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Has anyone tried just leaving the "Business name" field completely blank? When I finally got my W9 to work for ContentCreator platform, that's what worked. I was overthinking it and putting my channel name in that field, but it only wants your actual registered business name (if you have one) or nothing at all. Also make sure you're checking the right box at the top for individual/sole proprietor. I initially checked "Limited liability company" thinking that was right for being self-employed, but that was incorrect for my situation.
So if I'm just a regular person making videos, I should leave the business name blank even if I have a channel name? What about if I'm using a DBA ("doing business as") for my content?
If you're just a regular person making videos, yes, leave the business name field blank. Your channel name isn't relevant for tax purposes unless you've formally registered it as a business name. For a DBA situation, it gets a bit more complicated. If you've officially registered your DBA with your state or county, you can put that in the "Business name/disregarded entity name" field. But if you haven't formally registered it and just use it informally as your brand, many tax professionals recommend leaving that field blank and just using your legal name. The most important thing is that your name and SSN match what the IRS has on file.
Just a heads up to save everyone some time - make sure your address on the W9 matches EXACTLY what the IRS has on file too! I spent weeks trying different name formats before realizing the problem was actually my address. I had moved recently and even though I filed a change of address with USPS, the IRS still had my old address.
This is good advice. How can you check what address the IRS currently has on file for you without calling them though?
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Something important that nobody has mentioned yet - even if you're a resident alien for tax purposes, your IMMIGRATION status is completely separate. Being a tax resident doesn't give you any immigration benefits or protection. I learned this the hard way. I was a tax resident for years (filing as a resident alien) but still had issues with my immigration status. The IRS and USCIS don't share this information, and being compliant with tax laws doesn't help your immigration case. Make sure you're also working on your immigration status separately if that's a concern for you. Being a resident alien for tax purposes doesn't mean you're legally "resident" from an immigration perspective.
Thank you for bringing this up - that's really important info! My immigration status is actually something I'm working on separately. Do you know if there's any downside to being classified as a resident alien for tax purposes? Like does it create any complications for immigration applications later?
There's generally no downside to being classified as a resident alien for tax purposes when it comes to future immigration applications. In fact, having a consistent tax filing history is usually seen as a positive factor when applying for permanent residency or citizenship. What immigration officers typically look for is that you've been properly filing and paying taxes according to your correct status. If you're physically present enough to qualify as a tax resident, then filing as a resident alien is exactly what you should be doing. The important thing is consistency and honesty in your tax filings. The only potential complication would be if you were trying to maintain nonresident status in the US for some specific tax treaty benefit. But for someone in your situation who has been here continuously for 22-23 years, filing as a resident alien is appropriate and won't create immigration complications.
Just curious - why don't you become a citizen if you've been here since you were a toddler? After 22+ years you'd definitely qualify under most paths to citizenship, and it would solve all these confusing status questions once and for all.
Not everyone can "just become a citizen" - there are tons of complicated situations where someone might have been brought here as a child but doesn't have a straightforward path to citizenship. DACA recipients, for example, or people who fell out of status because of paperwork issues beyond their control. Plus, citizenship applications are expensive AF and take forever. My friend just spent over $4,000 on the process including lawyer fees.
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To add to what others have said, adding bank interest isn't a big deal but you definitely want to fix it. I'm a retired bookkeeper and have helped many people with small amendments like this. The reason banks send 1099-INT forms is because the IRS already knows about this income - the bank reports it directly to them. So if you don't include it, there's a mismatch between what the IRS knows you received and what you reported. For small amounts like $87, they might just adjust your tax bill automatically and send you a notice. If you use tax software, just look for the "amend return" option. It's usually pretty straightforward - you'll enter the additional income from the 1099-INT and submit the amendment electronically.
Thank you so much for explaining this! I had no idea the IRS already knows about the interest income. If they might adjust it automatically, should I still file an amendment or just wait to see if they send me a notice? I'm using TurboTax if that matters.
