Do these exemptions require applying every year? My parents are seniors and I'm trying to help them figure this out for their property tax increase.

It varies by location. Some exemptions like the basic homestead exemption usually only require a one-time application that remains in effect as long as you own and occupy the home. Senior exemptions often need annual renewal because they're typically income-based, and they want to verify the person still qualifies. Some places have simplified renewal processes where you just confirm nothing has changed. Check your county assessor's website for specific requirements or call them directly - this is definitely worth looking into for your parents!

That approach alone probably won't work. Assessments are based on market value, not condition. If homes are selling for 40% more in your area (even with old roofs), that's what they'll use. You need to focus on: 1) comparable sales that support a lower value, 2) specific issues with your property they missed, or 3) errors in how they calculated the assessment.

Thanks for this info! Do you think it would be better for her to deposit it in smaller chunks over time to avoid the hold? She's planning to use some of it for textbooks next semester.

I wouldn't recommend breaking it into smaller deposits to avoid a hold, as that could actually look more suspicious. Banks are trained to watch for "structuring" which is when people deliberately break up deposits to stay under reporting thresholds. If she needs immediate access to some of the money, she could deposit most of it and keep what she needs for textbooks in cash. Otherwise, she can just explain to the bank teller that it's a graduation gift and ask if there will be a hold. Many times if you explain the situation upfront, the bank can make accommodations or tell you exactly when funds will be available.

Is this true for all states too? Some states have weird extra tax rules, right?

Thank you! This sounds very similar to what might have happened to me. Did your husband end up owing taxes on the distribution? And did he have any luck getting the money back after all that time?

Yes, he did owe some taxes because they processed it as a distribution rather than a direct rollover, which was super annoying. We had to pay about $1,600 in taxes on it. We probably could have fought it, but the amount wasn't worth hiring a tax pro for. He was able to claim the remaining money though! We contacted the company, verified his identity, and they sent a check for the remaining amount (after the withholding they'd already taken out). Took about 3 weeks to get the check. If your situation is similar, definitely call them ASAP to claim your money before it potentially gets sent to the state as unclaimed property.

That unclaimed benefits site is legit. I found an old pension I didn't even know I had from a summer job in college. Only about $3,200 but hey free money!

This is super helpful, thanks! Question - does the 500 hour requirement have to be exact? Like do I need to document every single hour I worked on my side business?

You don't need to document every minute, but you should have reasonable support for your hour claims if you ever get audited. The IRS doesn't require a specific format - you can keep logs, calendars, appointment books, or even create summaries based on your regular schedule. The key is having something contemporaneous (created around the time of the activity) rather than trying to reconstruct everything years later if you're audited. For a side business where you're close to the 500-hour threshold, I'd recommend at least tracking days worked and approximate hours per day. If you work a very regular schedule, you might be able to create a reasonable calculation (like "I work every Tuesday and Thursday evening for 4 hours, plus every other Saturday for 8 hours" = approx 520 hours per year).

This happened to me too! Turned out they were trying to determine if I qualified for a green jobs tax incentive since I work in environmental remediation. The form was poorly worded and looked like it was questioning my employment status, but really they were trying to give my employer a tax break for hiring people in my field.

What about convention/event attendance? If I go to Maker Faire or similar events, can I deduct those expenses if I'm networking and getting ideas for content?

Convention attendance can absolutely be deductible if your primary purpose is business-related. That includes registration fees, travel expenses, meals (though these are usually limited to 50% deductible), and lodging. The key is being able to demonstrate the business purpose - so keep records of any business cards you collect, take notes on content ideas you develop there, document any meetings with potential sponsors, etc. If you're creating content at the event or about the event, that's even better proof of business purpose.

Having a full-time job doesn't prevent your content creation from being a legitimate business. The IRS looks at your "profit motive" and how you conduct the activity - not whether it's your primary source of income. To strengthen your case that it's a business and not a hobby: 1. Keep separate business records and maybe even a separate bank account 2. Have a business plan showing how you intend to grow your channel 3. Act in a businesslike manner (regular posting schedule, professional production) 4. Show that you're actively working to increase revenue (seeking sponsors, optimizing for monetization