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Has anyone tried specifically classifying themselves as a "job seeker" on their Schedule C? I read somewhere that this might work as a loophole for deducting job search expenses, but it sounds risky.
That's extremely risky and not recommended! The IRS doesn't recognize "professional job seeking" as a business activity that generates income. To file a Schedule C, you need to be engaged in an activity with the intent to make a profit through providing goods or services. Simply looking for a job doesn't qualify - you need actual self-employment income from some type of business activity. Trying to classify yourself as a "professional job seeker" would likely trigger an audit and could result in penalties for filing an incorrect return.
I'm in a similar situation after being laid off from my software engineering role three months ago. What I've learned through research and talking to a CPA is that the tax landscape for job seekers is pretty limited, but there are a few strategies worth considering: 1. **Freelance/Contract Work**: Even small gigs can open the door to legitimate business deductions. I started doing some part-time contract work ($500-1000/month) which allowed me to deduct a portion of my home office setup. 2. **State vs Federal**: Some states still allow certain job search deductions even though federal law eliminated them in 2018. Check your state's specific rules. 3. **Timing**: If you do start freelancing, consider the timing of your equipment purchases. Expenses made after you start earning self-employment income are more clearly deductible. 4. **Documentation**: Keep detailed records of what percentage of your equipment/space is used for income-generating activities vs. job searching. The reality is that pure job search expenses aren't deductible anymore, but if you can legitimately earn some freelance income using that same equipment, it changes the equation entirely. Just make sure any business activity is genuine and not just a vehicle for deductions.
This is really comprehensive advice! I'm curious about the documentation aspect you mentioned. What kind of records should someone keep to show the percentage split between job search vs. income-generating activities? I'm thinking about starting some freelance work while job hunting, but I want to make sure I'm tracking everything properly from the beginning. Should I be logging hours spent on each activity, or is there a simpler way to establish that business use percentage? Also, when you say "timing" matters for equipment purchases - if I buy equipment before I start earning freelance income but then use it for that work, does that completely disqualify it from being deductible?
Great questions! For documentation, I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking hours spent on different activities. For example, if I spend 20 hours/week job searching and 10 hours/week on freelance work, that's roughly a 33% business use ratio for my home office equipment. You don't need to be obsessively precise, but having some reasonable method to show the split is important. For equipment purchases, the timing isn't necessarily a disqualifier, but it's cleaner if you buy after starting freelance work. If you bought equipment before freelancing but then use it for business, you can still potentially deduct based on the business-use percentage from when you started earning income. The key is that the deduction is based on when you actually start using it for business purposes. I'd recommend starting that documentation tracking right away, even before you begin freelancing. It shows good faith effort to properly allocate expenses and gives you a clear paper trail if questions ever arise. My CPA said having contemporaneous records (tracking as it happens vs. reconstructing later) is much stronger from an audit perspective.
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Anyone have recommendations for legit tax software that has good fraud protection built in? I used to use an accountant but trying to save money this year. Worried about accidentally falling for one of these tax scams the IRS warns about.
I've had good experiences with TaxSlayer. It has built-in error checking and will flag unusual entries that might trigger IRS scrutiny. It's not as expensive as some of the bigger names but still has good security features. Whatever you choose, just make sure it's on the IRS Free File Alliance list so you know it's legitimate!
I'd actually recommend going against the software route if you're specifically worried about scams. Find a local enrolled agent who charges a reasonable fee. My EA costs $200 for a basic return which isn't much more than the premium versions of tax software once you add state filing, and she catches things software would miss.
Thanks for sharing this - I had no idea the IRS published an annual "Dirty Dozen" list! Just looked it up and wow, there are so many scams I wouldn't have thought to watch out for. The fake charity scams especially caught my attention since we're always getting donation requests. One thing that really stood out to me was the warning about preparers who won't provide you with a copy of your return or refuse to sign it. That seems like such an obvious red flag now but I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it before reading this thread. For anyone looking, the IRS website has a really helpful section called "How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer" that walks through all the credentials to look for. They recommend starting with the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers to find qualified professionals in your area. Definitely bookmarking that for next year!
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Anyone know if you should be making quarterly estimated tax payments on donation income? I just started doing this and don't want to get hit with penalties.
Generally if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes at filing time, you should make quarterly payments. Since donation income doesn't have taxes withheld, it's usually a good idea to make estimated payments.
Great question! Since you're getting a 1099, you're absolutely right that this is treated as self-employment income. Here's what you need to know: **Yes, you can deduct mileage!** Use the business mileage rate (65.5 cents/mile for 2025), not medical. With your 50 miles round trip twice weekly, that's about 5,200 miles annually - roughly $3,406 in deductions. **File on Schedule C** - Report your donor income and expenses here. You'll also need to pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on your net profit after deductions. **Keep detailed records** - Your mileage log with dates, odometer readings, and trip purposes is perfect. Also save receipts for any other business expenses. **Consider quarterly payments** - Since no taxes are withheld, you may need to make estimated quarterly payments to avoid penalties if you'll owe more than $1,000. The math works in your favor: $7,800 annual income minus $3,406 mileage deduction = $4,394 net income subject to self-employment tax. Much better than paying tax on the full amount! You're doing everything right by keeping good records. This is a legitimate business expense that many people in similar situations can take advantage of.