I would definitely recommend filing the amendment yourself rather than waiting for the IRS to adjust it. When you handle it proactively, you're in control of the process and can verify everything is correct. If the IRS makes an automatic adjustment, they sometimes include penalties and interest that you might avoid by amending quickly. With TurboTax, it's really easy to amend. Just log into your account, look for the option to amend your return, and follow the prompts to add the 1099-INT. The software will fill out Form 1040-X for you and guide you through the process. It's actually much simpler than most people think, and for a small amount like $87, the additional tax will be minimal.
Something similar happened to me last year! Just adding that if you had any tax withheld on that interest (check box 4 on your 1099-INT), make sure to include that in your amendment too. Sometimes banks withhold a small percentage for taxes. I overlooked this part when I amended for a forgotten 1099-INT and ended up overpaying slightly. Every dollar counts!
Good point about the withholding! Also, OP, if this is the first time you've earned bank interest over $10 (the reporting threshold), don't feel bad about not knowing. The tax code is ridiculously complicated and nobody teaches this stuff in school.
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Something no one mentioned yet - as a self-employed person filing as head of household, you should also look into the qualified business income deduction (QBI). You might be able to deduct up to 20% of your self-employment income on top of the HOH benefits! Also, keep track of all your work expenses. As a 1099 contractor, you can deduct them on Schedule C. And don't forget to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties.
Thanks for bringing this up! I've been making quarterly payments but didn't know about the QBI deduction. With my income being around $40k, would I qualify for the full 20%? And does filing as head of household affect the QBI calculation at all?
At your income level of around $40k, you would qualify for the full 20% QBI deduction with no reductions or phase-outs. The QBI limitations don't kick in until much higher income levels (over $170k for single/HOH filers). Filing as head of household doesn't directly affect the QBI calculation, but it does affect your overall tax situation positively. The HOH status gives you better tax brackets and higher standard deduction, while the QBI is calculated based on your qualified business income from self-employment. They work separately but combine to reduce your total tax burden.
Ethan Scott
19 I'm an accounting assistant and see this all the time with our clients. One thing no one's mentioned yet is that the IRS usually only audits a specific part of your return, not the whole thing. Check your audit letter carefully - it probably specifies exactly which deductions they're questioning. No need to worry about EVERYTHING if they're only asking about certain items. Also, substantiation requirements differ by type of expense. Business travel and meals have stricter documentation requirements than something like office supplies. Your best bet is focusing your reconstruction efforts on the specific items they're actually auditing.
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Ethan Scott
•1 You're right, the letter is specifically asking about my business travel expenses ($4,200) and home office deduction ($2,800). Does that mean they're accepting the other deductions without question? Should I just focus on these two categories?
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Ethan Scott
•19 Yes, focus on just those two categories they're specifically questioning. The IRS typically doesn't expand an audit unless they find serious issues with the items they initially selected. The travel expenses will need more substantiation since they have stricter requirements - try to find emails about the conferences, calendar entries, photos from the events, or even statements from clients or colleagues confirming your attendance. For the home office, measurements of the space, photos, and a statement explaining how it was used exclusively for business purposes will help. Also look for utility bills, internet bills, or other expenses that support your use of that space as an office. Remember that your records don't have to be perfect - you just need to show reasonable evidence that these were legitimate business expenses.
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Ethan Scott
10 Has anyone had to pay penalties in this situation? I'm curious if they just make you pay the additional tax or if they add penalties too. I'm in a similar spot and trying to figure out how much this might cost me if I can't find my receipts.
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Ethan Scott
•3 When I went through an audit 2 years ago, they charged me the additional tax plus interest from the original due date. They didn't add accuracy-related penalties because they determined I made a good faith effort and had some backup documentation (even though incomplete). If they think you were negligent or deliberately claimed false deductions, that's when the 20% accuracy penalty kicks in.
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