Just my two cents - I put aside 35% of all my 1099 income and it's always been more than enough. Better to have a little extra saved than not enough! Plus if you have leftovers after paying taxes, it's like a little bonus to yourself.

Another thing to consider is tracking your business expenses meticulously from day one! Since you're doing piece work at $2.75 per item, keep records of anything you spend money on for this gig - computer equipment, software subscriptions, internet costs, office supplies, etc. I learned this the hard way my first year doing 1099 work. I was so focused on setting aside money for taxes that I forgot to track my deductible expenses. Ended up missing out on about $800 in deductions because I didn't have proper records. Now I use a simple spreadsheet and save every receipt - it's made a huge difference in reducing my taxable income. Also, if you're working from home for this gig, look into the home office deduction. Even if it's just a corner of your bedroom, you might be able to deduct a portion of your rent/mortgage, utilities, etc. Just make sure that space is used exclusively for work.

FYI - I got audited on exactly this issue in 2023. Be very careful about trying to deduct personal travel with some work mixed in. The IRS agent was particularly focused on the "primary purpose" test. In my case, they disallowed deductions for trips where I had work meetings but couldn't prove the trips wouldn't have happened without those meetings. What worked in my favor was having email trails showing the business meetings were arranged BEFORE booking travel, calendar invites with agenda items, and detailed notes from the meetings showing business outcomes. For remote work days during personal trips, they were much more skeptical, but did allow partial deductions where I had substantial documentation.

The audit experience shared by TommyKapitz is really valuable insight. Documentation is absolutely crucial, especially for self-employed individuals who have more flexibility but also face more scrutiny. For tracking, I use a combination of tools: a simple spreadsheet to log daily work hours during travel, screenshot timestamps of video calls/meetings, and I always send myself summary emails after business calls that include the date, participants, and key discussion points. For expenses, I photograph every receipt immediately and note the business purpose right in the photo. One thing I learned from my CPA is to be conservative and only claim what you can clearly justify. The "would I have taken this trip anyway" test is key - if the answer is yes, then you're looking at partial deductions at best, and you need rock-solid documentation to support even those. The IRS seems to be cracking down on mixed-purpose travel deductions, so erring on the side of caution is probably wise.

What filing status did you use? Head of household? This matters. Different processing times. First year after divorce can trigger reviews. Not always delays though. Did you claim dependents? That's another factor. Nine weeks seems excessive. Most returns process faster.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed as single for the first time after my divorce was finalized in December, and I'm also stuck in this waiting period. What's really frustrating is that the IRS website says 21 days for e-filed returns, but then when you call they immediately jump to 9 weeks. I've been checking my transcript obsessively and see absolutely no movement beyond the initial acceptance. One thing I learned from calling multiple times is that they have different "holds" in their system - some are automatic reviews that resolve themselves, others need manual intervention. The representatives won't always tell you which type you have unless you ask specifically. Has anyone here had success getting a straight answer about what type of review their return is actually under? Also, @Angelina Farar - thanks for mentioning Claimyr! I had no idea services like that existed. The 237 minutes of hold time across 17 calls sounds exactly like what I've been dealing with.

Has anyone dealt with the property tax exemption issues across different states? We're a 501(C)(3) in Oregon working on affordable housing, and the property tax rules are completely different in each county, let alone different states.

Based on my experience with a similar 501(C)(3) housing development project, I'd strongly recommend getting a private letter ruling from the IRS before proceeding with something this large. With 1000 acres and multiple states involved, you're looking at a substantial investment that could face significant tax consequences if structured incorrectly. The key issue will be demonstrating that your development activities are substantially related to your exempt purpose. Simply being a housing nonprofit isn't enough - the IRS will look at factors like: Are you serving low-income populations? Are there deed restrictions ensuring long-term affordability? What percentage of units will be affordable vs. market rate? For the multi-state aspect, you'll need to qualify as a foreign nonprofit in each state where you operate. California in particular has strict requirements for out-of-state nonprofits conducting business there. Each state also has different property tax exemption rules - some require annual applications while others are automatic once approved. Given the scale and complexity, I'd budget for both a nonprofit attorney and a tax professional with multi-state experience. The upfront investment in proper structuring will save you significant headaches and potential tax liabilities down the road.

its giving sketchy vibes ngl... stick to regular banks

Been using Cash App for refunds for 3 years now and honestly it's been hit or miss. Got my refund in 2 days one year, then last year it took almost a month with zero explanation from support. The $25k limit thing is real too - if you're expecting a big refund you might hit that cap. I'd say if your refund is under $5k and you don't mind potentially waiting longer, it's okay. But for peace of mind, traditional bank is definitely the safer route.