Want to learn how to do my own taxes - where to start in 2025 filing season?

15 Thanks for the resources! Question - for my side business, I've been keeping receipts in a shoebox (embarrassing I know). Is there a better system you'd recommend? Also, how complicated is Schedule C really? I'm worried I'll mess it up.

8 For receipts, ditch the shoebox! I'd recommend a simple spreadsheet with categories like supplies, mileage, home office, etc. Take photos of receipts with your phone and organize them in a folder system. There are also apps like Expensify or even QuickBooks Self-Employed that can really simplify tracking. Schedule C isn't as scary as it seems! The form breaks everything into logical categories - revenue, expenses by type, etc. Tax software makes it even easier by asking straightforward questions about your business. The key is good recordkeeping throughout the year - that's 90% of the battle.

19 Does it work for more complicated stuff? I have rental property income plus a day job. Last year my accountant charged me $650 and I still don't think they did it right.

4 I'm skeptical about using AI for taxes. How do you know it's giving accurate advice? I don't want to get audited because some robot gave me bad info.

12 It absolutely handles rental properties! It organizes everything from Schedule E requirements to depreciation calculations. I know someone who has three rental properties and said it saved them hours of confusion compared to previous years. As for accuracy concerns, totally get that. What gave me confidence was that it cites specific IRS publications and tax code for its recommendations. It's not making things up - it's extracting the relevant rules from official sources and applying them to your situation. Plus, you always review everything before filing. I was skeptical too but found it much more thorough than the human preparer I used before.

11 Wait how does this even work? The IRS phone system is literally designed to be impossible to navigate. Is this legit?

4 This sounds like a scam. Why would I pay a third party to call the IRS for me? They probably just keep you on hold the same amount of time.

7 It works by navigating the IRS phone tree for you and securing your place in the callback queue. The IRS phone system was designed with all these complex menu options that often lead to dead ends or disconnects, and Claimyr basically has figured out how to navigate it efficiently. It's definitely not a scam. They don't answer your tax questions - they just get you connected to an actual IRS agent who does. Think of it like paying someone to stand in line for you. I was skeptical too until I had a tax notice that needed immediate attention during the busiest week of tax season. Spent hours getting nowhere on my own, then Claimyr got me talking to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes.

1 That sounds perfect! Did the course cover self-employment taxes too? Also, was it a one-day thing or spread out over weeks?

22 The course definitely covered self-employment taxes! That was actually a whole module where we learned about Schedule C, business deductions, home office rules, and self-employment tax calculations. It was really thorough. It was spread over 6 weeks with one 3-hour class per week, which was perfect for absorbing the information gradually. We'd learn concepts one week and then apply them with practice scenarios the next week. Much better than trying to cram everything into a weekend workshop. Most community colleges offer similar programs, especially between September and January before tax season starts.

17 Any specific videos you'd recommend for someone just starting? There's so much content out there it's overwhelming.