Really? What browser extensions would cause that? I'm using Chrome with adblock and a few others. Could that be why I'm only seeing credit card options too?

I think it was my ad blocker causing the issue. It was blocking some elements on the TurboTax payment page. I'm not 100% sure which extension was the culprit, but when I tried in Edge with no extensions, everything loaded properly. Another possibility is to try clearing your cache and cookies for the TurboTax site. Sometimes data from previous sessions can cause weird display issues.

How long did you have to wait on hold? I tried calling TurboTax last week about a different issue and gave up after 45 mins on hold.

Thanks for bringing this up! I haven't thought about how this might affect my parents' taxes. Do you know what income threshold I should be concerned about? And for business licenses, would I need that even though I'm under 18?

The dependent rules get complicated, but generally your parents can still claim you if you're under 19 (or 24 if you're a student) and they provide more than half your support, regardless of your income. However, if you earn more than $12,950 (2023 figure - will be slightly higher for 2024), you'll definitely need to file your own return. Being under 18 doesn't exempt you from business licensing requirements. Most localities require all businesses to have a license regardless of the owner's age. Some places might require a parent to co-sign since you're a minor, but the requirement itself still applies. Check with your city/county clerk's office - they can tell you exactly what you need.

I use Wave Accounting - totally free for invoicing and receipt tracking. Wayyyy better than the spreadsheet I was using before. It links to your bank account and categorizes expenses automatically.

What about uniforms and equipment? I'm guessing my security uniform is deductible but what about boots, flashlights and that kind of stuff?

Uniforms are typically deductible if they're required for your job and not suitable for everyday wear. So generic black pants probably wouldn't qualify, but a shirt with a security company logo would. Equipment like flashlights, specialized boots, and other gear is generally deductible if it's specifically required for your security work and not something you'd use outside of work. Keep all receipts and document how each item is used specifically for work purposes. Small items under $200 can often be fully deducted in the year purchased, while more expensive equipment might need to be depreciated over several years.

I used TurboTax Self-Employed last year for my security consulting business. It does have some industry-specific questions but honestly wasn't great for the more nuanced deductions. It asked about standard business expenses but didn't really guide me through the professional development stuff. I ended up upgrading to their Live service to talk to a tax expert about my martial arts training.

Does FreeTaxUSA's calculator handle things like child tax credit and education expenses? I'm always wary of the "free" calculators because they seem to miss deductions.

The FreeTaxUSA calculator does handle the standard Child Tax Credit calculations and education credits like the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit. One thing to watch for though is that it doesn't automatically calculate the more advanced education deductions like tuition and fees deduction. For those specific items you'd need to know which form they go on and make sure you include them in the right section of the calculator. It's still pretty comprehensive for a free tool without signup.

TaxAct still asked me for an email when I tried to use their calculator last week. Did you use a specific link to access it without registration?

Every time I try to use the IRS Free File options, I get partway through and then they tell me my situation is "too complicated" and try to upsell me. Does this actually work for claiming credits like the Retirement one?

Yes, it absolutely works for claiming the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit! The key is to start directly from the IRS.gov/freefile page rather than going to the tax company's main website. The versions of tax software available through the official IRS Free File program are different from the "free" versions advertised on the companies' own websites - they include all forms needed for most credits and deductions without upselling. Just make sure your income is under the threshold (currently $73,000) to qualify.

This is good advice - I just checked my W-2 and found a code D with $1,850 next to it that I never noticed before. Is that enough to qualify for this credit?