Do you know the total amount of gifts your aunt gave throughout her lifetime? The lifetime exemption is pretty high (over $12 million), but if she was very wealthy and had already used up a lot of her exemption, it could affect the tax situation for her estate.

Since you mentioned your aunt was a retired teacher who was good with saving and investing, it's very unlikely she exceeded the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. Even if she made occasional large gifts over the years, the current exemption is $13.61 million per person for 2024 (and will be even higher for 2025), so most people never come close to owing actual gift tax. As the executor, you'll want to look through her financial records to see if she ever filed Form 709 in previous years - that would tell you if she made other large gifts that used up part of her exemption. But honestly, with a $22,000 gift being notable enough for you to worry about, it sounds like she probably stayed well within the exemption limits. The main thing is just making sure you file that Form 709 for the year she made the gift to you, even if no tax is actually owed. It's more about proper documentation than owing money to the IRS.

Quick tip from someone who got audited: the IRS specifically flagged my high meal expenses compared to my business revenue. Now I follow the 5 W's rule - document Who, What, Where, When, and Why on every receipt. I snap a pic with my phone and use the notes feature to add this info right away.

I've been dealing with this exact same confusion as a freelance graphic designer! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet template for meal tracking. I include columns for date, amount, location, who I was with, business purpose, and a photo of the receipt. My accountant told me the biggest mistake people make is not being specific enough about the business purpose. Instead of writing "client meeting," I write "discussed Q1 marketing campaign with ABC Company - reviewed design concepts and timeline." The IRS wants to see that actual business was conducted, not just that you happened to eat with someone. Also learned the hard way that coffee meetings count too if you're discussing business! I was missing out on deducting all those Starbucks meetings with potential clients. Just make sure you're consistent with your documentation from day one.

Hey there! I totally understand your frustration - I've been in a similar spot before with an amended return. Here are a few additional options you might not have considered: If you have a CPA or tax preparer, they should have your return info on file and can tell you the refund amount over the phone. Even if you did it yourself, some tax software companies have customer service that can help you access your account remotely. Also, try checking your credit monitoring apps (like Credit Karma, if you use one) - they sometimes show tax refund information in their financial summaries. One more thing that saved me once: if you have a spouse or family member who was listed on the return, they might be able to access the Where's My Refund tool using their information instead of yours. Since amended returns take so long anyway, you could also just wait until you're back home to check. I know the uncertainty is stressful, but 3 weeks into the process means you've got at least 13 more weeks of waiting regardless. Sometimes the peace of mind isn't worth the hassle of jumping through all these hoops! Hope one of these options works for you - amended returns are such a pain to track! 🤞

I feel your frustration! I went through something similar last year when I was stuck overseas and needed to check my amended return status. Here's what ultimately worked for me: The IRS transcript method mentioned above is definitely your best bet, but if you can't get through their identity verification online, try calling the transcript request line at 1-800-908-9946. It's a different system than the main IRS line and sometimes has shorter wait times. Another option that saved me: if you bank with a major bank (Chase, Bank of America, etc.), their customer service can sometimes look up your previous year's IRS deposits, which gives you a ballpark estimate. I called my bank's 24-hour line and they were able to tell me my 2022 refund amount, which helped me guess within the right range. Also, don't overlook your state tax return if you filed one - sometimes the state portal will show your federal AGI or refund info, and their systems are usually more user-friendly than the IRS. Since you're only 3 weeks into the amended return process anyway, you've got plenty of time to figure this out. Amended returns are notorious for taking 16+ weeks, so even if you can't check the status right now, you're not missing out on getting your money any faster. The waiting game is just part of the amended return experience unfortunately! Good luck getting through all the bureaucratic maze! 🤞

I've been through this exact situation! Missing a payment plan deadline isn't the end of the world, but definitely don't ignore it. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, call the IRS BEFORE your November deadline if possible. I made the mistake of waiting until after I missed mine, which made the process more stressful. When you call, ask specifically about a "payment plan modification" - they have different options depending on your situation. Since you've been making regular payments, you're in a much better position than someone who's been delinquent. The IRS generally views consistent payers favorably. They'll likely offer you a few options: 1. Extend your current plan with a new payoff date (February sounds reasonable) 2. Lower your monthly payments and extend the term further 3. Temporarily reduce payments if you can document the medical hardship The key is being proactive and honest about your situation. Medical expenses are considered legitimate hardship, so mention that specifically. Also, if you have any documentation (medical bills, insurance statements), having those ready can help your case. Yes, you'll continue to accrue the failure-to-pay penalty (0.5% per month) and interest until paid in full, but these are much more manageable than dealing with a defaulted agreement and potential collection actions. Don't panic - the IRS deals with payment plan modifications all the time, especially for people who've been making good faith efforts like you have.

I understand the anxiety you're feeling - I went through something very similar a couple years ago when I couldn't make my final payment due to unexpected car repairs. The stress was overwhelming, but it worked out much better than I expected. Here's what actually happened in my case: I called the IRS about 3 weeks before my deadline and explained my situation. The representative was surprisingly understanding and offered me a few options right on the phone. I ended up extending my payment plan by 4 months with just a $89 fee since I applied for the modification online afterward. The key things that helped my case were: 1) I had made every single monthly payment on time up until that point, 2) I was honest about the unexpected expense, and 3) I called BEFORE missing the deadline rather than after. One tip I wish someone had told me - when you call, ask specifically if you qualify for a "streamlined modification" since you've been compliant with payments. This is faster than a full financial review and often has lower fees. The penalties and interest do continue accruing, but at least for me, the peace of mind of having an approved extension was worth it. And honestly, the IRS representative I spoke with said they much prefer working with people who communicate proactively rather than just disappearing when they can't pay. You've got this - the fact that you're thinking ahead and asking for advice shows you're handling this responsibly!

Adding to the conversation - there's a simple way to remember the main exceptions to the "corporations are exempt from 1099s" rule. I use the acronym FLAMES: F - Fishing boat proceeds L - Lawyer/attorney payments A - Awards/prizes M - Medical/healthcare payments E - Excess golden parachute payments S - Settlements If your payment to a corporation falls into one of these categories, you still need to issue a 1099 even though they're a corporation. Since your CPA firm doesn't fit any of these categories (assuming they're incorporated), they would indeed be exempt.

Great question about CPA firm exemptions! Yes, your CPA firm is likely correct that they're exempt from 1099 reporting if they're incorporated as a corporation. This is one of the most common exemptions business owners encounter. Here's what you should do to stay compliant: Even though they're exempt, you should still request and keep a completed W-9 form from them. This serves as your documentation that they claimed exemption status, which protects you if the IRS ever questions why you didn't issue a 1099 to a vendor you paid over $600. The W-9 will show their business structure and tax classification. If they're a corporation (C-corp or S-corp), they'll be exempt from 1099-NEC reporting for services. The main exceptions where corporations DO need 1099s are payments to medical corporations, attorneys/law firms, and a few other specific categories. For future reference, always collect W-9s from all vendors regardless of whether you think they need a 1099. It's much easier to have the paperwork upfront than to chase it down later during tax season. This way, you'll have proper documentation of everyone's status and can easily determine who needs what forms.