Do you have a specific mileage tracking app you recommend? And for the home office thing - is that still beneficial if we have an LLC? Does each partner get to claim their own home office or just one of us?

I personally use MileIQ, but there are several good ones like Everlance or Stride. Just make sure it logs your starting/ending points and lets you categorize trips. For the home office deduction, yes, it's still beneficial with an LLC since the LLC income passes through to your personal returns. Each partner can potentially claim their own home office deduction if they each use space in their respective homes exclusively for managing the rental business. The key word is "exclusively" - the space can't be used for anything else. The deduction would be proportional to your ownership percentage in the LLC.

Honestly, TurboTax is awful for complex situations like rental properties with partners. I switched to H&R Block's premium version and it walks you through the partnership stuff MUCH better. You'll enter the partnership info on Form 1065, which generates K-1s, then each partner enters their K-1 info on their personal returns.

Ok this is at least some good news! Do you know roughly how much the stimulus payments were? And do I need any special documentation to claim them now?

The stimulus payments totaled $3,200 per eligible adult - $1,200 for the first payment, $600 for the second payment, and $1,400 for the third payment. There were additional amounts for dependents too. You don't need any special documentation beyond what you'd normally include with your tax return. When you file, you'll just need to complete the Recovery Rebate Credit section where you'll indicate that you didn't receive the payments previously. Most tax software will walk you through this with a series of questions about which payments you received.

This is good advice, but I don't think there's any penalty for filing a $0 balance or refund due return after the statute of limitations has expired. The IRS won't process the refund, but it helps complete your record.

I never thought about it that way. The reason I was hesitant to bring it up is because I didn't want to cause tension, but a compromise could work. Do you think there's a tactful way to bring up this reimbursement idea without sounding like I'm just asking for money?

Approach it as a practical math problem rather than an emotional issue. Say something like: "Dad, I noticed that being claimed as a dependent is costing me $800 in taxes this year. I understand it probably saves our family more overall, but that's a big hit for me. Could we look at the numbers together and find a fair solution? Maybe you could help cover some of what I'm losing?" Most parents don't realize the tax impact on their working teens. Frame it as working together to maximize the family's overall financial situation. This makes it about smart family finances rather than independence or money-grabbing. Avoid phrases like "it's not fair" and stick to the practical impacts.

This is important! The "support test" is key here. If OP is providing more than half of their own support, the parent might not legally be able to claim them regardless of age or living situation. The IRS has a worksheet for calculating this.

Wait, I thought the support test was only for kids over 19? Or is that a different rule?

Oh crap I didn't even think about the state return. Is that a separate amendment process or can I do both at the same time?

You'll need to file separate amendments - one for federal (Form 1040-X) and one for your state. Each state has its own amendment form (usually called something like "Amended State Tax Return" or "[State] Form X"). Most tax software can handle both amendments together, generating all the required forms, but they're submitted separately. Your state amendment usually needs to reflect the changes you made on your federal amendment, so it's best to do the federal one first or at the same time.

Did they just send you a bill or did you get audited? I'm scared of triggering a full audit over something small.

Do you meet with your CPA in person or is it all virtual? I've been thinking about using someone out of state because they're cheaper than local options but wondered if that creates any issues.

I started with in-person meetings pre-pandemic, but we've been completely virtual for the past two years and it works great. I upload all my documents to her secure portal, we have a video call to discuss any questions, and then she prepares everything. For your situation, using someone out of state can work fine for federal taxes, but just make sure they're familiar with your state's tax laws if you have state income tax. My CPA specializes in my state's property tax rules which is helpful for my rental, but if you don't have special state circumstances, location probably doesn't matter much.

Those tax prep chains are so hit or miss. My parents got a great preparer at Jackson Hewitt for years but when that person left, the new person missed tons of stuff. I think it really depends on the individual preparer's experience more than the company.

Exactly! I think that's the problem - these big chains hire seasonal workers, give them minimal training, and then put them to work. Some might be great if they happen to have background knowledge, but many just follow the software prompts. My CPA actually takes continuing education courses every year to stay current on tax laws and asks me thoughtful questions about my situation that the H&R Block person never considered. She caught that I could deduct some medical expenses and home office deductions that were completely missed before.