differently between employers? That can make a huge difference.

Another thing to consider - are you being paid on the same schedule? You mentioned both are semi-monthly, but if the pay periods fall differently in the calendar year, it can affect how the withholding calculations work. Also, some payroll systems default to higher withholding rates for new employees until they have a full year of data. This is especially common with ADP - they tend to be more conservative with withholding calculations to avoid underpayment penalties. I'd recommend comparing your actual tax liability using a tax calculator to see if you're going to get a huge refund. If so, you might want to adjust your W-4 to reduce the withholding. The IRS withholding calculator that was mentioned earlier is perfect for this.

I'd also recommend filing a complaint with your state department of labor ASAP. Wage theft is taken pretty seriously in most states. In my experience as a former restaurant manager (where this unfortunately happens a lot), the sooner you report it, the better your chances of resolution.

This is a really frustrating situation, but you're handling it the right way by documenting everything and filing with the labor board. From a tax perspective, you're actually in a straightforward position - you only need to report the income that's actually shown on your W-2 for 2024, regardless of what you should have been paid. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: make sure to keep copies of ALL your documentation (timesheets, pay stubs, communications with your employer) in multiple places - digital copies, physical copies, maybe even email them to yourself. If this drags out or if your employer tries to retaliate, having bulletproof documentation will be crucial. Also, don't let your employer intimidate you about this. What they're doing is wage theft, plain and simple, and it's illegal in every state. The fact that they're claiming it's for "break times" or that you were "rounding up" when you have documentation proving otherwise shows they know they're in the wrong. Stay strong and keep fighting for what you're owed!

Just wanted to point out something important - TurboTax often defaults to Section 179 because it gives the biggest immediate deduction, but doesn't always explain the recapture consequences well. For your specific situation where business use is dropping below 50%, bonus depreciation might actually be better than Section 179 long-term. With Section 179, dropping below 50% triggers recapture of ALL excess depreciation. With bonus depreciation, the recapture is proportional to your business use reduction. So if your business use drops from 51% to 30%, the recapture hit would be smaller with bonus depreciation. Did TurboTax give you both options to compare? Sometimes you have to dig into the forms to see the alternative calculations.

Based on your situation, I'd strongly recommend considering bonus depreciation over Section 179 given that your business use is dropping to around 30% next year. Here's why: With Section 179, when your business use drops below 50%, you'll face recapture on the ENTIRE excess depreciation taken above what normal depreciation would have been. So you'd potentially recapture close to that full $14,000 amount. With bonus depreciation, the recapture is proportional to your business use reduction. If you go from 51% to 30% business use, you'd only recapture based on that 21 percentage point reduction, not the entire deduction. Given your specific numbers and the fact that you barely used the vehicle for business in 2023, here's what I'd consider: 1. **Bonus depreciation** - Better than Section 179 for your situation 2. **Partial bonus depreciation** - Maybe only take 30-40% of the allowable deduction now to minimize future recapture 3. **Standard mileage** - Simplest option, minimal 2023 deduction but no recapture headaches The standard mileage route might actually be smartest here since you had such minimal business use. You'd get about $8.50 deduction for 2023 (13 miles × $0.655) but avoid all the complexity and recapture risk. Sometimes the simplest path is the best one, especially when the "benefit" is really just borrowing from future tax years.