Does the business code you choose affect your audit risk? I heard some industries get audited more than others.

Yes, certain business codes do have higher audit rates, particularly those with lots of cash transactions or typically high deduction claims. Examples include restaurants, laundromats, taxi services, and some personal services. However, you should never choose a code that doesn't accurately reflect your business just to avoid audit risk. Using an incorrect code is itself a red flag that could trigger scrutiny. The IRS looks for businesses with unusually high deductions compared to income within their industry category, so being properly classified ensures you're compared against appropriate benchmarks.

Use the most current codes. The 2022 NAICS update had some significant changes and the IRS forms reflect this. Using outdated codes can cause confusion in processing. I had to switch mine from 541430 to 541922 with the update.

You know what, that could actually be part of the problem. I didn't realize the W-4 had changed that significantly. I did fill out a paper form when I started and I remember putting "0" for allowances, but maybe that wasn't even the right field on the new form. I definitely didn't check anything about multiple jobs because my first job had already ended when I started this one. Do you think that could have somehow triggered zero withholding?

That could absolutely be the issue. The new W-4 doesn't have a place for "0 allowances" anymore, so if you were filling out an old form or using old terminology on the new form, it might have confused your payroll department. Even though your jobs weren't simultaneous, the Step 2 checkbox helps the withholding system account for your total annual income. Without it checked, the system might have been withholding as if this was your only income for the year, and depending on your pay rate, that might result in little or no withholding if the projected annual amount would be under the standard deduction.

That's a good point. If they gave you a W-2 but treated you as an independent contractor for withholding purposes, that's definitely something the IRS would be interested in knowing about. Companies can get in big trouble for misclassifying employees.

They definitely gave me a W-2, not a 1099. And they are withholding Social Security and Medicare taxes correctly - it's just the federal income tax that's showing $0. So I don't think I'm being classified as an independent contractor. It seems more like some kind of specific error with just the federal income tax withholding.

Thanks for this perspective! How do you handle documentation for things like the business-use percentage for your laptop or phone? Do you keep a log of some kind or just estimate based on your typical usage?

I don't keep a daily log because that would be too cumbersome, but I do periodic sampling. Every quarter, I'll track my usage carefully for about a week, noting business vs. personal time. I document this in a simple spreadsheet showing dates, hours used, and business purpose. For my phone, I use my phone bill to identify business calls and texts versus personal ones during those sample periods. For my laptop, I use a time-tracking app that shows which programs and websites I'm using throughout the day, which helps distinguish between business and personal activities. This periodic sampling gives me a reasonable basis for my percentage rather than just pulling a number out of thin air.

I went through a correspondence audit two years ago. They focused heavily on my home office deduction and business travel. They wanted floor plans showing the dedicated office space, photos of the setup, and utility bills to verify the expenses. For travel, they wanted receipts, calendar invites proving business purpose, and mileage logs. The process took about 4 months from start to finish. In my case, I had good documentation for most things, but I did have to pay back some deductions for a conference where I extended the trip for personal reasons but claimed the full airfare. The lesson I learned was that partial-use situations are where they tend to dig in the most.

Thanks for mentioning this! I hadn't even thought about self-employment taxes. Is there a minimum amount I need to earn before I have to pay those? My Etsy shop only made about $1,200 last year.

You're required to file Schedule SE and pay self-employment taxes if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more during the year. Since your Etsy shop made $1,200, you'll need to determine the profit after deducting expenses. If your profit exceeds $400, you'll need to pay self-employment tax on that amount. Even though it's a small amount, it's still important to report it correctly. The upside is that reporting this income helps you build Social Security credits, which can be important for your future benefits. Also, properly documenting even small business activities establishes a history if your business grows in future years.

I used FreeTaxUSA last year for my W2 and two side businesses. It handled everything perfectly and was MUCH cheaper than TurboTax. The interface isn't as fancy but it asked all the right questions and let me do multiple Schedule Cs without charging extra. Federal filing was free and I only paid like $15 for state.

How do you handle partial usage? Like I have boots that I wear mostly for faires but occasionally in regular life because they're comfortable. Can I still deduct those or is it an all-or-nothing thing?

You can actually claim a percentage deduction based on business vs. personal use. For those boots, you'd estimate what percentage of time they're worn for business purposes. If you wear them 80% for faires and 20% for personal use, you can deduct 80% of their cost. Just be reasonable with your estimates and be prepared to explain your calculation if asked. You should also keep a log of when you wear them for business versus personal use if it's a significant deduction. Some performers I know take dated photos of themselves at events in costume as additional documentation. The key is being honest but thorough about tracking legitimate business usage.

Documentation is everything! I got audited 2 years ago for my performer expenses. The IRS approved ALL my costume deductions because I had: 1) receipts, 2) photos of me performing in each item, 3) contracts stating costume requirements, and 4) a log showing when/where each piece was used professionally. Without that evidence, I'd have been denied too.