This is super helpful! I'm new to all this tax stuff and was getting overwhelmed by all the different advice out there. Your breakdown makes it much clearer. Quick question - when you calculate the $4,394 net income, would that be what I pay self-employment tax on? And then I'd also pay regular income tax on that same amount? Just want to make sure I understand the full tax impact before I get in too deep with this donation thing.
Still Waiting on 2023 Federal Tax Refund with 571/290 Codes While Receiving Indiana State Refund 1099-G
Filed my 2023 taxes back in February and still nothing. Looking at my transcript and seeing codes 571 and 290 but no direct deposit date. Already verified my identity through id.me months ago. Starting to lose my mind checking WMR every day. Anyone else dealing with this or know what these codes mean? I just received a Letter ID L0012865649 from Indiana Department of Revenue dated January 14, 2025 with a Form 1099-G. It shows: Recipient's Identification Number Box 2: State or local income tax refunds : $1106 Box 3: Refund is for tax year : 2023 State of Indiana FID : 356000158 Year of Issuance : 2024 The letter says "If you itemized deductions on your federal income tax return and claimed a deduction for state and local income taxes paid, you may need to report some or all of the amount shown in Box 2 to the IRS. Additionally, any of this refund amount reported as income on your federal income tax return should be deducted from your income on your Indiana tax return." It also mentions I can visit https://www.in.gov/dor/individual-income-taxes/form-1099-8 for FAQs or use Indiana's new e-services portal called INTIME (Indiana Taxpayer Information Management Engine) to view my individual tax account and message them with questions. But I'm confused because I'm still waiting on my federal refund from 2023! I filed in February, verified through id.me months ago, and keep seeing these 571 and 290 codes on my transcript with no DDD. Does this 1099-G from Indiana have anything to do with my federal refund delay? Is anyone else experiencing these long delays with the same transcript codes? I check WMR obsessively and it's driving me crazy.
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Ugh I feel your pain! Been waiting since March 2023 myself with similar codes. That 1099-G from Indiana is totally separate from your federal refund - it's just saying you got a state refund in 2024 for your 2023 taxes, which you might need to report as income on your 2024 federal return if you itemized deductions. It has nothing to do with your federal refund delay. The 571/290 codes are actually good signs though - means they released a hold and made an adjustment. You should hopefully see movement soon! 🤞
Thanks for explaining that about the 1099-G! I was so confused thinking it was connected to my federal delay somehow. Good to know the codes are actually positive signs - gives me some hope after almost a year of waiting! 🙏
I totally feel your frustration! Been in a similar situation myself. Those codes 571 and 290 are actually good signs - the 571 means they released a previous hold on your account, and 290 indicates they made some kind of adjustment to your return. This usually means your refund is in the final stages of processing. Regarding the Indiana 1099-G, that's completely separate from your federal refund delay. Since you received a state refund in 2024 for your 2023 taxes, Indiana is required to send you this form. If you itemized deductions on your 2023 federal return and claimed state tax payments, you might need to report some of that $1106 refund as income on your 2024 federal return (the one you'll file this year). The federal delay with those codes typically resolves within 2-4 weeks, so hopefully you'll see that 846 refund code with a DDD soon! Keep checking your transcript rather than WMR - it's more accurate. Hang in there! 💪
Mason Lopez
Just wanted to share that I found another way to enter 1099-G Box 6 in H&R Block. If you go to the "search" feature (magnifying glass icon) and type "grants" or "taxable grants," it will take you directly to the right input screen! Saved me a ton of time digging through menus.
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Vera Visnjic
•OMG THANK YOU!!!! I've been looking for this for an hour!!! The search feature took me right to it. For anyone else - after searching "taxable grants" it took me to a screen under Miscellaneous Income where I could enter the amount. Wish I'd thought of just searching in the first place lol
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LilMama23
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with this exact issue for weeks. I tried the search method that Mason suggested and it worked perfectly - just searched "taxable grants" and it took me right to the correct input screen under Miscellaneous Income. For anyone else still having trouble, I also discovered that if you start entering your 1099-G through the normal workflow and get to the section where it asks about unemployment compensation, there's actually a small "What about other income on this form?" link at the bottom of that screen. Clicking that gives you options for other types of 1099-G income including grants. It's frustrating that H&R Block doesn't make this more obvious since grants are becoming more common, especially with all the pandemic relief programs over the past few years. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions!
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Sophia Nguyen
•This is such a lifesaver! I just tried the "What about other income on this form?" link you mentioned and it worked perfectly. I had been going through the unemployment section thinking that was the only way to handle 1099-G forms, but completely missed that little link at the bottom. It's crazy how many different ways there are to get to the same place in this software - search function, Other Income menu, or that hidden link. Really appreciate everyone sharing their different approaches because what works for one person's version might not work for another's. The pandemic relief programs definitely made this more common - I never had to deal with taxable grants before 2021!
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