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Consider getting liability insurance too if you dont already have it! Not only is it a tax deduction but it protects you if anything goes wrong with a client. My friend is a caregiver and she got sued when her client fell when she wasn't even there! The insurance saved her business.
Sofia Peña
•This is SO important. I used to skip liability insurance to save money but after a client accused me of stealing (I didn't), the legal fees alone were more than 5 years worth of insurance premiums would have been. What company do you use for yours?
Aaron Boston
One thing nobody mentioned yet - have you looked into getting certified in specialized care areas? I got certified in dementia care and diabetes management, which allowed me to charge $7-10 more per hour than the standard caregiver rate. My clients don't mind paying more because they're getting specialized knowledge, and it helps offset the tax burden.
Where did you get those certifications? Are they expensive? I've been thinking about specializing too.
Aaron Boston
•I got my dementia care certification through the Alzheimer's Association - they have a program called essentiALZ that costs around $55. For diabetes management, I took a course through my local community college that was about $200. Both were totally worth it and tax deductible as professional education expenses. There are also certifications for wound care, hospice support, and medication management that can command higher rates. Most take just 20-40 hours to complete, and clients with those specific needs are usually willing to pay premium rates for properly certified caregivers.
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Jamal Carter
18 Has anyone noticed that TurboTax handles ESPP sales terribly? I entered my info exactly as directed but it still calculated my gain incorrectly. I ended up having to file an amended return last year because of this.
Jamal Carter
•24 H&R Block's software isn't any better. I switched to them thinking they'd handle it correctly and had the same issue. I think the problem is that they don't have a specific input field for the amount already reported as income on your W-2.
Jamal Carter
•18 Thanks for sharing that about H&R Block. I was considering switching to them next year but maybe that's not the solution. I wonder if the more expensive tax prep options like a CPA would handle this correctly. Seems ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops for something that should be straightforward.
Jamal Carter
9 Important tip: Double check if your company's ESPP is a qualified or non-qualified plan. This affects how the taxes work. Most are qualified (Section 423) plans but a few companies use non-qualified plans. The tax forms and reporting requirements are different for each!
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Lim Wong
One thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you're actually itemizing your deductions before worrying about this! With the standard deduction being $13,850 for single filers (for 2023 tax year), you'd need the mortgage interest plus other itemized deductions (state taxes, charitable giving, etc.) to exceed that amount for this to even matter. If both you and your boyfriend have limited other deductions, it might make sense for one of you to claim ALL the mortgage interest to push that person over the standard deduction threshold, while the other person just takes the standard deduction. Run the numbers both ways!
Dananyl Lear
•This is such a good point! My partner and I used to split our mortgage interest deduction, but last year we realized only one of us had enough other deductions to make itemizing worthwhile. Now I claim 100% of the mortgage interest (with his documented agreement) and itemize, while he takes the standard deduction. Saved us about $900 combined!
Lim Wong
•Exactly! Tax optimization is about looking at your complete situation, not just following generic rules. If one partner has significant charitable contributions or state/local taxes while the other doesn't, concentrating the mortgage interest with that person can create much bigger combined savings. Just make sure to document your agreement in writing. A simple signed statement explaining that one partner is claiming 100% of the deduction despite shared ownership, with both signatures, should be sufficient documentation. Keep copies with both tax records.
Has anyone used TurboTax for this situation? I'm trying to figure out how to actually enter this on my return. Do I just put in half the amount shown on the 1098? Will that trigger a mismatch flag with the IRS since they received the full amount under my SSN?
Ana Rusula
•I did this with TurboTax last year! You enter the full 1098 amount when prompted, then later there's a screen asking if you paid all the mortgage interest yourself. Select "No" and it'll let you enter the percentage you're claiming. TurboTax then generates a statement explaining the situation to attach to your return. Super easy!
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Chloe Taylor
Don't forget that Form 8938 thresholds are different if you're living abroad! If you qualify as an expat (physical presence test or bona fide residence test), the thresholds are much higher - $200,000 on the last day of the year or $300,000 at any time during the year for single filers. I made the mistake of filing unnecessary 8938 forms for two years before a tax preparer pointed this out to me. Wasted a bunch of time gathering all that information when I was well below the applicable threshold as an expat.
Javier Gomez
•Does this mean I might not need to file if I was living outside the US for part of the year? I was actually working in Asia for about 4 months last year on a project. How does that affect my filing requirements?
Chloe Taylor
•You would need to qualify as a foreign resident under either the physical presence test (330 days outside the US in a 12-month period) or the bona fide residence test (established residence in a foreign country for an entire tax year). Based on what you described - just 4 months abroad - you wouldn't qualify for the higher foreign resident thresholds. You'd still use the standard domestic thresholds ($50,000 on last day/$75,000 any time for single). The higher thresholds are really designed for Americans who are living abroad permanently or for extended periods.
Diego Flores
Anyone else getting conflicting info from different IRS publications about what actually needs to be reported on Form 8938? Pub 54 seems to contradict Form 8938 instructions about certain types of assets... 🤯
The most reliable source is the actual Form 8938 instructions document from irs.gov. Publication 54 is more general for Americans abroad. The specific rules for what counts as a "specified foreign financial asset" are detailed in the 8938 instructions. Generally includes: - Financial accounts at foreign financial institutions - Foreign stock or securities not held in a financial account - Interest in a foreign entity - Financial instrument with a foreign issuer or counterparty
Alice Coleman
Don't forget to look into energy efficiency tax credits if you've made any home improvements this year! We installed new energy efficient windows and got a decent credit. The Inflation Reduction Act expanded a lot of these credits for 2023. Also, if you're in a high-tax state, check if making your January 2024 property tax payment in December 2023 makes sense, especially if you're already itemizing deductions. Just watch out for SALT cap limitations.
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Owen Jenkins
•Would replacing my old furnace with a heat pump qualify? How much of a credit could I get? My heating system is on its last legs anyway.
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Alice Coleman
•Yes, replacing your old furnace with a heat pump would likely qualify under the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. For 2023, you could get up to 30% of the costs back as a tax credit, with a limit of $2,000 specifically for heat pumps. The great thing about this being a credit rather than a deduction is that it directly reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar. Just make sure the heat pump meets the efficiency requirements - usually the manufacturer or installer can confirm this for you and provide the necessary certification documentation you'll need for your tax return.
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Lilah Brooks
Has anyone looked into investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones to defer capital gains? I sold some stock earlier this year and am facing a big tax bill on the gains.
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Jackson Carter
•I did this last year! You can defer recognizing capital gains until 2026 by investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds within 180 days of realizing the gain. Plus if you hold the investment for 10+ years, gains on the QOZ investment itself can be completely tax-free. But be careful - these investments can be risky and illiquid, so definitely do your homework.
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