That's a really important point I hadn't considered. In previous years they did use 1099-MISC box 3, but you're right that they might have switched to NEC. That would significantly change my tax situation. Would it be worth waiting a bit longer to see if they send the correct form rather than guessing wrong?

If your filing deadline is approaching and you need to submit soon, I'd suggest filing based on how they've reported it in previous years. If they've consistently used 1099-MISC box 3 in the past, it's reasonable to assume they'll continue that classification. If they end up sending a 1099-NEC instead, you can always file an amended return. The key is documenting your decision-making process to show good faith. Save emails or notes from your calls with them showing you tried to get clarification. Alternatively, if you have the option to extend your filing deadline, that gives you more time for their paperwork to arrive while still being compliant with IRS deadlines.

You can file Form 3949-A to report companies not complying with tax requirements. I did this last year with a company that never sent 1099s to any contractors. Don't know if anything happened with them specifically, but I did get a letter acknowledging my report.

How strict is the IRS with that 3-out-of-5 years rule? What if you've been genuinely trying to build a business but just haven't been successful at generating revenue yet?

The 3-out-of-5 years rule is what's called a "presumption" - it doesn't automatically disqualify your business, but it shifts the burden of proof to you to demonstrate that you have a genuine profit motive despite the losses. The IRS looks at several factors beyond just profitability: whether you run the activity in a businesslike manner, your expertise, time and effort invested, success in similar activities, history of income/losses, and most importantly - your efforts to improve profitability. Even with consecutive loss years, you can still successfully argue it's a legitimate business if you can show concrete steps you've taken to generate revenue and eventually become profitable.

I use TaxAct and had a similar issue. For big home office renovations, you usually need to depreciate the costs over time rather than deduct them all at once. The software should walk you through Form 8829 (Expenses for Business Use of Your Home) but it gets tricky with major renovations because they're capital improvements.

Do you know if leasing an EV works differently for the credit? I heard something about dealers being able to claim the credit on leases even if the consumer's income is too high for the MAGI limits. Is that true or just a rumor?

Leasing absolutely works differently! When you lease, the credit actually goes to the leasing company (technically they own the vehicle), not to you as the consumer. Many dealers will pass the savings on to you through reduced lease payments, but they don't have to. The big advantage is that the MAGI limits don't apply to leases since you're not claiming the credit personally. The leasing company claims it as a business, and they can pass along those savings regardless of your income. This has become a popular workaround for higher-income folks who exceed the income limits.

Thanks for pointing this out! That's probably why I was getting confused. I was looking at info for the used EV credit but trying to apply it to a new purchase. The instructions aren't super clear that these are separate things with different forms.

Your mom should be fine! Social Security, SSI, SSDI, and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries generally don't need to use the portal unless they need to claim eligible dependents. The IRS will use the information from the Social Security Administration to send payments automatically the same way she receives her regular benefits.

Thank you so much for clarifying! That's a huge relief. She was getting worried because she heard some neighbors talking about needing to sign up for something. I'll let her know she doesn't need to do anything special.

I had the same issue! Try entering your address exactly as it appears on your tax return, with the same abbreviations and everything. Like if you wrote "Street" on your return, don't put "St." in the portal. That fixed it for me.

Does this HS code thing really matter that much? I've returned stuff before just marking "gift" on the customs form and never had issues. Seems like everyone's making this more complicated than it needs to be.

Yes, the correct HS code absolutely matters, especially for higher-value items. Marking returns as "gifts" is actually customs fraud and can get you in serious trouble. Gifts still have import duty thresholds in most countries, while properly documented returns using the correct HS code are exempt from duties and taxes. I learned this the hard way when I incorrectly labeled a return shipment and had it held at customs for three weeks. They eventually released it after I provided additional documentation, but the retailer almost denied my refund due to the delay. Using the proper codes and declarations from the start saves headaches and potential legal issues.

I've used DHL for returns from Thailand to the US multiple times. They're good but you still need to tell them specifically it's a return and provide all the documentation. Don't assume they'll automatically know how to code it properly! I always fill out my own customs declaration with "RETURNED GOODS" clearly marked and the proper HS code, then make sure the DHL agent understands what I'm sending.