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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Just a heads up, don't forget to check if your state taxes need to be filed too! I had a similar situation a few years back and focused only on catching up with federal returns, completely forgetting about state taxes. Ended up with additional penalties from my state tax authority that could have been avoided.
Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about state taxes! I've been living in the same state the whole time (Michigan), so I guess I'll need to file those too. Are the penalties for state taxes similar to federal?
State tax penalties vary depending on where you live, but in general they follow a similar structure to federal penalties - there's usually a failure-to-file penalty and interest on any unpaid tax amounts. Some states might be more aggressive with collection than others. Michigan has its own set of penalties, but they're typically less severe than federal ones. The important thing is to file both federal and state returns for each missing year. Some tax software automatically prepares your state return along with your federal, which makes the process easier. Just make sure you're using the correct forms for each specific tax year, as tax laws and forms change periodically.
Has anyone used TurboTax to file previous years' returns? Do they let you access older versions of their software or do I need to find the forms somewhere else?
TurboTax does offer previous years' versions, but only going back about 3 years. You have to buy each previous year separately which gets expensive fast. I found it easier to use FreeTaxUSA for my back taxes - they charge way less for prior year returns and have forms going back several years.
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For what it's worth, I've been a dog trainer receiving 1099s for 5 years. The classification of "actively involved" is basically asking if you personally do the work that generates the income. Since you physically bathe and groom dogs, you're actively involved. It's different from passive income like if you owned a grooming salon but hired others to do all the actual grooming work - then you might not be "actively involved" in the same way. One tip: start keeping track of ALL your expenses related to this work. Special clothing you only wear for grooming, tools you purchase, products you buy, even a portion of your phone bill if you use it to communicate with the owner about scheduling. These can add up to significant deductions!
Thanks for the explanation and tips! I've actually started tracking my expenses already - I bought some special non-slip shoes just for work and my own grooming scissors. Should I be saving receipts for everything? And do I need to formally register as a business or anything since I'm technically "self-employed"?
Yes, absolutely save receipts for everything work-related! Digital copies work too - I take photos of receipts with my phone and organize them in a folder. For larger purchases like equipment, keep the original receipt if possible. You don't necessarily need to formally register as a business for tax purposes - filing Schedule C with your personal tax return is sufficient for a sole proprietorship, which is what you are by default. However, some localities require business licenses even for independent contractors, so check your city/county requirements. It's usually a simple form and small fee if needed. Some groomers also get liability insurance to protect themselves - might be worth considering as your work increases.
I messed up on this exact question last year! I said "no" to "actively involved" because like you, I didn't think of myself as having my own business (I do house cleaning on 1099). My return got flagged for review and I ended up having to file an amended return. The IRS considers 1099 workers to be self-employed business owners, even if it's just you providing a service to one company. "Actively involved" just means you personally do the work that earns the money, as opposed to passive income from investments or something. Check "yes" and save yourself a headache!
Did you end up owing more taxes when you had to amend? I'm worried because I think I might have answered this wrong too on my last return for my pet sitting business.
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Former IRS employee here. The Schedule C vs. Schedule E question for short-term rentals is one of the most frequently misunderstood areas of tax law, even among professionals. Here's a simplified way to think about it: - Schedule C = You're running a service business (like a hotel) - Schedule E = You're renting property (passive income) The key factors the IRS looks at: 1. Average length of stay (under 7 days leans toward C) 2. Services provided (more services = more like C) 3. Who performs the services (you doing everything = more like C) Substantial services would include: daily cleaning, meal service, concierge, transportation, tours, etc. Basic services that DON'T trigger Schedule C include: furnishing the property, utilities, trash, standard maintenance. Your CPA isn't automatically right just because they're a CPA. Get a second opinion or request they provide the specific tax code section supporting their position.
Thank you so much for this breakdown! This is exactly my situation - I provide the furnished space, basic amenities, and occasionally coordinate cleanings between guests, but nothing like daily housekeeping or meal service. If I decide to push back with my current CPA or find a new one, are there specific tax code sections or IRS publications I should reference to support the Schedule E position?
