This is actually incorrect information. Traveling from your home to ANY client is considered commuting by the IRS and isn't deductible - even if you have a home office. The only exception is if your home office is your principal place of business AND you're traveling to a temporary work location.

Thanks for the reference! I'll definitely check out Publication 463. I'm trying to understand all the rules before I file my 2025 taxes and want to make sure I'm claiming everything I'm legitimately entitled to without raising any red flags.

That's interesting - I hadn't considered the adoption angle. We've actually talked about it before for family reasons, but I didn't realize it would also have this tax benefit. Do you happen to know how complicated the adoption process is for a stepchild? I'm guessing it's simpler than other adoptions.

Stepchild adoption is generally much simpler than adopting a non-related child. The biggest hurdle is usually getting consent from the other biological parent, if they're still in the picture and have parental rights. In my case, the biological father had been out of the picture for years, so it was fairly straightforward. The process typically involves a home study, filing adoption papers with the court, and a hearing. Costs vary by state but are often lower for stepparent adoptions - ours was about $1,500 total including attorney fees.

That's actually not a great solution for this specific issue. Even with an S-Corp structure, payments to shareholders that are related to services performed are still considered wages subject to employment taxes. The IRS is pretty strict about ensuring reasonable compensation is paid for work performed. Additionally, there are restrictions on how S-Corp stock can be issued, especially to minors, and the administrative burden of maintaining an S-Corp is significant. For most small businesses, the cost and complexity of setting up and maintaining an S-Corp just to try to work around this rule would far outweigh any potential tax benefits.

I do have email correspondence outlining the scope of work and agreed payment terms, but not a formal signed contract. She sent me spreadsheets tracking which returns I completed and amounts owed, which I've saved. Would these be sufficient documentation for a small claims case? I'm in Texas, which I believe doesn't have a specific tax preparer regulatory board, but I'll definitely look into state-specific options.

Email correspondence can absolutely serve as documentation of your agreement, especially if it clearly outlines the work to be done and the payment terms. Those spreadsheets tracking completed returns will be particularly valuable evidence. For small claims court in Texas, you'd want to compile all communications about the work, evidence that you completed the work (like submission confirmations or acknowledgments from her that she received the completed forms), and documentation of any partial payments already made. Texas small claims (Justice Court) has a limit of $20,000, so your claim would fit well within their jurisdiction.

Really good point. Maybe OP should start by sending a message formally stating they still have access to all these sensitive business details through the shared drive and requesting guidance on proper deletion once payment is received? That creates a paper trail showing they're trying to handle the info responsibly.

That's interesting. I didn't have any extreme circumstances like that though. Just poor planning and procrastination on my part unfortunately. Do you know if the IRS ever just "forgives" these situations if I explain it was an honest mistake?

The IRS generally doesn't "forgive" missed deadlines just because it was an honest mistake. They hear that all the time. If it was truly just procrastination, you'll need to follow the pay-first-then-claim-refund route the others mentioned. However, there was actually a recent Supreme Court case (Boechler v. Commissioner) that established equitable tolling could apply for certain tax deadlines, though that was for Collection Due Process cases, not deficiency notices. Still, tax law continues to evolve on these issues.

In my experience, amended returns are taking FOREVER right now - like 6+ months. I filed one in April and it's still "processing" according to Where's My Amended Return tool. But that's separate from the Tax Court deadline issue. The amended return won't stop the deficiency assessment if you missed the petition deadline.

Is there an easy way to separate these out? My property tax bill has the base amount plus like 4 different "special assessments" for things like schools and flood control. Are those considered part of the deductible property tax?

Generally, special assessments for schools, flood control, and similar public improvements are deductible as property taxes as long as they're based on the assessed value of your property and apply to all properties in the jurisdiction. However, special assessments for local benefits that increase the value of your property (like sidewalks, streets, or water/sewer lines specifically for your neighborhood) are not deductible as taxes. The easiest way to separate these is to look at your property tax statement - it should itemize the different charges. If you're using tax software, it will usually ask you to enter only the deductible portions. Or if you work with a tax professional, they'll know how to properly categorize each item.

It really depends on your total itemized deductions. Remember that itemizing includes property taxes, state/local income taxes (capped together at $10k), mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and some medical expenses. If all those combined exceed your standard deduction, then itemizing is worth it. But you're right that the higher standard deduction has made itemizing less beneficial for many homeowners.