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Has anyone noticed how FreeTaxUSA handles the quarterly estimated tax payments for next year? I switched from TurboTax this year too but I'm confused about whether I need to make quarterly payments for my gig work.
If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes after your W-2 withholding, you should make quarterly payments to avoid an underpayment penalty. FreeTaxUSA should generate the estimated payment vouchers for you on the final review screen.
Thanks for clarifying that! I missed those vouchers completely. Going back to check that section now. Really appreciate the help since the penalties for underpayment sound like no fun at all.
I went through the exact same struggle last year switching from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA for my gig work! That preliminary summary you saw is totally normal - FreeTaxUSA shows you running totals as you go, which can be confusing at first. Make sure you complete the self-employment sections for both your DoorDash 1099-NEC and UberEats 1099-K. The key is entering all your business expenses - especially mileage tracking if you kept records. I saved about $1,200 in taxes just from properly deducting my delivery miles. One tip: don't panic if the numbers look high before you finish entering all your expenses. The software will recalculate everything once you complete each section. Also, double-check that you're not accidentally reporting the same income twice if any amounts appear on both your 1099-K and 1099-NEC - that's a common issue with delivery apps. FreeTaxUSA definitely has a learning curve compared to TurboTax, but it handles gig work just fine once you get through all the sections. Take your time and don't rush through the business expense parts!
This is really helpful! I'm new to gig work and just started with DoorDash last month. I'm already worried about next year's taxes since I have no idea how to track mileage properly. Do you use a specific app or just write it down manually? And when you say "delivery miles" - does that include the drive TO the restaurant or just from restaurant to customer?
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Does anyone know if the VITA certification tests are the same difficulty level as last year? I barely passed the Advanced certification and am nervous about doing it again.
In my experience (5 years as a VITA volunteer), the difficulty stays pretty consistent year to year. The Advanced test always has some tricky scenarios, especially around self-employment and capital gains. My advice: pay special attention to the practice scenarios in the training materials. They're usually very similar to what shows up on the actual test. And remember you can use the Pub 4012 resource guide during the test - it's not cheating, it's exactly what you'll do when helping actual taxpayers!
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been coordinating a VITA site for 3 years. A few additional tips for returning volunteers: - Start checking the Link & Learn system regularly starting in early November - sometimes the new year's tests roll out gradually - Don't wait until the last minute! Sites usually want all volunteers certified by mid-December so we can schedule training sessions - If you're planning to do Advanced certification again, I'd recommend reviewing Schedule C (business income/expenses) and the retirement savings contributions credit - these seem to trip up a lot of people Also, for anyone worried about the difficulty level - the IRS actually provides really good feedback when you get questions wrong during practice tests. Use that to your advantage! The goal isn't to make the tests hard, it's to make sure volunteers are prepared to help taxpayers accurately. Looking forward to another great tax season helping folks in our community!
This is really helpful advice, especially about not waiting until the last minute! I'm new to VITA volunteering and was wondering - when you mention scheduling training sessions by mid-December, are these in addition to the online certifications? Or are you referring to the online tests themselves? I want to make sure I understand the full timeline so I can plan accordingly.
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This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm a tax professional and wanted to add a few clarifications that might help: **Important correction on SEP IRA establishment timing**: Actually, SEP IRAs can be established AND funded up until the tax filing deadline (including extensions), not just by December 31st. This gives you more flexibility than some other retirement accounts. **Backdoor Roth considerations**: With Option 1 (1099 + SEP IRA), be aware that having a SEP IRA balance can complicate backdoor Roth IRA conversions due to the pro-rata rule. If you're in higher income brackets and rely on backdoor Roth strategies, this might influence your decision. **Employment classification risk**: Make sure the work you're doing for your husband's S-Corp truly qualifies for 1099 treatment vs W2. The IRS has specific guidelines about worker classification, and getting this wrong can lead to penalties and back taxes. Consider factors like who controls how/when/where the work is performed, whether you use your own equipment, etc. **Payroll tax savings with S-Corp**: While Option 1 gives you the SEP IRA opportunity, Option 2 (W2 from S-Corp) means the business pays half the FICA taxes, and you'd avoid self-employment tax entirely on that income. This could save you about $2,677 in taxes on $35k (7.65% employer portion of FICA vs 15.3% SE tax). The math really depends on your specific situation - income levels, state taxes, other deductions, and long-term retirement planning goals.
Thank you for those important clarifications! As someone new to navigating retirement accounts with multiple income sources, this is exactly the kind of professional insight I needed. The correction about SEP IRA establishment timing is huge - I was worried I'd already missed the window for this year since we're getting close to year-end. Knowing I have until the filing deadline gives me much more time to make an informed decision. The employment classification point is really important too. I hadn't fully considered whether my work for my husband's S-Corp would truly qualify as independent contractor work versus employee work. We definitely need to review those IRS guidelines carefully to make sure we're not setting ourselves up for problems down the road. One follow-up question: when you mention the payroll tax savings with Option 2 (W2 from S-Corp), are there any minimum salary requirements we need to be aware of? I've heard that S-Corp owners need to pay themselves "reasonable compensation" as W2 employees before taking distributions, but does that apply to non-owner employees like me as well? This thread has been more educational than any tax publication I've tried to read!
