Thanks for mentioning the state filing! I totally wasn't thinking about that. Do I need to wait until the federal amendment is processed before doing the state one?

In most cases, you should file both amendments around the same time. You don't need to wait for the federal amendment to be processed before filing your state amendment. However, some states do require you to attach a copy of your federal amendment (Form 1040-X) to your state amendment form. Each state has their own amendment form and process. For example, California uses Form 540X, New York uses Form IT-201-X, etc. Check your state's tax department website for the specific form and instructions. The state amendment process is usually similar to the federal one, but processing times can vary significantly by state.

Did you have to pay immediately or did they bill you after processing the amendment?

10 Did you find the Chamber of Commerce membership worth the cost? I've been considering joining but wasn't sure if it would actually lead to clients or just be another expense.

3 The Chamber membership was absolutely worth it for me, but it depends on how active your local chapter is. Mine hosts weekly networking events and monthly small business seminars, so I had plenty of opportunities to connect with potential clients. The key isn't just joining but being consistently present and helpful. I volunteered to give short presentations about tax topics at events, which positioned me as an expert. I didn't hard sell my services - just provided useful information and made myself available for questions afterward. This approach consistently brought in 3-5 new clients per event.

8 I tried the roadside signs one year - total waste of money. Got maybe 2 clients from it. Digital billboards were slightly better but still not great ROI. What actually worked better was putting flyers in apartment complexes and on community bulletin boards at grocery stores and coffee shops. Much cheaper and targeted people in my actual service area.

Is the 846 date always accurate? Mine says February 28th but today is March 2nd and still nothing in my account. I also used Cash App like the poster mentioned.

The 846 date is usually accurate for when the IRS releases the funds, but it doesn't guarantee when your bank or Cash App will make those funds available to you. Most financial institutions receive the money on the 846 date but can hold it for 1-3 business days before posting it to your account. With Cash App specifically, they sometimes have processing delays during tax season due to the high volume of deposits. If your 846 date was February 28th and today is March 2nd, I'd give it until the end of today. If nothing arrives by tomorrow, you might want to contact Cash App support to see if they can provide any information about pending deposits.

I noticed the same thing! I was 0605 last year and got my refund super quick. This year I'm 0604 and it's taking forever even though my 846 code has been there for days. I think they're definitely processing certain paths differently.

Could you use Section 179 to write off a vehicle for a small rental car business? Or would that only apply to actual cars in the rental fleet?

You can potentially use Section 179 for vehicles used in your business, including those that support operations like yours might. However, there are specific limitations for passenger vehicles - typically around $18,000 for the first year (the exact amount changes annually). Vehicles actually in your rental fleet would be considered inventory rather than capital assets until you place them in service as rental vehicles. Once they're actively being rented, they become depreciable assets. But remember, Section 179 has specific rules for "luxury" passenger vehicles which limit the deduction regardless of business use percentage.

Ouch that sucks! What kind of documentation were you missing? I'm thinking of doing something similar for my business.

Thanks for this advice! This is making me nervous though. My dad is super organized with taxes and usually files right when he gets his W-2s. If he files first and claims me, will my mom definitely have to paper file? Is there any way to prevent this or fix it electronically?

Unfortunately, if your dad e-files first incorrectly claiming you, your mom will definitely have to paper file. There's no electronic workaround - the IRS system automatically rejects the second e-filed return that tries to claim the same dependent. If you know he's likely to file early, you might want to have a conversation with him explaining the potential consequences - both for your FAFSA and for him. The IRS will eventually investigate the duplicate claim, and since you didn't actually live with him, he could face penalties for an incorrect return. Sometimes explaining the potential audit risk can discourage someone from filing incorrectly.

This is partially correct but can still cause major headaches. If the parent claiming you on taxes doesn't match the parent you list on FAFSA, it often triggers verification requests from the financial aid office. This can delay your aid package by months while they sort it out.