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Be aware that even if you file before the May 17 deadline, there might be processing delays for refunds from a 2020 return filed in 2024. The IRS is still dealing with backlogs, and paper returns (which you'll have to use for 2020 at this point) take longer to process than electronic returns. Also, make sure you're using the correct tax forms from 2020, not current year forms. Tax laws change, and using the wrong year's forms will cause your return to be rejected. You can download 2020 tax forms from the IRS website's prior year forms section.
Where exactly do you find prior year forms? I've been looking all over the IRS website and can't figure out where to get 2020 forms specifically.
You can find prior year forms on the IRS website by going to https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions and then clicking on "Find Prior Year Forms & Instructions" in the left sidebar. From there, you can select "2020" from the dropdown menu to access all forms from that tax year. For the basic 1040 form from 2020, you can directly go to: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2020.pdf. Make sure you also download any other schedules you might need like Schedule 1, Schedule C (for self-employment), etc. from that same prior year section. The instructions for each form are also available there, which can be helpful since the rules may have changed since 2020.
Dylan Wright
If u do get ur 2020 refund this late will they pay interest on it? Just wondering cuz I might be in the same boat for my 2020 taxes.
Sofia Torres
ā¢Yes! The IRS actually does pay interest on refunds that are issued more than 45 days after the filing deadline or the date you file, whichever is later. For a 2020 return filed in 2024, you'd likely get interest calculated from the date you file. The interest rate changes quarterly but has been around 5-7% recently (compounded daily).
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Zoe Stavros
I've been in the restaurant industry for 8 years, and this tip/tax withholding issue is super common. Your employer is supposed to make sure enough is withheld to cover your tax obligations, but with the $2.89/hr base pay and insurance deductions, there's often nothing left. What I do is submit a W-4 with additional withholding specified, so they take extra from my larger paychecks (when I have good tip weeks). It's not perfect but helps avoid a massive tax bill at filing time. Also, make sure your employer is applying your reported tips to your Social Security earnings. Some shady places don't, and that affects your future Social Security benefits.
Jamal Harris
ā¢How do you figure out how much extra to have withheld on your W-4? I always end up owing hundreds and get hit with an underpayment penalty too.
Zoe Stavros
ā¢I use the IRS withholding estimator tool on their website. It lets you input your expected tip income and other variables, then recommends how much additional withholding to request on your W-4. For the underpayment penalties, you might want to look into making quarterly estimated tax payments instead of waiting until filing season. That's what I started doing - I set aside about 15% of my tips each week, then make quarterly payments using Form 1040-ES. It's a bit more work throughout the year, but way better than getting hit with those penalties every April.
Mei Chen
Has anyone used the free VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) services for this kind of situation? I know they help with taxes if you make under $60,000 and I'm wondering if they can handle restaurant worker tax situations with all the tip complications?
I used VITA last year for my restaurant taxes. They were great with my W-2 and basic tip reporting but struggled a bit with some of the more complex situations like allocated tips vs reported tips. It probably depends on which volunteer you get and their experience level.
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Isabel Vega
Don't forget about the Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A)! As a self-employed rideshare driver, you can potentially deduct 20% of your net business income. This is ON TOP OF your regular business deductions like mileage or car expenses. Also, make sure you're setting aside money for self-employment taxes. The current rate is 15.3% of your net earnings (to cover Social Security and Medicare taxes that an employer would normally handle).
Wait, that sounds really important but I've never heard of this 199A thing. Is this something that TurboTax automatically calculates or do I need to specifically claim it somewhere? Also is there an income limit?
Isabel Vega
ā¢TurboTax should calculate it automatically when you enter your self-employment income, but it's always good to double-check. There are income thresholds where it begins to phase out, but they're quite high ($170,050 for single filers and $340,100 for joint filers in 2025), so most rideshare drivers won't need to worry about that. The calculation is generally straightforward - it's 20% of your qualified business income (your profit after expenses). This deduction directly reduces your taxable income, which can save you a significant amount. It's a relatively new deduction that many self-employed people miss if they're doing taxes without software or professional help.