The primary reference you want is IRC Section 469 and the related regulations that define "rental activity" versus "business activity." Also useful is IRS Publication 527 (Residential Rental Property) which discusses this distinction. For your specific situation, Revenue Procedure 2019-38 is particularly relevant as it provides a safe harbor for treating certain rental real estate enterprises as a business for the qualified business income deduction - but notably, this doesn't automatically make it subject to self-employment tax. The Tax Court has consistently held that providing basic amenities like furniture, utilities, and occasional cleaning between tenants doesn't rise to the level of "substantial services" that would trigger Schedule C treatment. The case Curphey v. Commissioner is often cited in these situations.
Has anyone considered that both could be right depending on how the business is structured? I have a similar short-term rental and my tax guy initially wanted to put it on Schedule C, but after discussing my involvement level, we ended up splitting it. The rental income itself goes on Schedule E, but we set up a separate "property management" business on Schedule C for the service portion. Since the actual service component is pretty minimal (just coordination and occasional guest interaction), the Schedule C portion is small and so is the SE tax hit. Might be worth discussing this hybrid approach with your CPA as a compromise position?
This is actually a really smart approach I hadn't considered. How exactly did you determine what percentage goes where? Is it based on time spent on services vs. just providing the property?
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Don't forget that if you owe state taxes, the rules for discharge in bankruptcy can be different than federal taxes. Each state has their own rules about how bankruptcy affects tax debts. For example, in some states, sales tax liabilities are NEVER dischargeable, even in bankruptcy. Make sure your bankruptcy attorney is familiar with your state's specific rules.
I hadn't even thought about state taxes! I'm in California - do you know if their rules are similar to the federal ones for discharge?
California generally follows similar rules to the federal discharge rules for income taxes, but there are some important differences. California has its own timing requirements, and certain types of California tax debts (like sales tax if you had a business) are never dischargeable. The key with California is making sure all required tax returns have been filed with the state before bankruptcy. California can be particularly aggressive with tax collection after bankruptcy if they determine any taxes weren't properly discharged. I'd definitely recommend discussing your specific California tax situation with your bankruptcy attorney, as state-specific issues can sometimes be overlooked.
Another thing to consider is that your tax filing status might change after bankruptcy. If you're married and only one spouse files for bankruptcy, that can create complications for future tax returns. My wife filed for bankruptcy last year but I didn't, and our tax situation got super complicated.
How did you handle filing taxes after that? Did you have to file separately or could you still file jointly? We're in a similar situation.
Philip Cowan
Just want to add some clarification based on my experience as someone who helps with ACA enrollment. The specific rule that allows your cousin to keep his premium tax credits is in the IRS regulations (26 CFR § 1.36B-2(b)(6)) which creates an exception for people with income below 100% FPL. The key factor is that at the time of enrollment, the Marketplace determined he was ELIGIBLE for the advance premium tax credits based on his projected income. Since his actual income ended up lower than expected, this special rule kicks in to prevent him from having to repay. This is different from someone who knowingly provides incorrect income estimates. The system is designed to be forgiving for unexpected income changes while still maintaining program integrity.
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Caesar Grant
•Does this same rule apply to people who enrolled but then lost their job mid-year? My sister's income dropped below the threshold after a layoff but she still had marketplace coverage with premium tax credits for the full year.
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Philip Cowan
•Yes, this same rule applies to job loss situations as well. The critical factor is that when your sister initially enrolled, she provided an income estimate that qualified her for premium tax credits. The fact that her income later dropped below the threshold due to an unexpected layoff is exactly the type of situation this rule was designed to protect. The IRS recognizes that income can be unpredictable, especially with job loss, reduced hours, or difficulty finding employment. As long as the Marketplace determined she was eligible for advance premium tax credits at enrollment based on her good-faith income projection, she should be able to claim the premium tax credit for the entire year even though her actual income ended up below 100% FPL.
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Lena Schultz
Question about this situation - does it matter what immigration status the person has? My friend is on a student visa and had a similar situation with marketplace coverage and low income. Will the same rules apply to him or are there different rules for different visa types?
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Gemma Andrews
•Immigration status definitely matters for ACA coverage. F-1 student visa holders are typically considered "non-resident aliens" for tax purposes for the first 5 calendar years, which affects eligibility. They're usually required to have health insurance through their school anyway, not the marketplace. If your friend got marketplace coverage, they might have issues because students on F-1 visas often don't qualify for premium tax credits. It depends on how long they've been in the US and whether they pass the "substantial presence test" for tax residency.
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