Wait so if I'm only doing local deliveries (never more than 30 miles from home), does that mean my lunch is never deductible? That doesn't seem right since I'm still working as an IC during that time.

You can still potentially deduct meals for local deliveries, but they fall under the regular business meal rules rather than the "away from home" travel meal rules. The key for local meal deductions is establishing that the meal had a business purpose beyond just eating because you were hungry. For example, if you're grabbing a quick meal between deliveries to maintain your delivery schedule, that could qualify as a necessary business expense. But if you're just taking a normal lunch break like any employee would, the IRS might consider that a personal expense. Document the business purpose for each meal and keep good records of your delivery schedule to show the connection.

Yep, I use TurboTax Self-Employed. When you get to the business expenses section, there's a specific category for "Meals" where you can enter the total amount. It automatically applies the 50% limitation. Make sure you're filing Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) as part of your return.

I double-checked both forms and neither has the "Corrected" box marked. They both have the same employer info and my info, but like I said, the second one only has state tax information (boxes 18-20) filled in and everything else is blank. Based on everyone's comments, it seems like this is a split W2 situation where federal and state are separate.

If neither is marked as corrected, then yes, you're definitely dealing with a split federal/state W2 situation. Your employer has filed your federal tax info on one form and state tax info on another. Both forms are valid and need to be entered separately. If TurboTax is giving you trouble, look for an option that says something like "This W2 contains only state information" when entering the second W2. Sometimes it's hidden in an "advanced" or "special situations" menu. If you still can't find it, then the suggestions others mentioned about using the override function or calling the IRS for guidance are your best options.

Yes! In TurboTax there's actually a checkbox specifically for state-only W2s. After you enter the employer information, look for "Special Situations" at the bottom of the screen and select "This W-2 has state information only." That should let you e-file without errors.

What exactly counts as "active participation"? I handle most of the management stuff - finding tenants, dealing with maintenance calls, etc. But my brother handles most of the actual repair work. Do we both qualify?

Active participation is less stringent than material participation. For active participation, you need to make management decisions like approving tenants, deciding on rental terms, approving repairs, etc. You don't necessarily need to do the physical work yourself. Based on what you described, you would likely qualify since you handle the management aspects. Your brother would also likely qualify since he's involved in the actual maintenance work. Keep good records of the time you both spend and the decisions you make related to the properties. A simple log with dates and descriptions of rental-related activities is usually sufficient.

Is the QBI deduction still available? I thought that was part of the TCJA that was expiring soon?

Does this apply even if the business code is like COMPLETELY different though? For example, I used "Computer System Design Services" in TurboTax but FreeTaxUSA only has general "Technical Services" or something much broader.

Yes, it absolutely applies even with completely different codes. The business code system in tax software is primarily for the IRS's statistical purposes - they use this data to analyze trends across industries. The broader "Technical Services" code in FreeTaxUSA would be perfectly fine to use instead of the more specific "Computer System Design Services" from TurboTax. The IRS understands that different tax preparation methods might have different levels of specificity in their code options. What they ultimately care about is that your income, expenses, and deductions are all accurately reported.

Did they give you any kind of documentation or email confirming that advice? I always like to keep records of tax advice I receive just in case.

I tried to create an account but it wouldn't verify my identity because I don't have a credit card or loan history (I mostly use cash and debit). Is there another way to check?

You can request your transcript by mail if the online verification doesn't work for you. Go to IRS.gov and search for "Get Transcript by Mail" or use Form 4506-T. It takes about 5-10 days to arrive. Another option is to call the IRS automated transcript line at 800-908-9946. You won't speak to a person, but you can request that they mail your transcript. If you absolutely need to talk to someone, try calling the main IRS number (800-829-1040) early in the morning right when they open - that's usually when wait times are shortest.

They said in the post they filed electronically with H&R Block. Reading comprehension lol