One thing nobody's mentioned - if you use actual expenses instead of standard mileage for Schedule C, you have to track your business use percentage. That means calculating what percentage of your total annual mileage was for business. Example: If you drove 12,000 total miles and 8,500 were for business, that's about 71% business use. You'd multiply all your car expenses (gas, insurance, repairs, etc.) by 71% to find your deduction. The first year you use a car for business is crucial because it locks you into either standard mileage or actual expenses for the life of that vehicle. If you choose actual expenses the first year, you can't switch to standard mileage later!

Don't forget that you need to have good documentation regardless of which method you choose for Schedule C. The IRS specifically looks for: 1) Mileage logs with dates and purpose 2) Odometer readings (beginning/end of year) 3) Total miles driven for the year (personal + business) 4) Receipts if using actual expenses I got audited on my Schedule C a few years back and they specifically went after my mileage deduction. I had a decent log but was missing some details. They disallowed about 40% of my claimed miles because I couldn't prove business purpose for every trip.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I just opened my Woodforest account last month specifically because of their early direct deposit feature, so I'm honestly a bit bummed to learn that tax refunds don't qualify. But I'd much rather know this now than find out the hard way when I'm counting on those funds! What really helped me understand the situation was learning about the IRS ACH codes and federal regulations that essentially override bank policies. It makes perfect sense why even banks that want to help their customers can't bend these rules - they're dealing with government protocols that are set in stone. For anyone else who might be new to this like me, I'm definitely taking away the key lesson about planning conservatively for tax refund timing, regardless of which bank you use. The advice about proactive communication with service providers when you have time-sensitive payments is gold too. I have a couple bills due around my refund date and was absolutely planning to rely on early deposit - now I know to call those companies ahead of time to discuss payment arrangements if needed. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences over multiple years. This kind of detailed, consistent feedback from actual customers is way more valuable than trying to decode marketing materials! 🙏

This has been such a comprehensive and eye-opening discussion! As someone who's been researching this exact question for my own Woodforest account, I really appreciate everyone sharing their detailed experiences across multiple tax seasons. The consistency is remarkable - it seems like regardless of year or customer, the pattern is always the same: regular paychecks get the early deposit treatment, but tax refunds arrive exactly on the IRS-specified date. The technical explanations about ACH codes and federal regulations really help clarify why this happens - it's not that banks don't want to help, but they're bound by IRS protocols that override their usual early deposit policies. I was definitely falling into the same trap of assuming "early direct deposit" meant everything, but now I understand it really only applies to eligible recurring employer deposits, not government disbursements. For anyone else who might be counting on early refund access for time-sensitive expenses, the advice throughout this thread about proactive communication with service providers is spot-on - much better to explain the situation upfront than scramble at the last minute. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share real experiences rather than speculation. This kind of community knowledge is invaluable for proper financial planning! 🙌

I'm sorry for your loss, Liv. I went through this same process when my mother passed away, and the confusion between certified copies and transcripts is so common - even some IRS phone representatives don't always clarify the difference clearly. One thing I learned that might save you some time: if your father filed his taxes electronically, the IRS processing time for certified copies is sometimes a bit faster than for paper-filed returns. It doesn't change the 75-day maximum, but in my case, I received the certified copy in about 45 days rather than the full timeframe. Also, I'd strongly recommend calling ahead to confirm the exact mailing address for your state before sending everything. The Form 4506 instructions list different processing centers, and I've heard of people having delays because the addresses occasionally change or get updated. A quick call to verify can prevent your package from being forwarded around internally. The whole process feels daunting when you're already handling so much, but everyone's advice here is excellent. Take it one step at a time, double-check everything before mailing, and remember that thousands of people successfully get through this same process every year. You're asking all the right questions and you'll get through this.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Liv. I went through this exact process when my stepfather passed away last year, and I completely understand the confusion - the IRS phone system is absolutely terrible at distinguishing between transcripts and certified copies. One additional tip that saved me a lot of headache: when you're filling out Form 4506, there's a checkbox for "Number of copies" - don't just put "1" automatically. As others mentioned, you might need multiple certified copies for different parties (attorney, bank, insurance companies, etc.). Each copy is the same $43 fee whether you request 1 or 3 copies of the same tax year, so it's much more efficient to get what you need upfront. Also, I'd recommend including a brief cover letter with your submission explaining that you're the executor requesting certified copies for estate settlement purposes. While not required, it can help the processing clerk understand the context and may prevent any confusion about why you're requesting someone else's returns. The waiting is definitely the hardest part when you're trying to close out an estate efficiently, but getting everything submitted correctly the first time is worth the extra preparation. Based on all the great advice in this thread, you're definitely on the right track.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it looks like Woodforest is pretty consistent - you'll likely see your refund hit your account right at 3am on 2/26, not earlier. I know it's frustrating waiting when you have bills due, but at least you can count on them being reliable with the timing. Maybe set up account alerts so you get notified the moment it deposits? That way you don't have to keep checking manually. Fingers crossed it comes through right on schedule for you!

I had a similar experience with Woodforest last year - DDD of 3/15 and it hit my account at exactly 3:17am that morning. Not a minute earlier! I learned not to get my hopes up for early deposits with them. They're super reliable but stick to the exact date. Since you have bills due on the 27th, you should be good to go with a 2/26 DDD. Pro tip: if you have mobile banking, turn on push notifications so you'll know the second it hits without having to obsessively check your account like I did 😂

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. My CPA sent me an engagement letter that basically says they're not responsible for anything - even their own calculation errors. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to push back on some of the more extreme clauses. @Lucas Lindsey your suggestion about proposing specific language around negligence liability up to the fee amount seems really reasonable. And @Austin Leonard and @Anita George, it's reassuring to hear that good CPAs often do the right thing regardless of what the contract says. I think I'm going to ask my CPA for clarification on a few specific scenarios - like what happens if they make a computational error that leads to penalties, or if they miss a major deduction I'm entitled to. If they can't give me satisfactory answers, I might need to find someone else. The engagement letter should protect both parties, not just give one side a complete free pass. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been really educational for someone new to working with tax professionals!

As someone who recently switched from TurboTax to working with a CPA, I completely understand your concerns about those engagement letter clauses. They can be pretty intimidating when you're not used to seeing that kind of legal language! One thing that helped me was asking my CPA to walk through the letter during our initial consultation. I said something like "I want to make sure I understand what we're both responsible for" and asked about specific scenarios. For example, what happens if they miss a deadline, make a calculation error, or overlook a deduction I'm entitled to? Their willingness to have that conversation openly and give concrete examples of how they handle mistakes told me a lot about their professionalism. A good CPA should be able to explain their policies clearly and shouldn't get defensive about reasonable questions. Also, don't forget that you can always get a second opinion from another CPA about whether the terms seem reasonable. Many will do a brief consultation to review an engagement letter, especially if you're considering switching to their services. Sometimes having that outside perspective can help you decide if your concerns are valid or if you're overthinking it. The fact that you're taking the time to read and understand the agreement before signing puts you way ahead of most people!