@Katherine Shultz Great question about minimum salary requirements! For non-owner employees of an S-Corp, there typically aren t'the same reasonable "compensation requirements" that apply to owner-employees. The IRS is mainly concerned about S-Corp owners who try to avoid payroll taxes by taking everything as distributions instead of salary. However, there are still some considerations: the compensation should be reasonable for the actual work being performed you (can t'pay someone $100k for filing papers once a week ,)and all compensation for services rendered should generally go through payroll rather than being disguised as distributions or other payments. One additional thing to consider with the W2 option: you d'be eligible for unemployment benefits if the work arrangement ends, whereas 1099 contractors typically aren t.'This might not be a major factor in your decision, but it s'worth noting. Also, @Miguel Silva raised an excellent point about the backdoor Roth complications with SEP IRAs. If you re doing'backdoor Roth conversions now or might need to in the future due to (income limits on direct Roth contributions , having)a SEP IRA balance makes that strategy much more complex and potentially less beneficial due to pro-rata rules. This really highlights why it s worth'running the complete analysis - retirement contributions, current taxes, future tax planning strategies, and administrative complexity all factor into the optimal choice.
This has been such an incredibly thorough discussion! As someone who's been lurking in tax forums for years trying to understand these complex retirement account rules, I'm amazed by the quality of advice here. I wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant: **state-specific retirement account protections**. Different states have varying levels of creditor protection for SEP IRAs versus employer-sponsored plans. If asset protection is a concern in your situation, this could be another factor in your decision between Option 1 and Option 2. Also, for anyone following along who might be in a similar situation - I learned the hard way that you should **document the business purpose and nature of work** if you go with Option 1 (1099). Keep detailed records of what services you're providing, when, and how the compensation was determined. The IRS can and does scrutinize family business arrangements more closely, especially when there are tax benefits involved. One last tip: consider setting up a separate business checking account for the 1099 income if you go that route. It makes tracking expenses and income much easier for tax purposes, and helps establish that this is legitimate business activity rather than just shifting money between spouses for tax benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise - this thread should be bookmarked for anyone dealing with mixed W2/1099 income and retirement planning!
This is such excellent additional advice! The point about state-specific retirement account protections is something I never would have thought to consider. I'm definitely going to research how my state handles SEP IRA vs employer plan protections before making my decision. The documentation tip is really valuable too. I can see how family business arrangements would get extra scrutiny from the IRS, especially when there are significant tax benefits at stake. Better to be over-prepared with documentation than to have to scramble if there are ever questions. The separate business checking account suggestion makes a lot of sense for the 1099 route. It would definitely help with bookkeeping and make it clear that this is legitimate business income rather than just moving money around for tax purposes. One question that occurred to me reading through all these great responses: if I go with Option 1 and set up a SEP IRA, should I be concerned about having "too many" retirement accounts? I already have a 401k at my main job, a traditional IRA from an old employer rollover, and a Roth IRA. Would adding a SEP IRA make things overly complicated for management and rebalancing purposes, or is that not really a concern? Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - I feel so much more informed about my options now!
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I just wanted to share another positive outcome to hopefully ease your mind! I had almost the exact same situation happen to me about 5 months ago - got a "TCS TREAS 449" deposit for $743 that completely caught me off guard. After reading through all these helpful experiences, I can see this is incredibly common. In my case, it turned out to be an adjustment to my Child and Dependent Care Credit. The IRS recalculated it after processing my return and found I was eligible for more than I had originally claimed. What really helped me was logging into my IRS online account like everyone suggested. The account transcript showed exactly what the payment was for and gave me immediate peace of mind. The official explanation letter (CP12 notice) didn't arrive until about 10 days later, but at least I wasn't sitting there worrying about it in the meantime. The "TCS TREAS 449" code really does seem to be a reliable indicator that it's legitimate - everyone's stories here confirm that. It's just frustrating that the IRS deposits the money first and explains it later! You'd think they could give us a heads up, but apparently that's just how their system works. Based on your timeline (filing in February, already getting your regular refund) and the reasonable amount, this is almost certainly a legitimate credit adjustment in your favor. Don't lose sleep over it - just check your IRS account online for confirmation and you should have your answers within minutes!
