I just want to add my experience to help others who might be dealing with this same confusion. I received a $78.55 deposit from TPG PRODUCTS ENTRY: SBTPG LLC ORIG GREEN DOT BANK about two weeks ago and was completely stumped about where it came from. After reading through all these helpful responses, I went digging through my old tax documents and discovered that I had used Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) back in 2021 and opted to have their fees deducted from my refund. Sure enough, when I looked at the fine print on my tax documents, TPG was listed as the refund processor. What's particularly frustrating is that I never received any notification about this settlement or deposit - no email, no letter, nothing. The money just appeared in my account with that cryptic bank description that made me think it might be fraudulent. For anyone still trying to figure out their deposit, I'd suggest checking not just the major tax prep companies but also the smaller or newer ones like Credit Karma Tax, Cash App Taxes, or even some of the free filing services. TPG seems to process for a huge range of tax preparation companies, many of which we might not immediately think to check. The amount I received ($78.55) matches exactly what others have reported, which gives me confidence this is part of the legitimate class action settlement everyone's discussing. Thanks to this community for helping solve the mystery!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just got a $78.55 deposit from TPG PRODUCTS ENTRY: SBTPG LLC ORIG GREEN DOT BANK this morning and was completely baffled. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I dug through my old tax files and found that I used Jackson Hewitt's online service back in 2022 with the fee deduction option. Looking at my paperwork more carefully, TPG is indeed listed as the payment processor in small print at the bottom - something I completely overlooked at the time. The deposit amount matches exactly what others have reported for these class action settlements, which is reassuring. What's really frustrating is the complete lack of communication about these deposits. No letter, no email explanation, just money appearing in your account with a cryptic bank description that honestly looks suspicious at first glance. I was literally googling "TPG PRODUCTS ENTRY fraud" before I found this thread! For anyone else trying to solve this mystery, definitely check ALL your tax prep services from 2019-2023, even ones you might not think use third-party processors. TPG seems to handle refund processing for almost every major tax preparation company, but they operate completely behind the scenes so most of us never realize we've dealt with them. Thanks to everyone who shared their detective work - this community has been incredibly helpful in solving what could have been a very stressful mystery!

Has anyone considered the Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A) in relation to Airbnb? I've heard mixed things about whether short-term rentals qualify.

This is a complex situation that involves several important tax considerations. Based on what you've described, here are the key points to consider: **Material Participation Test**: Since your Airbnb losses are substantial ($27,500), the first question is whether you materially participate in the activity. If you spend significant time managing the property, handling guest communications, cleaning, maintenance, etc., you may qualify as materially participating (generally 500+ hours annually). **Passive vs. Non-Passive Treatment**: If you materially participate, your Airbnb losses can generally offset your W-2 income. However, if it's treated as passive rental activity, you're limited by passive activity loss rules - though there's a $25,000 allowance for rental real estate losses if your MAGI is under $100,000. **Excess Business Loss Limitation**: Even if your losses are non-passive, there's still the excess business loss rule to consider. For 2024, total business losses exceeding $152,000 (single) or $304,000 (married filing jointly) above business income get carried forward. **Documentation is Key**: Keep detailed records of your time spent and services provided to support your material participation claim. This includes guest communications, cleaning coordination, maintenance, marketing, etc. Given the complexity and potential tax savings at stake, I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional who has experience with short-term rental properties. The rules can be tricky, and proper classification could significantly impact your tax liability.

I think everyone's missing something here. While buying stocks/ETFs with company money doesn't create a deductible expense, there could be strategic reasons to do it anyway. My S-corp holds some investments as part of our cash management strategy. The key is understanding it won't reduce your current tax liability. Also, talk to your accountant about the Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A) - if your business qualifies, it can give you a deduction up to 20% of your qualified business income. Much more valuable than trying to hide money in investments.

