Oh wow I had no idea about this! I definitely had over $10k in my Korean bank accounts... is there a deadline for this form too? Is it the same as the regular tax deadline?

The FBAR deadline is technically April 15th (same as tax day), but there's an automatic extension to October 15th - you don't need to request it. File it as soon as you can though! It's filed electronically through the FinCEN BSA e-filing system, not with your tax return to the IRS. I'd also check if you need to file Form 8938 (Statement of Foreign Financial Assets) with your tax return if your foreign accounts exceeded certain thresholds. The requirements are different than FBAR and it goes with your tax return, not separately.

I think the 2024 FEIE amount is actually $126,500, but your point still stands! Also, make sure you file Form 2555 to claim it.

Do you track miles driving to your first pickup? I heard different things about whether that's deductible or not.

Yes, I do track miles to my first pickup, but there's some nuance here. If you're driving from home directly to your first delivery pickup, the IRS technically considers that a non-deductible commute. However, if you first drive to a "regular place of business" (like a specific area where you regularly start deliveries) and then to your first pickup, those miles can be deductible. The key is consistency and documentation. I have a designated "staging area" where I officially start work, which allows me to deduct more miles. Many tax professionals have different interpretations of this rule for gig workers, so it's something to discuss with a tax pro familiar with independent contractor rules.

I used it last year and it was OK but not great. It asks good questions about deductions but I still felt like I might be missing things. This year I'm trying FreeTaxUSA which is cheaper and handles self-employment pretty well from what I've heard.

Does this apply even if it's just a small amount of interest from the estate checking account? I'm in a similar situation and the estate only earned like $47 in interest.

If the estate earned less than $600 in total income after death, you generally don't need to file a Form 1041. So in your case with only $47 in interest, you wouldn't need to file an estate income tax return. That said, some executors choose to file anyway just to create a clear record, especially if they expect more income to come in later. But technically, the IRS doesn't require filing Form 1041 if the estate's income is below $600 for the tax year.

Good point! What states have these lower thresholds? Now I'm worried I might have missed something with my grandmother's estate.

As of 2025, there are about 12 states plus DC that have estate taxes with lower exemptions than federal. Massachusetts and Oregon have exemptions as low as $1 million, while states like New York and Hawaii have higher thresholds but still lower than federal. Then there are six states with inheritance taxes (Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) which work differently - the tax depends on who inherits, not the total estate value. Maryland actually has both types of taxes! I'm not an expert on all state rules, but definitely check your specific state's department of revenue website or ask your tax preparer about local requirements.

So what about if there's a real business conference and I bring my kid who works for my business? Is any part of that deductible or is it all considered personal?

If there's a legitimate business conference and your child who legitimately works for your business has a valid business reason to attend, then their expenses related to the conference itself would be deductible as a business expense. This includes their registration, their portion of the hotel room during the conference dates, and their meals while attending business activities. However, if you extend the trip for sightseeing or vacation activities, those additional days would not be deductible. And any activities that are clearly personal in nature (like visiting tourist attractions or entertainment) wouldn't be deductible either, even during the business portion of the trip. The IRS looks at the primary purpose of each expense.

Your kids would only have to file taxes if their income exceeds the standard deduction (which is $13,850 for 2025). So if they make less than that, they typically don't have to file a federal return. But you still need to keep proper payroll records, issue them a W-2, and follow all employment laws.

What about bank statements? Should I bring those too? I have most of my Amazon expense receipts saved but I'm not sure what else they might want to see related to my finances.

Yes, definitely bring your bank statements, especially ones showing your business expenses. The Revenue Officer will want to understand your complete financial picture. Bank statements help verify both your income sources and your expenses. Having those statements also helps with credibility - it shows you're being transparent and cooperative. Focus on the last 3 months at minimum, but if you have statements going back through the unfiled tax periods, those would be valuable to bring as well.

Valid point! I got a scam IRS letter once that looked super official. Real Revenue Officers will also have a badge and ID they can show you. And they never demand immediate payment during the first meeting.