Something NOBODY mentioned yet - if you're making decent money with rideshare, you should be making QUARTERLY estimated tax payments! I learned this the hard way and got hit with underpayment penalties. Since you don't have an employer withholding taxes, you're supposed to send estimated payments to the IRS four times a year. The due dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year).
Do you know if there's a minimum amount you need to earn before quarterly payments are required? I only drive part-time and make maybe $500 a month.
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Have you tried using the NAICS code search tool on the Census Bureau website? It lets you search by keyword and browse through the hierarchy of business activities. I found it super helpful for my situation (I do conservation work on historical documents).
Sunny Wang
ā¢Thanks for suggesting that! I hadn't thought to look at the Census Bureau site. Did you end up using the same code on your Schedule C as the NAICS code you found? Did you have any issues with matching it to the IRS list?
Yes, I used the same code I found through the NAICS search for my Schedule C. The IRS business codes are actually based on the NAICS system, though sometimes they're slightly condensed. I did have to cross-reference what I found with the IRS list in the Schedule C instructions, but it was pretty straightforward. For my conservation work, I found code 711510 (Independent artists, writers & performers) through NAICS, and it matched perfectly with the Schedule C list. Just make sure you're looking at the most current list since they update them periodically.
Caden Turner
My accountant told me that for contractors who work with museums, it really depends what you DO, not where you work. If you're doing administrative work, use 561110. If you're doing curatorial/collection management, use 712110 (Museums). If you're doing education/tours, use 611710.
But I thought 712110 was only if you're operating a museum? Can you use that if you're just working for one as a contractor? I've been using 541900 (Other professional services) for my museum consulting work and now I'm worried I've been doing it wrong.
Natalie Khan
I'm a little confused by some of the answers here. I've been using Section 179 for years in my construction business. The rules are pretty straightforward: 1. Used equipment DOES qualify for Section 179. I've taken the deduction for used trailers, trucks, and other equipment many times. Your accountant is just wrong on this point. 2. For 2025, the Section 179 deduction limit is $1,220,000, so your $3,750 trailer is well within limits. 3. The 60/40 split your accountant mentioned sounds like he's confusing this with some other depreciation method. For regular MACRS depreciation on a 5-year asset like a trailer, the first-year percentage is 20% (not 60%). 4. Since your trailer is 100% business use and under the limits, there's absolutely no reason you shouldn't take the full Section 179 deduction this year. I'd honestly question why your accountant is giving you incorrect information on something this basic. Might be time to find a new tax professional who understands common business deductions better.
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Lydia Santiago
ā¢Thanks for this breakdown! Do you think the accountant might be confusing Section 179 with bonus depreciation? I've heard there are different rules for that, but I'm not clear on the details. Does bonus depreciation allow used equipment too?
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Natalie Khan
ā¢You're exactly right - your accountant is probably confusing Section 179 with bonus depreciation. For several years, bonus depreciation only applied to new equipment, which might explain the confusion. However, since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, even bonus depreciation can be used for both new AND used equipment. The 60% figure your accountant mentioned might be referring to the bonus depreciation percentage, which was 80% in 2023, 60% in 2024, and decreases to 40% in 2025. But this is completely separate from Section 179, which allows 100% deduction up to the limit. So actually, you have TWO options for immediate deduction of your trailer - either Section 179 or bonus depreciation. There's really no reason to use regular 5-year MACRS depreciation unless you specifically want to spread out the deduction for some tax planning reason.
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Daryl Bright
I went through exactly this with my lawn care business last year. Bought a used 6x12 trailer and my tax guy insisted I couldn't use Section 179 because it was used. I did my research and found out he was wrong. The relevant part of the tax code is Section 179(d)(1), which defines what property is eligible. It specifically says the original use doesn't have to begin with the taxpayer - which is the technical way of saying used equipment is fine. I switched tax preparers after that and saved nearly $2,000 in taxes by taking the immediate deduction rather than depreciating. Don't let an uninformed accountant cost you money!
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Sienna Gomez
ā¢What software do you use to keep track of your business assets and depreciation? I'm starting a similar business and trying to figure out the best way to track all this stuff so I don't miss deductions.
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