Just wanted to add something important - don't forget about the Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A). Since you're self-employed with DoorDash, you can potentially deduct up to 20% of your net profit! Most of the free tax software should calculate this for you, but sometimes they miss it. On a $1050 income with expenses, it might not amount to much, but it's still free money!

Hey Yuki! I went through the exact same situation last year with my first DoorDash 1099-NEC. Here's what worked for me: I ended up using Cash App Taxes (completely free) and it handled everything perfectly. The interface is really user-friendly for beginners and walks you through each step. It automatically calculated my self-employment tax and even caught deductions I hadn't thought of. One thing I wish I had known earlier - start tracking EVERYTHING now for 2025! Not just mileage, but also: - Phone bill percentage (since you use it for the app) - Car maintenance and repairs - Any delivery bags or equipment - Even hand sanitizer if you bought it for work Also, don't stress too much about the self-employment tax calculation - the software does it all for you. With your income level, you're looking at about 15.3% SE tax on your net profit (after expenses), but then you get to deduct half of that SE tax, which reduces your overall tax burden. The whole process took me maybe 2 hours once I had all my documents ready. You've got this!

After calling the IRS for WEEKS and never getting through, I used this app called Claimyr and got a callback in 40 minutes. The agent told me my return was flagged for a simple verification that I needed to complete. Now my refund is being processed. Talking to a live agent was the only thing that worked - check out claimyr.com if you're getting nowhere like I was.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Filed on Feb 20th and my return has been stuck on "Received" for over 2 months now. No transcript, no letters, nothing. It's maddening when you're expecting money back and there's zero communication from the IRS. I've seen some people mention that congressional offices can help with IRS issues - might be worth trying that route if calling directly isn't working. Hang in there, hopefully we both see movement soon!

This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm new to the community and currently researching business entity structures for a consulting firm I'm planning to launch. Reading through everyone's experiences with partnership-to-S-corp transitions has been both educational and eye-opening. What strikes me most is how this timing issue seems to be such a widespread problem across different professional practices. The fact that so many reputable accounting firms presented issuing W-2s to partners as "standard preparation" for S-corp conversion really highlights how important it is to get specialized expertise rather than relying on general business tax knowledge. The cascading effects everyone has described - payroll tax complications, retirement plan issues, workers' compensation implications - really drive home how interconnected business tax compliance can be. One seemingly simple classification error can create problems across multiple areas that all need to be addressed simultaneously. I'm definitely taking the advice here about investing in proper specialized guidance from the beginning rather than trying to figure out entity transitions later. The stories shared here make it clear that proactive planning with the right expertise is much more cost-effective than having to unwind multiple mistakes afterward. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that helps newcomers avoid expensive pitfalls when setting up their business structures!

As someone who's been following this discussion closely, I wanted to add a perspective on the broader implications of this timing issue. What's particularly concerning is how this partnership-to-S-corp classification error can affect business credit and banking relationships. When we went through our entity conversion (veterinary practice), we discovered that the W-2 vs. guaranteed payment distinction also impacted our business loan applications. Banks often look at consistent income classification when evaluating creditworthiness, and having mixed reporting (both K-1 and W-2 income for the same period) created questions we had to explain during our facility expansion financing. Additionally, if you have any vendor contracts or professional liability insurance policies that reference your entity structure, make sure those align with your actual legal status during each period. We found that some of our contracts had clauses that were specific to partnership operations that needed updating once we became an S-corp. The silver lining is that addressing these classification issues comprehensively actually helped us get our business affairs more organized overall. Working with a specialist who understood entity transitions forced us to review all our business relationships and ensure everything was properly aligned with our new structure. For those still working through corrections - consider it an opportunity to do a complete business compliance audit. You might discover other areas that need attention beyond just the tax reporting issues.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago and felt like I was going crazy! Here's what I learned that might help: If you're using the same tax software as last year, try logging into your account from last year's filing. Many people don't realize that tax software companies often store your previous year's filing information, including the Self-Select PIN, in your account profile. Look for sections like "My Account," "Tax History," or "Previous Returns." Also, check if you saved any screenshots or notes when you filed last year. I started taking a screenshot of my confirmation page after learning this lesson - it shows the PIN right there. If none of that works, definitely go with the prior year AGI method that others mentioned. It's actually more reliable than trying to remember a random 5-digit number you created a year ago! The IRS specifically allows this as an alternative verification method for exactly this reason. And here's a pro tip for next year: when you create your new Self-Select PIN, write it down in two places - one with your tax documents and one in a password manager or secure note on your phone. You'll thank yourself next April!

This is such a comprehensive thread - love seeing everyone help each other out during tax season! I went through this same PIN nightmare three years ago and it taught me to be way more organized with my tax records. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you used a tax preparer last year (like H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, etc.), they often keep copies of your e-file confirmation in their system. You can call them or visit the location where you filed, and they might be able to look up your Self-Select PIN from their records. Also, if you're really stuck and running up against the deadline, remember that you can file for an automatic 6-month extension using Form 4868. This gives you until October 15th to file your return (though you still need to pay any taxes owed by the original deadline). Sometimes taking the pressure off helps you think more clearly about where you might have saved that PIN information. The AGI verification method really is your best bet though - it's what I ended up using, and it worked perfectly. Just make sure you're using the exact dollar amount, including cents if applicable. The IRS system is very precise about matching that number.

For TurboTax specifically, they'll ask if you have self-employment income. Say yes, and then you'll be guided to the "Business Income" section. Enter your Patreon/Buy Me A Coffee as a sole proprietorship business. You can use your own name as the business name if you don't have a formal business name.

One important thing to remember is keeping track of your expenses throughout the year, not just at tax time! I wish someone had told me this when I started my Patreon. Set up a simple spreadsheet or use an app to log art supplies, software subscriptions, equipment purchases, and even things like packaging for rewards you send to patrons. Also, don't forget about the home office deduction if you have a dedicated workspace for your art. Even if it's just a corner of a room that you use exclusively for creating content, you can potentially deduct a portion of your rent/mortgage, utilities, and other home expenses. TurboTax has a simplified method that lets you deduct $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet, which is much easier than calculating actual expenses. The key is being organized from day one rather than scrambling to reconstruct everything come tax season!