Just want to add an important warning - NEVER give these callers any personal information and NEVER agree to pay anything! A friend of mine got scammed out of $2,400 because the caller knew some basic info about him (probably from data breaches) which made the call seem legitimate. The scammers had him buy Target gift cards and read the numbers to them over the phone. The real IRS will NEVER ask for gift cards as payment!

I've been dealing with these exact same calls! What helped me was creating an account on the IRS website (irs.gov) and checking my tax transcript directly - it shows your complete tax history and any balances owed. Since you received your refunds, you're almost certainly fine, but seeing it officially documented gave me complete peace of mind. Another red flag with these scam calls is that they often demand immediate payment and threaten arrest or asset seizure. The real IRS sends multiple written notices before taking any collection action, and they accept standard payment methods like checks or bank transfers - never gift cards or cryptocurrency. If you want to be 100% sure, you can also request a tax account transcript by mail using Form 4506-T. It's free and comes directly from the IRS, so you'll have official documentation of your tax status. Stay strong and don't let these scammers stress you out!

Has anyone used TurboTax for their Turo business? Do they have a specific section for car sharing income or do you just put everything under general business income? Trying to figure out the easiest way to handle this.

I've been doing Turo hosting for about 2 years now and went through the exact same concerns in my first year. The IRS absolutely recognizes legitimate car rental businesses on Schedule C, even with depreciation losses - the key is demonstrating business intent. Here's what helped me establish legitimacy: I kept detailed records of all rental activity, maintenance, and expenses; created a simple business plan showing how I intended to grow the operation; opened a separate business checking account; and documented my efforts to optimize listings and increase bookings. The depreciation losses are completely normal in the first few years of any asset-heavy business. What matters is that you're genuinely trying to make a profit and treating it like a business, not just using it as a way to write off your personal car expenses. Keep good records showing the percentage of business vs personal use, and you should be fine. Your CPA friend is right about hobby loss rules, but they mainly apply when someone clearly isn't trying to run a profitable business. If you're actively managing your Turo listings, responding to guests promptly, maintaining the vehicle for rental purposes, and generally operating like a business owner, you're well within legitimate territory.

Watch out for vesting periods with these employer student loan benefits! I learned this the hard way. My company offered $3,000/year toward student loans, but it had a 3-year vesting period. I left after 18 months and had to PAY BACK all the contributions they'd made! Always read the fine print of these programs. Some questions to ask: - Is there a vesting schedule? - Do you have to repay if you leave before a certain time? - Does the money go directly to loans or to you as taxable income? - Is there a lifetime maximum benefit?

Ruby, I completely understand your hesitation about approaching HR - I felt the same way when I was in your situation! But honestly, most HR departments are familiar with these programs now and see them as standard benefits, not a sign that you're struggling. Before you talk to HR, I'd suggest doing some homework first. Check your company's benefits portal or intranet - sometimes these programs are listed under "education assistance" or "professional development" rather than student loans specifically. You can also look at your company's career page to see if they advertise student loan assistance as a recruitment tool. When you do approach HR, frame it professionally: "I'm interested in learning more about our student loan repayment benefits and how to enroll." Don't feel like you need to share your debt amount or financial struggles - just ask about the program details. One tip: if your company doesn't currently offer this benefit, you could suggest it! Many companies are looking for low-cost ways to attract and retain talent, and with the tax advantages, these programs are relatively inexpensive for employers to implement. Good luck with your $58k debt - that's definitely manageable with the right strategy, especially if you can get employer help!

Does anyone know if contributing to a SEP IRA instead would be a better option in this situation? My business income varies a lot year to year.

This is exactly the kind of situation where getting the calculation right is crucial! Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like your LLC income will likely count toward your MAGI regardless of distributions, but the specific tax treatment depends on your LLC structure. I'd strongly recommend getting a definitive answer before making any contributions to avoid penalties. The backdoor Roth strategy mentioned by Wesley could be a great backup plan if your total income does push you over the limit. One thing to consider - if your LLC income is significant enough to potentially disqualify you from direct Roth contributions, you might also want to explore whether maxing out a SEP-IRA could help reduce your MAGI enough to get back under the Roth income limits. Sometimes the deduction from business retirement contributions can create enough breathing room to qualify for both strategies. Make sure to document everything carefully whichever route you take. The IRS is pretty strict about retirement contribution limits, so having your calculations and reasoning well-documented will save you headaches later.

keep calling them every week thats what i did untill they fixed mine

Code 291 basically means they adjusted your refund amount down from what you originally claimed on your amended return. It's super common with amended returns - they just found something they disagreed with in your calculations. The good news is that once you see 291, you're usually pretty close to getting your refund processed. I'd expect maybe 2-4 weeks before you see the money hit your account, but amended returns can be unpredictable timing-wise. Just keep checking your transcript for updates!