Great point about credits. For 2024, there aren't stimulus payments like during COVID, but depending on your situation, you might qualify for credits like the Recovery Rebate Credit (if you missed previous stimulus payments) or certain educational credits if you were taking classes. Even with zero income, you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit if you had any income at all in the previous 3 years and meet certain other requirements. This is called the "lookback rule" and it's often overlooked.

Thanks for that info! I'd completely forgotten about the lookback rule for EITC. That's definitely something OP should look into if they had income in previous years.

That's actually really helpful - I am planning to apply for some assistance programs and didn't think about needing proof of my (lack of) income. Definitely another good reason to file. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Thanks for mentioning this! I'm only 20 though, so I guess I wouldn't qualify until I turn 25? That's kind of a bummer.

You're right about the age limitation, unfortunately. The EITC typically requires you to be at least 25 unless you have a qualifying child. However, you should still look into filing returns for any years where you had federal income tax withheld from your paychecks, as you'd likely get that money refunded regardless of the EITC. And keep the EITC in mind once you hit 25 - it can be quite valuable!

Just tried this and got stuck in ID verification hell. Apparently you need a credit card, mortgage, or auto loan to verify online? Guess I'm stuck calling them after all :/

Do you need receipts for every single repair part? What if I bought some stuff with cash and don't have receipts anymore?

Yes, you absolutely need receipts for every part you're deducting. The IRS requires documentation for all business expenses, and vehicle expenses are one of the most scrutinized categories. Without receipts, you have no proof of the expense if you're audited. In some very limited cases, you might be able to use bank or credit card statements that clearly show the purchase, but actual itemized receipts are much better since they show exactly what was purchased. For cash purchases with no receipt, unfortunately you're probably out of luck for deduction purposes. This is why I've started keeping digital copies of all my receipts using my phone's camera.

I used TurboTax last year for my Uber driving. It does ask you about both methods and will calculate them, but I found it a bit confusing. They don't really explain the long-term implications of switching from standard mileage to actual expenses very well. I ended up having to do some research outside the program to be sure I was making the right choice.

That's what I was worried about. I need something that will clearly show me the comparison and explain the consequences. Seems like I might need to look at some alternatives or maybe consult with a tax pro who understands delivery driver deductions specifically. Thanks for sharing your experience.

This worked for me too! The Marketplace phone reps were way easier to reach than the IRS. Found out they had recalculated my premium tax credit but the updated 1095-A wasn't automatically sent to me. Got the new form and resubmitted without issues.

Thanks for the advice! The panel review was all online, so I'm trying to figure out what I could reasonably deduct. Would a portion of my internet bill for the days I did the reviews count? And what about the electricity used by my computer during those hours?

Absolutely - a portion of your internet would be a legitimate deduction if you used it specifically for this work. Calculate the percentage of time you used it for the panel review versus personal use during the work period. For electricity, you can deduct the portion used specifically for business purposes. It requires some calculation - estimate how much electricity your computer uses, how many hours you worked, and what percentage of your total electric bill that represents. Keep good records of your calculations in case of an audit. You can also deduct a portion of your home office space if you have a dedicated area where you did this work.

I've used both, and honestly for a single 1099 with straightforward expenses, Deluxe is probably fine. Self-Employed has more detailed questions about business deductions and includes the QuickBooks Self-Employed app for tracking expenses throughout the year, but if you only have one gig, it might be overkill.