This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm completely new to dealing with tax situations like this, and when I first saw that "TCS TREAS 449" deposit in my account, I honestly thought it might be some kind of mistake or fraud. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It's amazing how many people have gone through this exact same thing with these mystery Treasury deposits! The Child and Dependent Care Credit adjustment you mentioned is another possibility I hadn't thought of - I do have childcare expenses, so that could definitely apply to my situation. I really appreciate how everyone has emphasized checking the IRS online account first. I've been putting it off because I was nervous about what I might find, but it sounds like that's really the fastest way to get real answers instead of just worrying about it. It's kind of wild that the IRS just drops money into your account with zero explanation and then sends the paperwork later! But hearing all these success stories where it turned out to be legitimate money people were owed makes me feel so much better about my situation. Thanks for sharing your experience - this community has been incredibly helpful for someone who's never dealt with this before!
I just wanted to add my experience to help put your mind at ease! I had the exact same thing happen about 3 months ago - got a "TCS TREAS 449" deposit for $564 that completely blindsided me. After going through the same panic you're experiencing, I finally checked my IRS online account and discovered it was an adjustment to my Earned Income Credit. Apparently their system recalculated it after processing my return and determined I qualified for more than I originally claimed. What's really reassuring is reading through all these similar experiences in this thread - it seems like these Treasury 449 deposits are incredibly common and almost always turn out to be legitimate adjustments in the taxpayer's favor. The IRS has been doing systematic reviews and frequently finds that people didn't claim all the credits they were entitled to. The frustrating part is definitely how they just deposit the money first with zero explanation, then send the paperwork later! But based on everyone's stories here, that seems to be standard operating procedure for them. Given that you filed recently and already got your regular refund, plus the reasonable amount, I'd say you can stop worrying about this being an error. The "TCS TREAS 449" code is specifically used for legitimate tax refunds and adjustments. Definitely check your IRS online account for the details, but you can probably sleep better knowing this is almost certainly money you're entitled to keep!
Sofia Peña
I've been through this exact same frustrating situation! Error 6000 is essentially the IRS system telling you that your account has been flagged for manual review, which creates this impossible catch-22 where they send you a letter demanding online verification but their own system won't let you complete it. Here's what you need to do (learned this the hard way after weeks of getting nowhere): **Call 800-830-5084 - the Identity Verification line, NOT the 888 help desk number in the error message.** The help desk literally cannot remove account access blocks. They'll just waste your time and transfer you around. **Call at 7am EST when they open for shorter wait times.** I know it's painfully early, but I got through in under an hour vs 3+ hours later in the day. **Have these documents ready:** - Your SSN - The exact verification letter you received - Copy of last year's tax return - Current address info When I finally got through to the right department, the agent immediately knew what Error 6000 meant and said it's extremely common right now. She could see my account had a "manual review flag" that was automatically blocking online verification. She removed it while I was on the phone, and I completed the online verification within 5 minutes of hanging up. Don't ignore that verification letter - they can delay your refund or hold up future returns if you don't respond. But once you reach the identity verification specialists, it's usually a quick fix. The system is absolutely broken, but there is a solution!
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Carmen Lopez
•This is exactly the detailed guidance I've been looking for! I'm dealing with the same Error 6000 nightmare right now and have been going in circles trying to figure out the right approach. Your breakdown of calling the 800-830-5084 identity verification line instead of the general help desk makes so much sense - I wasted hours yesterday getting transferred around by people who clearly couldn't actually help with account blocks. The early morning call timing tip is really valuable too. I'm going to set my alarm for 6:45am tomorrow and call right when they open with all my documents organized. It's such a relief to know this is a known issue with a real solution once you get to the right department. Thanks for taking the time to share such specific, actionable advice!
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Aiden Rodríguez
I'm going through the exact same issue right now! Got my identity verification letter last week and have been hitting Error 6000 every single time I try to access the online verification system. It's so incredibly frustrating that they send you an official government letter telling you to verify online, but then their own system blocks you from doing exactly what they're demanding. Reading through all these responses has been a huge relief - I had no idea this was such a common problem where the verification request and the system error are directly connected. It makes sense now that the account gets flagged for manual review (triggering the letter), but that same flag prevents online access until someone manually clears it. I'm definitely going to call that 800-830-5084 identity verification line first thing tomorrow morning instead of wasting more time with the general help desk. The consistent success stories from people who reached that specific department give me actual hope that this bureaucratic nightmare has a real solution. Has anyone had any luck getting through on that line recently? I'm wondering if wait times have improved at all or if I should still plan for a multi-hour ordeal even calling early morning.
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Shelby Bauman
•I just called the 800-830-5084 line yesterday morning and actually got through in about an hour and fifteen minutes! Way better than the horror stories I was expecting. The agent was super helpful and said Error 6000 has been really common lately - she explained that their fraud detection system has been extra sensitive after some recent updates, so even normal things like address changes or filing from a different location can trigger these manual review flags. She cleared my account block in literally 5 minutes once we got through the verification questions, and I was able to complete the online verification right after hanging up. Definitely call right at 7am EST when they open - the wait times seem to be much shorter in the morning. Good luck!
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