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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Quick tip from someone who went through this last year - make COPIES of all your adoption documentation before sending anything to the IRS. My amended returns for adoption credits from 2018 and 2019 triggered a verification review, and I had to send in proof of the adoptions and special needs determination. Also, be aware that this credit is nonrefundable but carries forward for up to 5 years. So if your tax liability isn't high enough to use the full credit in one year, you don't lose it - the remainder carries forward to future tax years until it's used up or the 5 years are over.
Thanks for the tip about making copies! Do you know if there's any specific form I need to track the carryforward amounts if I can't use the full credit in the amended return year?
There's no specific IRS form for tracking the carryforward amounts, but you absolutely need to keep careful records yourself. I created a simple spreadsheet showing the total credit amount, how much I used each year, and how much was carrying forward. When you file the next year's taxes, you'll need to enter the carryforward amount from the previous year on Form 8839. The tax software should prompt you for this, but many people miss it if they switch tax preparers or software between years. This is why your own tracking is crucial. Also keep all your amended return paperwork together with your adoption documents for at least 7 years in case of an audit.
Has anyone used TurboTax to file these amended returns for adoption credits? I'm wondering if it walks you through the process well or if I should go to a professional.
I used TurboTax to amend my 2020 return for adoption credits and it worked fine. Just make sure you have Form 8839 filled out correctly with the adoption info. The wizard will ask about qualified adoption expenses - if your child is "special needs" for tax purposes, you enter $0 for expenses but still claim the full credit amount.
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One thing nobody has mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking the currency conversion rates for each payment! The IRS wants all amounts reported in USD, so you need to use the conversion rate from the date each payment was made. I learned this the hard way when I was audited for my Schedule C with international contractor expenses. I had just used an average conversion rate for the year, and that was a big no-no. Had to recalculate everything and ended up owing more due to conversion rate fluctuations.
Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about the currency conversion documentation! Most of my payments have been through PayPal - do you know if their conversion rates are acceptable for IRS purposes? Or should I be using some official government conversion rate?
PayPal conversion rates should be fine as long as you have the documentation showing the actual USD amount that was charged to your account. The key is having records showing the exact USD amount paid on specific dates. If PayPal doesn't clearly show this (sometimes their reporting can be confusing), you can use the Treasury Department's official exchange rates or another reputable source like OANDA or XE. Just be consistent with whichever source you choose and keep documentation of the rates you used along with the dates of payment.
I disagree with some advice here. I've been commissioning international artists for years for my business, and I've never collected W-8BENs from them. My accountant told me it's only necessary if you're withholding taxes, which typically isn't required for services performed entirely outside the US. I just categorize them under "Contract Labor" on Schedule C and keep detailed payment records. No issues with audits so far.
Dangerous advice! The W-8BEN requirement isn't just about withholding - it's about properly documenting the status of who you're paying. Without it, you technically can't verify they're foreign persons exempt from US reporting requirements. Your accountant is taking a risk that might have worked out so far, but the IRS is increasing scrutiny of international payments. Just because you haven't been audited doesn't mean the approach is compliant.
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Random tax tip that might help others: Always round UP to the nearest dollar when making tax payments. The IRS allows this on forms, and it ensures you're never underpaid by cents. I've been doing this for 15 years and never had an underpayment issue.
Does this actually work for electronic payments too? I always pay exact amounts when I do direct debit through tax software.
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Don't forget to track ALL your business expenses to offset some of that self-employment income! As a teacher doing curriculum work, you can likely deduct: - Home office space (if used regularly and exclusively for work) - Office supplies - Professional development materials - Reference books - Software subscriptions - Portion of internet bills - Mileage for any work-related drives (not to your teaching job) - Professional organization memberships I learned this the hard way by paying way too much my first year as a 1099 worker.
Can you really deduct home internet? I've been working as a freelancer for 2 years and my tax guy never mentioned this! How do you calculate what percentage to deduct?
You can absolutely deduct a portion of your home internet if you use it for your freelance work! The key is determining what percentage of your internet use is for business versus personal. A reasonable approach is to estimate the percentage of time you use the internet for work purposes. If you use your home internet 60% for business and 40% for personal, you can deduct 60% of the cost. Just make sure you can justify this percentage if questioned. Keep good records showing your work patterns and be prepared to explain your calculation method. Some people also base it on the number of devices in the home and how many are used for business.
Has anyone used a SEP IRA to reduce their self-employment tax burden? I'm teaching part time and doing consulting work, making about the same as you ($42K from 1099s) and my accountant suggested I open one to shelter some income.
SEP IRAs are amazing for self-employed people! You can contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment income up to $66,000 (for 2023). It directly reduces your taxable income. I've been using one for years for my tutoring business alongside my teaching job.
Jamal Edwards
Has anyone tried filing for trader status themselves or do most people use a CPA? I use tax software for everything else but not sure it can handle this.
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Mei Chen
•I tried doing it myself with TurboTax and it was a disaster. Ended up hiring a CPA midway through. The software doesn't really guide you through the election process properly, and there are a ton of forms and schedules involved.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•I actually did it successfully with H&R Block's premium online version. It was tricky, but they have a section specifically for business income that worked for reporting trader status. You need to file Schedule C for your trading business expenses and then make the Section 475(f) election with a separate written statement. The key is reporting it as a business, not just investment income.
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Amara Okonkwo
If you're options trading, make sure you understand the special tax treatment for different types of options. Cash-settled index options (like SPX) are taxed as 60% long-term/40% short-term regardless of holding period under Section 1256. Regular equity options don't get this treatment. Some traders actually use a mix of Section 1256 contracts and regular options specifically for tax advantages. Might be worth looking into alongside the trader status election.
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Giovanni Marino
•This is super important! I trade both SPX options and individual stock options, and the tax difference is huge. My SPX gains automatically get preferential tax treatment. Saved me about $11,000 last year by shifting more of my trading to index options.
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