This is a really common question for S-corp owners! As others have mentioned, investing company cash in stocks/ETFs won't reduce your current tax liability since it's just converting one asset to another, not creating a deductible expense. However, there are some legitimate year-end tax strategies worth considering with that $75k: 1. **Accelerate business expenses**: Purchase equipment, software, or supplies you'll need in 2026 before year-end 2. **Maximize retirement contributions**: Solo 401k or SEP-IRA contributions can be substantial for S-corp owners 3. **Consider bonus depreciation**: Qualifying business assets may be eligible for immediate depreciation 4. **Prepay deductible expenses**: Insurance, rent, or professional services for early 2026 The key is making sure any purchases are ordinary and necessary business expenses, not just trying to park money somewhere. The IRS looks at the substance of transactions, so everything needs to have a legitimate business purpose. I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional who can review your specific situation - the savings from proper year-end planning often far exceed the consultation cost.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I'd strongly recommend getting some concrete numbers before making that truck purchase. With your $67k in 1099 income and that $16k annual tax hit, you're definitely in a position where smart vehicle deductions could make a real difference. Here's what I'd suggest: before you buy, calculate both scenarios with actual numbers. For the depreciation route on a $55k truck (assuming 80% business use), you're looking at potentially deducting around $44k in year one with Section 179. At your tax bracket, that could save you roughly $10-12k in taxes the first year alone. But here's the catch - you mentioned you're conservative with deductions and that's smart. Make sure you can genuinely justify that 80% business use percentage, because the IRS will want to see detailed records. If your actual business use is more like 60%, then your deduction drops accordingly. Also consider the cash flow impact. That truck payment might be $800-1000/month, but if you're saving $10k+ in taxes year one, it changes the math significantly. Just remember those big first-year savings mean smaller deductions in future years. Have you considered leasing instead? Sometimes the deduction structure works out better for contractors, especially if you like updating equipment regularly.

The 70% business use sounds much more realistic and defensible than 80%, especially if you're planning weekend personal use. The IRS loves to audit vehicle deductions, so being conservative here is smart. For leasing vs buying: With a lease, you deduct the business percentage of your monthly lease payments instead of taking depreciation. So if you lease for $600/month and use it 70% for business, you'd deduct $420/month ($5,040/year). The advantage is consistent annual deductions and no depreciation recapture issues if you switch vehicles. The downside is you don't own anything at the end, and there can be mileage restrictions that might not work for your equipment hauling needs. For your situation with lumpy 1099 income, the big first-year depreciation write-off might be more valuable since it hits that $16k tax bill hard right away. Just make sure you're prepared for smaller deductions in years 2-5. One more thing - since you're hauling heavy equipment, make sure whatever truck you get has the payload capacity you actually need. Don't let the tax tail wag the business dog. A truck that can't properly handle your work loads isn't worth any tax savings.

I went through something very similar last year - filed in February and didn't get my refund until July! It turned out the IRS had flagged my return for manual review because I claimed both the Child Tax Credit and education credits, which apparently triggers additional scrutiny. A few things that helped me get answers: 1. **Check your tax transcript** - Giovanni's advice about this is spot on. The codes will tell you way more than the "Where's My Refund" tool ever will. 2. **Don't wait for letters** - In my experience, IRS notices can take weeks to arrive or sometimes get lost in the mail. If your transcript shows a 971 code, call them directly rather than waiting. 3. **Document everything** - Keep records of every call attempt, reference numbers, and what representatives tell you. This becomes important if you need to escalate. 4. **Consider the Taxpayer Advocate Service** - If you've been waiting over 120 days (which you have), they can intervene. They're actually pretty effective at cutting through the bureaucracy. The frustrating reality is that certain combinations of credits and deductions just automatically trigger delays, even when everything is perfectly correct. It's not fair, but knowing this helps you prepare for next year. Hang in there - you will get your money!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned after months of research and calls. The IRS doesn't publish an official list of which credits trigger delays, but based on my experience and talking to multiple agents, here are the common culprits: **High-risk combinations that often cause delays:** - Child Tax Credit + Education Credits (AOTC/Lifetime Learning) - Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) + Additional Child Tax Credit - Recovery Rebate Credit claims (missing stimulus payments) - First-time homebuyer credits - Premium Tax Credits with marketplace insurance **Single items that frequently trigger review:** - Large charitable deductions (especially non-cash) - Home office deductions for self-employed - Casualty loss claims - Prior year minimum tax credits The agents won't always tell you upfront what triggered the review - I had to specifically ask "What caused my return to be flagged?" and even then, some representatives were vague about it. One agent finally explained that their system uses algorithms to score returns for fraud risk, and certain combinations just automatically get higher scores. For future years, if you know you'll be claiming these credits, file as early as possible and consider using direct deposit to speed up the process once it's approved. The delays are frustrating but usually resolve eventually - just takes patience and persistence!