Thanks for the farm-specific advice! I do have all my receipts for feed, seed, and maintenance organized by month. I've also got my depreciation schedule from the previous year (2017) that shows the ongoing depreciation of my tractor and irrigation system. Do you think I need anything else specifically for the Schedule F part?

Make sure you have mileage records if you used a vehicle for farm purposes, and documentation for any home office space if you claimed that. Also, if you received any agricultural subsidies or payments from government programs, have those documents ready as well. One more thing - if you had any crop insurance proceeds or disaster payments in 2018, those need to be properly reported. The IRS often cross-references those payments, and discrepancies can trigger further review of your amended return.

Not OP but I'd recommend against using regular consumer tax software for this situation. Those substitute return corrections can get complex and most consumer software isn't really designed for them. Either use a professional or if you're doing it yourself, get the forms directly from the IRS website and fill them out carefully.

What about if you have 1099 income but it's really small? Like I made only about $3k from a side gig last year. Is that worth paying someone for?

For small 1099 income around $3k, you can probably still handle it yourself using tax software. You'll need to file Schedule C to report the income and expenses, but most tax programs walk you through this process well. Make sure you track all legitimate business expenses to offset that income! The key is keeping good records of your business expenses throughout the year. Even simple things like a portion of your cell phone bill, home internet, or mileage can be deductible if used for your side gig. You'll also need to pay self-employment tax on that income (about 15.3%), but you can deduct half of that on your return.

I used to think the same until I hired a CPA after having kids and buying a house. She found almost $2,800 in deductions and credits that TurboTax missed! Paid for herself many times over. Software only finds what you know to tell it about.

This is exactly the kind of practical advice I needed! I've been overthinking the whole process. So if I understand correctly, I should focus on the actual sensitive data they handle rather than trying to address every possible scenario in those massive templates? Should I also describe their current password policies for their systems?

Yes, that's exactly right! Focus on the actual data they handle, not theoretical scenarios that don't apply to them. A practical WISP is much more useful than a comprehensive one that includes irrelevant sections. Definitely include current password policies for all systems that store sensitive information. Document how often passwords must be changed, minimum requirements (length, special characters, etc.), and who has access to what systems. Also include any multi-factor authentication if they use it, procedures for removing access when employees leave, and any training provided about data security. These practical elements show they're actually implementing security measures, not just documenting theoretical policies.

WISP stands for Written Information Security Program. It's basically a document that outlines how a business protects sensitive information like customer data, employee records, and financial information.

thanks! so its about data protection? is this something all small businesses need now or just certain types?

Has anyone done a side-by-side comparison? I'm nervous about missing something if I switch away from TurboTax since they have all my historical data.

I actually did run both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA side by side the first year I switched, and they came up with identical refund amounts. The only real difference was the interface - TurboTax looks fancier but FreeTaxUSA gets the job done. You can always download your tax return PDFs from previous years and have those for reference. You'll need to manually enter some basic info the first time you use a new service, but after that initial setup, it's smooth sailing. The hundreds of dollars I've saved over the past few years has definitely been worth the small hassle of switching.

This is great advice! I'm in Massachusetts and discovered they have special rules for capital gains on collectibles that are different from federal. Almost missed it until my accountant caught it.

That's actually not a bad idea if they're local! My old job was cool about it. The HR lady even apologized and said a bunch got lost in the mail. Way better than waiting on hold with the IRS.

This is great advice, thank you! I'll start keeping track of my attempts to get it. Do you think a simple log with dates and times of calls would be sufficient, or should I be sending emails so I have written proof?

Email is definitely better because it gives you a clear paper trail. Send a polite email to HR or payroll requesting your W-2, mentioning that you haven't received it yet and the January 31st deadline has passed. If you call, follow up with an email summarizing the call ("As we discussed on the phone today..."). For extra protection, if they don't respond to regular emails after a week, send a certified letter with return receipt. This proves they received your request. The IRS takes this stuff seriously, and if your employer is systematically failing to provide W-2s, your documentation could help with any potential investigation.