You can also pay at your local IRS office in person with a check or money order! Just look up "IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center" near you and make an appointment. I did this last year when I had similar online access issues and it was surprisingly easy. Bring your ID and they'll give you a receipt right there.

Does anyone know if paying late affects your future ability to e-file? I missed my estimated payment last year and had to mail my tax return this year because the e-file system kept rejecting me!

I finance everything for my HVAC business and always take the full deduction in year 1. Just make sure you're actually using the bike primarily for business. If you're audited, the IRS will want to see evidence that it wasn't mainly for personal use. I keep a simple log on my phone with client visits, addresses, and whether I used my truck or my bike to get there. Also - if you're making good money, look into setting up a Solo 401k. That's been WAY more valuable for reducing my tax bill than any equipment deduction.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the recapture rules if you ever sell the bike or stop using it for business before it's fully depreciated. If you take the full Section 179 deduction now but then sell the bike in a couple years, you might have to "recapture" some of that deduction as ordinary income. Also, since you mentioned your business is booming, consider whether you'll hit the Section 179 phase-out limits. For 2023, the deduction starts phasing out if you purchase more than $2.89 million in qualifying property (which probably doesn't apply to you, but good to know). The financing vs. cash question really doesn't matter - what matters is when you put it in service for your business. Keep detailed records of your business routes and maybe take some photos of the bike loaded with your pet care supplies to help document the business use!

I was in this exact situation and was so confused trying to figure out what I could deduct. I finally broke down and used claimyr.com to get an IRS agent on the phone rather than keep guessing. The agent confirmed there's no special Chime limit - just standard business expense rules. Best decision ever to actually talk to someone who knows the rules instead of guessing!

Hey Nia! I see you're getting great advice here. Just wanted to add that since you mentioned keeping track of transactions since August 2023, make sure you're also saving the actual receipts or invoices for what those Chime payments were for. The IRS wants to see proof of what the expense was, not just that money left your account. So if you paid $200 through Chime for business supplies, you need the receipt from the supplier showing what you bought. The Chime transaction record alone isn't enough documentation if you get audited. Good luck with your filing!

Is no one else bothered by the fact that TT basically gives itself an interest-free loan from your refund and then charges YOU for the privilege?? The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. They're literally using our money to float their business for a few weeks and then charging us for it.

This is exactly why I switched to doing my own taxes using the IRS Free File Fillable Forms. Yes, it takes a bit more work to understand the forms, but at least I know exactly where every dollar is going and I'm not getting hit with surprise fees. The whole SBTPG situation is a perfect example of how these tax prep companies make their money - not just from the software fees, but from all these ancillary services that most people don't even realize they're signing up for. When you're going through the filing process, they make it seem like paying with your refund is just a convenient option, but they don't clearly explain that convenience costs you an extra $40. For anyone who wants to avoid this next year, either pay the software fee upfront or look into the actual IRS Free File options that others have mentioned. Don't let these companies profit off your own money!

Hey just an FYI - I'm an accountant and this question comes up all the time. For future reunions, you might want to consider setting up a simple "unincorporated association" for your family reunions. It's super easy and doesn't require any formal filings in most states, but gives you a legitimate structure for collecting and spending money for family events.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year organizing our church's annual retreat! Collected about $12,000 through various payment methods and was absolutely panicking about tax implications. Here's what I learned after consulting with a tax professional: since you're acting as a "fiscal intermediary" and not keeping any of the money as profit, this isn't considered taxable income. The key is that you can demonstrate the money flowed directly from collection to expenses for the reunion. A few practical tips: - Pull all your payment statements from the relevant period - Create a simple reconciliation showing money in vs money out - Keep copies of receipts from the camp and other vendors - Note that the payment descriptions (like "Smith family - 4 people") actually help show this was clearly for a family event You can file your taxes normally with just your W-2s. The payment platforms report business income, not family/personal transfers like this. Just keep your documentation in case there are ever questions, but this shouldn't complicate your tax filing at all. Don't stress too much - this is way more common than you think and the IRS understands the difference between actual income and just being the person who handles logistics for family events!