Thanks for this suggestion! I hadn't thought about doing a partial cash out. Do you know if there's a minimum percentage I need to roll over? Also, are there different tax forms I need to fill out for a partial vs. full distribution?

There's no minimum percentage requirement for rollovers - you can roll over any portion of your 401k and take distribution of the rest. The paperwork is essentially the same either way. For the tax forms, your plan administrator will issue a 1099-R that shows the total distribution, with boxes indicating how much was rolled over (non-taxable) versus how much was distributed to you (taxable). You'll report this on your tax return for the year. The partial approach is often the best of both worlds - you get some immediate cash while preserving the tax-advantaged status of the majority of your retirement savings.

This is absolutely brilliant advice. My brother did this with the California state system and said it was the best financial move he ever made. The pension increase was worth way more than what he transferred in.

That's a great suggestion about the photos! Do you think it's also helpful to have something in writing from my boyfriend acknowledging that the room is exclusively for business use? And should I be taking new photos periodically to show consistent business use?

Having some documentation from your boyfriend acknowledging the exclusive business use isn't necessary but could be helpful supporting evidence. A simple email or signed statement could work. Yes, I recommend taking new photos quarterly to show consistent business use over time. Date-stamped photos showing the same dedicated setup throughout the year creates a strong paper trail. I also keep a simple log of business activities conducted in the space - this has been incredibly valuable documentation during a previous review of my returns.

For utilities like internet, you actually have options. You can either use the same square footage percentage (the 13% in OP's case) OR you can track actual business usage if you have a reasonable method of calculating it. If you can document that 80% of your internet usage is truly for business (like through time logs of business calls/uploads vs personal use), you can potentially deduct that larger percentage. Just be prepared to substantiate the higher percentage if asked. I use a simple spreadsheet tracking business vs personal internet hours and it's worked fine for my deductions.

Do you think there's a middle ground? Like using software but then having a pro review it before filing? Is that even a service people offer?

Yes, that middle ground definitely exists! Many tax professionals offer a "review service" where they'll look over a return you've prepared and check for errors or missed opportunities. It typically costs less than having them prepare the entire return from scratch. Some tax software companies also offer audit protection or review services as add-ons. These can be good options if you're comfortable doing most of the work yourself but want a safety net. Just make sure you're getting a review from an actual tax professional and not just a glorified spell-check.

This is great advice. I did my own taxes for the first time last year and actually found a mistake my previous accountant had been making for TWO YEARS with my HSA contributions. Sometimes understanding your own taxes is valuable beyond just the money saved on preparation fees!

Thanks for this tip! I just checked my transcript and I do see code 570 from back in April and code 971 about two weeks later. But I never received any notice from them in the mail. Should I just keep waiting or try to call them?

If you see those codes but never received a notice, you should definitely call them. The 971 code means they sent (or were supposed to send) you a notice explaining the issue, and if you never got it, you won't know what action you need to take. The 570 code means there's a hold on your account that needs to be resolved before your refund can be processed. Without knowing what the specific issue is, it could remain on hold indefinitely. I'd recommend calling them as soon as possible to find out exactly what the hold is for and what you need to do to resolve it.

How did you finally find out about the W-2 issue? Did they eventually send you a letter or did you have to call?

This is really helpful! Did you have to wait long to get an appointment at the IRS office? I'm worried about the timing with my March 31 deadline.

When I went last year, I called on a Monday and got an appointment for Thursday that same week, but this varies dramatically by location. Some offices have a 2-3 week wait, especially during tax season. Call the appointment line (844-545-5640) ASAP to check availability in your area. If appointments are too far out, get creative - I've had colleagues who contacted their state representative's office for help expediting IRS matters when professional licenses were at stake. Their constituent services staff can sometimes work miracles with government agencies.

This is so important! Each state has different requirements for professional licenses. Some states have a "certificate of good standing" or "tax clearance" process specifically for license renewals that can be expedited.